THE ROSEANNE RIPPLE EFFECT

Just hours after Roseanne Barr compared Valerie Jarrett, an African-american former aide to President Barack Obama, to “[if] muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes had a baby” in a May 29 tweet, ABC execs canceled her sitcom, Roseanne — the network’s No. 1 show. And problems for the comedian, who blamed her comments on Ambien use, were just beginning. “The ripple effect of her actions is enormous,” says an insider. “Roseanne better have a team of attorneys ready, because lawsuits are coming.” The show, which returned in March after a 21year absence, had been renewed for a second season. “Some cast members and crew,” the insider says, “are talking to lawyers about holding Roseanne responsible for affecting their financial stability.” But there might be an alternative for them: There’s talk of a reboot, under a different name, centering around other characters from the beloved show, like John Goodman’s Dan, Sara Gilbert’s Darlene and Laurie Metcalf’s Jackie. “That would be a way for ABC to salvage the jobs of the cast and crew,” the insider says. “Fans are calling for a spinoff, and executives are weighing their options.”

Roseanne’s tweet led to the cancellation of her hit show, bitter responses from co-stars and the possibility of a new series — minus the main character.