Well, it’s happening. Less than a month ago, Roseanne Barr went on a racist Twitter rant on Memorial Day and got her ass fired by ABC. ABC had decided to “reboot” the original Roseanne series even though Roseanne had more than proven herself to be a racist nutjob many, many times over the years. The reboot was successful and problematic, especially when Donald Trump started praising it and Roseanne started praising him. Then the racist tweets happened and suddenly everyone acted like it was brand new information that Roseanne Barr is a racist clown. Almost immediately after the show was canceled, Sara Gilbert and the producers took meetings with ABC to see if they could possibly salvage the show without Roseanne. It took less than a month for The Conners to get greenlighted.
ABC isn’t letting go of Roseanne that easily. Just a few weeks week after ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey abruptly canceled the extremely popular Roseanne reboot due to Roseanne Barr’s racist tweet about former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett, the network has found a way to keep a version of the comedy part of its fall line-up, with 10 episodes currently ordered.
Currently titled The Conners, the spinoff will feature Dan (John Goodman), Jackie (Laurie Metcalf), Darlene (Sara Gilbert), Becky (Lecy Goranson) and DJ (Michael Fishman) facing the daily struggles of life in Lanford in a way they never have before “after a sudden turn of events.”
Who wants to take bets on that sudden turn of events? Sources tell E! News that the entire writing staff has been hired back, and according to ABC, Roseanne herself will have “no financial or creative involvement in the new series.”
The entire cast released a joint statement: “We have received a tremendous amount of support from fans of our show, and it’s clear that these characters not only have a place in our hearts, but in the hearts and homes of our audience. We all came back last season because we wanted to tell stories about the challenges facing a working-class family today. We are so happy to have the opportunity to return with the cast and crew to continue to share those stories through love and laughter.”
The biggest question everybody had regarding the spinoff/reboot was “will Roseanne Barr profit in any way from this?” The answer isn’t 100% clear. ABC claims that Roseanne will have “no financial or creative involvement in the new series.” Apparently, ABC did work out some kind of deal with Roseanne where she “will retain all rights to her Roseanne Conner character and any future spinoffs beyond The Conners or any future reboots of the original.” Roseanne released a statement saying that she agreed to this solution so that the jobs of 200 cast and crew members could be saved. What’s unclear is if ABC had to pay Roseanne “go-away money” to waive her rights to the characters she created and still owns. The Hollywood Reporter has more about all of that – go here to read.
As for the “sudden turn of events”… people are already having a field day with how the fictional Roseanne Conner character could be written off the show. I mean, it feels like they’re going to kill off her character, but how will it be done?
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, WENN.
This is just silly. It smells like what TLC did with the Duggars after the whole molesting/Ashley Madison scandal.
I stil don’t understand why they can’t just put this shit to bed…come up with something new. Not everything needs to redone, or revisited, or retold, or gender swapped or whatever bullshit. Just come up with something new!!
No shit. I’m sick of it too. Also less than impressed with the “new” live action movies. They’re re-doing the same movies that have been made for 60+ years. Where is the imagination in Hollowood? (typo stays)
Because it makes money. And they’ll keep doing the same thing until it doesnt.
Yes, it does. Unless Roseanne’s contract had a morals clause, I don’t see how they can do this without paying her go away money.
I’m positive she was paid large to go away. Looking like a hero mind you, getting everyone their jobs back!
She got go away money. Knowing her, I doubt she would be so agreeable to this if they didn’t line her pockets. I still think this is a bad idea.
As per the Hollywood reporter story:
“But since Barr would be entitled to substantial fees and backend on a Roseanne spinoff, the actress had to waive those rights before a new take could move forward. The last key hurdle was over what, if any, one-time payment Barr was to receive as “go-away money,” as one source put it. Barr will retain an executive producer credit on the new take, per WGA rules.”
Maybe the first episode can be about how offensive it is when actors enable ugly, hateful racism in someone and then have the gall to act all outraged about it when they think it is going to affect their bottom line?
The only reason I think the spin off should happen is so all the crew members who lost their jobs because of her now have employment again.
How long before she “guest stars,”as a little feeler before a potential return?
Exactly! This gives her a comeback vehicle. Just no.
nope..still gonna smell..And i have no doubt Roseanne’s ‘ghost of hatred’ will haunt it..
Just bury it and move on. To me, this is still validating what that awful woman has said and will keep on saying. do not let her have this.
I predict it will be cancelled within weeks.
The ratings were sinking after the big premiere. So many long time fans of the show said the revival was ultimately disappointing and felt what they did with some of the characters didn’t make any sense.
I smell a flop.
Happy Friday!
And an especially happy Friday to you, Michael Cohen. See you…on the flip side!
This pulled me out of my foul mood (a bit). Hope you’re right, Eric!
Oxy-Contin overdose?
Probably during knee surgery…
Roseanne is still tweeting vile comments.
This attempt to rewrite what happened will wither and die. Stupid move.
But do we really even need this trash show?
Maybe they will kill off the character by having a old billboard with Hillary Clinton on it fall on top of her?
I dunno, does anyone really want this?
My only question is why. Alongside such superb tv series, I can’t believe any studio, in their right mind, would stroke such a stupid show.
American studios are stuck on nostalgia and reboots. They see it as safer return on investment even though it often flops.
Yuck. Who is really asking for this?
I’m glad the crew retained their jobs, but that’s about it.
The cast and producers knew what they were signing up for with her. They knew, and they didn’t care. John Goodman flat out said he doesn’t care. I have no desire to support them.
There are plenty of other good shows out there right now that have actual diversity, and decent people making them. Watch those instead.
Wasn’t interested in the reboot, not interested now.
The right thing for ABC to do would have been to pay out severance to the crew.
Also, I see you, Sara Gilbert. Playing to the crowd who thinks your sexuality makes you an aberration and a sin. Dance for them though!
This will bomb. Deplorables won’t watch it in protest of Roseanne’s firing and folks like me won’t watch it because I didn’t watch this years reboot either. Goodman, Gilbert, and Metcalf had contracts with ABC for a second season, regardless, so ABC would’ve been out 8-10 million. I get why they’re trying something else instead of just cutting their 8-10 million dollar losses, but I feel like this is somehow handing Trump fans a win when it fails.
no thanks.
Geez, talk about desperate for something to put on the air. ABC can’t come up with 30 minutes of an original idea? Pack this crapola up and be done with it. Goodman, Metcalf, Actor whose name I can think of plays Darlene, are all multi-millionaires. Find a hobby you guys, you are embarrassing yourselves in this ugly cash grab.
Darlene = Sara Gilbert. And don’t forget “consultant” Wanda Sykes and show-runner Whitney Cummings. I’m sure they ALL negotiated & re- negotiated to collect significant amounts even if the show eventually tanked simply due to poor ratings…INCL BARR (she’s getting hush money, no doubt).
It’s not even a FULL 30mins, more like 22mins, but this is just to clean up/”See, WE’RE not odious” ABC’s and all those over 18 yrs old who willingly & willfully ignored her horrendous nature AND GOT BIT IN THE ASS FOR CASH.
Just don’t. Let it die already.
Yep!
For Roseanne’s big death scene, they should have trump shoot her on 5th ave.
Going against the criwd here, I think thus is a good idea. The 200 jobs are allunion and it’s better to be free of Roseanne and let the writers tell 21st century working class stories.
They should ovviously kill off Roseanne Conner with a sudden stroke, that explains her recent racism and paranoia. Darlene should become the new matriarch. Dan will have l to declare bankruptcy due to crap Trump care insurance from Roseanne’s ER charges. The show needs to cover the ramifications of Trump’s policies. Dan should get a new GF too. Maybe a Slovenian immigrant who can call out Melania for her selfish opportunism (like GEEKYCHICK does).
It could turn into an amazeballs show, actually.
i like Jayne Birkin’s idea above. Declaring bankruptcy because of – hey!! Roseanne’s breat cancer-related medical bills!! à la Breaking Bad, but more realistic- and not having good insurance coverage.
Maybe they should lose their house for good measure. Trump realism, you know.
Looks like someone got this straight off of some threads on social media. I could have sworn I’d seen this very idea on here somewhere too. Either way, this is going to be quite the shitshow.