Michael Fishman Says ‘Roseanne’ Has “So Much More to Cover as a Family” in Season 11 (EXCLUSIVE)

Fans have loved tuning in to the Roseanne reboot — and lucky for them, the show has already been picked up for Season 11, with filming resuming later this month. “Season 11 is a dream come true,” Michael Fishman, who plays D.J. Conner, exclusively tells Closer Weekly. “We had so many ideas that didn’t make it into Season 10. We have so much more to cover as a family.”

After the revival’s premiere in late March, the sitcom’s ratings sky-rocketed. “No one was surprised because there was a real feeling of enthusiasm and excitement about how well the writers had tapped into the best parts of the old series,” costume designer Erin Quigley, one of many original crew members who returned, tells Closer. “It deals with universal issues.”

ABC Entertainment Channing Dungey further confirmed the reboot’s second season shortly after the premiere. “We’re thrilled that America has welcomed the Conner family back into their homes,” she said in a statement. “The show is as fresh and relevant today as it was when it left the air 21 years ago. We can’t wait to see what the Roseanne team has in store for next year.”

By all accounts, the original sitcom’s set was frequently turbulent, as Roseanne Barr clashed with writers and network execs alike about her vision for the show, but things are different now. Quigly says she’s mellowed with age: “She’s much more grounded — she’s a grandma many times over and that’s so important to her. She’s an insanely smart, funny person who really cares about her work, and that shows now more than ever.”

Roseanne also relishes the opportunity for a do-over after the sitcom’s disastrous ninth and then-final season in 1996–1997, when the Conner family supposedly won the lottery and became rich, although that was later revealed to be a dream. “She loves the redemption aspect of the show coming back,” says Quigley. “It did go out on an odd note, and she loved the show more than anyone else.”

That affection has proven contagious to viewers once again. “It’s pretty amazing,” says Roseanne of coming back. “It’s very exciting and emotionally overwhelming.” Notes Michael, “It feels a lot like going home. You can see on-screen we all love working together!”

Most of all, what the new Roseanne has delivered is a huge sense of comic relief at a time when it seems like everyone in the country needs it desperately. “The biggest thing from the show, and I think fans agree, is learning how to deal with tough times with humor,” says Michael. “Trying to stick together — that’s what the core of the show is.”

And nobody does it better than Roseanne & Co. “It felt like there was a time warp,” says Quigley, who reports it took “about 30 seconds” for everyone to snap back into place. Concludes Laurie Metcalf, “It’s like we were a family for nine straight seasons and worked every day together and made that bond. Then to revisit it after 20 years have passed, you can’t buy that kind of chemistry.”

For more on Roseanne, pick up the latest issue of Closer Weekly on newsstands now — and be sure to sign up for our newsletter for exclusive news!