The Heartbreaking Rise and Fall of Roseanne: How One of America’s Most Beloved Sitcoms Captivated Millions, Faced Unimaginable Controversy, and Ultimately Crumbled Under the Weight of Scandal, Leaving Behind a Legacy of Laughter, Pain, and What Could Have Been
The story of Roseanne is one of triumph, controversy, and an abrupt downfall that shocked television audiences. When the show debuted in 1988, it revolutionized sitcoms with its raw, unfiltered depiction of working-class life. Unlike many sanitized family comedies of the time, Roseanne tackled real-life struggles—financial instability, marital problems, parenting difficulties—with an authenticity that resonated deeply with viewers.
At the heart of it all was Roseanne Barr, the outspoken comedian whose brash humor and unpolished realism made her an icon. She wasn’t the typical sitcom mom; she was loud, opinionated, and sometimes crude, but she was also fiercely loving and relatable. For nine seasons, Roseanne dominated ratings, reaching an estimated 16 million viewers per episode at its peak. The show won multiple awards, including a Golden Globe for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy, and solidified its place in TV history.
Behind the scenes, however, tensions ran high. Roseanne Barr was known for clashing with producers, demanding creative control, and even getting several showrunners fired. The set was often chaotic, with Barr’s volatile personality causing frequent disruptions. Still, the show thrived, with its groundbreaking approach to taboo subjects like domestic abuse, teen pregnancy, and LGBTQ+ representation.
The original Roseanne came to an end in 1997 after a bizarre and widely criticized ninth season. In a drastic departure from its blue-collar realism, the show introduced a surreal twist: the Conners had actually won the lottery. The sudden shift alienated viewers, and the final episode delivered an even bigger shock—Dan Conner (John Goodman), the beloved patriarch, had died of a heart attack, and the events of the entire season had been a fictionalized version of Roseanne’s grief. Fans were bewildered, and the once-beloved series ended on a divisive note.
For years, Roseanne remained a nostalgic relic of the 90s. Then, in 2018, ABC made a surprising announcement: Roseanne was returning. In the age of reboots and revivals, it seemed like the perfect time to bring back one of television’s most influential sitcoms. The announcement generated massive buzz, and when the revival premiered, it was an instant ratings juggernaut. The first episode drew over 18 million viewers, making it one of the most successful sitcom premieres in decades.
The new Roseanne was praised for its ability to capture the original show’s essence while updating it for modern times. The Conners were still struggling financially, dealing with job instability, healthcare costs, and generational differences. The revival also addressed political divisions, reflecting the real-life tensions in American households. Roseanne Conner was portrayed as a Trump supporter, a controversial choice that drew both praise and criticism. The show didn’t shy away from difficult conversations, and once again, it became a cultural lightning rod.
Then, everything came crashing down.
On May 29, 2018, Roseanne Barr sent out a tweet that would destroy her career. In a late-night post, she compared Valerie Jarrett, a former advisor to President Barack Obama, to an ape. The backlash was immediate and unforgiving. Accusations of racism flooded social media, and even longtime fans found the comment indefensible. Barr attempted to backtrack, claiming that she had taken Ambien before tweeting and that she hadn’t intended the remark to be racist. The damage, however, was already done.
ABC acted swiftly. Within hours, network president Channing Dungey announced that Roseanne was canceled, calling Barr’s tweet “abhorrent, repugnant, and inconsistent with our values.” It was an unprecedented move—canceling a show that had just become the most-watched sitcom on television. Cast members like Sara Gilbert and Michael Fishman publicly condemned Barr’s actions, distancing themselves from the controversy. John Goodman, known for his loyalty, remained largely silent but later admitted he was devastated by the cancellation.
Barr initially tried to fight back, claiming that she had been wronged and that her career was being unfairly destroyed. However, as advertisers pulled out and Hollywood turned its back on her, it became clear that there was no path to redemption. ABC, unwilling to let the success of Roseanne completely slip away, made a controversial decision: they would continue the show without Barr.
In October 2018, The Conners premiered, picking up where Roseanne had left off—but with one major change. Roseanne Conner was dead. In the show, it was revealed that she had died of an opioid overdose, a storyline that mirrored Barr’s real-life struggles with prescription medication. The move was widely seen as a final, brutal erasure of Barr from the series she had created.
The Conners found moderate success, but it was never able to recapture the magic of Roseanne. The absence of its original star was palpable, and while Goodman, Gilbert, and Laurie Metcalf carried the show admirably, it lacked the cultural impact of its predecessor. Barr, meanwhile, retreated into obscurity. She attempted several small-scale comebacks, including a stand-up special and interviews where she continued to claim she had been unfairly blacklisted. However, the public’s willingness to forgive her remained minimal.
The fall of Roseanne is one of television’s most tragic cautionary tales. What started as a groundbreaking, beloved sitcom ended in disgrace and cancellation, all because of a single tweet. Barr’s inability to control her impulses cost her a legacy that had taken decades to build. Once hailed as a champion of working-class representation, she became a symbol of self-destruction in the digital age.
Even now, Roseanne remains a polarizing subject. Some fans still cherish the early seasons, remembering the show for what it once was. Others see it as a lesson in how quickly a career can be undone in the era of social media. One thing is certain: Roseanne changed television forever, both in its rise and its tragic fall.
