Posted on 05/30/2018 4:05:46 PM PDT by EdnaMode
With the shock of the swift and sudden cancellation by ABC of its highest-rated series Roseanne — after the series’ co-creator, star and executive producer Roseanne Barr’s racist tweets — finally starting to subside, a question emerges: What’s next?
I hear executive producers Tom Werner and Sara Gilbert, the main driving force behind the revival, are expected to meet with some of the series’ writers, led by executive producer/showrunner Bruce Helford, in a few days — after the raw emotions from the abrupt cancellation have cooled off — to kick around possible ideas for continuing the show without Barr.
The effort to save the show in some shape and form, led by Carsey-Werner, which owns and produces Roseanne, is understandable given the success of the revival and the money at stake. The independent production company already has all actors under contract for next season. The top-notch co-starring cast, led by John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf and Gilbert, love working together and I hear they are potentially open to returning if the right creative idea is presented to them.
Still, there are a lot of hurdles, from coming up with a concept that will live up to the high creative bar set by the original series to changing the name of the show.
An informed source close to the situation said pulling off an offshoot series with the rest of the Roseanne cast is “possible but not probable.” Another source called it “a long shot.” If it comes together, Roseanne 2.0 would likely not be ready for fall. if it doesn’t, the focus will shift to who will get paid for the aborted Season 11. I hear there have been no conversations yet with the Roseanne cast, writers or crew about compensation but such talks should be forthcoming if the Hail Mary pass to salvage the show does not work.
I hear ABC is currently not involved in any discussions about a potential Roseanne spinoff without Barr. Unlike the case of Two and a Half Men star Charlie Sheen, who was fired by series producer Warner Bros TV after his epic 2011 meltdown but the series was kept alive by CBS until a replacement was found, ABC didn’t just disassociate itself from Barr, it canceled her series. That makes for more complicated conversations should a potential offshoot overcome the first big hurdle — coming up with a concept that the producers and cast like.
And then there is Barr, whose shadow will be looming large in the background. After initially apologizing to Valerie Jarrett for the racist Planet of the Apes comparison, Barr has grown more defiant, re-tweeting up a storm of messages from supporters and indicating she may be ready a fight back.
Roseanne Barr ✔ @therealroseanne you guys make me feel like fighting back. I will examine all of my options carefully and get back to U. 2:54 PM - May 30, 2018
Barr already attacked two of her Roseanne cast members, Michael Fishman and Gilbert, who had condemned her Jarrett tweets. She will likely continue to lob Twitter grenades should the show, which she co-created and headlined for 10 seasons, go on without her.
Yeah, right! It is now obvious that weed is legal in California! The Roseanne Show without Roseanne Barr?? Oh yeah, that’s gonna work! Yes, they killed the Golden Goose. Their highest rated Show, killed by a politically incorrect tweet by it’s star, for which she humbled herself and apologized numerous times. The problem here is that ROSEANNE MESSED WITH AN FOB......Friend of Barack. Friends of Barack are bulletproof. No matter how they act nor what THEY have done (during the Obama Admin), NO ONE can slam them for any reason. Roseanne wasn’t aware of the Rules of the Left.....the Obama Admin is still and forever after, untouchable.
Roseanne’s Part would be play a black transgender woman.
Agreed.
Time for the adults to get control of the levers.
Agreed The Conners would be the most likely title. But I think a lot of fans watched for her.
That would make a lot of sense. But I think Obama and Jarrett likely ordered ABC to cancel it. Would be hard to reverse the decision because of that.
Valerie (1986-1987)
Valerie’s Family (1987-1988)
The Hogan Family (1988-1991)
It premiered on NBC and the final season was on CBS.
“Would “The Conners” or a similar spinoff fair well enough in the ratings? I think a significant percentage of fans wouldn’t watch.”
I think the biggest problem with the show might have been the writers and directors. I say that because Laurie Metcalf is so great as Mary Cooper on Big Band Theory, but so awful in Roseanne.
Like it or not, Roaseanne was the only funny one on the show. Not a great actress, but her comedic timing and ability to deliver a punch line is what kept the show going most of the time it was on.
So, no, I don’t think it would do well in the ratings without an overhaul of the creative team.
“But I think a lot of fans watched for her.”
I wouldn’t watch it without her. It was a pretty good show, and on its way to getting the old rhythm back, but it didn’t sail along like it did in the ‘90s. Sara Gilbert is a freak, and her on-screen kids are freaks — no redeeming qualities at all.
I suppose it could succeed, but I wouldn’t count on it. Many of the viewers are Trump supporters, and if they are lost, viewership will sink like a rock.
It lasted longer than I remembered! I was a tv person back then and I saw a bit of the early seasons. It was quite the stir in the press about Harper walking away/being fired from the show that bore her name.
She could be snl in prime time.
The new show will be called, “We hate Trump and his voters.” Should be a ratings success.
What did the other members of the cast say about her tweet?
Are there quotes available?
ABC does not get it.
The Roseanne Shows success was not about Roseanne or even that the show was worth watching.
People were tuning in to Roseanne to vote their approval of Donald Trump and protest the unfair anti Trump/ anti MAGA media bias they were seeing virtually every other show on every network.
The shows massive success was it’s own downfall because ABC had to kill it before it began to influence public opinion - they just needed an excuse.
Now they are print to back track to cover their butts.
Truth is the Roseanne Show re boot would have flopped if it had had the same toxic Anti Trump bias every other show seems to insert into their story lines and it will flop even worse if they try to spin off an knock off without Roseanne Barr.
Roseann was dumped not for what she said but who she said it about.
If she had said this about Ben Cerson or Candace Owens there would be crickets.
Are sitcom viewers really that political?
The number who wanted a nostalgic return of an old series or who wanted to see a Middle American family again may have outweighed those who had a political motivation.
I fell asleep with the TV on one night, Awoke to Will and Grace, and darn near puked!
Sure. Say she died of Arkancide.
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