Twenty Years to Life

Last updated
"Twenty Years to Life"
Roseanne episode
Episode no.Season 10
Episode 1
Directed by John Pasquin
Written by Bruce Rasmussen
Production code1001
Original air dateMarch 27, 2018 (2018-03-27)
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
 Previous
"Into That Good Night"
Next 
"Dress to Impress"
Roseanne (season 10)
List of episodes

"Twenty Years to Life" is the tenth season premiere of the American sitcom Roseanne and the 223rd episode overall. It aired in the United States on ABC on March 27, 2018. The episode was directed by John Pasquin, and written by Bruce Rasmussen. [1]

Contents

Roseanne stars Roseanne Barr, John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Sara Gilbert, Lecy Goranson, Michael Fishman, Emma Kenney, Ames McNamara, and Jayden Rey as the Conner family. The series originally ran for nine seasons from 1988 to 1997, and was revived for a tenth season in 2018. This is the first episode not feature original late star Glenn Quinn, who played Mark Healy in recurring role, died in 2002.

In the episode, Darlene moves back in with her parents, Roseanne and Jackie reconcile, and Becky tells the family that she is becoming a surrogate. The episode received generally positive reviews from critics, and was watched live in the United States by 18.44 million viewers.

Plot

One week after Darlene and her kids, Harris and Mark, moved back in, Roseanne and Dan are still adjusting to not living alone. Now that there are kids in the house again, Dan tries to find where he hid his gun, and manages to find it. Roseanne finds out that Darlene didn't move in to take care of her and Dan as she had said, but that she actually moved in because she lost her job. Roseanne and Jackie are still mad at each other about the 2016 election, so Darlene tries to get them to work it out. Also, Becky announces to the family that she plans to become a surrogate, which Jackie supports, but Roseanne and Dan do not. Lastly, Roseanne and Jackie manage to reconcile, and Becky meets with Andrea, the woman who she plans to have the baby for.

Production

Development

On April 28, 2017, it was announced that an eight episode limited series revival of Roseanne was in development. [2] On May 16, 2017, it was announced that the revival was picked up by ABC, and would air sometime in 2018. [3] The table read of the episode occurred on October 17, 2017. [4]

Casting

When the revival was picked up by ABC, it was announced that the entire original cast would return, Roseanne Barr, John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Sara Gilbert, Lecy Goranson, and Michael Fishman, with Sarah Chalke returning for a different role. [3] On September 7, 2017, it was announced that Ames McNamara had been cast as Mark. [5] On September 21, 2017, it was announced that Emma Kenney would play Harris. [6] On October 17, 2017, it was revealed that Jayden Rey would portray the role of Mary. [4] On December 21, 2017, it was announced that Chalke would play Andrea. [7]

Release

The episode aired alongside the second episode of the season, "Dress To Impress", as a one-hour special premiere. [1] On February 15, 2018, ABC aired a special episode of 20/20 , titled "Roseanne: The Return", which looked back at the history of the show, and featured the entire cast sharing information about the revival. [8]

Reception

Viewing figures

In the United States, the episode was watched live by 18.44 million viewers, making it the most watched show of the night in terms of number of viewers. It was also the most watched show of the night in terms of 18-49 rating, with a 5.2, and in terms of ratings share, with a 21. [9] Within seven days, the episode was watched by a total of 27.26 million viewers. [10]

The number of live viewers was ten percent more than the original series finale, "Into That Good Night", in 1997, and the 18-49 rating was the highest for any comedy telecast since the eighth season premiere of The Big Bang Theory , "The Locomotion Interruption", in 2014. [11] The 18-49 rating was also the highest for any Tuesday entertainment telecast in six years, and it was the second highest scripted telecast of the 2017–18 television season, behind only an episode of This Is Us , "Super Bowl Sunday", which aired immediately after Super Bowl LII. [12]

Critical response

Kimberly Potts with Vulture said, "Times have changed, but the people haven’t, which is why it’s so good to have the Conners back." She also gave the episode 4 out of 5 stars. [13]

Christine Laskodi with IGN said, "Classic Roseanne is still intact. If you were a fan of the original, it won't be a hard sell for you to comfortably enjoy it a second time around. If you're just discovering Roseanne for the first time, it will just feel comfortable. It's exactly the reboot that 2018 America needs." She also gave the episode a 7.5 out of 10. [14]

The episode also received praise from President Donald Trump, who called Roseanne Barr to congratulate her on the success of the show, and the high ratings. [15]

Related Research Articles

Roseanne is an American television sitcom created by Matt Williams which aired on ABC from October 18, 1988, to May 20, 1997, and briefly revived from March 27, 2018, to May 22, 2018. The show stars Roseanne Barr as Roseanne Conner and revolves around her family in the fictional town of Lanford, Illinois. Receiving generally positive reviews for its realistic portrayal of a working-class American family, the series reached No. 1 in the Nielsen ratings from 1989 to 1990 in its second season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laurie Metcalf</span> American actress (born 1955)

Laura Elizabeth Metcalf is an American actress. Metcalf is known for her complex and versatile roles across the stage and screen. She has received various accolades throughout her career spanning more than four decades, including an Obie Award, two Tony Awards and four Primetime Emmy Awards, in addition to nominations for an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and three Golden Globe Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sara Gilbert</span> American actress (born 1975)

Sara Gilbert is an American actress best known for her role as Darlene Conner on the ABC sitcom Roseanne, for which she received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations, and its spin-off, The Conners (2018–present). She is also creator and former co-host of the CBS daytime talk show The Talk and had a recurring role as Leslie Winkle on CBS's The Big Bang Theory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah Chalke</span> Canadian actress (born 1976)

Sarah Louise Christine Chalke is a Canadian actress and model. She is known for her starring roles as the second Becky Conner in the ABC sitcom Roseanne (1993–1997), Elliot Reid in the NBC/ABC medical comedy series Scrubs (2001–2010), Beth Smith and Space Beth in the Adult Swim animated science fiction series Rick and Morty (2013–present), and Kate Mularkey in the Netflix drama series Firefly Lane (2021–2023).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lecy Goranson</span> American actress

Alicia Linda "Lecy" Goranson is an American actress. She plays Becky Conner in the television sitcoms Roseanne, which debuted in 1988, and The Conners. She has also had supporting roles in the films How to Make an American Quilt (1996), Boys Don't Cry (1999), and The Extra Man (2010).

Roseanne Harris Conner is the title character of the TV series Roseanne, created and portrayed by comedian and namesake Roseanne Barr. Roseanne, in a takeoff of her stand-up comedic and presumed real-life persona, is bossy, loud, caustic, overweight, and dominant. She constantly tries to control the lives of her sister, husband, children, co-workers, and friends. Despite her dominating nature, Roseanne is a loving wife and mother and loyal friend who works hard and makes as much time for her family as possible.

Daniel "Dan" Conner is a fictional character in the television series Roseanne created by comedian and namesake Roseanne Barr and portrayed by actor John Goodman. He is the husband to Roseanne Conner, and father to two daughters, Darlene and Becky, and two sons, D.J. and Jerry Garcia. Throughout the years, Goodman has won several awards, including a Golden Globe, for his portrayal of Dan Conner.

<i>Last Man Standing</i> (American TV series) American television sitcom (2011–2017, 2018–2021)

Last Man Standing is an American sitcom created by Jack Burditt for ABC and Fox. It aired from October 11, 2011, to March 31, 2017, on ABC, and then again from September 28, 2018, to May 20, 2021, on Fox. The show starred Tim Allen as an executive at a sporting goods store chain headquartered in Denver, Colorado, who is a married father of three daughters and a grandfather to his eldest daughter's son. Last Man Standing was a joint production by 21 Laps-Adelstein Productions, NestEgg Productions, and 20th Television.

<i>Roseannes Nuts</i> American series by Roseanne Barr

Roseanne's Nuts is a reality docudrama television series that features Roseanne Barr, her partner Johnny Argent and son Jake Pentland as they live on their macadamia nut and livestock farm in Hawaii. It features celebrity guests like, Bonnie Bramlett, Michael Fishman, Phyllis Diller, and Sandra Bernhard. The series originally aired on Lifetime.

Emma Rose Kenney is an American actress. She has portrayed Deborah "Debbie" Gallagher on Shameless from 2011 to 2021, and Harris Conner-Healy in the tenth season of the family sitcom Roseanne and its spin-off continuation The Conners.

The 2017–18 network television schedule for the five major English-language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers prime time hours from September 2017 to August 2018. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series canceled after the 2016–17 season.

The 2018–19 network television schedule for the five major English-language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers the prime time hours from September 2018 to August 2019. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series canceled after the 2017–18 season.

<i>Station 19</i> American action-drama television series

Station 19 is an American action-drama television series created by Stacy McKee that premiered on ABC on March 22, 2018. It is the second spin-off of Grey's Anatomy. Set in Seattle, the series focuses on the lives of the men and women at Seattle Fire Station 19. It stars Jaina Lee Ortiz, Jason George, Grey Damon, Barrett Doss, Alberto Frezza, Jay Hayden, Okieriete Onaodowan, Danielle Savre, Miguel Sandoval, Boris Kodjoe, Stefania Spampinato, Carlos Miranda, Josh Randall, Merle Dandridge, and Pat Healy.

<i>Roseanne</i> season 10 Season of television series

The tenth and final season of the American television sitcom Roseanne follows the Conners, a working-class family, struggling to get by on a limited household income in their home at 714 Delaware Street in the drab fictional mid-state exurb of Lanford, Illinois. The season was produced by Carsey-Werner Television, with Roseanne Barr, Bruce Helford, Whitney Cummings, Sara Gilbert, Tom Werner, and Tony Hernandez serving as executive producers.

In American television in 2019, notable events included television show debuts, finales, and cancellations; channel launches, closures, and re-brandings; stations changing or adding their network affiliations; and information about controversies and carriage disputes.

The Conners is an American television sitcom created for ABC as a direct continuation of the series Roseanne. The series is produced by Werner Entertainment, with Bruce Helford serving as executive producer and features actors John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Sara Gilbert, Lecy Goranson, Michael Fishman, Emma Kenney, Ames McNamara, Jayden Rey and Jay R. Ferguson.

The 2019–20 network television schedule for the five major English-language commercial broadcast networks in the United States covers the prime time hours from September 2019 to August 2020. The schedule is followed by a list per network of returning series, new series, and series canceled after the 2018–19 season.

"Keep On Truckin'" is the pilot episode of the American spin-off sitcom The Conners. It aired in the United States on ABC on October 16, 2018. The episode was directed by Andy Ackerman, and written by Bruce Helford, Dave Caplan, and Bruce Rasmussen. This is the first episode not to feature the show's previous star Roseanne Barr.

"Knee Deep" is the ninth and final episode of the tenth season of the American sitcom Roseanne, the 231st episode of the series overall and the finale of the show's revival. It aired in the United States on ABC on May 22, 2018. The episode was directed by Gail Mancuso, and written by Bruce Rasmussen.

References

  1. 1 2 "(#1001/1003) "Twenty Years to Life / Dress to Impress"". The Futon Critic . March 12, 2018. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  2. Andreeva, Nellie (April 28, 2017). "'Roseanne' Getting Revival With Roseanne Barr, John Goodman, Sara Gilbert & Co". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  3. 1 2 ""Roseanne," The Groundbreaking Family Comedy, Returns to ABC". The Futon Critic . May 16, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  4. 1 2 "First Table Read of ABC's "Roseanne" Revival". The Futon Critic . October 17, 2017. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  5. Ausiello, Michael (September 7, 2017). "Roseanne Revival: Meet Darlene and David's Son Mark — Photo". TVLine . Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  6. Hipes, Patrick (September 21, 2017). "'Roseanne': 'Shameless' Star Emma Kenney Set As Darlene And David's Daughter". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  7. Rice, Lynette (December 21, 2017). "Roseanne surprise: See how the 'Second Becky' will be incorporated into reunion". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  8. ""Roseanne: The Return" Airs on a Special Edition of ABC News' "20/20," Thursday, Feb. 15". The Futon Critic . January 31, 2018. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  9. Porter, Rick (March 28, 2018). "'Roseanne,' 'The Voice' & 'The Mick' adjust up, 'Bull' and 'Splitting Up Together' down: Tuesday final ratings". TV by the Numbers . Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  10. Porter, Rick (April 11, 2018). "'Roseanne' premiere sets a record in week 27 broadcast Live +7 ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 15, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  11. Andreeva, Nellie (March 28, 2018). "'Roseanne' Revival's Huge Debut Stuns Hollywood, Prompts Soul-Searching". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  12. Andreeva, Nellie (March 28, 2018). "'Roseanne' Revival Premieres To Huge Ratings On ABC". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  13. Potts, Kimberly (March 27, 2018). "Roseanne Premiere Recap: What's Up, Deplorable?". Vulture . Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  14. Laskodi, Christine (March 27, 2018). "Roseanne Season 10 Premiere Review: "Twenty Years to Life" and "Dress to Impress"". IGN . Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  15. de Moraes, Lisa (March 29, 2018). "Roseanne Barr Parses Details Of Donald Trump Congrats Call On 'Good Morning America'". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved September 18, 2020.