‘Roseanne’ review: ABC’s revival of Roseanne Barr’s iconic comedy offers a lot more nostalgia than laughs
The producers are more creative regarding the fact that two different actresses (Lecy Goranson, Sarah Chalke) played the couple’s older daughter, Becky, although frankly, that sort of inventiveness is in distinctly short supply.
Roseanne gradually became a handful for ABC by making star-sized demands when the show became an unexpected hit, discarding producers during the show’s heyday as if they were temporary Christmas help. This time, executives have handed her the keys to the kingdom from the get-go, clearly hoping the name alone would do most of the heavy lifting ratings-wise.
That might work initially, as « Will & Grace » has for NBC, and with CBS planning a « Murphy Brown » revival. Still, the result here is a show that should conjure a few smiles among those content to see the renewed interplay of the characters, but which exhibits none of the creative spark necessary to invigorate a comeback that transparently exists because the cast was willing and the network desperate to make some noise.
Notably, « Roseanne » is just one of three new sitcoms ABC is introducing the same week, and while the others don’t have three decades of history in their corner, the concepts do possess a retro flavor.
Adapted from a Danish series, « Splitting Up Together » feels like an ABC sitcom from the 1990s, about a couple (« The Office’s » Jenna Fischer, Oliver Hudson) that grows closer after their divorce.
As romantic comedies go, it’s a perfectly durable (if familiar) concept, the problem being that while there’s a movie in it, as a series, the teasing-out process feels strained after only a couple episodes.
« Alex, Inc., » meanwhile, stars Zach Braff (« Scrubs »), who doubles as one of the producers, as a guy who chucks his career as a radio producer to pursue his dream of launching a podcast company, where he intends to tell « stories that matter. »
Based on Alex Blumberg’s podcast « Startup, » the word « podcast » is about the only thing that makes « Alex, Inc. » feel like a 21st-century enterprise, from the title character’s adorable yet precocious sitcom children to his supportive if understandably concerned wife (Tiya Sircar). The show also features « The Sopranos' » Michael Imperioli as Alex’s peculiar cousin, who assists him with the fledgling enterprise.
As one of the centerpieces of ABC’s spring hopes, « Roseanne » does figure to benefit from a built-in curiosity factor. But while there’s always some excitement in reuniting an old band, this one mostly winds up belting out a tune equivalent to Roseanne’s legendary version of the Star-Spangled Banner.
« Roseanne » premieres March 27 at 8 p.m. on ABC. « Splitting Up Together » and « Alex, Inc. » premiere on March 27 and March 28, respectively.
