Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Roseanne can take the heat

Comedian gets roasted on TV

Roseanne

Barr 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.

"And after I win, by a vote of 99 per cent in my favour, then I will make some changes in television," she proclaimed.

It's obvious from her passionate tone that Roseanne's not totally fooling around. It's just one item on her agenda: She's in talks for a project with NBC and is planning what she calls a "a 60th anniversary trip around the world all by myself."

Before that, however, is Comedy Central's Roast of Roseanne, the latest in the cable network's series of specials that unleash a comedic assault on a noted celebrity.

The roast, which airs tonight, features an eclectic mix of veteran comedians (Gilbert Gottfried, Jeffrey Ross), actresses (Katey Sagal, Ellen Barkin) and entertainers (Wayne Brady, roast master Jane Lynch), all paying tribute to Roseanne, her landmark series Roseanne and her far-reaching effect on comedy.

Even former spouse Tom Arnold, whose relationship with Roseanne was an extreme firestorm of outrageousness before dissolving in divorce and charges of abuse, makes a "surprise" appearance to toast his ex-partner.