ABC greenlights a Roseanne revival for midseason.
UPDATE: ABC has won a bidding war for a Roseanne revival. Let that sink in. The series will return to ABC midseason, the network confirmed. It's a straight-to-series order.
No longer are those midwestern values being overlooked! A Roseanne revival means a reunion for Roseanne Barr, John Goodman, Sara Gilbert, Laurie Metcalf, and likely more returning cast and guests. The revival will be executive produced by Barr, Tom Werner and Bruce Helford (all returning from the original run). Gilbert and comedian Whitney Cummings will also executive produce. Helford and Cummings are set to be co-showrunners.
Roseanne aired on ABC from 1988 to 1997, hit No. 1 in the Nielsen ratings in 1990, and stayed in the top four across six of its nine seasons. It earned praise for its depiction of blue collar America, its hardworking parents, and its commitment to tackling social issues. The series captured Emmy wins for Barr and Metcalf. John Goodman was nominated seven times, but did not win for Outstanding Lead Actor.
Reunion, once a dirty word in the television business, has been painted over with the sparking allure of “revival,” and all the easy money that comes with dusting off an old property. Whether a Roseanne revival lands on Netflix, ABC, or another network, we may only be in the beginning of television’s zombie era, where literally anything can rise from the dead.