Roseanne: Hoi Polloi Meets Hoiti Toiti

'90s Comedy Central viewers would get a kick out of the casting.

Roseanne: Hoi Polloi Meets Hoiti Toiti
ABC
November 12, 1996
Sitcom
DVD
C+

Leif Sandaas co-wrote (with someone with almost zero other credits) this not-bad-for-Season-Nine story where Astrid Wentworth (Mo Gaffney again) invites Roseanne and family to stay with the Wentworths at Martha's Vineyard.  The class contrast is a little weak, but stronger than anything we've seen so far this season, even if the ultimate message is that the rich (or at least this rich family anyway) are basically nice people who just need to loosen up.  (And that Roseanne Barr would end up supporting an uninhibited rich man for President is one of history's ironies.) 

Note that the teenage girl of the household thinks D.J. is a "bad boy" and tries to seduce him, but he's a scared virgin.  D.J. is now 15 and this won't be the last we'll hear of his "love life."  Also, since I had to omit Fishman from the overcrowded tags thrice in the past, this is actually his 200th episode.

Stella Butler, who previously was a sassy Jerry Springer Audience Member, here is sassy Nurse Stella.  This time Phil Leeds plays Grandmama Lily.  Iqbal Theba would reprise his role as Dr. Bakshi in the next episode and would be on Ellen the following year.  Stand-up comic Dana Gould, who's Chip here, would also soon appear on Ellen.  Cole Roberts is still baby Jerry, and the Hazen twins are still listed for Andy, but Andy's hair is darker now.

Roseanne: Satan, Darling

Roseanne: Satan, Darling
ABC
October 29, 1996
Sitcom
DVD
C-

Well, it's better than the spa episode, but still pretty random.  Let me just list the guest stars and then we can try to sort out the "plot":

• Mo Gaffney as Astrid Wentworth;
• Arianna Huffington as Estree Longet
• Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders as their Absolutely Fabulous characters Edina Monsoon and Patsy Stone;
• and Marlo Thomas as Tina Beige, "that witch" in the nightmare portion;

So, Roseanne Barr co-wrote this story with Erin Quigley, the series costume designer, which sort of explains some of the costumes, and then co-wrote the teleplay with Saunders.  And she directed it.  It's actually a surprise it's not worse than it is.

Roseanne [Conner] and Jackie go to a high society party with Nancy, who soon ditches them and disappears from the episode.  They mingle and are clearly going to be exploited for their newfound wealth.  In the spa episode, Roseanne just took the abuse instead of standing up to it, while here she has a drunken dream that takes the form of Rosemary's Baby, with eight-weeks-pregnant Darlene heavy with Satan's child.  The spa visit and Jackie's relationship with the prince are referenced, and Astrid invites the two sisters to visit her at her home, setting up another episode.  The series has clearly slipped its moorings by this point, but you can't exactly call it dull.  And, yes, I guess this counts as this season's Halloween episode.

Ernest Harada, who was Mr. Jan (from the school board as I recall) thrice on Welcome Back, Kotter, has a nameless role here.  Kathleen Freeman, who was a Seaweed Attendant in the previous episode, is Edna here.  Party Guest Scott McKinley would soon play a Photographer.  Phil Leeds's middle of three Roseanne roles is as a waiter.  And a grayed-up 41-year-old Jim J. Bullock (from Too Close to Comfort) is Al.

This is the 1600th sitcom episode I've reviewed.  Yes, we'll get to 1700.

The Full Wax: Episode 2.3

Probably looking forward to Women Aloud.

The Full Wax: Episode 2.3
BBC
26 March 1992
Talk Show
VHS
C-

When the "highlight" is poor Mo Gaffney go-go dancing, and not even a Teri Garr interview can save things, it's time to call it a day.  I realize this isn't a complete collection, but the four and a fraction episodes average out to a very low C+, worth tuning in to, especially if you're a Whose Line Is It Anyway? fan, but you'll probably want to hit the fast-forward button.

The Full Wax: Episode 2.2

The Full Wax: Episode 2.2
BBC
19 March 1992
Talk Show
VHS
C+

Confusingly, this has the same Tony sequences as we saw previously, except the longer one is heavily edited down, and the other guest stars are completely different, like James Belushi instead of Teri Garr.

The Full Wax: Episode 1.5

The Full Wax: Episode 1.5
BBC
1991
Talk Show
VHS
C+

It's hard to know what to make of this, from Taffy Turner (Mo Gaffney)'s beauty pageant piece to the segment on buying a breast job for a viewer.  I taped it because of co-host McShane, who of course isn't given enough to do.

inDecision 92: Election Night: Fragment

inDecision 92: Election Night: Fragment
Comedy Central
November 3, 1992
Politics
VHS
B-

Future Senator Al Franken and company, including Joy Behar, Roy Blount, Jr. and Buck Henry, cover Bill Clinton's election from a humorous and decidedly Democratic angle.  There are some slow moments, but it's worth watching again for things like footage of Calvin Trillin at the Republican Convention interviewing "the wrong George Bush," i.e. the giddy, somewhat goofy eldest son of the President.  Note that CC used this opportunity to promote not only Gaffney's Women Aloud but three of the classic sitcoms it was then airing:  Bilko, Car 54, and That Girl.  (I don't have enough space to tag Phil Silvers, but, yes, he was also on a great episode of Gilligan's Island.)

The Full Wax: Episode 2.2 [fragment]

The Full Wax: Episode 2.2 [fragment]
19 March 1992
BBC
Talk Show
VHS
B-

American comedienne Ruby Wax interviews celebrities but would rather talk about herself.  Mo Gaffney is tagged for her appearance as "Taffy Turner."  Tony in his two scenes is sexy, adorable, silly, and witty, but Teri is underutilized in scenes of her being underutilized.