In 1991, Bernhard began playing the role of Nancy Bartlett on the hit sitcom "Roseanne". She appeared in 33 episodes between 1991 and 1997 and was one of the first actresses to portray an openly bisexual recurring character on American television. The role is one of her best known, something she has lamented in her stand-up as being both a blessing and a curse. In September 1992, Bernhard did a nude pictorial for "Playboy". She hosted the USA Network's "Reel Wild Cinema" for two seasons beginning in 1995. Bernhard continued acting in mostly independent films and TV guest roles and forays into mainstream films such as "Hudson Hawk" and "Dallas Doll". In 1991 she released her first studio album, titled "Excuses for Bad Behavior (Part One)". In 1995, she briefly appeared as a guest in the animated talk show "Space Ghost Coast to Coast", in an episode titled "Jerk". In 1996, she guest-starred on an episode of "" called "Dramatic License" in which she played a romance novelist writing about the life of the main character. She also appeared (as herself) on "Will & Grace" in an episode dealing with Will and Grace's spuriously bidding on Bernhard's Manhattan apartment in order to become friendly with her and culminates in a diatribe from Bernhard when their ruse is exposed, with obfuscating sounds of a blender (she was having a smoothie made) blotting out supposed obscenities. She returned as herself briefly, two years later.