How Long Until We Get Another Great Show Like Roseanne?
Introduction
Have you ever flipped through countless streaming platforms and thought,
“Why can’t we get another show like Roseanne?”
You’re not alone.
The sitcom landscape has changed dramatically since Roseanne first aired in 1988. Back then, the show felt raw, relatable, and refreshingly honest. It wasn’t shiny or glamorous — it was real. The Conners lived paycheck to paycheck and argued, laughed, and loved just like real families everywhere.
Today, TV feels… different.
Bigger budgets. Flashier sets. Perfectly-polished characters living perfectly-polished lives.
So the question stands:
How long will it take until we get another show as authentic and culturally impactful as Roseanne?
Let’s dive into the state of modern TV, what made Roseanne iconic, and whether Hollywood is capable of creating something similar again.
What Made Roseanne So Iconic?
A Sitcom That Broke Every Rule
Before Roseanne, sitcom families lived in big houses, never worried about bills, and conveniently solved every problem within 22 minutes.
The Conners were different.
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They struggled financially.
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They fought.
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They loved hard.
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They didn’t pretend to be perfect.
It wasn’t escapism — it was recognition.
Representation That Felt Real
Unlike most sitcoms of its era, Roseanne showed:
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Blue-collar struggles
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Body positivity (without making it a “lesson”)
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Strong, flawed characters
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Imperfect parenting (refreshing, right?)
It was the first sitcom where the joke wasn’t the character —
the humor came from truth.
Why We Haven’t Seen A Show Like It Since
The Risk-Averse Era of Hollywood
Streaming platforms want safe content.
Why?
Because:
“Playing it safe protects the bottom line.”
But authentic storytelling — like Roseanne — isn’t safe.
It deals with:
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Money problems
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Job insecurity
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Real relationships
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Cultural tensions
Today, studios hesitate to touch anything that might spark controversy, even if that’s exactly what audiences crave.
Perfect Characters Aren’t Relatable
Modern characters are often too polished:
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Perfect lives.
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Perfect makeup.
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Perfect resolutions.
But perfection is boring.
Real life is messy — and that’s where connection lives.
Audiences Are Begging for Realism Again
Streaming data and viewer interviews show a strong pattern:
Audiences miss realism.
Shows that are gaining popularity today aren’t polished sitcoms — they’re raw dramas and docu-style comedies.
Think:
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Shameless
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The Bear
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Young Sheldon (which works because it leans on relatable family dynamics)
People don’t want fantasy anymore.
They want recognition.
They want another Roseanne.
Could Streaming Bring the Next Big Relatable Sitcom?
More Platforms = More Freedom
Streaming has changed everything.
Unlike network TV:
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No strict content rules
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No time restrictions
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No need to appeal to “everyone”
That opens the door to bold, niche, and authentic storytelling.
The Rise of Everyday Characters Again
Recent trends show a shift back to working-class stories:
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Food industry workers (The Bear)
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Blue-collar family life (Reservation Dogs)
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Single mom chaos (Maid)
We’re slowly seeing a return to realism…
But nothing yet hits that Roseanne-level sweet spot of comedy + relatability.
What Would It Take for Another Show to Match Roseanne?
To create the next great sitcom, Hollywood needs to stop chasing viral trends and start chasing truth.
A future Roseanne-level show would need:
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Flawed characters (no more perfect moms in spotless kitchens)
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Working-class reality (stretching paychecks, not buying mansions)
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Sharp, raw humor (funny because it’s true)
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Courage to offend someone (impact requires risk)
The Biggest Barrier: Authentic Writers Are Rare
You can’t fake lived experience.
Many TV writers today come from:
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Film school pipelines
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Upper-middle class backgrounds
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Corporate writing rooms
But Roseanne was created by someone who lived the struggle.
Authenticity can’t be manufactured — it has to be lived.
Are We Close to Another “Roseanne”?
The answer:
We’re closer than we’ve been in years.
Hollywood is realizing that audiences are tired of fake perfection.
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Reboots aren’t working.
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Nostalgia isn’t enough.
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Real storytelling is what people want.
Streaming services are finally funding projects from:
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first-time writers,
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working-class storytellers,
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comedians who aren’t afraid to tell the truth.
We’re inching toward a new era of real TV.
The Future: Humor + Authenticity = The Winning Formula
The next great sitcom won’t be polished.
It will be:
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Funny
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Imperfect
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A little messy
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Brutally honest
Just like life.
Just like Roseanne.
Conclusion
So, how long until we get another great show like Roseanne?
Not long — but only if writers stop trying to please everyone and start telling the truth.
Audiences aren’t asking for perfection.
They’re asking for honesty.
They’re asking to feel seen.
And eventually, a show will come along that dares to be messy, raw, and real.
Just like Roseanne did.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why was Roseanne so groundbreaking?
It showed a working-class family realistically, without glamorizing or sugarcoating life.
2. Why don’t modern sitcoms feel authentic anymore?
Many studios avoid risky topics, choosing polished and safe storytelling instead.
3. What kind of show could replace Roseanne?
One that blends humor with real-life struggles — not perfection.
4. Could streaming platforms create the next great sitcom?
Absolutely. They provide more creative freedom than traditional networks.
5. Why do people still talk about Roseanne decades later?
Because people don’t forget the first show that made them feel seen.
