In a recent episode of “The Roseanne Barr Podcast,” the 73-year-old comedian spoke with Michael Malice about John Goodman’s decision to limit his appearances on the show in later seasons.
“I don’t think I heard that from his agent, I really think I heard it from the show’s producers. [that] he doesn’t want to be on the show anymore,” she explained. “I think they said he’d do six out of 24 or something like that.”
Barr admitted feeling betrayed by Goodman after the decision to reduce his involvement in the show. (Vera Anderson/WireImage)
Despite feeling betrayed, Barr said she always kept things “professional” and kept her personal emotions separate from her work on the show.
“None of them supported me in anything — I just glanced at the first performance and I just brushed it aside and did the performance. It’s always like that,” she added. “I learned not to talk to anyone on set when we were filming intimate scenes. I was always the character. When we were working, I was always the character. That’s even when I took a break to go get a cup of coffee, I was still the character.”
“Roseanne” is often considered one of the most influential television shows of the 1980s and 90s, airing on ABC for nine seasons from 1988 to 1997, earning Barr an Emmy and a Golden Globe Award.
Its popularity stems from the show’s subject matter, as it portrays a blue-collar family, highlights their financial troubles, and often blends serious and humorous themes.
“Roseanne” aired on ABC for nine seasons from 1988 to 1997. (ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
In the podcast, Malice asks Barr why she doesn’t enjoy sharing stories from her Hollywood heyday, to which her son and occasional co-host, Jake Pentland, replies, “She doesn’t think being famous is fun.”
“Plus, I think what I said about it wasn’t interesting to people because it was too dark and horrific, they want to think, then she becomes famous and lives happily ever after.” [after]. Like, I hate to tell you this, but it was a step into a goddamn hellhole surrounded by demons. Sorry for blowing up your damn illusions,” she added.
Due to the popularity of the original show, “Roseanne” was rebooted in 2018, with much of the original cast returning, but was canceled after one season following Barr’s racist tweet comparing former Obama administration adviser Valerie Jarrett to an ape.
Following the decision to cancel the reboot, ABC announced a spin-off titled “The Conners,” in which Barr’s character is portrayed as having died from a drug overdose.
Barr’s character was killed off in the “Roseanne” spin-off, “The Conners.” (According to Wargo/Getty Images for NBC)