The whitewashing of Dan Conner..... - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

CJMD03 · 10-21-2019, 02:17 AM

First of all, on “Roseanne,” Dan was a HUGE homophobe. He NEVER would have accepted a gay grandson. He was constantly terrified that DJ would become gay and was always making very rude comments about it. Also, it’s laughable that he judges Becky to be an alcoholic because he was the biggest alcoholic ever when Becky was a child. I liked the comment that Darlene made a few episodes ago about Roseanne raising them, NOT him. Spot on. Becky, Darlene, and DJ def need to bring up some things from the past to him and the producers need to stop ignoring what Dan’s real personality is.

Also, Llanford is a small town and it’s nearly unbelievable that Mark would have either been physically assaulted and DEF unbelievable that he wouldn’t be verbally assaulted.

Schmo · 10-21-2019, 09:55 AM

Characters can change on TV. So can real-life people.

CJMD03 · 10-21-2019, 09:39 PM

I know, but it’s simply too unrealistic, even for a sitcom. I would have at least had Darlene make some comment saying that she remembers how homophobic Dan was and that she doesn’t need Mark to hear anything like that from him. Dan was one of the worst television fathers ever portrayed in the small screen.

Wawwie · 10-22-2019, 08:20 AM

First off, Dan was never portrayed as some intolerant, raging homophobe at all. Just because he was concerned about D.J.'s sexuality when he was a child, does not mean he can't accept his gay grandson now. He's also older and more evolved. Secondly, if anyone had a personality transplant, it is D.J. When D.J. was a teenager, he was totally hooked on Sci-Fi, movies, and idolized Steven Speilberg only to become some military guy? Now that's a huge turn-around.
Thirdly, if Dan was such a huge homophobe as you say, he never would have befriended Leon or invited Leon to all of his poker games with his straight friends.

opus · 10-22-2019, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wawwie

When D.J. was a teenager, he was totally hooked on Sci-Fi, movies, and idolized Steven Speilberg only to become some military guy? Now that's a huge turn-around.

I guess he became a really big fan of Saving Private Ryan.

Wawwie · 10-22-2019, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opus

I guess he became a really big fan of Saving Private Ryan.

You're probably right. He took it to the extreme!

Heenan Fan · 10-22-2019, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJMD03

First of all, on “Roseanne,” Dan was a HUGE homophobe. He NEVER would have accepted a gay grandson. He was constantly terrified that DJ would become gay and was always making very rude comments about it. Also, it’s laughable that he judges Becky to be an alcoholic because he was the biggest alcoholic ever when Becky was a child. I liked the comment that Darlene made a few episodes ago about Roseanne raising them, NOT him. Spot on. Becky, Darlene, and DJ def need to bring up some things from the past to him and the producers need to stop ignoring what Dan’s real personality is.

Also, Llanford is a small town and it’s nearly unbelievable that Mark would have either been physically assaulted and DEF unbelievable that he wouldn’t be verbally assaulted.

F¥♤kn' troll.

CJMD03 · 10-23-2019, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wawwie

First off, Dan was never portrayed as some intolerant, raging homophobe at all. Just because he was concerned about D.J.'s sexuality when he was a child, does not mean he can't accept his gay grandson now. He's also older and more evolved. Secondly, if anyone had a personality transplant, it is D.J. When D.J. was a teenager, he was totally hooked on Sci-Fi, movies, and idolized Steven Speilberg only to become some military guy? Now that's a huge turn-around.
Thirdly, if Dan was such a huge homophobe as you say, he never would have befriended Leon or invited Leon to all of his poker games with his straight friends.

Are you kidding? Watch the series again. As DJ started to mature, Dan was constantly making anti-gay comments. He also did NOT want Leon at his poker game, but agreed only because Roseanne forced him. He could barely stomach Leon and Scott’s wedding. The things Dan said in regards to DJ are highly offensive and, as a mother, Darlene should have been very concerned.

Wawwie · 10-23-2019, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJMD03

Are you kidding? Watch the series again. As DJ started to mature, Dan was constantly making anti-gay comments. He also did NOT want Leon at his poker game, but agreed only because Roseanne forced him. He could barely stomach Leon and Scott’s wedding. The things Dan said in regards to DJ are highly offensive and, as a mother, Darlene should have been very concerned.

You're the one who needs to watch the series again. In the beginning, Dan didn't even know that Leon was gay. So him not wanting Leon at the poker game had absolutely nothing to do with Leon's sexuality. Eventually, Dan and Leon became friends and when Dan finally found out that Leon is gay, Dan did not dump him as a friend, and he had no problem with it at all. He didn't care that Leon is gay. Dan was not a homophobe. As for Leon and Scott's wedding, NO normal person could "stomach" it because Roseanne ruined it and went way over the top. It had nothing to do with two men getting married and everything to do with Roseanne's ridiculous, over-board ostentatious coordinating.

CJMD03 · 10-23-2019, 01:19 AM

Oh, please. Dan not only was a homophobe, but a racist, too. Remember the “Gina” episode? Granted, Chuck was a friend of his, but it was a matter of “They can be friends of mine, just not relatives, etc.”

Wawwie · 10-23-2019, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJMD03

Oh, please. Dan not only was a homophobe, but a racist, too. Remember the “Gina” episode? Granted, Chuck was a friend of his, but it was a matter of “They can be friends of mine, just not relatives, etc.”

Dan never said that, so it's speculation on your part.

dee2364 · 11-02-2019, 03:31 PM

I don't know why people are so angry with the OP. It's very true that they retconned the character; it's the one issue I have with the show because all the acceptance I'm seeing doesn't feel true to the character. It just feels to me as if Dan is being merely "tolerant" than accepting, in that "I love you and all cuz you're family but I still don't agree with it" kind of way.

Don't get me wrong--I'm glad that the show has gone in this direction, but on the flip side of things, it feels about as unnatural as when they turn a wrestling heel into a face. In the original series, the show was definitely taking Dan and his father into a darker, less tolerant direction, which is why I think he was originally killed off.

dee2364 · 11-02-2019, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJMD03

Oh, please. Dan not only was a homophobe, but a racist, too. Remember the “Gina” episode? Granted, Chuck was a friend of his, but it was a matter of “They can be friends of mine, just not relatives, etc.”

Yeah, the show has retconned the character. There's a huge discussion about this over at the Movie Chat, too, because of how blatant it is. It seems as if people are desperately clinging to the Dan character because of how affable John Goodman is. Goodman may be cute and cuddly, but Dan wasn't. It was very clear, as the show progressed, that he was a closet bigot, especially in the Gina episode.

Lorimar Television · 11-04-2019, 07:25 PM

He seemed pretty uncomfortable with it during Roseanne season 10. Even in the premiere of The Conners Mark was afraid to tell Dan he liked guys.

CJMD03 · 11-11-2019, 03:26 AM

Lol! I was proven right. Dan was constantly make weird homophobic comments RE: DJ in the middle/later “Roseanne” years. Dan was NOT a nice character in many ways. Chuck seemed like then”token” black friend for Dan. As I said, Dan has been whitewashed to the extreme....

10-21-2019, 02:17 AM	#1
CJMD03 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 18, 2018 Posts: 432	The whitewashing of Dan Conner..... First of all, on “Roseanne,” Dan was a HUGE homophobe. He NEVER would have accepted a gay grandson. He was constantly terrified that DJ would become gay and was always making very rude comments about it. Also, it’s laughable that he judges Becky to be an alcoholic because he was the biggest alcoholic ever when Becky was a child. I liked the comment that Darlene made a few episodes ago about Roseanne raising them, NOT him. Spot on. Becky, Darlene, and DJ def need to bring up some things from the past to him and the producers need to stop ignoring what Dan’s real personality is. Also, Llanford is a small town and it’s nearly unbelievable that Mark would have either been physically assaulted and DEF unbelievable that he wouldn’t be verbally assaulted.

11-04-2019, 07:25 PM	#14
Lorimar Television Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 06, 2007 Posts: 7,034	He seemed pretty uncomfortable with it during Roseanne season 10. Even in the premiere of The Conners Mark was afraid to tell Dan he liked guys.
	__________________ Some of my favorite theme songs: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-e...89CsiJpV_irnNw

10-21-2019, 09:55 AM	#2
Schmo Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 24, 2013 Posts: 466	Characters can change on TV. So can real-life people.

10-21-2019, 09:39 PM	#3
CJMD03 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 18, 2018 Posts: 432	I know, but it’s simply too unrealistic, even for a sitcom. I would have at least had Darlene make some comment saying that she remembers how homophobic Dan was and that she doesn’t need Mark to hear anything like that from him. Dan was one of the worst television fathers ever portrayed in the small screen.

10-22-2019, 08:20 AM	#4
Wawwie Member Forum Star Join Date: Jul 26, 2006 Location: New York Posts: 14,376	First off, Dan was never portrayed as some intolerant, raging homophobe at all. Just because he was concerned about D.J.'s sexuality when he was a child, does not mean he can't accept his gay grandson now. He's also older and more evolved. Secondly, if anyone had a personality transplant, it is D.J. When D.J. was a teenager, he was totally hooked on Sci-Fi, movies, and idolized Steven Speilberg only to become some military guy? Now that's a huge turn-around. Thirdly, if Dan was such a huge homophobe as you say, he never would have befriended Leon or invited Leon to all of his poker games with his straight friends.

10-23-2019, 01:19 AM	#10
CJMD03 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 18, 2018 Posts: 432	Oh, please. Dan not only was a homophobe, but a racist, too. Remember the “Gina” episode? Granted, Chuck was a friend of his, but it was a matter of “They can be friends of mine, just not relatives, etc.”

11-02-2019, 03:31 PM	#12
dee2364 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 20, 2019 Posts: 643	I don't know why people are so angry with the OP. It's very true that they retconned the character; it's the one issue I have with the show because all the acceptance I'm seeing doesn't feel true to the character. It just feels to me as if Dan is being merely "tolerant" than accepting, in that "I love you and all cuz you're family but I still don't agree with it" kind of way. Don't get me wrong--I'm glad that the show has gone in this direction, but on the flip side of things, it feels about as unnatural as when they turn a wrestling heel into a face. In the original series, the show was definitely taking Dan and his father into a darker, less tolerant direction, which is why I think he was originally killed off.

11-11-2019, 03:26 AM	#15
CJMD03 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 18, 2018 Posts: 432	Lol! I was proven right. Dan was constantly make weird homophobic comments RE: DJ in the middle/later “Roseanne” years. Dan was NOT a nice character in many ways. Chuck seemed like then”token” black friend for Dan. As I said, Dan has been whitewashed to the extreme....