Posted on 06/16/2018 6:46:44 AM PDT by EdnaMode
It’s been almost three weeks since ABC’s abrupt cancellation of its flagship comedy series Roseanne following a controversial tweet by star and executive producer Roseanne Barr. And while there is still no official decision on a potential spinoff series, a lot of leg work has been done behind the scenes.
I hear Barr is expected to sign an agreement that would remove her from the potential spinoff and prevent her from suing over it. Terms of the agreements are unclear but it may involve a one-time payment from production company Carsey-Werner to Barr in exchange of her relinquishing any rights so she won’t be entitled to any profits from the spinoff.
Because of the circumstances under which ABC canceled the Roseanne revival, the network’s executives have been adamant that they would only proceed with a spinoff series if Barr has absolutely no involvement — creative, financial or any other.
I hear, barring any last-minute change of mind by Barr — which would not be completely out of character — her agreement is expected to be signed soon. I hear ABC has seven days after that to make a decision on a pickup.
With its conditions of no Barr involvement in the new series met, I hear ABC is likely to proceed with the spinoff. The network and the producers already had been brainstorming titles with several contenders in play. While Darlene was a moniker that had been circulated early on when rumors first surfaced about a possible new series centered on the character played by co-star/executive producer Sara Gilbert, I hear another name that is under consideration is The Conners, which would keep the strong ties to the original series without any Roseanne references while also underscoring the show’s family and ensemble nature.
As this is considered a new series, I hear the cast and the writers all have closed or are in final stages of negotiations on new contracts for the proposed spinoff to replace the deals they had in place for Season 2 of the revival. That doesn’t necessarily mean different terms; I hear the established stars of the show will likely remain at the previously renegotiated salaries for next season, reported to be around $300,000 an episode, though I hear the new pacts are for one year vs. the previous two-year length. I hear there have been some pay increases for the writing staff that are coming back.
This all is part of an intricate business translation which involves calculating the cost of ABC’s cancellation of Roseanne and the price of a possible spinoff and rolling one into the other. It is being handled by Carsey-Werner, which recently ramped up operations as it had not served as a studio on a series in more than a decade, since the end of That ’70s Show.
In anticipation of a pickup for the spinoff, ABC continues to hold off on announcing a replacement for Roseanne on its fall schedule.
In another positive sign, Barr who, at times has been combative on Twitter in the weeks after the Roseanne cancellation, has adopted a mostly conciliatory tone in the last day or so. This is what she tweeted earlier today:
Roseanne Barr ✔ @therealroseanne I forgive everyone who hurt me. I forgive as fast as I can everyday. That is why I am able to live free. I want the best for everyone-I want no more racism or anti semitism or classism. I want peace! Let's all move on & help FREEDOM!
“Will Trump voters keep watching?”
Doubtful. I won’t for sure. Won’t support the Gilbert lesbo bitch.
Maybe Sandy Duncan can be the new Roseanne
They could cast Melissa McCarthy as Roseanne and no one would notice after a few episodes.
Yeah, base the show around Sara Gilbert. A third class passenger had a better chance of surviving the Titanic than that show being successful.
“Now they have to kill of Roseanne? “
Probably have nazi, rightwing extremist Trump look-a-likes do it.
LOL!
You know what they say. It’s all shits and giggles ‘til somebody giggles and shits.
“Roseanne” without Roseanne. Maybe they can explain her absence by having her sent away to the reeducation camp.
I loved that episode. Those are 2 of the best lines in the whole series.
I used to be able to watch, on LAFF channel, old Roseanne reruns. They erased Roseanne the same day ABC did. The elite Nazis erased her. May they rot in hell.
They need to change the name of the show from “Roseanne” to “Roseanne’s Family” and then change it again to “The Conner Family.” It worked so well for “Valerie” in the 80s!
Seriously, who’s going to watch this? Roseanne Barr was the draw. Conservatives aren’t going to support the show or network that so hypocritically dumped her; liberals won’t support anything to which she was ever attached.
Smooth move, ABC!
It’ll be one more horrible show created by liberal writers who hate the American people. WE won’t watch it and liberal elites will only watch it if the butt of every joke is a conservative. And since that ‘butt of every joke’ thing already exists in every other show why would liberal elites watch it?
Maybe as a ‘freak show’ since that’s how conservative Americans will be presented? But even then it might be too tacky for ‘elites’. A full out ‘archie bunker’ worked in the past because every other show wasn’t an ‘archie bunker’... there’s only so much hate that can be dumped on a group without it becoming boring.
And besides there aren’t that many ‘elites’ to support the show. There’s certainly not enough to do one more show for...or one more network for, or one more news channel for...
And no, liberal writers who hate everyday Americans will NOT be able to write in a fair enough way for us to watch.
Thanks for your perspective, very interesting.
The ratings for the Roseanne revival were very low in Los Angeles and NYC. They got their biggest ratings in red states and the Chicago area. A liberal themed spinoff will flop.
That’s a good idea.
I think the liberals in the midwest might continue to watch, but not on the coasts.
You're right... it's not gonna work.
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