Roseanne: Aliens

Roseanne: Aliens
ABC
May 12, 1992
Sitcom
DVD
B+

Joel Madison wrote the story with Ron Nelson (who has very few credits, none on my other shows), but the teleplay with Jeff Abugov, and it contains the following:

• Becky finding out that due to her family's financial struggles, there's no money for her to attend more than community college, despite her great grades;
• Leon turning out to be human, trying to find his waitresses (whose last day is now here) new jobs and bringing in sparkling cider;
• Roseanne making a political candidate regret his door-to-door campaigning, twice, by talking about the economy;
• Arnie leaving Nancy a note that he's being kidnapped by aliens, and then in the tag this proving to be true;
• Nancy seeing Jackie having had a "relationship" with Arnie as a bonding thing for them, when Jackie would just as soon that everyone forget about it; 
• DJ (again called David Jacob) winning the school spelling bee, with his family rooting him on, and his parents knowing it's in the bag when his last word is "foreclosure";
• and a celebratory ice cream fight.

Steve Kramer was the English voice of Wilde Wolf on Maple Town and is Roger's Father here.  Teacher Anna Gee Byrd had played a Nurse on Who's the Boss?  Clint Allmon and Jeff Heston would return as Aliens #1 and #2.  Thanks to appearances elsewhere, this is the 100th show of mine for Roseanne Barr (well, Roseanne Arnold at that point).

Roseanne in its fourth season ranges from B- to A-, averaging out to an impressive B.  There are none of the big missteps like in previous seasons (e.g. Roseanne's dream of murdering her family), and even the Bowmans don't wreck the show.  Season Four is wise and wisecracking, with moments of drama and reality, from emotional to financial, as well as silliness, as this episode amply demonstrates.  That the tonal shifts are smooth rather than awkward is to the credit of director Weyman, the writers, and of course the chemistry-rich cast.  We believe in the Conners and company and we can't wait to see where life takes them next.