Roseanne: Santa Claus

Roseanne: Santa Claus
ABC
December 24, 1991
Sitcom
DVD
B

Barry Vigon wrote the story that Lapiduss & Lorre made into a teleplay, and, yes, it's sort of about Christmas, but not exactly.  Since the job playing Mrs. Claus at Rodbell's department store pays $7.50 versus $10 for Santa, Roseanne cross-dresses as a feminist gesture, and for the under the table cash.  She meets Darlene's new friend, who turns out to be Roseanne's age and the owner of a bookstore.  Roseanne feels confused and jealous about Karen Miller (another nice turn for Lee Garlington, who'd memorably played Ms. Foster from the IRS on Who's the Boss?, although I don't remember her '89 role on Roseanne as Carole Karoszek).  Finding out that there's a whole hidden side to Darlene, writing sci-fi short stories, doesn't help.

Walter Jacobson returns as Walter from the appliance store, doing another mini-rant.  Julianne Michelle, who's a nameless Child here, had been on the most recent episode of Who's the Boss? as Katie Havlock, while Ross Malinger, who's Sammy Miller, played three different roles in the "Billy season" of WtB.