If you’ve been following Roseanne and its spinoff The Conners, you’ve probably noticed something odd: two characters from the original show Jerry Conner, Roseanne and Dan’s youngest son, and Andy Harris, Jackie’s son have been all but invisible in the revival and the spinoff. Even though Jerry supposedly still exists in the storyline, he hasn’t appeared on screen, and it looks like that’s unlikely to change.
Jerry and Andy: Who Are They?
Jerry Garcia Conner was introduced late in the original Roseanne run as the fourth child of Roseanne and Dan, born during Season 8. Played by twins Cole and Morgan Roberts, Jerry was more of a background character with limited story arcs.
Andy Harris is Jackie’s son with Fred, introduced in Season 6. Though he had a few moments, Andy was never a central figure either. Both kids had small parts in the original show, but their stories haven’t carried much weight in the revival or The Conners.
When Roseanne Season 10 came out in 2018, it was meant to pick up where the original left off—with most of the beloved cast back. However, Season 9 of the original series had taken a wild turn, including supernatural elements and controversial plotlines that complicated continuity.
Then came The Conners, a spinoff launched after Roseanne Barr was fired. The show made a bold narrative decision: Roseanne’s character was killed off by an opioid overdose. This dark twist helped explain Barr’s absence but also allowed The Conners to move forward with its own storyline.
Because of this shift, The Conners focuses on present-day events more than strict adherence to the original show’s canon. This has made it easier to gloss over or drop some legacy characters—including DJ, who was written out as the show progressed.
Where Is Jerry Conner? The Mystery Explained
Jerry has been notably absent from The Conners, despite being mentioned a few times. In Roseanne Season 10, Jerry’s absence was explained with a line saying he was on a fishing expedition in Alaska. But after that, the show largely ignored him. At one point, a character even states that Dan and Roseanne only have three kids, seemingly denying Jerry’s existence.
Showrunner Bruce Helford has hinted at a fascinating explanation for this. He told TV Line that Dan might be so upset with Jerry that he refuses to acknowledge him as his son. This family drama, though never fully explored, could explain why Jerry stays off-screen. Maybe the rift began when Jerry skipped Roseanne’s funeral.
However, The Conners has limited time to dive into this storyline, especially since its final Season 7 is shortened. This makes it unlikely we’ll see Jerry appear or have his story fully explained.
Andy Harris: The Quiet Erasure
Unlike Jerry, Andy hasn’t even been acknowledged on-screen in the revival or spinoff. The show seems to have retconned him out completely treating Jackie’s marriage to Fred (Andy’s dad) as if it never happened.
This choice streamlines the family tree and avoids complicated backstories for a character who never had much screen time originally.
Why These Characters Are Missing: The Practical Side
Both Roseanne’s revival and The Conners have had to juggle multiple storylines and characters. With finite episodes, minor characters like Jerry and Andy got cut to prioritize core characters and more urgent plots.
Actor Availability
The child actors who originally played Jerry and Andy didn’t continue acting. Recasting them as older kids or teenagers would require time and storytelling space that the show couldn’t afford.
Creative Retconning
The revival and spinoff selectively rewrote or ignored parts of the original series to keep the story fresh and manageable. That meant some characters, especially less prominent ones, were quietly written out or ignored.
Fan Reactions: Frustration and Curiosity
Fans have noticed Jerry and Andy’s absence and expressed disappointment. Jerry’s mysterious silence and the showrunner’s cryptic hints have sparked curiosity about the family drama behind the scenes.
Andy’s disappearance, however, has been met with confusion, since the show never acknowledges his existence at all.
Other Missing Characters and Storylines
It’s not just Jerry and Andy who have been sidelined. DJ Conner, played by Michael Fishman, was a series regular who was eventually written out without much explanation, much to fans’ surprise.
Showrunner Bruce Helford and cast members have expressed fondness for the character, but story choices and actor availability led to his departure.
What’s Left to Wrap Up in The Conners?
As The Conners approaches its final season, many storylines still need resolution:
Dan and Louise’s married life in Lanford needs a proper send-off after years of being glossed over.
Beverly Harris, Jackie’s mother, has a chance for a heartfelt farewell following her big adventure in Season 6. Their mother-daughter dynamic was one of the franchise’s longest-running arcs and deserves closure.
The younger generation, like Mark and Harris, still have rich stories that could carry the show forward—if ABC ever decides to revive the franchise again.
Could Jerry or Andy Appear in the Finale?
It would be great if the final season of The Conners at least acknowledges Jerry’s existence with a throwaway line or some new detail. A physical appearance would be icing on the cake.
But fans shouldn’t expect it to overshadow other major storylines. If Jerry’s mystery remains unsolved, the show can still deliver a satisfying conclusion focusing on characters who have been front and center in recent years.
