In today’s day and age, reality television seems to rule over everything else. Viewers love watching wealthy people like the Real Housewives spend thousands of dollars on luxury trips and new cars. Of course, they also love the drama. But shows like Survivor, Top Chef, and The Bachelor also dominate the ratings, while more conventional comedies and dramas can really struggle.
However, back in the late 1980s and early 1990s, reality television wasn’t really a thing, as many people watched television to escape reality. During that time, they loved seeing something that was close to reality but much funnier.
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In 1988, ABC aired what would become one of its most beloved comedies, Roseanne. Named after its star, Roseanne Barr, the show featured the Conner family, a working-class family who went through everyday struggles that viewers could relate to. It starred Roseanne Barr as Roseanne Conner, John Goodman as Dan Conner, Michael Fishman, Sara Gilbert, and Lecy Goranson as their children, D.J., Darlene, and Becky.
Roseanne was a huge hit and ran for ten seasons before ending in 1996. Then, in 2017, ABC announced that it was bringing the show back, and most of the original cast were returning. The show returned in 2018 to much fanfare, and another season was quickly ordered.
Unfortunately, that eleventh season never happened, and Roseanne Barr became persona non grata at the network.
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In May 2018, Barr said that Valerie Jarrett — a former top aide to President Barack Obama — looked like the Muslim Brotherhood and Planet of the Apes “had a baby.”
ABC quickly parted ways with the controversial comedian and canceled the upcoming season of Roseanne. However, ABC knew that fans loved the Conner family, and less than one month later, the network announced a spinoff show. The Conners would bring back the stars of Roseanne, minus Roseanne Barr, and continue the family’s story.
It was a decision that would prove to be very successful. The Conners ran for seven seasons before airing its final episode on April 23, 2025. It was a satisfying ending to a story that began nearly forty years earlier.
Related: Roseanne Barr Slams Bob Iger, Calls Him “So Racist”
When Barr was fired for her tweet, ABC immediately condemned what she said, calling it “abhorrent, repugnant, and inconsistent with our values.”
When Goodman was asked about the tweet, Roseanne’s cancellation, and the subsequent spinoff, he said that he was “surprised” by ABC’s actions. He also said that he would miss working with Barr and would enjoy future collaboration.
“I’ll put it this way, I was surprised at the response. And that’s probably all I should say about it. I know for a fact that she’s not a racist.”
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Goodman recently sat down with The Hollywood Reporter to talk about his incredible career, including his work on Roseanne and The Conners.
The actor admitted that he didn’t think the Roseanne reboot would go beyond the initial five or six episodes, but was thrilled when it was picked up. He then thought the show would end when Barr was fired. But he was thrilled when ABC announced The Conners spinoff, and he loved every moment of being a part of such an iconic family, admitting that the series flew by faster than he ever imagined.
However, when he was asked about his relationship with Barr, he gave a surprising answer, admitting they haven’t spoken in nearly a decade.
No. I’d rather doubt if she wants to talk to me. We haven’t talked for about seven or eight years.
Goodman did not say why the two had not spoken and did not elaborate on why Barr wouldn’t want to speak to him, especially after he defended her. But he did fondly remember the chemistry the two shared from the beginning and how much that meant to him.
We hit it off from jump street. She made me laugh, and I made her laugh, and wow, it was so much fun. We’d get so many viewers for the show back then — 20, 30 million people. Things are so different now, but it was a special time.
Recently, Barr spoke about everything that went down. She said that she does not regret her tweet and that ABC and Bob Iger were the racist ones. She also said that she was fired not because of the tweet but because she voted for Donald Trump and that ABC didn’t want to address the country’s political divide in the show, even though she thought they should.
Her new statements were in stark contrast to her comments immediately following her firing, in which she said she “horribly regretted” what she said about Ms. Jarrett.
Are you sad to learn that Roseanne Barr and John Goodman no longer speak? Why do you think she wouldn’t be interested in talking to him? Would you like to see them reunite for a future project? Share all your thoughts on this with us in the comments!
The post ABC Legend John Goodman Sadly Reveals Former Costar Doesn’t Speak to Him appeared first on Inside the Magic.
