'The Conners' Series Finale Ends 37-Year Legacy Without Roseanne Barr

The Conners, the spinoff of Roseanne, concluded its seven-season run without the involvement of Roseanne Barr, whose character was killed off following Barr's firing from the original reboot in 2018 after she posted a racist tweet. While Barr and her family expressed happiness for the cast and crew’s success, they did not watch the show and were unaware it was ending. Executive producers explained that not including Barr, even in archival footage, was a deliberate choice meant to honor the character’s legacy without reopening controversy or undermining the show’s new direction. The finale paid tribute to the Conner family’s journey, with scenes referencing Roseanne’s absence and the storyline of her death from an opioid overdose, but avoided any direct inclusion of Barr herself. Cast and producers emphasized their intention to respectfully address Roseanne’s impact while maintaining authenticity and continuity for the series. The show’s ending highlighted both the challenges and successes of continuing without its original star.