Joining Roseanne at 16 was a huge shift for Chalke, who said that she ran the risk of ruining her high school reputation by talking about being cast before the episodes were filmed. Once her eps as Becky started to air, things definitely changed, though not necessarily all for the better. Apparently, some of her schoolmates thought that OG actress Lecy Goranson was the more preferable choice for Becky. In Chalke’s words:
“I remember being at a Freedom Tibet rally, and someone coming up to me. I just kind of started and I just made some new friends, and I’m sitting with them, and they shouted at me and they were like, ‘I like the first Becky way better!’ And I was like, ‘Okay, yeah, she was fantastic. I agree. She was great.’
Sarah Chalke
‘Roseanne’ TV show premiere, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA – 23 Mar 2018
Just when you think it’s safe to let your guard down amongst new friends, that’s the prime time for knuckleheads to rise up and attempt to ruin everything. And what a confusing piece of criticism for a younger actor, since it doesn’t sound like the other kids were specifically railing on her portrayal as being bad on the show, but rather just voicing a preference for Goranson. It’s hard to know how the teenage brain would take that particular brand of negatviity, since Chalke herself also kind of agreed with the sentiment in general.
Though most bullies just double-down on negative comments and behavior after the initial antagonism, Sarah Chalke experienced a different kind of follow up seemingly later that same day, when the kid who yelled judgmentally at her approached her and owned up to his actions with an apology.
Chalke first joined Roseanne after Lecy Goranson exited the show to continue her formal education, having grown tired of the grind of TV filming. She inevitably returned to the show before its final season, and the show has poked fun at Becky’s dual nature in various ways. Chalke even returned for Roseanne’s revival season in a fun way, not as Becky but as Andrea, a woman who aims for Becky to be a surrogate mother. (Because they look so much alike, of course.)
Although that plan fell through due to Becky’s eggs not being in prime shape, Chalke returned again after the sitcom was rebranded as The Conners, for an episode that honored Glenn Quinn’s death. That whole experience led to a drunken one night stand that resulted in Beverly Rose, which itself sparked several storylines revolving around Becky becoming comfortable with being a mother, as well as going sober.