Hello again, ‘Roseanne’: ABC revives classic sitcom
New era, very familiar “Roseanne.”
Among current series revivals, Emmy winner Roseanne Barr’s sitcom about the earthy, colorful Conner family returns 21 years later with new ABC episodes starting Tuesday, March 27. Most of the original cast is back, also including John Goodman, recent “Lady Bird” Oscar nominee Laurie Metcalf (who won three “Roseanne” Emmys), Sara Gilbert, Michael Fishman and both “Beckys”: Lecy Goranson and Sarah Chalke, the latter in a different role now.
“I always wanted to have a 10th year,” Barr says, “so that I could do exactly what I did in these nine (episodes), which was to finish and complete the story of this family. I always had that in my head, that that was how it would go. And so, I’m very happy that we got a 10th season (the new round of stories) and we got to do that.”
One big question of the new “Roseanne” – answered very early in the first episode – is how husband Dan can return, since he supposedly died in the original version. “I didn’t really care” how the character was brought back, Goodman maintains. “I thought it was a clever way to do it, to handle it and get it out of the way.”
Also back are executive producers Tom Werner and Bruce Helford, with comedian Whitney Cummings now sharing that job. Helford still aims explains “to get that honest “Roseanne” feelings out there, within a family that’s relatable. There is really no show that we could think of that’s dealing with it in the same way, with these kinds of issues, ...or they can’t, honestly. “We have, I think, a beloved place in the hearts of the American viewers,” adds Helford, “and we wanted to get out there and do something that we felt would be valuable to maybe healing things and putting everybody’s cards on the table.” Additionally, Werner notes, “This was a show about female empowerment, about people speaking their minds, so it was very important for us to come back and honor that. We felt the bar was high, but we’re extremely proud of the fact that we’re dealing with relevant issues now, just like the issues that we dealt with before opioids and an aging parent and healthcare.” As for the difference in the real Roseanne as the series returns, Barr reflects, “I think that I’ve grown up. I have six grandchildren, and I’m 65 years old. And I’m so happy that I have Medicaid. Or is it Medicare? I always get those mixed up. I think that I’ve mellowed as far as (being) my own person ... but I think everybody who hits 65 is more mellow than they were in their 40s.”