After Being Fired For Racist Comments, Roseanne Barr’s ABC Return Teased

in Entertainment, Featured, Movies & TV, Television

Sara Gilbert, Roseanne Barr, and John Goodman The Conners

Credit: Video Screenshot, 'Roseanne', ABC

Since she first graced the comedy stage in the 1980s, Roseanne Barr’s brash comedic style made her a hit with audiences. In a few short years, she had made herself a household name and was even offered the role of Peg Bundy in the iconic show Married… With Children. However, she turned the role down, and it went to Katy Sagal, who ended up being the perfect casting choice.

Then, in the late 1980s, Barr decided to say yes to starring in her own television show, and Roseanne was born. The show aired on ABC and ran for an impressive nine seasons.

Roseanne Barr and John Goodman in Roseanne on ABC
Credit: Video Screenshot, ‘Roseanne’, ABC

Related: The Man Behind the First Same-Sex Marriage on Broadcast Television Dies at 80

Roseanne starred Ms. Barr as Rosanne Conner and John Goodman as her husband, Dan. They worked blue-collar jobs and lived a lower-middle-class life, which made them relatable to many Americans. The series also starred Sara Gilbert as daughter Darlene Conner, Alicia Goranson as daughter Becky Conner, and Michael Fishman as son D.J. Conner. Laurie Metcalfe also starred in the show as Laurie, Roseanne’s sister.

After nine seasons, Roseanne ended in 1996, but it still had a huge following. Then, in 2017, ABC shocked fans when it announced the main cast would be returning for a tenth season of the sitcom. After waiting more than 20 years, the tenth season aired, fans were thrilled, and almost immediately, plans for an eleventh season were already underway.

Season 10 of 'Roseanne' on ABC
Credit: Video Screenshot, ‘Roseanne’, ABC

Unfortunately, that eleventh season never happened. Just two months after announcing another season, Roseanne Barr was fired after sending out incredibly racist tweets.

However, instead of ending the show altogether, ABC created a spinoff show, The Conners, which brought back the Roseanne cast, minus Roseanne Barr.

The Conners premiered five months after Roseanne was canceled, but despite the fact that the show’s star was missing, fans loved the spinoff. The Conners has had a widely successful run for seven years.

Sadly, the show entered its seventh and final season on March 26.

The Conners ABC
Credit: Video Screenshot, ‘The Conners’, ABC

Related: ABC Confirms Major Characters NOT Returning For Final Season of Beloved Show

When The Conners first aired, it was revealed that Roseanne had died after accidentally overdosing on sleeping pills. The family was still close, but they were struggling to deal with moving on without their matriarch.

With just five episodes left in the final season, some are wondering — is there any way to bring Roseanne back for a special send-off?

Well, even though she is dead, the answer isn’t an outright “no.”

Roseanne Barr and John Goodman in Roseanne
Credit: Video Screenshot, ‘Roseanne’, ABC

In an exclusive report, TheWrap asked executive producers Bruce Helford and Dave Caplan that very question, especially since the final season’s premiere episode brought Roseanne’s death back to the forefront.

In the premiere episode, Jackie tells the rest of the family that she wants to sue the opioid manufacturers who made the drugs that Roseanne overdosed on. But does that mean that Roseanne could return to The Conners in some capacity?

Per TheWrap:

“We aren’t bringing anybody back from the dead,” Helford said, referencing old “Roseanne” plotlines that brought Dan back from the dead for the reboot. When pressed if Barr could return in ghost-form, Helford said, “Well, I didn’t say not, but yeah,” keeping it cryptic.

The Conners canceled on ABC
Credit: ABC Promotional Image

The final episodes of The Conners will air on Wednesday nights on ABC. Unlike past seasons, season seven will only have a total of six episodes, with the series finale airing on April 30.

Would you like to see Roseanne Barr return for a cameo in the final season of The Conners? Do you think ABC should work with her again, or were they right to fire her? Share your thoughts in the comments!

in Entertainment, Featured, Movies & TV, Television

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