Roseanne was one of the few sitcoms that typified the late 1980s and early 1990s. Roseanne Barr’s razor-sharp humor, sympathetic characters, and unvarnished honesty made the blue-collar comedy a hit. One sequence in particular, however, is still rumored to be the turning point that permanently altered the course of the series, even though the program flourished for almost ten years. It was so contentious that it ultimately forced Roseanne off the air permanently.

The notorious incident occurred during the show’s last season, which was already full of strange turns and dubious plots. An episode in which the Conner family unexpectedly became wealthy after winning the lottery caught viewers off guard. With moments that seemed totally disconnected from the realistic reality that fans had adored for years, what had begun as a lighthearted dream swiftly devolved into ridiculousness. In the most well-known scene, Roseanne was seen acting so drastically out of character that her admirers felt deceived.

The audiences were incensed. Critics denounced the plot as “the death of Roseanne,” letters flooded ABC, and loyal followers stopped watching in large numbers. Once hailed for its genuineness, it has become a bizarre caricature of itself, akin to a soap opera. Many people believed that the presentation ended with a confusing whimper rather than a bang because of the intense criticism.

In retrospect, that incident is seen as the pivotal moment that destroyed the magic. The moment Roseanne lost her heart was what turned it become a TV legend, not simply a mistake.