Ep 15. Lanford Daze

Lanford Daze is the fifteenth episode of the fifth season of the popular American TV sitcom Roseanne. The episode first premiered on February 8, 1993, and was directed by John Whitesell with a script written by David Forbes.

In this episode, the working-class Conner family of Lanford, Illinois, prepares to celebrate Lanford Days, a community festival held annually in their small town. Everyone in the family is excited about the event and looking forward to having a great time. But their plans quickly go awry when they realize that their usual parade float has been destroyed in a storm.

Meanwhile, Roseanne (Roseanne Barr) has started a new job at a beauty salon. She is initially thrilled by her new boss, Nancy (Sandra Bernhard), who is vivacious and fun to be around. However, Roseanne soon discovers that Nancy is actually quite demanding and bossy. She berates Roseanne for not being good at her job and constantly criticizes her.

At home, Dan (John Goodman) and his best friend, Chuck (James Pickens Jr.), are working on a new float for Lanford Days. They decide to make a giant gorilla out of papier-mâché, but they quickly realize that it's not as easy as they thought it would be. They struggle to get the gorilla to look realistic, and Dan's attempts at humor only seem to make things worse.

Meanwhile, Darlene (Sara Gilbert) is excited to be spending the day with her new boyfriend, Jimmy (Danny Masterson). However, things soon take a turn for the worse when she discovers that Jimmy is actually a vegetarian. Darlene is horrified by this, as the Conner family is known for their love of meat. She spends the day trying to make Jimmy eat meat, but he refuses.

Roseanne's youngest daughter, D.J. (Michael Fishman), is also getting ready for Lanford Days. He has decided to enter a fishing competition, and is determined to catch the biggest fish of the day. However, his plans are disrupted when he discovers that his fishing pole has been stolen. He is devastated and feels like giving up, but his family rallies around him and encourages him to keep trying.

Becky (Lecy Goranson) and Jackie (Laurie Metcalf) have also entered a contest at Lanford Days. They are participating in a beauty pageant, and are both determined to win. However, when Jackie's wig falls off during the competition, things get awkward and uncomfortable.

As the day goes on, the family realizes that things are not going as planned. The gorilla float is a disaster, Darlene is miserable with Jimmy, and D.J. is struggling to catch a fish. However, they come together as a family and support each other through their struggles. At the end of the day, they all come away with a newfound appreciation for each other and the importance of family.

Overall, Lanford Daze is a fun and heartwarming episode of Roseanne that showcases the unique personalities and quirks of the Conner family. The episode is filled with hilarious moments, touching scenes, and reminds us of the importance of love, family, and community.