Created by Roseanne Barr, Marcy Carsey, and Tom Werner, Roseanne centreed on the Conner family and gained acclaim for its realistic depiction of blue-collar life in America. Although much of the humour derived from the complexities of raising a family on a fixed income, Roseanne also tackled hot-button social issues such as abortion and the traditional roles of husband and wife. The show ran for nine seasons and ended in 1997, only to reemerge in 2018 during the TV revival craze.
The reboot utilised most of the show's original cast and explored issues that divided Americans after the 2016 presidential election. Although the reboot was initially a ratings hit, Barr torpedoed the show's early support with a racist tweet about former Obama aide Valerie Jarrett. ABC fired Barr and retooled the show into a spinoff called The Connors, which follows the original show's themes with a mix of old and new characters. Fans supported the decision as a sign of the network's commitment to tolerance, and the new show is up for a second season renewal.
Watch the original Roseanne on Amazon Prime.