Roseanne: The Mommy's Curse

Roseanne: The Mommy's Curse
ABC
September 21, 1993
Sitcom
DVD
B

This episode by Eric Gilliland introduces Fred, played by Michael O'Keefe, who was two different characters on M*A*S*H back in the '70s, although he was only 38 at this point.  He'd be in 34 more Roseanne episodes, although I can't tell if Fred ever got a last name.  Fred is introduced as Dan's friend and employee, whom Jackie has a crush on.  Roseanne pressures Jackie to ask Fred out, since she hasn't dated in the last six months.  Jackie reluctantly goes through with it and ends up having a one-night stand because she's not ready for a relationship.  Fred wants more and I, then 25 and dealing with a separation that would soon become a divorce, definitely wanted more of this cute, sweet, funny character.  (He was probably my strongest crush of the time, even more than some of the Whose Line Is It Anyway? men.)

The episode is mostly about Roseanne trying to get Bev to be a silent partner and then feeling guilty about it, till Bev sells her share of the restaurant to Leon.  So two threads are set up that will impact the next two or three seasons.  Note that this episode is not only lacking Darlene, understandably, but D.J. doesn't even make a brief token appearance like last time.  This is the 300th of my 1990s shows.