Keith Girard
Hit ABC show ‘Roseanne’ might be revived by the network without the controversial star. (Photo: ABC)
Roseanne Barr torpedoed her wildly popular ABC sitcom reboot, “Roseanne,” after displaying her racist streak on social media. But the show could return to the air–without her! Would you watch?
ABC honchos are reportedly weighing a reboot of the reboot without the controversial star, according to gossip site TMZ.
The Roseanne original cast from left: Laurie Metcalf, Michael Fishman, Roseanne, John Goodman and Sara Gilbert, who could be leading a new reboot. (Photo: Carsey-Werner)
Instead, the show would be built around Sara Gilbert, who starred on the original production from 1988 to 1997. Her character was a counterpoint to the family’s blue-collar coarseness.
Darlene Conner is artistic, sarcastic, tomboyish, intelligent and goes on to become a writer. Toward the end of the series, she’s also a single mother of two children.
Ironically, Barr said she begged ABC suit Ben Sherwood to keep the show on the air. Sherwood, president of the Disney-ABC Television Group, canceled it after a huge backlash followed her posted racist Tweet.
She wrote that Valerie Jarrett, a former aide to President Barack Obama, was the offspring of “Planet of the Apes” and the Muslim Brotherhood.
The Tweet was far from a one-off. Barr has a long history of derogatory comments about Muslims, Barack and Michelle Obama Jews and African-Americans.
Back in the day, however, she was one of the most popular comedians on television. In 1989 and 1990, “Roseanne” was the No. 1 show in television.
In May last year, ABC announced that it would revive the series for a 10th season. The entire original cast returned. It debuted to huge ratings in March. The show was renewed for an 11th season of 13 episodes before ABC abruptly cancelled it.
Roseanne may get her wish and see the show renewed, but it will be without her. ABC is reportedly “desperately [trying] to salvage the jobs of those who were affected” by the cancellation, according to the gossip site.
So far ABC has not commented on the report.
In the meantime, Barr has become an alt-right cause-celeb with Fox News and hard-right groups.
Check out a “Roseanne 2018” trailer below and a video of cast reaction to the cancellation.