I may be in the minority here (again! as I really liked the Tom Arnold character Arnie) but I am wanting to post my views abt Bev.

I really feel she got a rotten deal with the relationship she had with her daughters, especially Jackie. Jackie always blamed her bad life, bad relationships, etc. on her mother and how she was raised. Jackie told Bev later on that she (Jackie) was in therapy because of Bev.

After having watched Roseanne so many times, we came to learn that Bev's marriage was not good at all. Her husband was a traveling salesman who was cheating on her, though she would find this out way later in her marriage but didn't tell Roseanne or Jackie until she had to tell them.

We know that Roseanne and Jackie's father beat them when they were young. He wasn't the best dad in the world. When they realized what their father had put them through and how he cheated on their mother, how could they not come to the realization that their mother was also being abused? Maybe not physically, but emotionally. They don't know what their mother endured at his hands when they were not around. He obviously treated his family with disdain. It sounds like Jackie needed therapy BECAUSE OF HER FATHER, not their mother.

I have always like Bev. Yes, in the beginning of the series, she is somewhat annoying and so forth, but we see her trying to vie for her grandchildren's affection and love. In the episode where she buys D.J. the video game, her wanting to give Becky her old car, etc. I always hated how Darlene treated Bev the same way that Roseanne did. Darlene was only nice to Bev when she wanted something, like the episode where she dropped hints abt wanting a cd/stereo player. Bev was ready to go take her to the store to buy it for her before Roseanne found out.

Roseanne and Jackie were so eager and happy to accept the $10K their mother gave them when she handed both of them checks after she sold her home. Their happiness turned sour when Bev stated she was going to move to Lanford. My God, it wasn't like Bev was moving in with either of them, she wanted to be closer to her children and grandchildren.

Bottom line, I felt they treated Bev a lot of the times, harshly. They loved and treated Nana Mary waaaaaay better.

Great post, Irene! You put a lot of effort into writing what I would have said. I think Bev is a great character and was portrayed very well by Estelle Parsons.

The writers went with the theme of a meddlesome, off-the-wall mother, but many times I think they went too far. There should have been some relief from it. Roseanne and especially Jackie treated her poorly the entire time. That allowed Darlene to follow suit without any adult putting their foot down to make her cut it out and show some respect for her grandmother. The adults cut Bev down in front of the kids and made it a standing family joke. That was wrong. I was sarcastic towards my mother but it wasn't with every interaction like the Harris girls. I had respect for my mom and understood the boundaries.

Sure, Bev was a pain. She harped on her daughters' shortcomings but I think she truly wanted what was best for them. She made hurtful comments but she loved her grandchildren, endured an abusive marriage and still had a pretty positive outlook. Most of the time she seemed not to notice everyone was laughing at her and making fun of her.

I felt sorry for her. She came running when Roseanne hurt her back, was generous with the kids, gave her daughters $10,000 apiece and wanted to be a part of the family's lives. Is that so wrong? They really treated her like crap about the Lunchbox and her moving to Lanford.

The one that treated her the best was Leon, and I felt so relieved. The writers even made Bev turn gay so she could have a life and some friends.

Hell, Dan treated his mom with more respect and she was an institutionalized wacko who tried to kill him.

Madame X, so very well put. Thank you for your input. I wanted to really vent my feelings abt Bev. I see the reruns and I can't help but feel for Bev. You are right abt how the adults treated Bev, especially in front of the kids, and they never spoke up when the kids treated her just as bad. That is no respect.

As a teen I know I tested my boundaries with adults, but boy, when I f*cked up, I was shown the consequences of my actions. Darlene was pathetic when it came to showing any respect to Bev. Bev did nothing to her grandkids. She didn't deserve that mistreatment.

You are also correct in saying Bev only wanted the best for her daughters. Jackie needed therapy because she was a wreck, but only because of the mistakes JACKIE MADE, not what Bev did or didn't do. Jackie even took Roseanne to therapy with her and told her therapist how Roseanne tried to control her life. No one can control your life UNLESS YOU LET THEM JACKIE!

I agree mostly.

I thought for the most part that when Roseanne and Jackie dealt with Bev, it was all in good fun and never really too over the top or too cruel, but by the later seasons, it stopped being so funny and felt a little mean and unnecessary.

I agree mostly.

I thought for the most part that when Roseanne and Jackie dealt with Bev, it was all in good fun and never really too over the top or too cruel, but by the later seasons, it stopped being so funny and felt a little mean and unnecessary.
yeah it was. But by then, Bev had been more "open" and a lot more fun. :lol:

I think bev was horrible to her daughters and grand children but also some episodes i feel bad for her,she didnt speak up when roseanne and jacky were being beat by their father she was totally playing each child off against eachother,she took the mickey constantly out of roseanne and jacky sold the resturant to leon! gee i could go on.I guess as the show went on you didnt get any situations between roseanne and jacky with bev so the name calling etc didnt seem as funny.:)

I think bev was horrible to her daughters and grand children but also some episodes i feel bad for her,she didnt speak up when roseanne and jacky were being beat by their father she was totally playing each child off against eachother,she took the mickey constantly out of roseanne and jacky sold the resturant to leon! gee i could go on.I guess as the show went on you didnt get any situations between roseanne and jacky with bev so the name calling etc didnt seem as funny.:)
I have no clue as to what you mean that Bev was horrible to her kids and grandkids.

As for Bev not speaking up when her girls were being hit by their father, that is an issue that we didn't see, we only know and can only speculate from what was mentioned and from WHAT WASN'T MENTIONED. Don't you think that Bev was also being abused either physically and/or mentally? A man who beat his kids more than likely is also abusing the mother with words, emotional distress, etc. Bev was probably scared. She probably did defend her girls and paid the price for it later on when the girls were asleep.

How on earth was Bev terrible to the grandkids? If anything, they were horrible to her. Becky at least on occasion showed some niceness and respect to her. Roseanne would threaten to send the kids to their grandmother's house, what message do you think she was giving to her children by using grandma as a threat?

Bev sold the family home and gave her girls $10 grand each. How was she being terrible there?

Remember when Dan was in the hole financially and he felt he needed to go beg Bev for some financial help, how hypocritical was that? Dan was always making faces when it came to Bev, but he had no problem going to her for help when it came to $$$$.

When Bev divorced, her personality opened up and she seemed much more happier.

hey, ever see S7, where in ep. 7 i believe, it shows the "real" Bev....That was funny

hey, ever see S7, where in ep. 7 i believe, it shows the "real" Bev....That was funny
That's why I said after Bev got a divorce, she changed, for the better. She let out a whole new personality. It probably came abt after all those years of mental abuse from her husband and the lack of love/attention from her girls.

I may be in the minority here (again! as I really liked the Tom Arnold character Arnie) but I am wanting to post my views abt Bev.

I really feel she got a rotten deal with the relationship she had with her daughters, especially Jackie. Jackie always blamed her bad life, bad relationships, etc. on her mother and how she was raised. Jackie told Bev later on that she (Jackie) was in therapy because of Bev.

After having watched Roseanne so many times, we came to learn that Bev's marriage was not good at all. Her husband was a traveling salesman who was cheating on her, though she would find this out way later in her marriage but didn't tell Roseanne or Jackie until she had to tell them.

We know that Roseanne and Jackie's father beat them when they were young. He wasn't the best dad in the world. When they realized what their father had put them through and how he cheated on their mother, how could they not come to the realization that their mother was also being abused? Maybe not physically, but emotionally. They don't know what their mother endured at his hands when they were not around. He obviously treated his family with disdain. It sounds like Jackie needed therapy BECAUSE OF HER FATHER, not their mother.

I have always like Bev. Yes, in the beginning of the series, she is somewhat annoying and so forth, but we see her trying to vie for her grandchildren's affection and love. In the episode where she buys D.J. the video game, her wanting to give Becky her old car, etc. I always hated how Darlene treated Bev the same way that Roseanne did. Darlene was only nice to Bev when she wanted something, like the episode where she dropped hints abt wanting a cd/stereo player. Bev was ready to go take her to the store to buy it for her before Roseanne found out.

Roseanne and Jackie were so eager and happy to accept the $10K their mother gave them when she handed both of them checks after she sold her home. Their happiness turned sour when Bev stated she was going to move to Lanford. My God, it wasn't like Bev was moving in with either of them, she wanted to be closer to her children and grandchildren.

Bottom line, I felt they treated Bev a lot of the times, harshly. They loved and treated Nana Mary waaaaaay better.


I know this is off topic. BUT what I find VERY VERY odd is that, in the first couple of seasons of Roseanne, Jackie and Rosie had a great relationship with their dad, they seem to love him more than their mom. So why is it, in the later seasons of Roseanne, Jackie and Rosie all of a sudden hated their dad and that they couldn't stand him. I know that he cheated and what not, but they couldn't stand his guts in the later seasons.

I know this is off topic. BUT what I find VERY VERY odd is that, in the first couple of seasons of Roseanne, Jackie and Rosie had a great relationship with their dad, they seem to love him more than their mom. So why is it, in the later seasons of Roseanne, Jackie and Rosie all of a sudden hated their dad and that they couldn't stand him. I know that he cheated and what not, but they couldn't stand his guts in the later seasons.
In the later seasons, Jackie is still like that with the dad. There were several fights between Roseanne and Jackie, about Jackie constantly sticking up for their father. Jackie got mad at him when they found out about the other woman...But Roseanne was furious about that whole situation, and other stuff he did in the past.

Back on topic, I liked Bev. I agree with what most of you said about the girls treating her bad.....However, I did love the bickering she and Jackie always had with each other. That was real. Not everyone gets along with their mom....Bev was extremely annoying (oh that voice!), but I loved all her scenes. The show wouldn't have been the same if Bev wasn't that big a part of it. I'm glad they increased her role each year. The only time I had a problem with Bev was when she came out wearing that tight leather dominatrix outfit....and her whip! Aaaaaaah!

I have no clue as to what you mean that Bev was horrible to her kids and grandkids.

As for Bev not speaking up when her girls were being hit by their father, that is an issue that we didn't see, we only know and can only speculate from what was mentioned and from WHAT WASN'T MENTIONED. Don't you think that Bev was also being abused either physically and/or mentally? A man who beat his kids more than likely is also abusing the mother with words, emotional distress, etc. Bev was probably scared. She probably did defend her girls and paid the price for it later on when the girls were asleep.

How on earth was Bev terrible to the grandkids? If anything, they were horrible to her. Becky at least on occasion showed some niceness and respect to her. Roseanne would threaten to send the kids to their grandmother's house, what message do you think she was giving to her children by using grandma as a threat?

Bev sold the family home and gave her girls $10 grand each. How was she being terrible there?

Remember when Dan was in the hole financially and he felt he needed to go beg Bev for some financial help, how hypocritical was that? Dan was always making faces when it came to Bev, but he had no problem going to her for help when it came to $$$$.

When Bev divorced, her personality opened up and she seemed much more happier.
I wasnt hating bev,just that jacky and roseanne seemed to hate her! by seeing how they are on the show you think that she was awfull to them,but you dont see bev being that bad so i guessed it was there past.I love bevs character thou i find her very funny.;)

In the later seasons, Jackie is still like that with the dad. There were several fights between Roseanne and Jackie, about Jackie constantly sticking up for their father. Jackie got mad at him when they found out about the other woman...But Roseanne was furious about that whole situation, and other stuff he did in the past.

Back on topic, I liked Bev. I agree with what most of you said about the girls treating her bad.....However, I did love the bickering she and Jackie always had with each other. That was real. Not everyone gets along with their mom....Bev was extremely annoying (oh that voice!), but I loved all her scenes. The show wouldn't have been the same if Bev wasn't that big a part of it. I'm glad they increased her role each year. The only time I had a problem with Bev was when she came out wearing that tight leather dominatrix outfit....and her whip! Aaaaaaah!


I know all of that, I just find it odd that they hated him soooooooooo much in later seasons but loved him to death in the early ones.

I know all of that, I just find it odd that they hated him soooooooooo much in later seasons but loved him to death in the early ones.
I agree with that. I don't get that either. Could it be that what occurred in Roseanne's personal life started to play a part in the writing later on in the series? I mean, we learned that Roseanne was not happy with her real-life parents and accused her father of despicable things. This occurred at the same time Roseanne and Jackie's hatred for their father began.

No matter what, it was not consistent. Even Roseanne showed some forgiveness and compassion when their father finally died on the show. Yet, never showed any compassion or some kind of love towards their mother, who was no where near the level of their father. Bev didn't deserve that kind of behavior.

I agree with that. I don't get that either. Could it be that what occurred in Roseanne's personal life started to play a part in the writing later on in the series? I mean, we learned that Roseanne was not happy with her real-life parents and accused her father of despicable things. This occurred at the same time Roseanne and Jackie's hatred for their father began.

No matter what, it was not consistent. Even Roseanne showed some forgiveness and compassion when their father finally died on the show. Yet, never showed any compassion or some kind of love towards their mother, who was no where near the level of their father. Bev didn't deserve that kind of behavior.


Well Roseanne said that she has like 26 personalities, so maybe a few of her personalities wrote the later seasons :lol:

Well Roseanne said that she has like 26 personalities, so maybe a few of her personalities wrote the later seasons :lol:
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Yes the show is confusing!:crazy:

I think Roseanne seemed more sympathetic to her mother than Jackie. You notice that in the episode "My Name is Bev" that Roseanne ordered Dan, Jackie and Fred not to be drinking with Bev in the house after her DUI. She then realized that Bev was using that as a crutch. Dan also defended to Jackie that Bev was really good at watching the kids when Roseanne and Dan needed to get away. Yeah they wrote Bev in a bad light, but I think the characters loved her though. I also noticed that Bev and Roseanne were kind of like minded in some respects.

I think Roseanne seemed more sympathetic to her mother than Jackie. You notice that in the episode "My Name is Bev" that Roseanne ordered Dan, Jackie and Fred not to be drinking with Bev in the house after her DUI. She then realized that Bev was using that as a crutch. Dan also defended to Jackie that Bev was really good at watching the kids when Roseanne and Dan needed to get away. Yeah they wrote Bev in a bad light, but I think the characters loved her though. I also noticed that Bev and Roseanne were kind of like minded in some respects.
Good post.

Funny you posted in this thread. I just seen the episode where Roseanne's back goes out and here comes Bev to the rescue. Bev cooked, cleaned, took care of the kids, helped with D.J's party, gave Roseanne her old car and even painted her toenails. :lol: Roseanne was being all nice to Bev as she painted her toenails, saying what a great mom she was when Roseanne was sick. So, at least, in that moment, Roseanne realized that Bev wasn't this old hag that was so damn annoying and not to be respected. However, Jackie came into the room and told Roseanne how she was treating their mother like a slave. Bev didn't see it that way.

I grew up around women who were like Beverly: the so-called stereotype of the 1950's housewife.

They were taught that the men wore the pants in the family and the men were the breadwinners while the women stayed home and took care of the house and children.

A woman's place was in the kitchen, and a woman would be better off to not act too bright. Also, if abuse was going on in the family, the best way to handle it was to not talk about it and pretend that it wasn't happening.

I turn 28 next month, and I'll tell you that I thank God for the steps that Roseanne's and Jackie's generation took to change things. I don't think people realize how difficult it would be for someone like Bev, The Fifties Housewife, to divorce her husband even though he had cheated on her and treated her daughters like garbage.

Marriage was forever, for better or for worse. There was a huge stigma against divorced women, I'd say up until what, the 1980's? There wouldn't have been anyplace for Beverly to go, I don't think.

I'm not excusing her letting her husband abuse Jackie and Roseanne. I'm just saying I had a taste growing up of what male-dominated generation Beverly came from.

As for Jackie, she just turned into an annoying flake who chased Fred away with her petty needs and demands, IMO, but I'm getting away from the topic of Beverly, aren't I?

And, yes, Beverly was annoying. Jackie turned out to be alot like the mother she resented! :happyface

I know this is off topic. BUT what I find VERY VERY odd is that, in the first couple of seasons of Roseanne, Jackie and Rosie had a great relationship with their dad, they seem to love him more than their mom. So why is it, in the later seasons of Roseanne, Jackie and Rosie all of a sudden hated their dad and that they couldn't stand him. I know that he cheated and what not, but they couldn't stand his guts in the later seasons.

What I just learned recently, was Roseanne came upon realizations in her own life about her father at some time when she was married to Tom Arnold. The show Roseanne is based off of Roseanne Barr's real life. When Roseanne came upon these realizations, she incorporated them into the show. That's why they change the character of Al, Roseanne and Jackie's dad, from a good guy into a bad guy. I had wondered about this too. Additionally, I saw an interview with Estelle Parsons, who played Roseanne and Jackie's mom. She said that John Randolph, the man who played Roseanne and Jackie's dad, wanted more money and they wouldn't give it to him. Also Ned Beatty, who played Dan's dad. He wasn't in a lot of episodes either. I don't know if he wasn't getting paid enough or if he was getting paid sufficiently and wanted more. I don't want to spread rumors. I don't know how much that played into it.

I think as the writing on the show wasn't as good, the meaner Jackie and Roseanne became to Bev. In the beginning, Roseanne wasn't mean at all. The first episode when their parents come to visit. Roseanne is too afraid to stand up to her parents. The thing that bothered me the most with Bev was when Dan would be disrespectful to her. I didn't like that. He's her son-n-law. It's not his place.

-- I've only read the first post so far, so forgive me if I repeat something that's already been said. :)


I think Roseanne and Jackie blamed their mother for what happened to them. She was their female role model and she let a man abuse her and her children. I'm sure they felt she should have been stronger. She should have stood up to him and/or left him.

While Bev did tend to annoy me, I felt that Rosanne and ESPECIALLY Jackie were way out of line in the way they treated her. Yes, I honestly laughed at some of the lines and what not, but there were times that they went too far IMO. Neither one of those girls had any business blaming their mother for what became of their lives. We become responsible for our own decisions and lives as we become adults....NOT OUR PARENTS!! That is a cop out! Jackie ended up being nothing but a flakey bitch who refused to look in the mirror for the truth. As far as the grandkids disrespecting her, well what do you all expect when you are taught that it's okay to treat your grandparents like crap? what bugged me is the kids didn't even try to get to know them, they just sort of followed Rosanne's example. Even though I really like this show, I did have my issues with it and this happened to be one of them.

While Bev did tend to annoy me, I felt that Rosanne and ESPECIALLY Jackie were way out of line in the way they treated her. Yes, I honestly laughed at some of the lines and what not, but there were times that they went too far IMO. Neither one of those girls had any business blaming their mother for what became of their lives. We become responsible for our own decisions and lives as we become adults....NOT OUR PARENTS!! That is a cop out! Jackie ended up being nothing but a flakey bitch who refused to look in the mirror for the truth. As far as the grandkids disrespecting her, well what do you all expect when you are taught that it's okay to treat your grandparents like crap? what bugged me is the kids didn't even try to get to know them, they just sort of followed Rosanne's example. Even though I really like this show, I did have my issues with it and this happened to be one of them.

I agree with you 100%. As much as I got enjoyment at the jokes Roseanne and Jackie gave at Bev's expense there were also moments that I wished that they would let go of their resentment towards her and learn to forgive. So she made a lot of mistakes, who hasn't? No one is perfect and I think that she tried to fix things with her daughters but their bitterness towards her would never allow them to give her a chance. This always bothered me because even though they blamed her for not being there for them when their father was being mean to them, they never stopped to think what it may have been like for her. Though he was not abusive to her physically he was mentally, which is what ultimately lead her to lose her mind in the end. As for the grandkids, I think Roseanne tried to teach her children to respect their grandmother because she got on Darlene that one time she cussed at Bev and told Darlene not to talk that way to her. However, back then I think Roseanne had some sense of love for her mother but as the years went on I think she just became so angry at her Bev she just didn't care anymore and that's why she didn't say or do anything when Darlene or D.J were rude to Bev. Just my thought.