The Conners: ABC Orders Roseanne-less Spin-off for Fall 2018

The Conner clan will return this fall but it will be without their matriarch. ABC has ordered a spin-off of the Roseanne TV show which was abruptly cancelled earlier this month by the network following a controversial tweet by star Roseanne Barr. The Conners (working title) will air in Roseanne’s former timeslot, Tuesdays at 8 PM.

ABC had stipulated that they would only be interested in a spin-off if Barr had no creative or financial involvement. It seems that producers were able to work out a deal with Barr so that the show could move forward. It’s unclear if Barr’s character will be killed off or if her absence will be explained in some other way.

Here’s the press release for the series order:

THE CONNERS CONTINUE

ABC Picks Up ‘The Conners’ (Working Title) Straight to Series to Premiere This Fall

John Goodman (‘Dan’), Laurie Metcalf (‘Jackie’), Sara Gilbert (‘Darlene’), Lecy Goranson (‘Becky’) and Michael Fishman (‘D.J.’) Are Set to Star as Their Iconic Conner Characters

“The Conners” (working title), a spin-off of the groundbreaking family comedy “Roseanne,” has been greenlit to series with an order of 10 episodes for fall 2018. After a sudden turn of events, the Conners are forced to face the daily struggles of life in Lanford in a way they never have before. This iconic family – Dan, Jackie, Darlene, Becky and D.J. – grapples with parenthood, dating, an unexpected pregnancy, financial pressures, aging and in-laws in working-class America. Through it all, the fights, the coupon cutting, the hand-me-downs, the breakdowns – with love, humor and perseverance, the family prevails.

The series, featuring John Goodman (“Dan”), Laurie Metcalf (“Jackie”), Sara Gilbert (“Darlene”), Lecy Goranson (“Becky”) and Michael Fishman (“D.J.”) as their beloved Conner characters, is set to air Tuesdays (8:00-8:30 p.m.). Additional cast members and a premiere date will be announced later.

Roseanne Barr will have no financial or creative involvement in the new series.

“The Conners’ stories demonstrate that families can always find common ground through conversation, laughter and love. The spin-off will continue to portray contemporary issues that are as relevant today as they were 30 years ago,” ABC shared in a statement.

In support of their new series, cast members John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Sara Gilbert, Lecy Goranson and Michael Fishman said, in 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.”

Tom Werner will executive produce, along with Sara Gilbert, Bruce Helford, Dave Caplan, Bruce Rasmussen and Tony Hernandez. Bruce Helford, Dave Caplan and Bruce Rasmussen are also writers. The series is from Tom Werner and Werner Entertainment.

In our recent poll, 37% of respondents said that they would watch a Conners spin-off without Barr. Meanwhile, 48% said they would not watch and 15% indicated they weren’t sure.

What do you think? Do you plan to check out The Conners TV show on ABC?