Roseanne

I hope Roseanne is getting her money's worth at home, because it must be costing her a fortune to try to make a star out of her husband, whose name I can't recall. Judging his new show from the first episode, it won't be in this world very long--it was that dull. And the star has put on so much weight I didn't recognize him. TULA GINZBURG Los Angeles

The comedian formerly known as "the domestic goddess" may be returning to prime time. Roseanne Barr, whose "Roseanne" is one of TV's most iconic comedies, is developing a comedy for NBC in which she would star. She is working on the project with producer Steven Greener, who worked with Barr in 2011 on the Lifetime reality series "Roseanne's Nuts. " The show marks Barr's second attempt at an NBC series. The network last year passed on her show "Downwardly Mobile," which she had developed and featured her as the proprietor of a mobile home park.

In response to Christopher Nichols' letter (Dec. 18), I want to see two married people (would it be more acceptable if they weren't "humongous," Mr. Nichols?) rolling on the couch during the tag scene. That's the way real people behave (at least that's the way my wife and I behave, and we were real the last time we checked.) I don't know about the producers, but I think that Roseanne and company's life is something to revel in and celebrate. Beneath all the mock insults, and despite the seeming "horror" of blue-collar life, the members of Roseanne's family really care about each other.

Click here to download TV listings for the week of Oct. 21 - 27 in PDF format This week's TV Movies     This Morning John Grisham; James Dyson. (N) 7 a.m. KCBS Today Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and Jionni LaValle; Donna Karan; Halloween decor; Chris Kimball. (N) 7 a.m. KNBC Good Morning America Rod Stewart; Dreama Walker, Krysten Ritter and James Van Der Beek. (N) 7 a.m. KABC Live With Kelly and Michael Ted Danson; Jack McBrayer; Little Big Town performs.

Roseanne is zeroing in on a milestone: her 60th birthday. But if you think that the force of nature who reached powerhouse status while striking fear in the hearts of network and studio honchos, critics and a few ex-husbands has mellowed, think again. There's a new method to her madness: If you can't beat 'em, run for president of the United States. Stretching her battlefield from the TV landscape to the political arena, the former self-declared "domestic goddess" earlier this year tossed her hat into the race for the White House and last week was selected as the presidential candidate for the Peace and Freedom Party.

Visual artist Mark Hayward, co-founder of Sock Puppet Sitcom Theater, has found a new home for his googly-eyed cast of characters: The Echo . He'll put on the last two puppet shows of the 2012 season at the Echo Park club, starting Saturday. The idea behind the show, which until recently was based nearby at Atwater Crossing, is simple: handcrafted puppets perform the pilot episodes of classic hit sitcoms such as “I Love Lucy,” “Hogan's Heroes” and “Friends.”  It's become so popular, says Hayward, that the Sock Puppet team needed more space and the Echo also provides top sound quality.

When Comedy Central announced that Roseanne would be the target of honor for this year's celebrity roast, her ex-husband Tom Arnold said that he wanted no part of it, and would not participate even if asked. The couple were a tabloid favorite during their stormy four-year marriage, engaging in outrageous stunts and a war against TV critics. But they divorced in 1994 amid charges of abuse and affairs. Roseanne later cited the negativity surrounding Arnold for damaging her career for several years following the end of her groundbreaking sitcom "Roseanne" in 1997.

Comedian Jeffrey Ross knew he would upset some people when he showed up at the taping of the "Comedy Central Roast of Roseanne" dressed as deceased Penn State football coach Joe Paterno. But when he unleashed a few jokes connected to the recent "The Dark Night Rises" shootings in Colorado, he knew that the jokes would not make the Aug. 12 broadcast. And that's fine with him. "Yes, I crossed a line, and that is what the roasts are all about," Ross told NBC News. "That's what Roseanne is about -- unapologetic comedy.

I am writing to express my disappointment over The Times' critique of Roseanne, who performed at our Feminist Majority Foundation benefit ("A Rose Is a Rose, but Not Roseanne," Nov. 19). The show was an important fund-raiser for our National Clinic Defense Project, which works to protect doctors and health-care workers nationwide from anti-abortion violence. Roseanne graciously came out to support us, as did all the comics who so generously donated their time and talent. The show was a benefit, a one-time performance, not the beginning of a tour for Roseanne and certainly not appropriate for a review.

The fact that "Roseanne" was once again snubbed for a best comedy series Emmy nomination is good news to those of us who prefer our television comedy on the intelligent side ("TV Academy Is Snubbing 'Roseanne,' " July 23). The success of such excellent, intelligent shows as "Frasier," "Northern Exposure," "Seinfeld" and "Murphy Brown" seems to indicate that once again the networks are aiming for our minds instead of the gutter. Keep up the good work. JOHN McELLIGOTT JR., Fullerton Regarding why the "TV Academy Is Snubbing 'Roseanne,' " the answer is in the mere presence of its subversive star.

Click here to download TV listings for the week of Sept. 30 - Oct. 6 in PDF format This week's TV Movies     This Morning Kenny Rogers; Lewis Black. (N) 7 a.m. KCBS Today Julie Andrews; Chuck Hughes; Ed Asner. (N) 7 a.m. KNBC Good Morning America Chris Powell. (N) 7 a.m. KABC Live With Kelly and Michael Ricky Martin; Samantha Giancola, Deena Cortese and Jenni Farley. (N) 9 a.m. KABC The View Craig Ferguson. (N) 10 a.m. KABC The Talk Cheryl Ladd and Jaclyn Smith.

Visual artist Mark Hayward, co-founder of Sock Puppet Sitcom Theater, has found a new home for his googly-eyed cast of characters: The Echo . He'll put on the last two puppet shows of the 2012 season at the Echo Park club, starting Saturday. The idea behind the show, which until recently was based nearby at Atwater Crossing, is simple: handcrafted puppets perform the pilot episodes of classic hit sitcoms such as “I Love Lucy,” “Hogan's Heroes” and “Friends.”  It's become so popular, says Hayward, that the Sock Puppet team needed more space and the Echo also provides top sound quality.

Roseanne is zeroing in on a milestone: her 60th birthday. But if you think that the force of nature who reached powerhouse status while striking fear in the hearts of network and studio honchos, critics and a few ex-husbands has mellowed, think again. There's a new method to her madness: If you can't beat 'em, run for president of the United States. Stretching her battlefield from the TV landscape to the political arena, the former self-declared "domestic goddess" earlier this year tossed her hat into the race for the White House and last week was selected as the presidential candidate for the Peace and Freedom Party.

After the coffee. Before praying that K.Stew and R.Patz get back together this week. The Skinny:  Man, it has not been a good summer for heartthrobs at the box office. First Taylor Kitsch, then Johnny Depp and now Colin Farrell? It's hard knocks for hunks in Hollywood these days - unless you're Channing Tatum, of course. Monday's headlines include the weekend's box office results, a possible Best Buy sale and some positive news for books and newspapers online. The Daily Dose:  Who caught the Mars rover landing live-stream last night?

Comedian Jeffrey Ross knew he would upset some people when he showed up at the taping of the "Comedy Central Roast of Roseanne" dressed as deceased Penn State football coach Joe Paterno. But when he unleashed a few jokes connected to the recent "The Dark Night Rises" shootings in Colorado, he knew that the jokes would not make the Aug. 12 broadcast. And that's fine with him. "Yes, I crossed a line, and that is what the roasts are all about," Ross told NBC News. "That's what Roseanne is about -- unapologetic comedy.

Comedy Central's roast of Roseanne Barr was never going to be an exchange of niceties: Much like Roseanne herself, roasts are about extremes and shock value. Wishing otherwise would be about as successful as opening a strip club on the grounds of Downton Abbey. Yet the special, taped Saturday at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, still made waves. Roastmaster general Jeff Ross made a lot of jaws drop with a crack about the mass shooting at a midnight screening of "The Dark Knight Rises" in Aurora, Colo., which left 12 dead and 51 injured, and now has suspect James Holmes charged with 142 criminal counts, including 24 first-degree murder charges.

When Comedy Central announced that Roseanne would be the target of honor for this year's celebrity roast, her ex-husband Tom Arnold said that he wanted no part of it, and would not participate even if asked. The couple were a tabloid favorite during their stormy four-year marriage, engaging in outrageous stunts and a war against TV critics. But they divorced in 1994 amid charges of abuse and affairs. Roseanne later cited the negativity surrounding Arnold for damaging her career for several years following the end of her groundbreaking sitcom "Roseanne" in 1997.

Those who follow her Twitter feed know that Roseanne Barr, the 59-year-old actress and comedian, has been running for president for a year now. Originally, she promoted herself as the standard-bearer of the Green Party. Now, her White House quest has taken a different turn. She announced Thursday that she will run for president on the Peace and Freedom Party ticket. Her running mate, Barr said in a news release, will be Cindy Sheehan, whose son,U.S. Army Spec. Casey Sheehan, was killed in Iraq in 2004.