When one thinks of massivesitcoms of the ’90s, the seriesRoseanneis usually one of the first that comes to mind. The Roseanne Barr-led comedy follows the working-class Conner family as they struggle to get by in day-to-day life. The show stood out against other sitcoms of the time thanks to its centering on real-world dinner table issues that affected average American families. That premise enabled the show to enjoy success and a lengthy run of nine seasons from 1988 to 1997.
In 2018, audiences were welcomed back into the Conner home again when ABC revivedRoseanne. The new iteration was a huge hit in the ratings and swiftly earned a second season renewal. However, a series of highly controversial tweets from the ever-polarizing Roseanne Barr led to the revival’s cancelation soon after the first season ended. Not wanting to lose their biggest hit, ABC removed Barr and opted to continue the show with the rest of the cast.The Connerslaunched in the fall of 2018 and has enjoyed a presence on the network ever since, outlasting most other contemporary revivals. As it prepares to cross 100 episodes in its upcomingsixth season, let’s look at what gives it that staying power.
The Original Issues of Roseanne
When the originalRoseannelaunched in 1988, it was unlike anything else of the time. Instead of a group of friends living idealized lives, the show centered on an average lower middle-class family in rural Illinois. Both Roseanne Conner and her husband Dan (John Goodman) held full-time jobs in an era when stay-at-home moms were still commonplace on TV. Sensitive issues like substance abuse, infidelity, domestic violence, and financial hardship were regular fixtures of the show. The original series also featured several LGBTQ+ characters, almost unheard of at the time, as a result of Barr’s then-staunch support for the community.
John Goodman Reflects on Roseanne Barr Controversy: ‘I Wish Her Well’
John Goodman commented on the Roseanne Barr situation and if he’d be up for working with her again on a future project.
The show was a hit because real people could relate to thewholesome Conner family. That love for the show only grew in the decades since it ended. After years of talks and rumors, a revival series was officially confirmed for ABC in 2017. The newRoseanne– with the entire original cast plus new members – launched on ABC in the spring of 2018. The premiere episode drew over 18 million viewers, which was higher than the original 1997 finale. Just three days later, ABC ordered a second season, which would ultimately never materialize.
Roseanne’s End and Launch of The Conners
The Conners
The outspokenly conservative Barr had been controversial for years due to her polarizing views. A week afterRoseanne’s first revival season ended, Barr went on a lengthy Twitter tirade that included a racist insult directed at an advisor to former President Obama. That same day, ABC canceled their highest-rated show.
However, they almost immediately began looking for a way to save it. In June 2018, they settled on continuing the show asThe Conners, with every cast member except Barr. Soon after, the character Roseanne Connerwas killed offinThe Conners' premiere. In recent years, Barr has been less than cordial when discussing her castmates moving on without her, stating that her co-starSara Gilbert stabbed her in the back.
The Connerswill debut its strike-delayed sixth season this February, which features the milestone 100th episode. There are rumblings that the show could wrap after this season, but nothing’s confirmed. It’s still ABC’s highest-rated comedy and only has a few more seasons to go before it matches the originalRoseanne’s run. Revivals rarely have a chance to run as long or longer than the original. Two or three seasons is typically what we see. Nowadays, six seasons and 100+ episodes for any show are increasingly rare. So how’d we get here?
How The Conners Stands Out
Audiences loved the originalRoseannedue to how real and grounded the stories felt. At least until the lottery win in the ninth season, but that’s a story for another time. The revival continued this trend with an added dash of politics. Since it aired relatively soon after the 2016 election, Roseanne Conner’s conservative politics were heavily featured to mirror the real-life stars' beliefs. That also caused several conflicts with her liberal sister Jackie (Laurie Metcalf). The political focus pushed the show toward a conservative audience rather than appealing to all working-class people like in the original.
The Conners Cast Character and Guide
The Conners cast brings to life one of ABC’s most popular family sitcoms. This spin-off of Roseanne premiered in 2018.
Losing their controversial star has allowedThe Connersto shift away from politics. Issues come up occasionally, but the main focus is once again on the family and their personal struggles. Viewers can tune in to see the same family they grew up with tackling the same problems head-on.
The family hasn’t seen their financial fortunes change in the last 25 years, so monetary challenges remain a big issue. Darlene (Sara Gilbert) and Becky (Lecy Goranson) have moved back to the family home. Dan has to ask them to help with rent money, which he is ashamed of as he used to be the provider. In the first season, we see the family working through their grief at losing Roseanne. It feels genuine and honest, with Dan and Jackie the most affected.
Later, Becky relapses into alcoholism after trying to get sober for her young daughter. Darlene’s son Mark – named for the late Glenn Quinn’s character from the original show – is openly gay and accepted by the family. In the recent fifth season, Jackie has to confront her complex feelings for her mother, Bev (Estelle Parsons), after she’s diagnosed with dementia.
This is just a sampling of what some of thebest episodes ofThe Connersfeature. The spin-off had a difficult task in rebuilding theRoseanneuniverse without the titular lead. However, they were able to do just that by reminding audiences what they loved about the original. They even replaced Barr with another beloved ’90s sitcom mom, as Katey Sagal plays Dan’s second wife, Louise.
The Conners are still a real family with real problems faced by real people in this country. That sentiment is true in today’s socioeconomic climate more than ever. When average people feel like the entertainment industry talks down to them, it can help to see themselves reflected onscreen.The Connersis available to stream now on Hulu.
