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Roseanne Season 1 Episode 15

Nightmare on Oak Street

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AIRED: 2/14/89

The girls watch a slasher-horror film, and Roseanne has been losing sleep, due to what she believes are Darlene's re-occurring nightmares. When the truth is revealed, that the scary movie isn't behind the insomnia, Roseanne learns that Darlene is entering puberty.

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Fan Episode Reviews (3)

Is a scary movie keeping the Conners' tomboy daughter from her sleep? Darlene is not ready to face the facts of growing up, while Dan and Roseanne offer loving sarcasm to deal with her apprehension.moreless

10

By SparkleFarkle, Oct 24, 2010

(Please note: This review contains a few quotes from the program that might come across as subtle episode spoilers.)

While watching this episode when it first aired, I wanted to stand up and cheer! Not only did "Roseanne" break ground when it came to sitcoms, but, I swear, in a sense, it gave birth to Reality Shows, as well-- 'FINALLY, something that's real real ,' I thought.

Leave it to 1980's "Roseanne" to approach the subject of first periods, and successfully pull it of in the best way: sensitivity and sarcasm.

Jackie: (remembering how their mother dealt with their first periods) What about when she brought home pamphlets from the Red Cross?

Roseanne: For two weeks I thought what I had was a natural disaster. Offhand, the only other TV program that I can remember first periods being addressed was on the CW's family series, "7th Heaven"-- and dreadfully so (this was programming from the '90's, mind you): when middle daughter, Lucy, is out jogging with her sister, they run into a boy Lucy has a crush on. When they stop to talk, she accidentally drops a tampon in the grass in front of the guy. Mary, her older sister, quickly picks it up and jams it into her pocket. Then, in a much later episode, when youngest daughter, Ruthie, gets her first period, every single member of the family is alerted and the parents want to take her and the rest of the kids out for a traditional, celebratory supper. Give me a break. Neither episode was meant to be funny, but, I bet if Roseanne Barr and the "Roseanne" writers saw them, they'd laugh until they cried! I know I did! Roseanne was so ahead of the times, and we were so behind them. It was like "Roseanne" had to 'snap us to' with the simplest of things-- helpfully making us aware that every aspect of life is there, really there, it's okay to laugh about it without actually turning it into a joke. Sometimes (most times?) it's the best (only?) way. Thanks, again, "Roseanne"!

I loved the ongoing mini-plot of Dan fumbling with the whole period "ordeal"-- especially his nightmare:

Dan: I had this recurring dream in broad daylight. I had this mug with a little airplane design on it, and every time I'd drink from it, the engine would start up, and it would get closer, and I swear this is true, the propeller went up my nose.

Roseanne: You're scary. Episode rating: 10+++++++! Grade schools ought to make this episode required viewing in heath class!moreless
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Darlene gets a little surprise...

10

By cheesy92, Aug 03, 2006

Well alot seems to happen in this episode, so Darlene gets her period, and her parents are trying to cheer her up. Must have been an embarrassing episode to act out but a realistic and exciting story line. I don't really understand about Dan's dream but it seems... strange. Dan has the trouble of trying to say something to Darlene but he doesnt as he doesnt quite know what to say apart from... way to go. So then Darlene thinks she can't be a tomboy until Roseanne talks to her... unlucky! Well this is a fabulous episode, top dollar man!!moreless
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Scary movie...I think not

10

By madamdarth, Apr 27, 2006

Never in a million years could anyone imagine that a show could get away with so much in the 1980s. Well, Roseanne did. In this episode, Darlene gets her period, but Roseanne thinks it was a nightmare from the scary movie.

Dan's dream was funny, as was the reaction from everyone. And the way he reacted to Darlene's coming of age was one of the greatest lines on the show.
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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John Goodman	Dan Conner
Laurie Metcalf	Jackie Harris
Sara Gilbert	Darlene Conner Healy
Michael Fishman	David Jacob "D.J." Conner
Lecy Goranson	Rebecca "Becky" Conner Healy

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (3)
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- Roseanne says she was 11 when she got her period. But in the episode where they find out DJ's having erections, she tells him the story of her first period when she was 13.
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- If the Conners live on 714 Delaware St. (we find this out later in the series), why is this episode titled "Nightmare on Oak Street?"
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- When Roseanne first goes into Darlene's bedroom to get her back to sleep, you can see through the window that it is bright as if it were day.
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QUOTES (6)
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- Becky: I wonder what people did before television.
  Roseanne: They made dolls out of corn cobs and stared at fire.
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- (Remembering how their mother dealt with their first periods)
  Jackie: What about when she brought home pamphlets from the Red Cross?
  Roseanne: For two weeks I thought what I had was a natural disaster.
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- Jackie: The poor kid's just been sentenced to forty-five years of monthly inconvenience.
  Roseanne: Gee Jackie, I hope I can find a way to pass that enlightened wisdom on to my daughter.
  Jackie: You will, just tell her about all those famous athletic women types, and how they all get their periods too.
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- Darlene: Will everybody stop talking about nightmares? I didn't have a nightmare!
  Roseanne: If you didn't have a nightmare, then why'd you have trouble goin' to sleep?
  Dan: Were you worried about your basketball game?
  Darlene: No, I wasn't worried about my basketball game.
  Roseanne: Did you screw up in history again Darlene?
  Darlene: No I didn't screw up in history again.
  Roseanne: Well then, what is the matter?
  Darlene: I got my period! Okay?
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- Dan: I had this recurring dream in broad daylight. I had this mug with a little airplane design on it, and every time I'd drink from it, the engine would start up, and it would get closer, and I swear this is true, the propeller went up my nose.
  Roseanne: You're scary.
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- Jackie: So what's going on?
  Roseanne: Darlene got her period last night.
  Jackie: No kidding? She's only 11.
  Roseanne: I was 11 when I got my period.
  Jackie: Yeah but you were already wearing a D-cup.
  Roseanne: Yeah, two of them.
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NOTES (0)
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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- The episode title Nightmare on Oak Street is a take off on the horror film Nightmare On Elm Street.
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