MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO, THE: SHE MADE IT: FEARLESS WOMEN: ROSEANNE: UNCENSORED {LONG VERSION}
Summary
This seminar, the first of a three-part seminar series, salutes groundbreaking women in television and radio. This seminar, held at the Museum in Los Angeles, and moderated by Alex Ben Block, entertainment industry writer, honors Roseanne Barr. Barbara Dixon, director of the Museum in Los Angeles, begins the evening with some opening remarks. Then, Block takes the stage to introduce some clips from Barr's career including: her first appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" from 1985; "On Location: The Roseanne Barr Show" from 1987; an appearance on "The Larry Sanders Show" from 1995; "The Roseanne Show" from 2000; "Roseanne Barr: Blonde and Bitchin'" from 2006; and highlights from "Roseanne" from 1988 to 1997. Afterward, Barr takes the stage to touch on such topics as: being a Jew raised "on the wrong side of the tracks" in the Mormon-populated Salt Lake City; her transition from growing up days to stand-up comic; her early struggles in stand-up due to her "message"; her comic heroes; the importance of class in America; describing herself as a "working class feminist"; her comedy being poorly received after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks; how her sitcom was first conceived; how she overcame the original intentions of the network "suits" for her show; being involved in the show's writing process; dealing with Matt Williams, the credited "creator" of "Roseanne"; when fame went to her head; how the character of Roseanne Conner changed over the years; battles she had with the network over the years; her passionate work for political causes; the current state of television; her thoughts on "Desperate Housewives" and "My Name is Earl"; memories from her short-lived talk show "The Roseanne Show"; the new "mellow Roseanne"; how the tabloids affect her; women's growing dependence on pharmaceuticals; and not being a fan of Washington's "current regime." Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics: the decision to have the Dan Conner character die on "Roseanne"; Barr's father's thoughts on her success; Barr working with the child actors on "Roseanne"; how Barr initially handled her fame; Barr's ill-fated reality show "The Real Roseanne Show"; how her stand-up comedy has evolved; whether Barr will ever write for other people; the aspect of entertainment with which Barr is most comfortable; the demographic that television wrongly ignores; people being reminded of their mom by Barr's antics; why Barr's reality show ended so quickly, and the choice that if offered her; how Barr's children react to her success and whether any of them are interested in show business; how Estelle Parsons came to be on "Roseanne"; Roseanne's movie "She-Devil" and why she hasn't appeared in more films; the process that allowed Barr to go from working in Denver comedy clubs to being on "The Tonight Show"; why Judaism wasn't a more prevalent part of "Roseanne"; the realism of the "Roseanne" set; the incorporation of African-American characters on "Roseanne"; making "Roseanne" a unionized show; Barr's charitable causes; and meeting people with ideals.
Details
- NETWORK: Paley
- DATE: October 16, 2006 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:31:20
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:89426
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: Women's Collection - Comedy
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Barbara Dixon … Host
- Alex Ben Block … Moderator
- Roseanne Barr … Guest
- Johnny Carson
- Estelle Parsons
- Matt Williams