Roseanne

I love my retro TV nostalgia and this week we've been taking a trip back to the early '90's with Roseanne. We managed to get a hold of the entire 1st series on the lovely ebay for a mere £3 and with 9 discs to go at that is a very affordable sollution to the TV on offer!

I don't remember this series from 1988 - I probably had far to much of a social life but I remember later ones which were aired on channel 4 at 6pm - perfect teatime viewing.

For those of you that don't remember Roseanne - it was the classic all american sit-com - before Friends took over the world. Centred around The Connor Family it portayed the day to day dramas and events of a normal working class family. It dealt with issues such as money worries, infidelities and teenage and parental frustrations.

The main character is Roseanne Connor played by comedienne Roseanne Barr - a stand up comedian before the show. Husband Dan is played by John Goodman (star of films such as Big Lebowski, Barton Fink, you'll recognise him) and their 3 children Becky (Alicia Linda Goranson)

Darlene (Sara Gilbert) and DJ (Michael Fishman). Aunt Jackie (Laurie Metcalf) also has a central role.

It is the on screen dynamics of the cast and their ability to see the funny side of most things, which really makes the show work. The joke after joke banter with a heavy side of irony is completely timeless when applied to the family construct. No matter what the year, sisters will always row, parents will always be wrong, children will always get bad reports etc etc.

I think I appreciate it even more than I did first time around. Its really refreshing in todays modern world full of technology to go back to basics - 2.4 children and a house full of love. But be warned it only works with a really good sense of humour!