The Conners to End With Season 6? EP Says ‘It’s Definitely a Possibility’
Are The Conners ready to say goodbye — for real this time?
Speaking to TVLine in anticipation of Wednesday’s Season 5 finale and a Season 6 pickup (which is considered all but certain), executive producer Bruce Helford tells us that next season of ABC’s top-rated comedy could be its last.
“Sara Gilbert expressed to the network that we don’t want to go out without knowing that we are going out with a series finale so we can build to the right ending — and at this point in time, we feel that [next season] is possibly going to be the last season of The Conners,” he says. “I would not [say that] definitively because the numbers were so good this season, and we’ve all had a really great time… but it’s definitely a possibility.”
It may also wind up an abbreviated final season. With a potential Writers Guild of America strike on the horizon, the Roseanne spinoff could be looking at one of its shortest runs yet.
“The conversation right now is about how many episodes can we do [depending on] whatever happens with the writers’ strike,” Helford says. “There may only be 13 episodes. Obviously, we always want to do 20 or 22 [episodes], but at this point in time, we’re talking about if we can do 13 — God willing — and if we can do more, we’ll do more.”
ABC declined to comment, but a network insider tells TVLine that there have been no conversations about the spinoff ending with Season 6.
Season to date, The Conners is averaging 5 million total viewers and a 0.7 demo rating (with Live+7 playback), up in viewers and off just a tenth in the demo from its Season 4 averages. Out of the five sitcoms that ABC has aired this TV season, it ranks No. 1 in both measures.
The sitcom offshoot rose from the ashes of the Roseanne revival in October 2018, and has continued to chronicle the daily lives of the Conner family, including Dan (John Goodman), Jackie (Laurie Metcalf), Darlene (Sara Gilbert), Becky (Lecy Goranson), Harris (Emma Kenney), Mark (Ames McNamara) and Mary (Jayden Rey).
Rounding out the ensemble is Jay R. Ferguson as Darlene’s husband Ben, and recurring guest stars Katey Sagal and Nat Faxon as Dan and Jackie’s spouses Louise and Neville, respectively.
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I would hate to see this show end – Conners has been so funny and addressed so many relevant topics and I never thought it could survive without Roseanne, but it did and very successfully!
If the Connnors goes off the air it won’t be a great loss.
Would love for it to continue past season 6, but only if the quality and enjoyment are still there. Appreciate Sara’s viewpoint, and wish more exec producers would feel the same.
Hate to see it end, but with Mark going off to college in season 6, Beverly hardly ever appearing (Estelle Parsons is >90), and Darlene & Harris stuck in dead-end jobs, the story arc may have already reached the downhill side of its apex. Nothing lasts forever (except 60 Minutes & Meet the Press).
theres always potential more misery and growth ahead… after 15 seasons we’ve learned that
I hope they get a full 20-22 episodes if it’s the end. I have enjoyed the conners. I always had a feeling it would end with season 6
Maybe next season, they’ll actually win the lottery. (Just Kidding)
This show is just another political nightmare. What happened to comedy? I want to laugh not have a deep political conversation every show! END IT, I SAY! Too stressful to watch it…
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You obviously haven’t watched in a while as very little is political. Other than the whole, “we’re poor struggling to survive” angle that has ALWAYS been a part of the show.
I must have missed the deep political conversations that they have been having on every episode. And I’m being serious… Can you clue me in on a few that they have had on the last few episodes?
The transgender boy girlis annoying..
Gender identity is only political to those who weaponize it for political gain.
That said, it’s simply a character-driven, human story.
The character of Mark is an openly gay 17yo young man. He is not transgender, not that it’s even remotely a political issue unless you’re a bigot who are fighting against equal human rights.
Amen I agree 100%
The reboot was great in the beginning til Rosanne got fired then they made fun of an intelligent 5 yesr old then made fun of Becky’s alcoholism then everything else from the last couple of seasons. It had gotten stupid. The original never insulted little kids or big ones as a matter of fact. They even wrote Jackie’s and Rosanne younger sons out. Just stopped watching after they insult the baby for being smart. I hate to say this but the show has ran its course
It should have been cancelled before season one was completed. I totally agree with you.
wish they would just renew it for 2 seasons. then they wouldnt have to negotiate next year.
This show is nothing without Roseanne!!
Respectfully, IMO, it’s way better without Roseanne’s character.
LMFAO, thank you for the belly laugh.
Totally agree!
agreed… Roseanne sucks the air out of the room… she had a good ten years but it’s great to see all the other actors and characters blossom without her. i’ve loved it becoming about darlene and becky. lecy is so good. so happy she got this second round to do.
you also have to assume the person who posted doesn’t watch it… if they did why would they watch a show they considered to be nothing?
I think it is time to day bye bye to the whole family, show is not funny. I feel it is stale.
but we’re not all you lol. why do shows need to be approved by you? there are shows i dont like but others do. i dont need to see them end. they dont affect my life in any way.
Don’t miss Roseanne. Enjoy it now, it’s life! It happens, struggling and making things work!
This show is better without that lunatic!
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Amen. Love her or not she is the reason this show is on the air.
I would like to see it have a proper ending and if that is season 6, so be it. Who would have ever imagined this reboot would even go 6 seasons (plus the Roseanne 1 season reboot).
What I hope happens for some of the characters:
Darlene ends up getting a much higher paying job at the school (she is college educated after all).
Becky finds out she will get a scholarship to finish her four year degree for free.
With Darlene’s promotion and Ben doing well at the hardware store, they gift Dan and Louise an extended cruise so that Dan can finally take his wife sailing.
This show is so overrated. I’ll never understand how a cast that includes the great John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Katey Sagal and Lucy Goranson could be so un-funny …
Well, Sara Gilbert — perhaps the worst lead actor on a series in TV history — I guess is enough to bring down the entire cast.
Finally gave up on this disappointment earlier this season.
I enjoy it and think it’s funny,you can’t please everyone but enough people agree with me that the ratings are good enough
I agree, I think some people defend it because the Connors might be the better of the snoozefests and preachers that serve as comedy nowadays. Go watch older comedy shows on peacock, Hulu etc and compare the amount of lol laughs each episode to shows from the last several years. I barely snicker at current comedy but have belly laughs with older shows.
You hated it but watched 4 seasons and some change. Way to waste your life
Like I said, I kept waiting for it to get better. It just never did. And a half-hour sitcom is easier to be patient with than an hourlong drama.
I must admit, “The Connors” has been a fun show to watch. At first, I thought it was going to be a bit political in tone, but IMO, they have actually done a nice job balancing both sides of the aisle. I hope it gets picked up for a season 6. If 6 becomes their last, I’m okay with it. They can go out on their own terms.
If there is a strike, I hope they stick around two more seasons and do a full final season.
Please don’t end. The shape the country is in we need the laughter , we really need a lot of laughter now . I look forward to watching the show I love the characters and the people playing their parts so Don’t End
Love John Goodman n Katey Segal wish they could do another show together and Michael Fishman got a raw deal!!
I think it makes sense to end it on a high note when everyone feels ready. Obviously, the longer it goes on equals more money that they’re going to need for the cast.
I think it would run through seasons 7 or 8 and even maybe through Season 10. They have been upping the humor again and if they keep bringing in interesting people for them to interact with then it will remain a nice comfort show
always thought this was one of those series that as long as they network wanted it and the actors wanted to do it, then it would continue.
I hope season 6 isn’t the last season, especially if it’s shortened by the strike. It sounds like Helford was saying it’s a possibility and not necessarily a probability that it will end next season. If season 6 is the final one, would they announce it along with the renewal?
Just hope it can stay on long enough for Dan Conner to pay off his never ending mortgage.
Don’t end the “The Conners”! I always look forward to watching. Love the entire cast.
This season has been better than ever. Genuinely funny!
Should have ended long ago. Roseanne made every single one of these folks. They should be ashamed….they through her under the bus.
I agree. Only Estelle Getty was famous before Roseanne created her show.
Estelle Parsons you mean
You want to get rid of the comedies but you will keep stupid shoes like the bachelor
“ABC’s top-rated comedy”
Is this correct? This can’t be true, there has to be another comedy on ABC that is higher-rated than The Connors.
If not then … that’s sad.
Abbott Elementary is #2