Fishman, or Barone? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brad Russ · 10-30-2003, 10:24 AM

I know there was a post similar to this awhile back, but I thought I'd ask this question: Who do you think would have been a better DJ on the show, Sal Barone, (the original DJ), or Michael Fishman? I definitely think they made the right choice with Michael Fishman, and quite honestly I'm surprised that he wasn't their first choice to begin with. Number 1, he was much cuter, with his little baby cheeks, and cute little voice in the first few seasons of the show. Number two, he looked more like the Conner's, especially Roseanne, who I thought he looked identical to. And thirdly, and probably most importantly, he seemed to get along great with the cast. He did get kind of annoying as the seasons wore on, and became less of an important character on the show, but I thought he was great in the first 3, or 4 seasons, and I doubt the other kid would have been any better. I do feel kind of bad about the first D.J. getting fired after only 1 episode, but those are the breaks I guess. What do you guys think? Who would have made the better D.J., and why? The poll results will probably be obvious, but I thought I'd post anyway. Who know's, maybe I'll be surprised.

Crimson and Clover · 10-30-2003, 05:57 PM

Definitly Michael.

Tyler77 · 10-31-2003, 01:54 PM

At least the first DJ will go down in history as saying the the very first lines on the series--he asked Roseanne to untangle his shoelaces.

Janice · 11-01-2003, 01:50 AM

I didn't know that there was another actor who played DJ. Anyone feel like telling me the story there?
I totally agree with mdntrider about DJ looking just like Roseanne. I notice that it's mentioned on the show too. He's a dead ringer for her and could pass for her own son.
He was a cute little kid.

Brad Russ · 11-01-2003, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Janice
I didn't know that there was another actor who played DJ. Anyone feel like telling me the story there?
I totally agree with mdntrider about DJ looking just like Roseanne. I notice that it's mentioned on the show too. He's a dead ringer for her and could pass for her own son.
He was a cute little kid.

Yeah, basically what happened, based on what Iv'e read here, and in other places is that Barone, and Sara Gilbert didn't get along too well. She apparently had big problems with him, so they let him go. There may have been other reasons also, but that is the only reason Iv'e heard as to why he was let go after only one show. I'm not sure exactly what the problems were between the two, but maybe somebody else here knows, and can fill you in. Whatever the problem was, it would sure make for a great E! True Hollywood Story! I wonder if they have backstage clips of the two arguing and stuff? That would be interesting to see.

Janice · 11-01-2003, 09:23 PM

That's wild. I'm surprised that Sara Gilbert would have such influence so early on in the show. I wonder what sort of problems a teenage girl could could have with a little boy.
Something tells me there's more than meets the eye on this story. Sometimes, we never end up knowing the deal on things.

flagler · 11-02-2003, 01:43 AM

I have posted this before but this comes from the 1998 Reunion show Roseanne did on her talk show. Roseanne said that Sara used to beat Sal up and the show called in the child welfare people (Sara doesn't remember the welfare people) Sara does admit she was rough with Sal and was told they were getting a new DJ and if she didn't get along with him she would be out. It is possible Sal's parents decided to take him off the show, not sure though. Have never heard anything from Sal though, he should be about 20 or so by now, would be interesting to hear what he remembers about it.

roseannefan55 · 11-02-2003, 02:27 PM

i think it would be mike because he plays dj the best

BigBadBob1982 · 11-03-2003, 03:04 AM

i read somewhere ( not sure where, or how corect ) that after the pilot was shot the producers didn't feel that the actor was right for the show and hired Michael Fishman to do the series

bubblegum · 11-03-2003, 05:07 PM

Michael!!!!!!!!! I only noticed that it was a different DJ after I had seen it on TV Tome.

Michael is married now which is really surprising because I always thought the show started when I was born (1991) but it started in 1988 So i thought he would have been around 18 now but he is 22 .

flagler · 11-03-2003, 05:08 PM

That may be true too cause Roseanne never said Sal was taken off the show because Sara and he didn't get along, but Sara was defintely warned when Michael came on that she better get along with him or else.

BigBadBob1982 · 11-03-2003, 08:09 PM

could be. could also be a combonation of things

db108108 · 11-03-2003, 11:50 PM

Can you imagine if they would have replace Sara and not Sal?

And that poor kid. Of course, when he got fired, they didn't know what "Roseanne" would become, but I bet he and his family were envious, angry and jealous for quite some time

BigBadBob1982 · 11-04-2003, 01:52 AM

if that would have happened to me i would be jealous or a little angry. But i would also respect the director/producer decision to replace me, maybe if he was there for the series it might not have lasted as long, or maybe some of the cast would quit/get fired and it would've went down the toilet real fast.

Brad Russ · 11-04-2003, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by db108108
Can you imagine if they would have replace Sara and not Sal?

And that poor kid. Of course, when he got fired, they didn't know what "Roseanne" would become, but I bet he and his family were envious, angry and jealous for quite some time

Yeah, I feel bad for him too, and have often wondered how he feels today about being let off one of the greatest shows in tv history. Hopefully he's at peace with himself, and dealing with it well. I just find it odd how he's never spoken publicly about it. I agree with Flager, It would be very interesting to hear his side of everything, as well as to see what he looks like today.

View Poll Results: Who made a better D.J.?
Sal Barone	3	12.00%
Michael Fishman	22	88.00%
Voters: 25. You may not vote on this poll

10-30-2003, 10:24 AM	#1
Brad Russ Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 17, 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 10,085	Fishman, or Barone? I know there was a post similar to this awhile back, but I thought I'd ask this question: Who do you think would have been a better DJ on the show, Sal Barone, (the original DJ), or Michael Fishman? I definitely think they made the right choice with Michael Fishman, and quite honestly I'm surprised that he wasn't their first choice to begin with. Number 1, he was much cuter, with his little baby cheeks, and cute little voice in the first few seasons of the show. Number two, he looked more like the Conner's, especially Roseanne, who I thought he looked identical to. And thirdly, and probably most importantly, he seemed to get along great with the cast. He did get kind of annoying as the seasons wore on, and became less of an important character on the show, but I thought he was great in the first 3, or 4 seasons, and I doubt the other kid would have been any better. I do feel kind of bad about the first D.J. getting fired after only 1 episode, but those are the breaks I guess. What do you guys think? Who would have made the better D.J., and why? The poll results will probably be obvious, but I thought I'd post anyway. Who know's, maybe I'll be surprised.
	__________________ St. John 15:13 - Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Currently my favorite song.

10-30-2003, 05:57 PM	#2
Crimson and Clover Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 09, 2002 Location: NC Posts: 17,345	Definitly Michael.
	__________________ Friend me: http://www.facebook.com/MaryLynnCall My Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/MotherMary You'll never find a sweeter combination As peace and love - Mishka

10-31-2003, 01:54 PM	#3
Tyler77 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 23, 2002 Location: North Brunswick, NJ Posts: 96	At least the first DJ will go down in history as saying the the very first lines on the series--he asked Roseanne to untangle his shoelaces.

11-01-2003, 01:50 AM	#4
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	I didn't know that there was another actor who played DJ. Anyone feel like telling me the story there? I totally agree with mdntrider about DJ looking just like Roseanne. I notice that it's mentioned on the show too. He's a dead ringer for her and could pass for her own son. He was a cute little kid.

11-01-2003, 09:23 PM	#6
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	That's wild. I'm surprised that Sara Gilbert would have such influence so early on in the show. I wonder what sort of problems a teenage girl could could have with a little boy. Something tells me there's more than meets the eye on this story. Sometimes, we never end up knowing the deal on things.

11-02-2003, 01:43 AM	#7
flagler Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 28, 2001 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 122	I have posted this before but this comes from the 1998 Reunion show Roseanne did on her talk show. Roseanne said that Sara used to beat Sal up and the show called in the child welfare people (Sara doesn't remember the welfare people) Sara does admit she was rough with Sal and was told they were getting a new DJ and if she didn't get along with him she would be out. It is possible Sal's parents decided to take him off the show, not sure though. Have never heard anything from Sal though, he should be about 20 or so by now, would be interesting to hear what he remembers about it.

11-02-2003, 02:27 PM	#8
roseannefan55 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 19, 2003 Location: hawaii Posts: 95	i think it would be mike because he plays dj the best

11-03-2003, 03:04 AM	#9
BigBadBob1982 Member Forum Hawk Join Date: Nov 03, 2003 Posts: 3	i read somewhere ( not sure where, or how corect ) that after the pilot was shot the producers didn't feel that the actor was right for the show and hired Michael Fishman to do the series

11-03-2003, 05:07 PM	#10
bubblegum Roseanne Fan Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 25, 2003 Posts: 432	Michael!!!!!!!!! I only noticed that it was a different DJ after I had seen it on TV Tome. Michael is married now which is really surprising because I always thought the show started when I was born (1991) but it started in 1988 So i thought he would have been around 18 now but he is 22 .

11-03-2003, 05:08 PM	#11
flagler Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 28, 2001 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 122	That may be true too cause Roseanne never said Sal was taken off the show because Sara and he didn't get along, but Sara was defintely warned when Michael came on that she better get along with him or else.

11-03-2003, 08:09 PM	#12
BigBadBob1982 Member Forum Hawk Join Date: Nov 03, 2003 Posts: 3	could be. could also be a combonation of things

11-03-2003, 11:50 PM	#13
db108108 Teacher (for now) Senior Member Join Date: Mar 20, 2003 Location: 2 hours north of Detroit, 2 hours south of Toronto Posts: 1,023	Can you imagine if they would have replace Sara and not Sal? And that poor kid. Of course, when he got fired, they didn't know what "Roseanne" would become, but I bet he and his family were envious, angry and jealous for quite some time

11-04-2003, 01:52 AM	#14
BigBadBob1982 Member Forum Hawk Join Date: Nov 03, 2003 Posts: 3	if that would have happened to me i would be jealous or a little angry. But i would also respect the director/producer decision to replace me, maybe if he was there for the series it might not have lasted as long, or maybe some of the cast would quit/get fired and it would've went down the toilet real fast.