30 Years In the past, ‘Roseanne’ Aired an Episode That Made ABC So Nervous They Modified the Sitcom’s Time Slot

Roseanne Barr is to controversy as Kermit the Frog is to the colour inexperienced. They’re inextricably linked, as any Google search of “roseanne controversy” will inform you, with pages and pages of content material talking to controversies associated to Roseanne the particular person and the TV collection that bears her identify, Roseanne. Dealing with subjects as diverse as contraception, abortion, home abuse, playing dependancy, and drug use, amongst others, is bound to rattle some cages, and Roseanne tackled all of them. Not all these controversial episodes confronted vital repercussions, aside out of your common letters and cellphone calls, however some actually did, together with two that stand as groundbreaking moments within the historical past of tv. One, “Do not Ask, Do not Inform,” featured certainly one of tv’s first same-sex kisses. The second, “December Bride,” made historical past as the primary time an American collection featured the same-sex marriage of a recurring character. And it was problematic, to say the least.

‘Roseanne’ Supporting Character Leon Carp Quietly Challenged Stereotypes

Leon Carp, performed by the good Martin Mull, first appeared within the Season 3 episode “Valentine’s Day,” and was launched as Roseanne’s supervisor at Rodbell’s Luncheonette. The 2 are at odds from the beginning, together with his obsession with pleasing prospects and strict adherence to all guidelines and schedules at odds with Roseanne’s sloppy nature and deliberate disregard for nearly all the pieces he asks her to do. Over time, they develop a respect and friendship with each other, and Leon develops a camaraderie with Dan (John Goodman) as effectively, changing into a frequent participant in Dan’s poker video games.

Leon is revealed to be homosexual in Season 3’s “Dances with Darlene,” his third look on the present. His homosexuality was handled, refreshingly, as only one facet of his character. The reveal did not see Leon get relegated to the sidelines, however as a substitute stay a pivotal recurring character on the collectionshowing in 46 episodes in all. Leon by no means fell into the gay stereotype that befell most homosexual characters on the time on tv. In reality, he’s a reasonably right-wing Republican, as evidenced by his etiquette obsession and nice admiration for President George Bushcheekily so.

‘Roseanne’s “December Bride” Made Tv Historical past

Roseanne‘s “December Bride” begins with Roseanne participating in dialog with Scott (Fred Willard), a buyer, when Leon arrives. It seems that Scott is Leon’s ex-boyfriend, whom he left on the altar 5 years prior. The 2 plan on attempting once more, however need to exit to Minneapolis for pre-wedding counseling. To Leon’s chagrin, Roseanne volunteers to plan the marriage without spending a dime. She ropes Jackie (Laurie Metcalf) into serving to her, and regardless of Leon’s needs for a easy, modest ceremony, the 2 plan a giant, campy extravaganza wedding ceremony with drag queens, male strippers, and huge pink triangles. Leon is livid with Roseanne’s over-the-top show of offensive homosexual stereotypes and threatens to name off the marriage (once more), however Roseanne locks him within the toilet to maintain him there.

As friends arrive (together with Hollywood legend June Lockhart as Leon’s mom), Dan convinces Roseanne to be respectful and tone down the marriage. She goes in to speak to Leon about it, and hopefully calm him down. Nonetheless, it isn’t simply in regards to the offensive show that Leon’s upset about. He reveals that he is anxious about marrying Scott, and tries in useless to make excuses that permit him to depart. He even claims he is not homosexual, and tries to again up his falsehood with causes like he’s insensitive, a republican, does not like buying or Barbra Streisand.

Roseanne counters by asking him, “However do you want having intercourse with males? GAY!” He admits she’s proper, and the marriage goes on (albeit a bit extra toned down than earlier than) and Leon and Scott trade their vows. Dan will get bothered by the grooms kissing, for which Roseanne scolds him, saying, “It simply occurs to be two folks of the identical intercourse kissing, and there is nothing improper with that.” Simply then, Sharon (Mariel Hemingway), the girl she kissed in “Do not Ask, Do not Inform,” faucets her on the shoulder, startling Roseanne (the actress, not simply the character – Barr wasn’t anticipating Hemingway to be there, so her response is actual). The episode ends with one other Hollywood legend, Milton Berlewearing drag and catching the bouquet.

‘Roseanne’s “December Bride” Careworn Out ABC and Triggered Controversy

Dan could have been bothered with the same-sex kiss between the 2 males, however not less than he noticed it. ABC would not even permit the kiss to be proven on airand the cameras had been compelled to show away on the pivotal second (per the beforehand cited Decider). That wasn’t sufficient, although. ABC appeared to have a problem with homosexual marriage altogether, not simply the same-sex kiss. Roseanne was moved from 8:00pm to 9:30pm, switching locations with Coach for the week. ABC spokeswoman Janice Gretemeyer defined that the choice to modify the time interval wasn’t due to the homosexual wedding ceremony, including, “In spite of everything, this system has typically had homosexual humor. We simply felt the grownup humor on this episode was extra acceptable for the later time interval.” She backed up the declare by saying that on a typical evening, lower than 10% of viewers at 9:30pm are below the age of 11.

It is laborious to consider that the transfer was for any purpose apart from the community caring with having a same-sex marriage on the air at 8:00pm. Simply 5 weeks later, Mates would face an identical scenario with “The One With the Lesbian Marriage ceremony,” the episode that includes the primary lesbian wedding ceremony on tv. Like Roseannethe cameras turned away earlier than airing the kiss between Carol (Jane Sibbett) and Susan (Jessica attaches). Nonetheless, the 2 sitcoms went in very completely different instructions following their history-making episodes. Leon continued to be a recurring character by way of to the tip of Roseannehowever after their wedding ceremony, Carol and Susan just about disappear from Mates altogether. So whereas each are touchstone moments within the historical past of queer illustration on tv, just one, Roseannehad the braveness to maintain their married couple an integral a part of the collection going ahead.