The BEST episodes of Roseanne season 1

Every episode of Roseanne season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Roseanne season 1!

Explore life, death and everything in between through the relatable, hilarious and brutally honest lens of the working-class Conner household, which is located in the drab, fictional exurb of Langford, Illinois. With the inimitable Roseanne Barr at its epicenter as the family's matriarch, the series tackles current issues with fresh stories and even more laughs. Roseanne is joined by her husband, Dan, and their children, D.J., Darlene and Becky. Roseanne's warm, but neurotic, sister Jackie rounds out the core of the family.

Last Updated: 11/3/2024Network: ABC (US)Status: Ended
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Let's Call It Quits
star
8.04
289 votes

#1 - Let's Call It Quits

Season 1 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/2/1989

Roseanne has difficulty accepting new rules from a tough new supervisor at the factory.

Directors: Ellen Falcon
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Father's Day
star
8.00
283 votes

#2 - Father's Day

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/7/1989

Roseanne steps in to referee when Dan's visiting father pontificates about Dan wasting time working as a contractor.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Toto, We're Not in Kansas Anymore
star
7.91
297 votes

#3 - Toto, We're Not in Kansas Anymore

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/28/1989

As a tornado spins through Lanford, a storm is brewing inside the Conner house over the whereabouts of Jackie who hasn't returned from her trip to the market.

Directors: John Sgueglia
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Becky's Choice
star
7.81
328 votes

#4 - Becky's Choice

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/28/1989

Becky is eager for the dinner party with Chip and his parents to come to an end.

Directors: John Sgueglia
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Dear Mom and Dad
star
7.79
309 votes

#5 - Dear Mom and Dad

Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 4/18/1989

An unannounced visit by Roseanne's parents has the Conner house in an uproar.

Directors: John Sgueglia
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Canoga Time
star
7.71
298 votes

#6 - Canoga Time

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/17/1989

Dan can't bear to part with the "junk" Roseanne wants to donate to a rummage sale; Darlene forges a passing grade on her report card.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
We're in the Money
star
7.68
548 votes

#7 - We're in the Money

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/25/1988

Although Dan and Roseanne agree not to spend any of Dan's $500 advance on themselves, neither can resist the temptation.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Nightmare on Oak Street
star
7.62
314 votes

#8 - Nightmare on Oak Street

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/14/1989

Darlene's bad dreams aren't due to the scary movies she's been watching.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Life and Stuff
star
7.62
743 votes

#9 - Life and Stuff

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 10/18/1988

Roseanne deals with complaints that her daughter Darlene barks in school.

Directors: Ellen Falcon
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Dan's Birthday Bash
star
7.61
425 votes

#10 - Dan's Birthday Bash

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 1/3/1989

Dan's birthday bash at the Lobo Lounge is interrupted by a bully who picks a fight with Dan at the pool table.

Directors: Ellen Falcon
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
D-I-V-O-R-C-E
star
7.60
514 votes

#11 - D-I-V-O-R-C-E

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 11/1/1988

Jackie babysits while Roseanne and Dan go out to a formal restaurant dinner -- at which they see a recently divorced friend.

Directors: Ellen Falcon
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Bridge Over Troubled Sonny
star
7.57
278 votes

#12 - Bridge Over Troubled Sonny

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/31/1989

Crystal struggles to cope with the death of her husband; Darlene decides it's cool to smoke.

Directors: Ellen Falcon
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Workin' Overtime
star
7.54
311 votes

#13 - Workin' Overtime

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/14/1989

After two weeks of overtime at work and chaos at home, Roseanne takes refuge at a diner.

Directors: Ellen Falcon
Watch Now:Apple TV
Here's to Good Friends
star
7.53
429 votes

#14 - Here's to Good Friends

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 12/20/1988

Roseanne and Jackie help Crystal drown her sorrows over breaking up with her lover by taking her to the Lobo Lounge for a few pink squirrels and a pep talk.

Directors: Ellen Falcon
Watch Now:Apple TV
Lovers' Lane
star
7.49
457 votes

#15 - Lovers' Lane

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 12/6/1988

Bowling night finds Roseanne checking out Becky's new boyfriend Chip, while Jackie and Booker make a bet with high stakes.

Directors: Ellen Falcon
Watch Now:Apple TV
Language Lessons
star
7.37
498 votes

#16 - Language Lessons

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/22/1988

A body language test reveals Dan's innermost feelings about his sister-in-law; Darlene has a bone to pick with D.J.

Watch Now:Apple TV
The Slice of Life
star
7.36
330 votes

#17 - The Slice of Life

Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/7/1989

Darlene's emergency appendectormy makes Roseanne anxious and guilty over having yelled at Darlene earlier.

Directors: John Sgueglia
Watch Now:Apple TV
Saturday
star
7.35
364 votes

#18 - Saturday

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/10/1989

Roseanne bets Dan he'll never finish repairing his truck.

Directors: Ellen Falcon
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Monday Through Friday Show
star
7.34
279 votes

#19 - The Monday Through Friday Show

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/24/1989

Dan and Roseanne disagree about where to spend a romantic 15th anniversary; Becky refuses to dissect a frog in biology class; Darlene finds her paper route more than she can handle.

Directors: Ellen Falcon
Watch Now:Apple TV
Radio Days
star
7.22
468 votes

#20 - Radio Days

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/29/1988

A songwriting contest unleashes creativity in Dan and Roseanne, while Booker unleashes uncontrolled impulses in Jackie.

Directors: Ellen Falcon
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Memory Game
star
7.18
381 votes

#21 - The Memory Game

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 12/13/1988

Roseanne discovers that Dan had a one-night stand with her high-school nemesis years ago.

Directors: Ellen Falcon
Watch Now:Apple TV
Mall Story
star
7.16
334 votes

#22 - Mall Story

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/21/1989

Roseanne takes her reluctant family on a shopping spree at the Lanford mall.

Directors: John Sgueglia
Watch Now:Apple TV
Death and Stuff
star
7.14
307 votes

#23 - Death and Stuff

Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 4/11/1989

During the family's busy weekend activities, a door-to-door salesman drops by -- and then drops dead in the Conner kitchen.

Directors: John Sgueglia
Watch Now:Apple TV