Earlier today, The Conners – the highly anticipated Roseanne spinoff – released the first photos of the upcoming season. The photos mainly feature John Goodman as Dan, Laurie Metcalf as Jackie, Sara Gilbert as Darlene, and Lecy Goranson as Becky. From what we've surmised the show is basically Rosanne, sans Barr.
In the spinoff, which was greenlit less than a month after ABC canceled Roseanne, the Conners will be "forced to face the daily struggles of life in Lanford in a way they never have before," following a "sudden turn of events," per ABC's official statement. According to Goodman, that "sudden turn of events" will, unsurprisingly, be Roseanne Conner's death.
When asked how Roseanne Barr's absence will affect his character in a recent interview, Goodman said:
"I guess he’ll be mopey and sad because his wife’s dead."
Between that, and ABC's statement that the first episode of the season will be entitled "Keep on Truckin,'" we have a feeling Roseanne Conner will be good and dead early on in the episode.
And, by the looks of Becky's face, the blue-collar family is not receiving good news:
Here we see Darlene (Sara Gilbert) and Aunt Jackie (Laurie Metcalf) kicking it in the kitchen.
And, we guess their mother's death has made Darlene and Becky (Lecy Goranson) tighter than ever?
And, of course, we see good 'ole Dan is bonding with his grandkid in the kitchen. We'll cheers to that.
The first episode of The Conners premieres on ABC on October 16 at 8 p.m. ET.
And, remember, folks, just because you can make a spinoff, doesn't mean you should.
