These ‘Real American’ Sitcoms Are More Socially Relevant Than Roseanne

Roseanne debuted on ABC in 1988 and was an instant critical and commercial hit. The show was praised for its realistic portrayal of everyday life. In the show’s (original) final season, it lifted the veil on reality and had the family win the lottery.

Now back on ABC in 2018, the show is pretending the 1997 season never happened. The Conners have returned to fighting the everyday struggles of middle America. Unfortunately for Roseanne and company, several sitcoms since 1988 have shown the struggle with more honesty. From becoming a professional adult on Scrubs to raising a family on The Middle, the following shows are more American than Roseanne could ever hope to be.

Baskets Is About A Mother Holding Her Family Together

Baskets, anchored by Louie Anderson’s heartbreaking performance as Christine Baskets, shows the ties that barely keep families together. Don’t let the premise about a failed French clown moving back home to Bakersfield, California fool you. The showrunners learned early on Christine was the true star.

The third season of the show premiered with Christine forcing the family to run a rodeo together. All she wants is for her family to find peace and happiness, a theme that is all too common in today’s dark world. Indiewire called the season, the next step in the evolution of this damaged yet lovable family.” And that’s the point. When we talk about Roseanne, we say “The Conners,” not “family.”