More than three decades after we first met the sitcom family, The Conners is coming to an end — and the cast is getting ready for their final goodbye.
In Us Weekly’s exclusive look at a behind-the-scenes retrospective, John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Sara Gilbert, Lecy Goranson, Emma Kenney and Jay R. Ferguson sat down at the legendary dinner table to reflect on the show.
“We always knew this would come to an end, but somehow it felt like it would be forever,” Gilbert, who plays Darlene, said. “The best thing television can do is make people feel connected.”
The patriarch of the family, played by Goodman, shared what he hopes fans took away from the show.
“I would hope that the legacy of this show would be that people saw a little of themselves in us,” Goodman noted. “Humor has always been the thing that has pulled this family through. I am going to miss it very, very much. Above all, we had fun.”
Goranson, meanwhile, how the characters felt like “real people,” adding, “There wasn’t a day that I was not excited to come here to work.”
Her costar Kenney, who brought the role of Harris to life in the spinoff, couldn’t agree more: “I remember growing up and seeing all of these faces on my TV. Doing this show is something I am so grateful for.”
Elsewhere in the exclusive video, Metcalf applauded the ABC sitcom for being able “to take heavy issues and pull out humor around it.”
According to the official synopsis, the first episode is set “ahead of the deposition” as “Dan gets support from Jackie, Becky and Darlene. Mark is presented with an opportunity which leads to a major life decision. Meanwhile, Becky and Tyler consider the next step in their relationship — joint finances.”
The series finale follows Jackie as she “prepares for a series of physical tests in an effort to rejoin the police force. Darlene confronts the insecurities in her marriage with Ben. Dan’s deposition stirs up feelings, and final farewells are made in true Conner family fashion.”
Before the series comes to an end, Goranson teased the conclusion.
“I think one of the things that I was hoping that did happen [when wrapping up The Conners] was knowing that they were going on with their lives. So it wasn’t like, ‘Oh, my gosh, there’s a lightning bolt and there go the Connors,’” she quipped to Us in March. “I hope that it would give you an imagination of Becky — who’s been through so much — that you knew that there was some hope in her future. Not hoping to win the lottery but hopefully finishing her degree and having her romance and having her daughter in a good place and her relationship.”
Goranson continued: “Becky has been through so much. When I see people who watch the show, they say, ‘Oh, my God, we’re rooting for Becky.’ It’s really nice to feel that investment and I’m also rooting for her.”
The actress expressed support for the possibility of returning to the role.
“I don’t want a break. I would love a spinoff. I imagine that might be complicated but I would love that. I love my colleagues so much and the crew,” Goranson shared. “We have a really, really long history. When you are around people every day like that, it’s very much like family. It sounds stereotypical, but it does feel that way. I set up a happy hour meeting for the crew and we’re always saying, ‘How do we get together again? What’s our next project together?’ It’s very sincere. We all feel this way.”