How The Conners TV show will cope with Roseanne Barr’s absence

ABC’s new comedy, The Conners, has some unexpected plans to deal with the absence of Roseanne Barr and the touchy topic of Donald Trump.

Fans of the original Roseanne were delighted when rumors of a reboot came true. The revived show, which aired during the 2017 to 2018 TV season two decades after the original ended, scored high ratings.

But just after ABC gave a green light for the second season, Roseanne Barr posted her infamous tweet about former Barack Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett. That racist tweet turned the show’s green light into a red light, with Roseanne‘s planned second season D.O.A.

Goodbye, Roseanne: Hello, The Conners

In the wake of Roseanne Barr getting slammed by the network, celebrities, and fans, rumors swirled about the possibility of a spinoff. In June, the rumors were confirmed.

The whole gang (minus Roseanne Barr) inked deals for the spinoff. And even as the original cast of John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Sara Gilbert, Lecy Goranson, and Michael Fishman hopped on board,  Barr released her creative and financial ties in a very different deal.

“I regret the circumstances that have caused me to be removed from Roseanne,” stated the actress. “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.”

How will The Conners cope with Roseanne’s absence?

If you’re seeking a definitive answer to how The Conners will deal with the sudden absence of Roseanne Barr, you can forget about it. Fans and critics can’t resist trying to guess what the writers will do to explain the original star’s abrupt exit. But producers are playing it coy, according to Variety.

Roseanne herself claimed that her character died after an opium overdose, but producers are declining to support that allegation. Instead, they are offering just a few hints about what to expect when the spinoff premieres on Oct. 16.

“We want people to watch the show and see what happens and how we [wrote Roseanne off],” emphasized executive producer Bruce Rasmussen.

Rasmussen pointed out that there’s a fine line between Roseanne Barr and Roseanne Conner. The challenge is how to separate the actress and her political views (not to mention that shocking tweet) from the show’s character.

The producers want to avoid being flippant about what the character’s departure from the family. Many viewers truly “cared about that character, and it’s separate from whatever feelings they had about the person and her political views and the things she said,” added Rasmussen.

The plan calls for honoring the character in some way during the series. As for what happens after that? “People can have their opinions after that,” summed up the exec producer.

Of guest stars and Donald Trump

In addition to discussing how The Conners will cope with Roseanne Barr’s absence, Rasmussen talked about how the show will deal with politics. He wants to ensure that the show keeps up with the times.

“We are living in a time where people are very anxious and can’t afford to go to the doctor and all that other stuff,” reflected Rasmussen. “So we’re writing in the same way we wrote last year about the economic things.”

However, when it comes to discussing Donald Trump, expect The Conners to take a different tactic than the Roseanne reboot. Although talking about issues such as affordable health care may feel political, Rasmussen promised that “we’re not doing any more of the Trump stuff.”

Instead, the show will focus on “working-class people and how they live their lives.”

In addition to looking forward to a realistic portrayal of the working class, anticipate some guest stars. Johnny Galecki, Juliette Lewis, Justin Long, and Steve Zahn are among the stars who will return.

Should you watch The Conners if you never viewed Roseanne?

Even if you never saw the original or spinoff, Rasmussen believes that The Conners is worth viewing. The absence of the original leading lady means “that these other characters have to step up and fill a void,” he pointed out.

“Everyone has tragedies in their lives, or has someone they love leave them. And you have to adapt and you have to grow, and that’s what these characters are going to be going through in an interesting way,” hinted Rasmussen.