ABCThe Conners has reached its two-episode Season 7 finale, drawing the sitcom to a close and causing division over its tribute to former lead star Roseanne Barr.
Everyone’s favorite middle-American family kicked off with Roseanne back in 1988, quickly becoming one of the most successful sitcoms of all time.
While the 2018 revival attempted to undo the show’s original (and divisive) Season 9 ending – the Conners never really won the lottery and Dan had died – a real-world controversy quickly changed everything.
Barr was fired shortly after Roseanne Season 10 started airing, and the show was rebranded as The Conners – and now, in its final moments, it circles back to the star at its center in a way that’s sparked plenty of debate.
Roseanne Barr doesn’t appear in The Conners finale
ABCThe last two episodes of The Conners’ seventh and final season shows the family visiting Roseanne’s graveside for a farewell, meaning Barr doesn’t make an appearance in person but rather in spirit.
Speaking about the decision, executive producer Bruce Helford told USA Today, “I’m sure there were a lot of fans who would like to have seen it.
“She’s not there physically. But we wanted to honor something that she really gave birth to and cared for. We did right by her memory. The audience certainly loved her and her family.”
The decision not to include the actress has sparked criticism from her fans, with one writing on X/Twitter, “Either you’re loyal or you’re nothing. Never ever will I watch this product because of the disrespect shown to Roseanne Barr. That’s not how you do things.”
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“I said goodbye to The Conners when ABC fired Roseanne,” said another, while a third added, “I watched it, thought they should have had Rosanne in the final even if it was a flashback clip since the show wouldn’t be around if not for her.”
Roseanne death addressed with final payout
ABCAfter it was retconned, The Conners never won the lottery again. Instead, Roseanne is honored with a measly $700 settlement against the opioid company that ultimately led to her death.
You see, in the Season 9 finale, we find out that the $108 million jackpot won by the Conners wasn’t real – it had all been a figment of Roseanne’s imagination as she sought to deal with Dan’s death in Season 8.
However, John Goodman’s Dan returned for the Season 10 revival, with the TV show retconning both his death and the lottery subplot. But when Barr was fired in real life, The Conners was born, and they dealt with the switch-up by killing Roseanne off-screen.
In the sitcom, we learn that she died from an accidental opioid overdose, having become addicted to the painkillers she was prescribed for her knee pain.
In The Conners’ Season 7 finale, Dan fights for justice in a court case against the opioid firm, but all he gets is the $700 settlement, which he brings to Roseanne’s grave.
ABCHelford explained, “We wanted to stay true to what’s really happening in the legal system. It’s about family resilience, and shows that money does not create happiness. That comes from the group.”
Even this decision has earned criticism, with one Roseanne fan writing, “ABC totally disrespected Roseanne Barr. $700 settlement that was ABC’s way of sticking it to Roseanne Barr.
“What a shame John Goodman allowed this storyline. Also there were so many characters written out of the storyline. Overall not a very good series finale.”
The Conners is streaming on Hulu now. For more fresh content, check out the new TV shows streaming this month, the best new series to watch on Netflix, and the most binge-worthy shows.