Becky was such a selfish witch during this time. I felt bad for Dan who was already feeling like crap for not being successful at owning his own business. The episode where Becky is filling out her college applications makes me laugh so damn much now because Becky never bothered to fulfill her dream of going to college, yet, in this episode, she is asking her parents "How much do I have in my college fund?" She throws a hissy fit and tantrum when they tell her there is nothing saved. As if she couldn't get an academic scholarship, some grants, etc. There are many avenues that Becky could have looked into but NOOOOOOOO, she was a b*tch abt the whole thing. She stated she got straight "A's" so what was she bitching abt????? My God, there have been kids that I know that didn't get straight "A's", they got decent grades and they still went to college. This whole fiasco was unbelievable.

Becky: "You are going to help him find a new job, aren't you?"
Dan: "I don't have a job. Your mother doesn't have a job. But we'll make Mark our first priority."

Haha, if she'd been my kid, I would've slapped her.

Yes but that is what teenagers are like they dont think like adults,she was just hung up with her own things and didnt have time to see what dan and roseanne was going through.I agree i think i would of slapped becky then too.:)

If Becky was my kid I would have bitch slapped her. Yes she was completely selfish, Becky was the most selfish teenager on T.V the more I think about besides Carlton Banks(God, a lot of T.V teens of the 1990's were selfish buttholes :lol: )

I think that was the ultimate display of an ignorant teenager who thinks the world revolves around them, and has little to no perspective on the big picture. I didn't think it was unbelievable for the character to behave like that, she was always a mostly-difficult kid, and as someone who was recently that age, I know that saying things like that, really hurtful things, don't seem so bad to you when you are heated and the one saying them. I've never said anything that hurtful to my parents, but I at least can sort of understand.

If Lecy Goranson wasn't leaving for college in real life, I don't think she would have behaved like that. She didn't start acting completely beligerent until the last episode of season 4.

I think that was the ultimate display of an ignorant teenager who thinks the world revolves around them, and has little to no perspective on the big picture. I didn't think it was unbelievable for the character to behave like that, she was always a mostly-difficult kid, and as someone who was recently that age, I know that saying things like that, really hurtful things, don't seem so bad to you when you are heated and the one saying them. I've never said anything that hurtful to my parents, but I at least can sort of understand.

If Lecy Goranson wasn't leaving for college in real life, I don't think she would have behaved like that. She didn't start acting completely beligerent until the last episode of season 4.

Yes, Becky was always a brat but that last season her character really made me want to change the channel. I can't stand how teens disrespect their parents, especially when I lost both of my parents, it always burned me how ignorant Becky AND Darlene were towards their parents.

No doubt, they were very difficult. I think that was chillingly accurate. Teenagers can be difficult, and it made me uncomfortable watching those moments sometimes. It felt like I was actually watching people I cared about fighting, and I actually felt bad for Dan when Becky said those things to him.

I think it goes to show how good a series Roseanne was, we're supposed to hate Becky for saying those things, and they did a great job with it.

I think Becky was a brat during the whole season lol..


& did you see her on Larry King last year? with the rest of the cast.... she was such a bitch to larry king- I would've thrown her off the interview.

If Becky was my kid I would have bitch slapped her. Yes she was completely selfish, Becky was the most selfish teenager on T.V the more I think about besides Carlton Banks(God, a lot of T.V teens of the 1990's were selfish buttholes :lol: )
But she played it so damn good. God, I was a Becky when I was a teenager...:crazy: :lol: Roseanne's show was abt reality/realism and she proved it by having these kids of hers behave the way most Americans could identify with it. Hey, not every family is like the Huxtable kids (Cosby Show). :eek: :lol:

True i also was a bit like becky as a teenager too,but i did get bitch slapped from time to time for it lol.:lol:

I think Becky is unfairly attacked for her actions.

Roseanne understands why Becky is upset because Roseanne realizes it is because Becky does not want to end up like Roseanne, and rightfully so.

Sure, Becky could have gotten student loans and what-not, but those put you in debt. Besides, Becky was under the impression she had a college fund, which she did, but Roseanne and Dan used it because it was a, "rough year." If Roseanne and Dan had made better choices when they were young or Dan had kept a steady job in dry wall maybe there would have been some money for Becky, who knows? We must remember that Roseanne and Dan were suppose to have flaws, along with their kids. That’s what made this show so real, the parents had their flaws too.

All I'm saying is that if you had worked hard for straight A's throughout high school and then found out you'd have to go to a community college because your parents used your college fund, you'd be pissed too.

To take this a step further, I think the character of Becky is underrated. Becky was crucial to creating intense scene's in which were drama-filled. For instance, when Becky ran away to Jackie's, got drunk, wanted birth control and got married to Mark. Sure, she never had the funny lines, but the fights between her and Darlene and between her and Roseanne allowed for both Darlene and Roseanne to use some of the best one-liner's in the show. Becky's attitude and guts to never back-down from her opinion in the early seasons made the whole family seem more real. Becky isn't the best nor fan-favorite character, but she allowed the more popular characters a chance to say some witty, funny and humorous things. Plus, her character brought some of the most real and groundbreaking issues to the forefront of television.

There is nothing wrong with going to community college. It is a better step at times to do that than to go straight to a 4 year college. I did that. My nieces did that. It prepares you for the grueling 4 year college work.

Becky was being a typical bratty teen. I was like that, I am sure we all were at one point. My point abt the thread was merely to point out that there are millions of kids in the U.S. who get decent grades and use student loans, grants, etc. to pay their way to college. You will be in debt no matter what. With grants YOU DON'T PAY THAT MONEY BACK...only with student loans. It sure would have helped Becky in the long run to do that rather than run off with Mark and end up living in a trailer park.

There is nothing wrong with going to community college. It is a better step at times to do that than to go straight to a 4 year college. I did that. My nieces did that. It prepares you for the grueling 4 year college work.

Becky was being a typical bratty teen. I was like that, I am sure we all were at one point. My point abt the thread was merely to point out that there are millions of kids in the U.S. who get decent grades and use student loans, grants, etc. to pay their way to college. You will be in debt no matter what. With grants YOU DON'T PAY THAT MONEY BACK...only with student loans. It sure would have helped Becky in the long run to do that rather than run off with Mark and end up living in a trailer park.
What was the point of getting A's if she was going to end up at a community college? Honestly, I'd end up going to a community college if I had to take out student loans. However, Becky didn't think she'd have to take out student loans because she was planning to use her college fund. But Roseanne and Dan had already used Becky's college fund.

You have to admit, you'd be mad too if your college fund was gone and you were then forced to either take out student loans (IE: get in debt) or go to a community college when you worked hard to get A's in high school. Sure, there is nothing wrong with community college, but specific college's have the majors you are looking into and transfering from community college to an actual college is annoying.

I think Roseanne and Dan share some blame for that entire situation because they took Becky's college fund.

She would START out at community college, then she could transfer to a 4 year university.

What was the point overall of Becky getting straight "A"s only to rush out and get married to that loser Mark and ending up living in a trailer park? working at BUNS for minimum wage? not going to college at all while married to Mark? It wasn't like she had a baby to take care of, she could have gone to college while married.

When it comes to paying the mortgage (and Dan had two of them over his head, remember he took out a loan for the motorcycle shop?) or keeping $$$ in a college fund, I WILL PAY THE MORTGAGE. I would TELL MY CHILD THAT I WAS DOING THAT, but still, that is more important. Having a roof over your head or not touching the college fund. Hmmm, not a hard choice for me to make.

She would START out at community college, then she could transfer to a 4 year university.
She wouldn't need to start at a community college if she had a college fund.

What was the point overall of Becky getting straight "A"s only to rush out and get married to that loser Mark and ending up living in a trailer park? working at BUNS for minimum wage? not going to college at all while married to Mark? It wasn't like she had a baby to take care of, she could have gone to college while married.
That was the storyline created for Becky because her character had to exit the show since Lecy was going to college. When Becky came back and was being played by Sarah not much thought was put into Becky and her storyline. If Lecy had stayed as Becky I believe things would have turned out differently.

But I do remember Roseanne telling Mark that she knows Becky wants to go to college and that if Becky doesn't, it is because of Mark, not Becky.

When it comes to paying the mortgage (and Dan had two of them over his head, remember he took out a loan for the motorcycle shop?) or keeping $$$ in a college fund, I WILL PAY THE MORTGAGE. I would TELL MY CHILD THAT I WAS DOING THAT, but still, that is more important. Having a roof over your head or not touching the college fund. Hmmm, not a hard choice for me to make.
If Dan had made a more mature decision and stayed in dry wall, he wouldn't have had two mortgages and he wouldn't have been in debt from the bike shop. It was a risk Roseanne and Dan took to open the bike shop and a risk that turned out bad. They didn't make enough money because the shop never took off and they thus got in more debt and had two mortages to pay. If Dan and Roseanne had decided not to take that risk, maybe Becky would have had money in her college fund.

Bottom line, IT WAS BECKY'S DECISION TO NOT GO TO COLLEGE, Mark can't be blamed. Mark can't control his wife, he can't tell her to not get educated, etc. It was Becky's fault.

As for Becky, college fund or not, community college was there for her like it is for a lot of kids. She could have made something out of her life, it wasn't like she was at home caring for a baby she and Mark had.

I don't get into storylines. You are mentioning the Becky storyline because of the actress going to college in real life. In a nice discussion abt tv shows and characters it fun to forget that it is JUST A TV SHOW, because that could end all discussion overall on this board. The old "it's just a t.v. show" gets pretty lame to read. I like discussions abt the shows and the characters as if they are real.

Then, we have Roseanne later on "beaming with joy" when Becky tells Roseanne, "Mark and I are trying for a baby." :puke: WTF was Roseanne thinking?????? At that point it would have been great for her to tell Becky, "What are you thinking Becky???? You have no kids now, you can go to college and better your life, instead, you want to have a baby?" THAT WAS STUPID ON ROSEANNE'S PART. VERY STUPID.

As for Becky, college fund or not, community college was there for her like it is for a lot of kids. She could have made something out of her life, it wasn't like she was at home caring for a baby she and Mark had.
I'm not saying community college wasn't there for Becky. But I do, however, understand why Becky was upset at her parents. And to say she was selfish and to call her other names is something I do not agree with.

Becky worked hard and got good grades in order to go to a 4 year college and because of her parents bad choices she had no money in her college fund and thus couldn't go to a 4 year college unless she wanted to get into debt. Right after finding that out, I think her reaction is perfectly normal. Community college is typically for those who didn't get good grades and since Becky did get good grades I don't blame her for being upset.

Sure, she made some bad choices. But her reaction to finding out her college fund was gone is something I will not hold against her.

I don't get into storylines. You are mentioning the Becky storyline because of the actress going to college in real life. In a nice discussion abt tv shows and characters it fun to forget that it is JUST A TV SHOW, because that could end all discussion overall on this board. The old "it's just a t.v. show" gets pretty lame to read. I like discussions abt the shows and the characters as if they are real.
Ok...?

Then, we have Roseanne later on "beaming with joy" when Becky tells Roseanne, "Mark and I are trying for a baby." :puke: WTF was Roseanne thinking?????? At that point it would have been great for her to tell Becky, "What are you thinking Becky???? You have no kids now, you can go to college and better your life, instead, you want to have a baby?" THAT WAS STUPID ON ROSEANNE'S PART. VERY STUPID.
I thought we were just talking about Becky?

I'm not saying community college wasn't there for Becky. But I do, however, understand why Becky was upset at her parents. And to say she was selfish and to call her other names is something I do not agree with.

Becky worked hard and got good grades in order to go to a 4 year college and because of her parents bad choices she had no money in her college fund and thus couldn't go to a 4 year college unless she wanted to get into debt. Right after finding that out, I think her reaction is perfectly normal. Community college is typically for those who didn't get good grades and since Becky did get good grades I don't blame her for being upset.

Sure, she made some bad choices. But her reaction to finding out her college fund was gone is something I will not hold against her.


Ok...?


I thought we were just talking about Becky?

We are talking abt Becky. There is an episode where Becky tells Roseanne she wants to have a baby with Mark. That is what I am referencing to. I don't like how Roseanne jumps for joy at the thought of Becky wanting to become a mother RATHER THAN BECKY GOING TO COLLEGE. This would have been a perfect time for Roseanne to discuss with her daughter how getting that college education would be a better thing for Becky to do rather than try to become a mother.

Community college is a great route for one to take. I am not sure why you think one who has "not so good grades", community college would be a better option. My nieces excelled in high school and received numerous accolades, but they felt community college was a great start before going to UCLA. It can also help those who may not know yet what field they may want to go into as a career. Becky would have done great had she gone to community college while she was married. It would have opened up a lot of doors and options for her and most likely, have gotten her A CAREER, rather than working at BUNS for minimum wage. No matter what, she could have worked at BUNS and attended college at the same time. Roseanne to "congratulate" her for wanting to have a baby was one of the lowest points for the Roseanne character. Here she was wanting her kids to get out of Lanford, be better than her and here was Becky doing exactly what Roseanne did.

We are talking abt Becky. There is an episode where Becky tells Roseanne she wants to have a baby with Mark. That is what I am referencing to. I don't like how Roseanne jumps for joy at the thought of Becky wanting to become a mother RATHER THAN BECKY GOING TO COLLEGE. This would have been a perfect time for Roseanne to discuss with her daughter how getting that college education would be a better thing for Becky to do rather than try to become a mother.
I'm simply arguing that Becky tends to get a bad reputation for reasons that aren't valid.

Clearly, wanting to have a baby when she can't even take care of herself is a bad decision. However, I never denied that. What I tried to point out is that when Becky acted "bratty" in a few instances, she was well within her right to act that way because Dan and Roseanne made some mistakes that screwed over Becky's hopes to go to a 4-year-college right out of high school.

You are trying to make it seem as if I'm defending all of Becky's actions, which is not true. I'm simply pointing out that there are a few times where Becky was well within her right to act bitchy towards Dan and Roseanne and that Becky gets an unfair reputation for those instances.

Community college is a great route for one to take. I am not sure why you think one who has "not so good grades", community college would be a better option. My nieces excelled in high school and received numerous accolades, but they felt community college was a great start before going to UCLA. It can also help those who may not know yet what field they may want to go into as a career. Becky would have done great had she gone to community college while she was married. It would have opened up a lot of doors and options for her and most likely, have gotten her A CAREER, rather than working at BUNS for minimum wage. No matter what, she could have worked at BUNS and attended college at the same time. Roseanne to "congratulate" her for wanting to have a baby was one of the lowest points for the Roseanne character. Here she was wanting her kids to get out of Lanford, be better than her and here was Becky doing exactly what Roseanne did.
I don't think you are understanding what I'm trying to convey.

Community college is good. I'm not denying that. But some people do not need to go to a community college to begin with. Becky didn't need nor want to go, but she was forced to because her parents spent her college fund.

Becky could have gone to a 4-year-college right out of high school if her parents had not spent her college fund. She was correct in getting upset since she, personally, did not need to nor want to go to a community college.

I'm not defending all of her actions, but her response after that incident is justified.

The college fund was not there, it was gone, therefore, what is the next best solution for Becky to take, (after her hissy fit)? Sure she can be mad, blame everyone, expect her dad to help Mark find a job...she was a typical teen thinking of herself and not understanding of what her parents were/are going through. She seemed fine by the end of the episode and she didn't seem to care abt college anymore since shortly after that she took off with Mark and married him.

College was always there for Becky, even as a married woman, she should have done that. She now was married, had a part-time job and she could have qualified for grants, loans, etc. There are so many options for young adults to attend college. Becky sure had the grades but her brains were all for Mark and being with him. That was more important to her. And look where it got her...nowhere. Stuck in Lanford, just like Mom.

I remember when Becky got married the first thing that Dan said abt that was "She's just going to end up pregnant." Roseanne responded, "No she won't." Then a season later to hear Roseanne getting happy over Becky saying she was trying to get pregnant was so absurd. DAN WAS RIGHT!

The college fund was not there, it was gone, therefore, what is the next best solution for Becky to take, (after her hissy fit)? Sure she can be mad, blame everyone, expect her dad to help Mark find a job...she was a typical teen thinking of herself and not understanding of what her parents were/are going through. She seemed fine by the end of the episode and she didn't seem to care abt college anymore since shortly after that she took off with Mark and married him.
"Sure she can be mad, blame everyone..." You took the words right out of my mouth. Yes, she can be mad. Yes, she had every right to get mad that her college fund was gone. That's the only incident I am defending Becky in. Not her actions taken after that incident.

You said at the start of this thread that Becky was wrong for getting upset and I don't think she was wrong in getting upset after findind out her college fund was gone. That's the only thing I disagreed with you on, NOT the actions taken after that.

College was always there for Becky, even as a married woman, she should have done that. She now was married, had a part-time job and she could have qualified for grants, loans, etc. There are so many options for young adults to attend college. Becky sure had the grades but her brains were all for Mark and being with him. That was more important to her. And look where it got her...nowhere. Stuck in Lanford, just like Mom.
I never disagreed with you on any of this. :)

I remember when Becky got married the first thing that Dan said abt that was "She's just going to end up pregnant." Roseanne responded, "No she won't." Then a season later to hear Roseanne getting happy over Becky saying she was trying to get pregnant was so absurd. DAN WAS RIGHT!
I'll have to re-watch those episodes to make an informed opinion.

Yes but even when they had money becky didnt go back to college etc...the bike shop was dans dream it just didnt work out like most things in life.:crazy:

In the episode titled NINE IS ENOUGH is where Roseanne is thrilled when Becky tells her and Dan that she and Mark are trying to have a baby.

God, that episode aired the other night and it was not so Roseanne when I see that scene. Nine people living in the Conner house, Becky and Mark living there and they can't move out because they need to save money because they are trying to have a baby????? Gimme a friggin' break!!!!! And then Roseanne beams for joy and gives Becky a hug.

Dan is so pissed at the whole crowded situation and now he is even more upset. Rightly so.

I think with all new writers every season, it was hard to tell the characters personality. I definitely think that there were two different characters in Becky, because two different actors played her. You notice that in season 7 Becky's (Sarah) is taking classes, but that was dropped after a few episodes, and then when Lecy returned in season 8, she was applying again. I like the character of Becky no matter who portrays her, but as I said, there were new writers every season.

I think the point is Becky was under the assumption that there was a college fund, and there wasn't one any longer. Nobody ever talked to her about this. She discovered in on her own as she was applying for college. I understand Overdose's point. I was in honors classes in high school and was about a B+ student at my best. Becky was a better student then me, and most kids in that situation if financially permitted are looking at the good schools, only for other reasons community college: staying close to home, not ready for college, not knowing what you want to major in etc. She was unknowingly working hard all along thinking and wanting to go to a good college. I'm originally from Illinois and she said she was a lock at University of Illinois and thinking about Northwestern. If you stay in Illinois and not go out of state, those are the best schools to go to in state so that speaks a lot for what Becky's wants. It would of been a real downer to be slammed and go to community college in that situation. She worked hard because she wanted to, but a lot of kids in high school, especially the kids in honors classes who have good grades, work really hard in high school to place well in college. I think she got majorly blindsided. I cringed when Dan patted her on the hand and said maybe she could get a scholarship or go to community college for a couple years. They didn't even seem to understand. I agree with what Coffield said on the subject. She's a teenager. Teenager's don't understand an adult's perspective on finances. Becky went a little overboard, but Roseanne and Dan were definitely to blame as Overdose said. Not even just to blame, they played a part in it as well. I just want to point out, I read somewhere that someone thought the writers wrote these episodes, this one and the ones with Becky eloping and moving out as to make you hate the character of Becky on purpose since she was being written off the show. I don't like to spread gossip, but I think their could be some credibility to that, and want to leave it here for others to speculate.

As far as later Becky trying to have a baby, I don't think this was the original character of Becky. This was how the writers wrote Sarah Chalke as Becky when the show wasn't as good as it was in earlier seasons. I think Roseanne's reaction to Becky was a reaction to Sarah Chalke as Becky. I think she was just excited about having her first grandchild. It's hard to follow what happened with Becky's character in the later seasons because the writing wasn't as good, but the reason Becky and Mark moved back in was because Mark lost that job in Minneapolis and I think Becky couldn't afford to go to community college any longer. She had been. Defeated from that, after Becky gets the money from Dan and Roseanne she thinks the best way to use the money would be, at that point, to send Mark to trade school so he can get a real good job and they can be stable. I didn't agree with that, I thought Becky should go to school myself, but I can see what they were trying to do. When Lecy comes back on as Becky, they pick back up the college angle. I didn't think the writing was good in that episode. It should've been a good episode and it wasn't, Becky Howser, M.D. I don't think the original Mark would have pulled soo hard against Becky going to college. I kinda look at this separately because the writing wasn't the same at this point. Mark loved Becky. I think they were confusing the two Becky characters here, Lecy and Sarah (which should of been one in the same). Anyways, my point was at the point where Becky tells Roseanne her and Mark are trying to have a baby, Roseanne and Dan had already seen Becky move back home, tried to give her money for college, which she gave to Mark. There's nothing more they can do. Mark was at this point working at the garage which was a good job, and they were saving money. Becky could go to school and take care of a baby at the same time. They were also getting older here. Becky would be about 20 and Mark about 22. I agree though it wasn't totally right for Roseanne just to over the top agree, but what I think happened here was Sarah was just holding Becky's place on the show, and Roseanne was reacting to that character, not the original Becky. They should of have Roseanne at least say something about what about going to college. But, that was later in the show, when the writing wasn't as good.

P.S. I like the title of this post, Becky and the bike shop going under. It could also say and the show, Roseanne.

As much as I agree with this fact that Becky was definitely selfish around this time. She was also a teenager and when you are that age you don't always look at the big picture and how the situation is not only you but also the people around you as well and think only of yourself. This was how I was when I see how Becky acts I sometimes can relate because I behaved the same way when things didn't go the way I wanted to and would often slam doors and even said things to my father that I now regret. Becky was just acting like any oridinary teenager would at that age, I admit some of her behavior was really 'over the top' but in a way you could see where she was coming from. Her parents had saved up quite a bit of money for her so she could go college, and when the times go rough instead of thinking of another way to make it through they took the money out of her college fund leaving her with nothing in the end. Granted, they didn't plan or want to do this to their daughter but you could understand why she reacted the way she did. This is just my two cents.

Becky was crucial to creating intense scene's in which were drama-filled. For instance, when Becky ran away to Jackie's, got drunk, wanted birth control and got married to Mark. Sure, she never had the funny lines, but the fights between her and Darlene and between her and Roseanne allowed for both Darlene and Roseanne to use some of the best one-liner's in the show. Becky's attitude and guts to never back-down from her opinion in the early seasons made the whole family seem more real. Becky isn't the best nor fan-favorite character, but she allowed the more popular characters a chance to say some witty, funny and humorous things. Plus, her character brought some of the most real and groundbreaking issues to the forefront of television.

Absolutely, good point!