For Roseanne art imutates life
David
THE RETURN OF ROSEANNE
By SUSAN KARLIN
April 28, 2003 -- ART imitates life imitates art imitates life.
That is, if you regard reality television as art and Roseanne as
reality.
This summer, ABC will air the real-life adventures of Roseanne Barr
(as she is calling herself again) as she tools about Hollywood
pitching "The Domestic Goddess Hour," a weekly variety- cooking show
to air on cable's ABC Family this fall.
The still-untitled Roseanne reality show will spend 13 weekly
half-hours following the thrice-divorced comedienne as she attends
network pitch meetings, searches for yet another Mr. Right and engages
in outrageous everyday rebellions. Upon conclusion, ABC Family kicks
in with "Domestic Goddess," an offering of famous chefs, celebrity
guests, remote adventures and music performances.
The show-within-a- show concept is both a synergistic business move
(translation: both shows are owned by Disney) and spoof on the reality
format as home for larger-than-life performers too fabulous (or
medicated) to be confined by mere sitcoms.
Roseanne came up with the idea.
"Roseanne's life is the extreme sports of situation comedy," says R.J.
Cutler, who executive produces both shows with Roseanne and who won an
Emmy Award for the Fox/PBS series "American High" and an Oscar
nomination for co-producing the D.A. Pennebaker documentary film "The
War Room."
"After all, this is a woman who periodically fires her children," he
says.
If the rating gods smile, ABC may air a second season of the reality
series - culled from behind-the-scenes footage of the Domestic Goddess
production - after the cable series ends.
"Roseanne is every documentary filmmaker's dream," says Cutler.
"Roseanne is capable of stirring things up at a moment's notice, yet
she is endlessly delightful, charming and a great star with a lot of
facets to her life," he adds. "She's a mom, a performer, a friend, a
grandmother, a studio head, an industry, a manufacturer of hot sauce
that she sells on the Internet."
From bedside production meetings to the revolving door of celebrity
cameos, Cutler is deliberately coy with specifics but promises
scenarios that would make Rod Serling kvell - like Roseanne, Ozzy
Osbourne and their camera crews running into each other at Barney's
and exchanging tips on shopping and weathering reality shows.
"Some staff members do not necessarily survive the process," says
Cutler.
"I can't say much more, but those seeking to learn about Roseanne's
dating life will not be disappointed."