8 Years Ago Today, an Iconic 1980s Sitcom Was Controversially Cancelled (& Its Replacement Was Just As Good)

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In 2018, ABC surprisingly canceled a popular sitcom from the 1980s, despite its successful comeback. Fortunately, they found a new show that actually improved upon the original. Over the last fifteen years, we’ve seen a lot of older TV shows return, either as revivals or reboots. Some, like Netflix’s Fuller House and Paramount+’s Criminal Minds, did fairly well, each lasting at least four seasons on streaming. However, others, such as Paramount+’s Frasier and Punky Brewster, weren’t able to recreate the charm of the originals.

Revivals are often tricky, but some manage to come back feeling just as strong as before – and that’s unusual. ABC’s Roseanne did exactly that in 2018, returning for a tenth season after 21 years off the air. The original series had ended in 1997, but the revival was a big success. While critics gave it mixed reviews, audiences loved it, with over 27 million people tuning in for the first two episodes.

After a successful tenth season, CBS quickly renewed Roseanne for an eleventh season, ensuring its return for the 2018-2019 television season. However, Disney cancelled the show on May 29, 2018, due to controversial social media comments made by Roseanne Barr about Valerie Jarrett, a former advisor to President Barack Obama. Despite the cancellation, the show’s popularity led ABC and the remaining creative team to continue the story of the Lanford family with The Conners, but without Roseanne Barr.

Roseanne’s Cancellation Paved The Way For The Conners

The decision to explore new storylines came after the surprising cancellation of the Roseanne revival. Since Roseanne Barr was central to the show, both as an actress and creator, ABC needed a way to explain her departure without simply ignoring it. Ultimately, the show killed off the character of Roseanne due to an opioid overdose, leaving her family and friends to mourn her sudden death.

The story was definitely engaging, especially because it reflected a real issue happening in the country. The show has always been willing to explore tough topics, and the franchise itself has dealt with loss from the very beginning. What made it special was its ability to handle difficult moments with humor, making viewers feel like they were part of the family. Since the spinoff kept most of the original creative team from Roseanne, it quickly found its audience. It became the most popular new comedy of the 2018-2019 season, and ABC even ordered an extra episode, extending the season from 10 to 11 episodes.

It’s no surprise that ABC quickly renewed The Conners after it first aired, and the show went on to produce 112 episodes before ending in 2025. Given its continued popularity, The Conners likely could have lasted a few more years. Those involved suggest the decision to end the series came from the cast, not from ABC cancelling it.

How The Conners Made The Roseanne Franchise Even Better

If things had gone differently, Roseanne could have kept going with Roseanne Barr as the central character. The brief revival on ABC proved how well the cast worked together, with Barr’s character at the heart of it all. If the show hadn’t been cancelled, the network would have avoided a complicated rebrand. However, The Conners has actually done surprisingly well, given everything that happened. Losing Roseanne allowed the new show to explore the characters’ feelings more fully and really show how strong and adaptable the family is.

Even looking back, Roseanne and The Conners flow together surprisingly well. The way The Conners wrapped up, including a storyline about the late Roseanne and her passing, felt like a fitting conclusion. It was definitely a stronger ending than the original Roseanne finale in 1997.

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2026-05-29 19:40