Not only did David have a different name during his first appearance, anyone else notice his personality is a bit more combative than what David had when he became a reoccurring character? He seemed to be more in the mold of Mark, sassing Roseanne a bit when they first met and acting far tougher than he eventually would seem throughout the series.

Yeah, when he made his first appearance on the show, he said his name was KEVIN. What happened? Why did they start calling him David? :confused: My guess is that the writing team forgot they already named him Kevin.

I never found him to be combative. He always seemed like a submissive wimp to me.

Yeah, when he made his first appearance on the show, he said his name was KEVIN. What happened? Why did they start calling him David? :confused: My guess is that the writing team forgot they already named him Kevin.

I never found him to be combative. He always seemed like a submissive wimp to me.

That's the point. In his first appearance, he wasn't a wimp. He was very combative and tough when Roseanne grilled him on who was watching DJ.

I read they changed his name because Roseanne didn't like it. Oddly, there was already a character named David - DJ (David James).

It's one of the many occasion where the show jokes about itself.
In a later episode, Roseanne rants about Darlene controlling behaviour, and she says: "David's not even his real name! Darlene made it up!".

Anyway, it was intended to be David from the start, but at the time Galecki was starring also in other show, where is character's name was David. And there was a very strange broadcasting rule, forbidding actors to have same characters' name on different show at the same time.

Oddly, there was already a character named David - DJ (David James).
D.J.'s middle name is Jacob.

D.J.'s middle name is Jacob.

Either way, his first name was David.

But this really isn't about David's name changing. It's that his personalty changed entirely with the name change. When he was Kevin in that initial episode, he was not near the wimp he became in the series. He had far more Mark's personality than what was established in later episodes. Just thought it was interesting because that back and forth between Roseanne initially shows Kevin (David) as a dismissive instigator when his character would become extremely passive and submissive.

Either way, his first name was David.

But this really isn't about David's name changing. It's that his personalty changed entirely with the name change. When he was Kevin in that initial episode, he was not near the wimp he became in the series. He had far more Mark's personality than what was established in later episodes. Just thought it was interesting because that back and forth between Roseanne initially shows Kevin (David) as a dismissive instigator when his character would become extremely passive and submissive.
He was only "Kevin" for about 3 or 4 minutes in ONE episode though. Of course his personality was not established. I still don't think he was "combative." But I do think he was more laid back and confident. Evidently, it was all a front, because his true personality eventually came out (wimpy.) He could only maintain the "Kevin" persona for about 3 or 4 minutes in one episode. Then he became completely whipped and house broken by Darlene.

He was only "Kevin" for about 3 or 4 minutes in ONE episode though. Of course his personality was not established. I still don't think he was "combative." But I do think he was more laid back and confident. Evidently, it was all a front, because his true personality eventually came out (wimpy.) He could only maintain the "Kevin" persona for about 3 or 4 minutes in one episode. Then he became completely whipped and house broken by Darlene.

Maybe...I'm thinking, though, it was a quick look into what maybe they originally planned his personality to be over time but, for whatever reason, they decided to neuter him when he became a reoccurring character.

Maybe...I'm thinking, though, it was a quick look into what maybe they originally planned his personality to be over time but, for whatever reason, they decided to neuter him when he became a reoccurring character.
The submissive wimp personality is such a turn off. I don't know how any girl could be with a guy like that.

The submissive wimp personality is such a turn off. I don't know how any girl could be with a guy like that.

Agreed. Not only was he wimpy and submissive, but he also was a whiner. Not really redeeming. I never liked David. He annoyed me. Which is why I wish they would have stuck with the original attitude he had - not bad boy like Mark, but hardly the pushover he later became.

I think it was Darlene who turned David into a wimp. Perhaps a more feminine and less domineering girlfriend would have made him more of a man.

I think it was Darlene who turned David into a wimp. Perhaps a more feminine and less domineering girlfriend would have made him more of a man.
I think David could have worked with Molly (the next door neighbor.)