Roseanne: Brain-Dead Poets Society

Roseanne: Brain-Dead Poets Society
ABC
November 28, 1989
Sitcom
DVD
B

This is another Joss Whedon episode that shows that he developed his talent for writing female characters early.  Darlene reluctantly writes a poem and even more reluctantly shares it at Culture Night.  She's still jock!Darlene, but Darlene the Writer starts to emerge here, with Roseanne encouraging, almost forcing, that side.  Confusingly, Darlene is in the 7th grade and has recently turned 13, despite the earlier episode where she was already 13.  Lonnie isn't seen but Crystal reads his terrible but sweet poem about her.

Troy W. Slaten, who plays Martin, was David on Who's the Boss? four seasons earlier.