It was hardly a surprise to anyone when ABC announced the decision to bring back a Roseanne-less Roseanne and retool it as The Conners (working title) for the 11th season of the long-running show, after series creator and star Roseanne Barr nearly sealed its fate with a racist diatribe on Twitter back in May. After all, the network had already invested millions in stars John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, and Sara Gilbert alone — all who had renegotiated their salaries from $250,000 to $300,000 per episode for the upcoming order.
The move also saves the jobs of some 200 staffers, which was part of the settlement Barr agreed to in order to allow the series to continue without her.
I regret the circumstances that have caused me to be removed from Roseanne,” Barr, on whose character the original series was based, said in a statement. “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.”
Now the only question left is how the series is going to gracefully explain the absence of the Conner matriarch as it soldiers on. Unsurprisingly, Twitter had some suggestions, and plenty of jokes.
An early look at the opening scene of THE CONNERS pic.twitter.com/ZfInAQPCCG
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) June 22, 2018
[THE CONNERS, EPISODE 1, SCENE 1]
Dan: Roseanne was killed because she got too close to the truth about Pizzagate, which is completely real— pixelatedboat aka “mr tweets” (@pixelatedboat) June 22, 2018
I think it's worthwhile for ABC to produce one scene where Dan informs the rest of the Connors that Roseanne died on the toilet reading about white birth rates but an entire spin-off series seems excessive
— Mike Tunison (@xmasape) June 22, 2018
INT. THE CONNER FAMILY KITCHEN
The family gathers around the table, a feast of piping hot Chinese food in front of them. Dan sits back and pops a prescription painkiller. The uproarious laughter fades.
JACKIE
I'm glad she's dead.— @jupinwhm on IG & Bluesky (@jupin) June 22, 2018
Whoa, didn’t expect this twist to explain Roseanne’s absence in “The Conners.” But, you know, corporate synergy. pic.twitter.com/7Hm89L5auU
— Rick Porter (@rickporter) June 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/SamGrittner/status/1009986060812734465
https://twitter.com/MattOswaltVA/status/1009964637977276416
https://twitter.com/Diane_7A/status/1009960045357031424
Perhaps Melania's jacket was about the Roseanne reboot?
— Moshe Kasher (@moshekasher) June 22, 2018
Premise: The Conners without Roseanne move in next to the Huxtables without Cliff.
— Ben Finfer (@BenFinfer) June 22, 2018
[THE CONNERS, EPISODE 1, SCENE 1]
Dan: Roseanne is gone. This is my new co-worker George Jetson. We work together at the Dunder-Mifflin paper company.— ‘vrunt’ (@vrunt) June 22, 2018
Valerie Jarrett should guest star in the pilot of the Rosanne spinoff The Conners. She could be Dan‘s first date after Roseanne runs off to Europe to have a fling with Steve Bannon.
— Adam Best (@adamcbest) June 22, 2018
Regardless of how the network decides to proceed, it will be interesting to see whether or not fans continue to tune in, given the public outcry from Barr’s more vocal, right-wing supporters.