Sarah Chalke Looks Back on ‘Roseanne’ Casting

Sarah Chalke is currently well-known for playing Dr. Elliot Reed on the popular TV show Scrubs. But before that, she first gained recognition a few years earlier on the sitcom Roseanne, starring alongside Roseanne Barr and John Goodman. She became Becky Conner in 1993 during the sixth season of Roseanne and appeared in over 70 episodes until the show ended in 1997 after nine seasons.

When actress Sarah Chalke began playing Becky on Roseanne, she took over from Lecy Goranson, the original actress in the role. Goranson had left the show after five seasons to focus on her studies at Vassar College. Chalke recently discussed starting on the series with Jesse Tyler Ferguson on his podcast, Dinner’s On Me. She explained that she felt very inexperienced at the time, and that this actually helped her approach the audition and connect with the show’s cast and crew.

Looking back, I realize I probably only landed that job because I was so young and clueless! I didn’t fully grasp the intensity of the situation at the time, and honestly, if I had, I might have been too intimidated to even audition. I was naive enough to walk into that room, have a conversation, and just… go for it. It’s funny how a little bit of blissful ignorance can actually work in your favor.

Sarah Chalke knew taking over the role of Becky in Season 6 would be met with some criticism, given how much fans loved Lecy Goranson’s performance. She even agreed with those who told her Goranson was excellent, saying, “She was great.”

People definitely had strong opinions, mostly saying they preferred the original Becky. I completely understood – she was amazing, and I agreed she did a great job.

The Impact ‘Roseanne’ Had on Sarah Chalke’s Long Career


ABC 

Sarah Chalke got her start in television on the sixth season of Roseanne, where she played the second Becky and quickly gained a following. Four years later, she landed the role of Dr. Elliot Reed and spent the next ten years starring alongside Zach Braff and Donald Faison, entertaining audiences with her humorous and sometimes awkward on-screen moments.

More than ten years after Scrubs originally ended, Sarah Chalke is returning as a series regular for Season 10. She’ll reprise her role as Elliot Reed, bringing her back to Sacred Heart Hospital to reconnect with her former colleagues for more hilarious adventures. Although Season 9 isn’t considered part of the official storyline, Elliot and J.D. will need to mend their relationship, and fans will finally learn what she and the others have been doing since 2010.

Christa Miller, who plays Chalke, is expected to return for the new season of Scrubs as long as ABC decides to continue the show. While details about her character’s storyline are still unknown, she will remain a central figure as the series is updated for modern audiences.

The first two episodes of Scrubs Season 10 debut on ABC on Feb. 25, 2026.




5 Questions

Becky’s Big Switch: Test Your Roseanne Recast Knowledge!
Your Top Score
Attempts
0
0
Report Error

Found an error? Send it info@movieweb.com so it can be corrected.

Read More

2026-02-21 23:03