On the Set; 'Roseanne XXX'

CHATSWORTH, Calif.—As any actor can tell you, the secret to comedy is (wait for it) (wait a little longer for it) (aaahhhh, wait just a li-i-i-i-tle longer for it) timing.

It’s something the Conners—Roseanne Barr and screen hubby John Goodman—had down to a science, and it’s something the performers in this latest ’80s TV show parody strive for, and sometimes even succeed at.

Fortunately, the Roseanne XXX production is headed by veteran comedy director Jim Enright, who isn’t afraid to have his actors do multiple takes of dialogue scenes, looking for the best-delivered lines from each performer, which he can then meld into a lively, well-timed laugh fest.

The movie is based around Thanksgiving at the Conner household, with self-described “late starter” actress (and popular social-networking personality) Kelly Shibari essaying the role of household head Roseanne Conner; Tim Von Swine as her long-suffering husband, Dan; Violet Monroe and Jules Sterling as daughters Darlene and Becky; Kris Slater as Darlene’s long-suffering boyfriend, David; and Kayla Paige as Roseanne’s sister, Jackie.

But aside from the casting of an Asian-American as the quintessential redneck housewife, Shibari is also the first “big beautiful woman” to star in a XXX parody.

“I’m 37, so I grew up watching Roseanne,” Shibari told AVN. “I watched the very first episode, pretty much all the way through. She’s a broad, not like a girl or a woman or a lady; she’s always been this type of woman that I consider a ‘broad.’ She doesn’t pull any punches. Unlike her, I’m very quiet—although I have plenty of ex-boyfriends that’ll probably tell me Roseanne is a perfect fit.”

But Shibari’s proud of being cast in part because of her body type.

“This is the first mainstream parody film that has a BBW as the lead character,” she noted. “There have been a couple of BBW parodies but they cast the entire film with BBW girls, including the skinny characters. I’m definitely honored to have been asked to be the first BBW to star alone, so I’m hoping that leads to other—not just parodies but films in general that have both skinny and big girls.”

AVN was present for two sex scenes. In the first, “Roseanne” and “Dan” decide to “make a baby,” which involves the black-corseted beauty letting him take her doggie and mish, snuggling up in spoon position, and finally riding him cowgirl style before the splooge.

In the second, Slater’s “David” gets back at pouty redhead Monroe’s “Darlene” for all the insults she’s hurled at him at the dinner table by making her work for her pleasure in reverse cowgirl, then throwing her on the couch and plunging her doggie style and missionarily.

The day actually ended early—around 9:30 p.m.—allowing Shibari to sneak in a little more computer time.
“I’m a cheesy dork in my personal life, a dorky nerd,” she sighed.

Produced by Dream Zone Entertainment and distributed by Vantage, Roseanne XXX ships May 26 and streets June 2.

This article originally appeared in the May 2010 issue of AVN.

Also, see a 3D gallery of images form Roseanne XXX.