Dec 18, 2018

REVIEW | Life Goes on for The Conners

CAST OF THE CONNERS (L TO R) MAYA LYNNE ROBINSON (GEENA) JAYDEN REY (MARY) MICHAEL FISHMAN (D.J.) JOHN GOODMAN (DAN)
 LAURIE METCALF (JACKIE) SARA GILBERT (DARLENE) EMMA KENNEY (HARRIS)  AMES MCNAMARA (MARK) LECY GORANSON (BECKY)
I’ve read reviews that really trash the new series The Conners and noticed a reoccurring theme. Many had already made up their mind that they weren’t going to like the series because it didn’t feature Roseanne Barr. Others made their opinions known after watching only a segment of the debut. In both cases there’s little the show can do to win the favour of those who prematurely wrote it off. 

I was a big fan of the original Roseanne series and one of the 16+ millions who tuned in to watch the reboot episode. I was bummed out when ABC pulled the plug on the mega hit after Barr’s late night racist tweet and thrilled when the network later announced that they had made a settlement with Roseanne that would allow them to bring a rebranded version of the show back, minus her character or creative input. 

One of the things I always enjoyed about the original Roseanne series was the stellar cast. In the earlier episodes Barr’s acting was at best, marginal. She would deliver her line then break the fourth wall by chuckling and waiting for the studio audience to stop laughing. Roseanne was used to doing stand-up comedy and it showed. Had they not surrounded her with seasoned actors and talented kids, it’s unlikely the show would have become so popular.
The Conners gives us more of what held the Roseanne series together with none of the abrasiveness associated with Barr. The writing has continued to be current and believable.

When they wrote out Barr’s character, they cleverly used a storyline that had already developed on the reboot, while addressing an issue that’s been in all the headlines. Although Barr scoffed at how they wrote her out, she had approved her character’s opioid addiction plot line featured in the Roseanne reboot.

The Conners has quickly become my “must-see TV” go to. With its plot twists and blending of new and familiar characters, there’s enough material for this series to continue for several seasons. Hopefully viewers and ABC feel the same way.