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It's OfficialA ‘Roseanne’ Spin-Off (Sans-Roseanne) Is Coming — Get Ready for ‘The Conners’
A new Roseanne spin-off is coming to TV this fall, without star Roseanne Barr! After much speculation, the news was announced on June 21 that a Roseanne-free version of the reboot titled The Conners will be making it’s debut on ABC later this year. The show will air Tuesday nights at 8pm, according to TMZ. As of right now, it’s still unclear how the series will deal with Roseanne’s exit.
For her part, Roseanne said in a statement: “I regret the circumstances that have caused me to be removed from Roseanne. I agreed to the settlement in order that 200 jobs of beloved cast and crew could be saved, and I wish the best for everyone involved.”
Sources have previously told The Hollywood Reporter that ABC and producer Carsey-Werner have requested that Roseanne “not participate financially or creatively in the proposed spin-off,” which is rumored to be centered around Sara Gilbert’s character, Darlene Conner, and her children. Actors John Goodman and Laurie Metcalf are allegedly on board to star in the new show. Just a few days ago, a report stated that Roseanne was already “seriously considering” forgoing any profits she’d make from the potential series.
“Roseanne feels so bad about her antics she is trying to figure out a way to help people harmed by the cancellation. She’s considering giving up financial and creative participation in a spin-off so the people she loves can have jobs. [Roseanne] holding on is a stumbling block,” a source close to the situation told Page Six on Tuesday, June 12.
Shortly after the Roseanne reboot was cancelled by ABC on May 22, sources told TMZ that “the powers that be at ABC are exploring the possibility of re-branding the show and focusing on the character Darlene instead of Roseanne.”
According to the news outlet, Sara quickly began “calling cast members to gauge their interest in the event ABC gives the reboot the green light” and star John (aka Dan Conner) is allegedly “very interested” in the new project. “ABC is desperately trying to salvage the jobs of those who were affected by its swift decision to cancel the show… especially for the writers and crew,” TMZ reported.
Sara and Roseanne on Roseanne.
Following Roseanne‘s abrupt cancellation over Roseanne’s racist tweet, many fans of the hit show took to social media to pitch spin-off ideas without Roseanne so the rest of the cast can keep working. “ABC should change the name of the show from Roseanne to The Conner Family and kill off Roseanne Conner. John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Sara Gilbert and the others can continue without her,” Twitter user @MarkBerman wrote.
“I’d watch an @ABCNetwork show called #TheConners. The torch had already been passed to Darlene/@TheSaraGilbert. Dan copes with the loss of Roseanne. Jackie moves in to help,” @BrettGursky similarly wrote on Twitter.
One fan on Instagram even went as far as to photoshop an image of the Roseanne cast with Roseanne replaced on the Conner’s couch by an urn. The photo’s accompanying text read, “The Conners — You’ll never miss her… they don’t.”
In addition to fans, several celebrities took to social media to pitch their ideas for a Roseanne spin-off in the wake of the show’s abrupt cancellation. The Big Bang Theory star Jim Parsons shared a mock TV show poster for a new series titled Jackie on Instagram with the caption, “Haha YES! #LaurieMetcalf #ILoveLaurieMetcalf.”
The Office star Mindy Kaling similarly took to Twitter to offer her professional services to stars Laurie and John. “Laurie Metcalf and John Goodman let me write things for you,” she wrote. After Mindy’s post, several of her followers agreed that a Roseanne spin-off could totally work without Roseanne. “Plot twist! Dan waakes up from a terrible nightmare… Rosanne has actually been dead for years.. aannnd go!” @MagicScotty wrote.
“In the 80s, Valerie went on without Valerie Harper and was changed to Valerie’s Family and later Hogan Family and found continued success. It could work!” @usernamed_G added. Girls star and creator Lena Dunham also pitched her spin-off idea via Twitter. “I will do the spin-off of your show starring Darlene’s cool kids,” she tweeted. We can’t wait to see how they actually end up handling it!
