Recap / Roseanne S 1 E 1 Life And Stuff

In the series pilot, Roseanne is summoned to a parent/teacher conference after Darlene has been barking in class.

Original airdate, October 18, 1988.

Tropes

• An Aseop: Roseanne and Dan, although it's never spoken, realize that the only way to battle petty disagreements is to work together and raise the family as a team.
• A-Cup Angst: Becky as revealed by Roseanne over the phone.
  Roseanne: [Becky's friend calls, Roseanne answers in a high perky voice] Hi! I just looked in the mirror and I'm growing boobs! Becky can't come to the phone.
• Blatant Lies: DJ denies eating the pie Roseanne told him not to eat. The blueberry smudge on his mouth gives it away.
• Brick Joke: During the breakfast scene, Roseanne asks Dan to save her the coupon from the paper. He starts tearing it off nice and straight, and the scene cuts to Becky complaining about her bookbag. When the camera goes back to Dan, he's finishing tearing out the coupon, which is now in a peanut shape.
• Bystander Syndrome: Roseanne when Darlene cuts her finger and Becky calls for help.
• Call-Forward: Roseanne does a throwback to this episode in the episode "Into That Good Night". In that episode, Roseanne is talking to Darlene about raising kids, and she says, "Do you remember when I was called down to your school because you had been barking in class?".
• Celebrity Cameo: A young George Clooney as the character Booker.
• Clingy Jealous Girl: Roseanne claims she won't get mad if Dan had dated any other girl before her. When Dan jokes about who he would've married if not Roseanne, however...
  Roseanne Conner: Josephine Carter, that old slut?
• Deadpan Snarker: All over the place. Particularly Roseanne, Becky, Darlene, Dan, etc.
• Dysfunctional Family: The teacher complains that Darlene barks in class. Roseanne quips back, "the whole family barks!".
• Early-Installment Weirdness:
  • The original opening sequence consisted of the Conner family eating dessert.
  • The pilot episode features a slightly different title sequence with a different Roseanne logo than the one used throughout the rest of the series, the kitchen looks different, and Sal Barone plays D.J. instead of Michael Fishman.
• Hypocritical Humor: Dan and Roseanne bickering over his dislike of leaving toast crumbs on the butter and Roseanne's dislike of when someone leaves peanut butter in the jelly jar.
  Dan Conner: I can't stand it when people leave toast crumbs on the butter.
  Roseanne Conner: Well what difference does it make? You're just gonna smear it on your toast.
  Dan Conner: It ain't right. You don't like it when people leave jelly in the peanut butter jar.
  Roseanne Conner: That's sickening.
• "Jump Off a Bridge" Rebuttal: Darlene's question to Roseanne.
  Darlene Conner: I said I'm sorry, what do you want me to do, jump off a bridge?
  Roseanne Conner: Yes, and take your brother and sister with you.
• Minor Injury Overreaction: Becky is the one doing this when Darlene accidentally cuts her finger.
• Parental Neglect: The school teacher accuses Roseanne of not being attentive enough to her children.
• Troubling Unchildlike Behavior: The teacher thinks that Darlene barking in class is this.
• Useless Bystander Parent
  Becky Conner: [screaming hysterically after Darlene cuts her finger] Take her to the emergency room! She needs a tourniquet!
  Roseanne Conner: [casually] Shut up, honey!