A new update for The Conners season 7 is downplaying rumors of the Roseanne spinoff coming to an end soon. Discussions about the hit ABC sitcom coming to an end intensified in May of last year when executive producer Bruce Helford mentioned that it was a possibility, even specifically noting that The Conners season 6 could be the last. Similar sentiments were echoed by lead star John Goodman, who plays Dan Conner, expressing his surprise at how long the dysfunctional family comedy has lasted.
In new comments to TVLine ahead of The Conners season 6 debut, Helford and fellow executive producer Dave Caplan sound optimistic about the show’s future. In a very positive sign, Helford amusingly shares that ABC pushed back against the idea that the popular spinoff would end soon. Read their quotes below:
Helford : “As far as going forward, it’s funny… When I made that comment [about it possibility of it being the final season], the response by ABC was, ‘We never agreed to that.’”
Caplan : “When we feel like we’re not telling relatable, interesting, novel stories anymore, we’ll pull the plug… the journeys that these characters are on are inspiring us to go places we haven’t. The show continues to feel fresh and interesting, so nobody is all that anxious for it to end.”
Why The Conners Could Last A Few More Seasons
The first five seasons of the spinoff are now available on a network other than ABC. In an unusual deal, The Conners repeats have been airing on The CW as of January. The deal results from a distribution pact between Tom Werner’s Werner Entertainment, which produces The Conners, and Lionsgate, which handles the show’s syndication. Signed in August of last year, it allows for domestic syndication deals. The specific choice to go with The Conners in primetime comes down to the fact that the network hopes the long-running series can boost The CW’s existing comedy block.
The Conners has popped up on Netflix, which could potentially boast the show’s audience. Led by Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Sara Gilbert, and Lecy Goranson, the sitcom already has a considerable audience. It ranks as ABC’s top-rated scripted series while leading in key demographics and growing the viewership in its later years.
The cast of The Conners carried on the story of Roseanne without Roseanne, and the characters both old and new shined in the spinoff.
Nothing is confirmed for The Conners season 7. At a time when long-running series like Young Sheldon, Blue Bloods, and The Good Doctor are ending because networks look to cut costs on pricey veteran shows, it’s possible that the spinoff only has a few more outings left. But based on Helford’s clarification and availability on different platforms, the end may not be so immediate.