Free Television Shows Comparison Essay Example

The Roseanne Show and the Tonight Show have many things in common just like the way they differ in so many other aspects. First, the two shows were broadcasted for more than one decade and comprises of more than 1000 episodes. The two shows have been run again and again with the Roseanne shows divided into nine seasons while the tonight show into more than 11,000 episodes(Roseanne Show ep 2). Secondly, the two shows address similar topical issues or themes though in different ways. For example, in the Roseanne show, major economic issues facing the middle class Americans such as unemployment are featured. In the tonight show, many politicians and economists are hosted numerous times to discuss how these economic challenges can be addressed.
The tonight shows have been hosted by more than ten hosts since the time it was aired for the first time in 1957 to present. On the contrary, Roseanne show has constant main actors (about five of them) who featured in all the nine episodes from 1988 to 1997 (Roseanne Show ep 2). The two shows also differ in their themes as well as how they are portrayed. The Roseanne show portrays some of the challenges that blue-collar families undergo, with the two parents employed outside their home. For example, the two leading characters in the episodes are already overweight as a sign of nutritional problems they experience.
The show also portrays feminist ideals such as female leadership, female-dominated household, cooperative female characters as well their ability to express themselves without any societal fear. In the episode, we see Jackie and Roseanne looking for new jobs after quitting Wellman Plastics where they were working (Roseanne Show ep 2). Roseanne does all manner of menial jobs such as sweeping floors, telemarketer, secretary, cashier, among others, just to support her family. The theme of parental roles is also portrayed where Becky for several times rebel against her parents, which reminds them how they also used to be disobedience when they were young. Finally, the theme of romance is also very evident in the episodes where there s growing romance between crystal and Dan’s father.
While the Roseanne show portrays its theme in a dramatic version, the tonight show is characterized with combinations of various features such as an opening monologue, audience participation, comedy bits, celebrity interviews, guest house band, guest performers among others (Tonight Show, 14. The hosts of the tonight show have also invited politicians and successful business men and women just to share their views on different issues that have risen over time in the country. For example, president Barrack Obama and first lady Laura bush have appeared in the tonight shows just to share their views on different political topics affecting the country during their time in office (Tonight Show, 14). Therefore, the show cover a wide variety of themes that can either be political, economic, social or even religious. The hosts of the show invite guests depending with the issues that need to be addressed).
Another difference between the two shows is that the tonight show allows audience participation where viewers are given chances to make calls or send their comments or even ask questions to the guest who is hosted on the show (Tonight Show, 14). On the contrary, the Roseanne show is produced and casted earlier and the viewers do not have chance to make comment. In other words, there is no live interaction between the actors and the viewers as in the case of the tonight show.

Work citied

Carsey Marcy and Werner Tom. Dir. Roseanne - The Complete Second Season. DVD Talk. New York: ABC, 1997, Tv show.
Fallon, Jimmy. Dir. The tonight show. New York: NBC, 2014, Tv show.