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In this episode of 714 Delaware St., we take some time to reflect on someone we’ve somewhat neglected thus far on our podcast: Roseanne Conner! In the wake of mourning Roseanne Conner’s death and Roseanne Barr’s depressing political shift far-rightward, we have wanted to talk about the nuanced characterization of the Conners’ brazen matriarch. We’ve chosen two Season 2 episodes that capture Rosie’s tenderness and vulnerability. In “Hair,” Rosie is hesitant at first to take a “demeaning” job as an assistant in a hair salon, until the women there spoil her cynicism by treating her with respect and appreciation. In “Happy Birthday,” Roseanne’s birthday wish is for more time—in particular, she wishes for time to write stories like she did when she was younger. This passion underlies much of the dynamic between Roseanne and Darlene, and this episode is the referent for the totally outrageous Season 9 finale. Both of these episodes forefront a sweetness and depth to Roseanne Conner that is ever-present, but is often obscured by the brash hardness her life as a working-class mother of three (then four) requires.

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Here’s part two of our conversation about The Conners Season 1 finale, “We Continue to Truck.” We talk about our beefs with some of the conservative politics of the show in the wake of both the original series and Roseanne Season 10, as well as our pleasures from this new series. We are hoping for good things to come from our beloved Conners as the series grows into its own. But MAN ALIVE, WHAT IS WITH PETER?! We’ll return in short shrift with more discussions and laughing about original Roseanne episodes and other TV treasures.

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Gosh! The Conners first season is over, and we have things to say. This is Part One of our discussion of the season finale, “We Continue to Truck,” and our thoughts on the season overall. In this installment, we are 100% wigged out about Peter’s (Matthew Broderick) transformation into the world’s biggest creep and monster boyfriend! Maura says she thought he was acting like a serial killer. We also lament the depiction of Emilio, the undocumented father of Becky’s baby, although we appreciate his willingness to try tuna casserole with potato chips. We consider the ways a shorter season impacts the capacity of TV writers to tell a full and complex story with broad social implications; these issues include the cognitive dissonance of Trump voters (supposing Dan is one?) in the face of the deportation of a real life person in their community, and the process of deportation after an ICE raid. Significantly, we discuss Jackie’s drunken scene at the former Lunch Box and how her emotional breakdown brings the season full circle for viewers who also grieve the loss of Roseanne Conner. In Part 2 (COMING SOON), we talk about David’s return and Darlene’s decision, and assess the show so far, in relation to both the original series of Roseanne and Roseanne Season 10.

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In 714 Delware St.’s 15th episode, we ask the question: Why are so many characters on The Conners are turning into assholes? In episode 10, “Don’t Shoot the Piano Teacher,” Ben (Jay R. Ferguson) tries out his “mean dad” persona; a crusty, conservative Dan pushes Emilio (the father of Becky’s baby) into an uncomfortable position; and Dan and Jackie attempt to coerce Becky into a relationship with Emilio – despite the fact that she’s a 40-year-old woman who can make her own damn decisions. What happened to these characters, we ask? What kind of message is The Conners trying to send about masculinity and women’s agency? AND WTF HAPPENED TO JACKIE’S SON? (We won’t stop asking.)

We also revisit two classic Roseanne episodes from season 6, “Be My Baby” and “Don’t Make Room for Daddy,” which remind us that Jackie was once in the exact same position as Becky, pregnant by Fred and wishing to raise the baby alone. We look at how she deals with Roseanne and Dan’s meddling and compare the way both shows approached this storyline.

Plus, there are some good ol’ fashioned tangents on Donahue, Murphy Brown, “nice guys,” the short-lived television series Dinosaurs, and more.

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In our final episode of 2018, we recap the most recent episode of The Conners, “Oh Sister, Where Art Thou?” which focuses on a rift between Becky and Darlene. We also discuss our favorite classic Roseanne Christmas episodes, season four’s “White Trash Christmas” and season six’s “Santa Claus” (the one in which Roseanne portrays Jolly Old Saint Nick himself at Rodbell’s!). Other topics include our favorite television Christmas specials and tacky Christmas decorations, teenage rebellion, the California Raisins, “Grandma Got Run over by a Reindeer,” and more! Cheer to our listeners – may you have a merry holiday break filled with couch potato-ing.

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Hey! Thanks for your patience with us as we catch up on The Conners and, like, life and stuff. This episode of 714 Delaware St. covers episode seven, entitled “Hold the Salt,” as well as three original series episodes: Season 4 Episode 3, “Why Jackie Becomes a Trucker,” in which Jackie has a very regrettable one-night-stand, and Season 5 Episodes 13 and 14, “Crime and Punishment,” and “War and Peace,” in which Roseanne and Dan rescue Jackie from her physically abusive boyfriend Fisher. We ruminate over these past mistakes and heartbreaks, and go to the root of Dan’s protective suspicion of Jackie’s new beau, Peter, played by a mirthful and bookish Matthew Broderick. We talk more about coffee shops, hosting etiquette, and somehow, Lassie. Enjoy, and stay tuned for some serious holiday reminiscing next week as well!

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Happy Thanksgiving! This is our TENTH episode! In this installment, we discuss episode 4 of The Conners, titled “The Separation of Church and Dan.” We express hopefulness about the continued development of Gena and Mary, DJ’s wife and daughter, a little confusion about who is and isn’t grieving, and uncover the peculiar dearth of men’s names in Lanford. We also ask hard-hitting questions like “Where do DJ and Gena live?” and “Why doesn’t DJ do Mary’s hair? He’s her father!” We also connect this episode back to an amazing episode of Roseanne’s 6^th season, entitled “I Pray the Lord My Stove to Keep,” in which Darlene discovers that DJ has been going to church in secret, David gets a nose ring he doesn’t want, and Roseanne and Jackie make a profit when the company they purchase a new stove from delivers a second by accident. We wind down by talking about our own brushes with church as youths. Thank you for listening!

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