Roseanne Again

Lawrence Christon is a little hard on a show that’s just out the gate (“Does Roseanne Rise Above It All?”, Dec. 11). Waxing nostalgically over the structural conflicts and resolutions to be found in old “Honeymooner” episodes, he forgets that character backgrounds necessary to support such conflicts and resolutions take time to develop. Isn’t it a bit early to tell which “Roseanne” characters represent which emotional/ideological camps on the basis of just a few episodes? Each show builds on the one before it. Let us find out about these people first--then let ‘em fight.

The show’s writers, however, should heed Christon’s caution about letting their program turn into another formula comedy. Right now, “Roseanne” is different. Its defiance of convention and pretentiousness is a blast of fresh air. While it may not represent “real” life, it comes closer than anything else on the air. It would be a shame if the star and the show’s writers and producers lost their nerve and opted to blend in with the rest of the crowd.

TIM WEEDLUN

Santa Monica