Knowing that her hugely popular sitcom "Roseanne" was unlikely to return for a tenth season, diva/matriarch/force of nature Roseanne decided to break the mold. The show had always reflected the events of her actual life as a blue-collar housewife; why shouldn't it also explore her current life as a wealthy celebrity? So in the ninth season, the Conner family wins the lottery, and "Roseanne" takes a strange turn: Roseanne's sister Jackie (Laurie Metcalf) dates a prince; Roseanne buys the plastics factory where she'd worked in the show's first season; Roseanne's mother Bev (Estelle Parsons) comes out at Thanksgiving; the show becomes rife with celebrity guest stars and fantasy sequences parodying "Evita" and "Rosemary's Baby"; and Roseanne turns her anger on targets like supermarket tabloids and television executives. These wild, satirical storylines mesh poorly with the show's largely realistic history, even though the cast works hard to keep the show grounded in genuine emotion. But interwoven with these flights of fancy and self-indulgence are stories that would have fit in any season: Roseanne's husband Dan (John Goodman) has an affair that threatens their marriage; her daughter Darlene (Sara Gilbert) has a troubled pregancy; and her son D.J (Michael Fishman) worries about how fast things should progress with his new girlfriend. Even the most out-of-control episodes feature glorious bursts of Roseanne's bilious humor and the rich character performances that made this show a television classic. This season's most valuable player is unquestionably Metcalf, who could push Jackie to the brink of hysteria or sober remorse without hitting a false note. "Roseanne - The Complete 9th Season" features interviews with Roseanne that may put some of the show's wackier excesses into perspective for her more resistant fans. This season may not have been the ideal end to a great sitcom, but it's unquestionably going out with a bang. "--Bret Fetzer"