Roseanne Barr’s ABC Comeback Teased After Controversial Firing for Racist Remarks

Roseanne Barr’s career has been as controversial as it has been successful. From her groundbreaking role in Roseanne, which captured the lives of a working-class family, to her highly publicized fallout in 2018 following racist comments on social media, Barr’s presence in the entertainment world has never been far from the spotlight.

After being fired from the Roseanne reboot due to these comments, Barr’s career seemed to hit a permanent roadblock. Yet, as The Conners — the spinoff show that replaced Roseanne — heads into its final season, the question of whether Barr could return to ABC in some form remains on many fans’ minds.

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Barr first became a household name in the late 1980s when her sitcom Roseanne debuted on ABC. The series, which ran for nine seasons, became a cultural touchstone, celebrated for its unvarnished portrayal of blue-collar America. Barr’s portrayal of the sharp-tongued matriarch, Roseanne Conner, resonated with millions, and the show won numerous awards, including an Emmy for Barr.

After the show ended in 1996, Barr remained a prominent figure in Hollywood, but it wasn’t until 2017 that Roseanne made a shocking return to the airwaves.

ABC decided to bring back Roseanne for a tenth season, which premiered to massive ratings. Fans were ecstatic to see the Conner family back on screen, but just a season later, Barr’s career would once again come to an abrupt halt.

In May 2018, Barr sent out a racist tweet about Valerie Jarrett, a former senior advisor to President Obama. The fallout was immediate and severe, with ABC firing Barr from the show and ultimately canceling the revival. In its place, ABC launched The Conners, a spinoff that continued the story of the Conner family, minus Roseanne Barr.

Despite Barr’s absence, The Conners found success, becoming a staple of ABC’s programming. However, the shadow of Barr’s departure loomed large over the series, especially given that her character was written out of the show in a dramatic fashion — Roseanne Conner was killed off after an overdose of prescription drugs.

With the show now in its final season, fans and industry insiders alike are curious about whether there’s any chance of Barr’s return, even in a symbolic or non-traditional capacity.

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In a recent interview with TheWrap, The Conners executive producers Bruce Helford and Dave Caplan were asked if Barr’s character could make an appearance before the series concludes. Helford, addressing the speculation, made it clear that a full return of Barr’s character was off the table.

“We aren’t bringing anybody back from the dead,” Helford said, referencing old “Roseanne” plotlines that brought Dan back from the dead for the reboot. When pressed if Barr could return in ghost-form, Helford said, “Well, I didn’t say not, but yeah,” keeping it cryptic.

Barr’s character was a cornerstone of the Roseanne series, and her absence has been felt on The Conners. The storyline surrounding Roseanne’s death allowed the show to explore themes of grief, loss, and family dynamics without her presence.

Yet, despite the show’s success without her, many fans have been vocal about wanting a final moment of closure for the character. A potential ghostly appearance or cameo could serve as that closure, offering a fitting send-off for one of television’s most iconic characters.

With The Conners now winding down, it’s clear that the show has made its mark on television. However, Barr’s legacy as Roseanne Conner remains a significant part of the show’s identity. Whether or not she returns in any capacity, her influence on the series and on television history cannot be denied.

As Helford and Caplan’s comments suggest, Barr’s return is still up for debate, and it’s unclear whether she’ll ever have the chance to revisit the role that made her a star.

The Conners airs Wednesday nights on ABC, and the seventh season will only be six episodes. The series finale will air on April 30.

What do you think? Would you like to see Roseanne Barr return to The Conners for a cameo? Should ABC give her a chance to come back, or was firing her the right move? Share your thoughts in the comments below!