Did The Conners Just Officially Erase [Spoiler] From Existence?
Wednesday’s Halloween-themed The Conners turned a legacy character into something of a ghost. [pmc_inline_gallery]
In the episode, Becky mentions in passing that she is one of Dan and Roseanne’s three children (with Darlene and D.J. rounding out the trio), seemingly forgetting about her MIA younger brother Jerry Garcia Conner. But instead of correcting her, Dan confirms her assertion, declaring that he and Roseanne “had one favorite and two backups.”
Despite being absent from ABC‘s ill-fated Roseanne revival that preceded The Conners, Jerry’s existence was confirmed when Roseanne mentioned him being holed up on a fishing boat in Alaska. So how did Jerry go from being an off screen presence to eradicated from the franchise’s canon completely?
As showrunner Bruce Helford explains to TVLine, when Roseanne relaunched in 2018 “we decided that some of the things from the 8th and 9th seasons wouldn’t apply, as they were either limiting to opening new creative roads for the characters or part of the ‘dream’ period, like winning the lottery. We didn’t really have room to add Jerry Garcia, but we had a soft spot in our hearts for him, so we put him on a fishing boat and said he rarely contacted the family.
“As we moved on to The Conners,” Helford continues, “we decided that, with the wonderful additions of Ben, Louise and Emilio, our cast was large enough to do stories for 40 episodes a season, and that since we hadn’t brought him up in three years, we wouldn’t pick up on the narrative of Jerry.”
That said, Helford is not ready to officially draw a line through Jerry (at least not the way he has with Jackie’s son Andy). “Dan said he only had three children, but is he so angry at Jerry, for something we learn about later, that he denies him as a son?” Helford muses. “We’ll just have to wait and see.”
So stupid. There’s no reason for this. You never have to mention the character again, but to make a point of erasing him from existence? Your viewers are not stupid. I mean…it’s your show, do whatever you want, but it’s a disservice to your show and to your loyal fans to simply rewrite history.
I agree. The Conners is one of the best things on TV right now, but I hate they way they deal with characters just don’t want to use anymore. Where’s Andy? He was born in freakin season 6, not even season 8 or 9, which they mention in this article. There are narrative ways around not including new characters, but to alter the story that came before is dumb. You can kind of look past it a la the first revival episode of Roseanne or Will & Grace or whatever, but don’t change things that significant. It shows a lack of creativity on the creative team’s part. Work it into the narrative somehow. Explain what happened in passing. Don’t act like your viewers should just forget about things that actually happened.
The estate of the actual Jerry Garcia kindly asked that they discontinue the character as it’s a constant painful reminder.
I “Love Jerry Garcia; the Absolute Wonderful musician, but feel the namíng of Roseanne and Dan’s 4th childe, nothing but a n absolutely fantastic tribúte to the man, the myth, and Great Musician…And he should be remembered in such a way I feel he would be proud of; and I hope, and pray they will have him join the storyline at some point adding only greatness, joy, and laughter to and already Glorious Man, and a fun show, giving ALL THE FANS AN EXCITING BLAST FROM THE PAST!!” To celebrate and enjoy for years to come….
Please get rid of Helford and cast Jerry and Andy. Jackie has no story—-she literally needs Andy. I’d much rather watch Andy and Jerry than Ben, Louise, etc.
Also, bring back Sarah Chalke. She was always the best Becky.
Also. It’s so stupid that they cast Dan’s insignificant younger brother that no one cares about and not Jerry or Andy.
I completely agree. Like I could almost understand not using Jerry as he’s not really needed and was added later in Roseanne years, but Jackie is completely useless. Her having a son would bring meaning to her and some decent storylines.
I mean they brought back Dan’s half brother which is beyond useless. Why not just say Jerry and Andy moved away together and Jerry is upset at the family for some reason.
Jackie needs Andy. Her character seems kind of sad and a little pathetic. Maybe Andy is now Andrea? There was a running joke in the original Roseanne that Andy would end up a woman because he was Jackie’s kid. Also, bring back Fred. He was an important part of Jackie’s past.
Gotta disagree. For who Becky is now, Lecy is the only choice.
Lecy is and always was absolutely terrible.
Please 🙏🙏 please please never ever bring back that substitute Becky this is the original one and only Becky that other girl was “Horrible as Becky” and should ever be forgotten and pit to rest R
I.P {THE OTHER SISTER, FOREVER;, AGAIN PLEASE AND THANK YOU}
Why not refer Jerry just as Jerry Conner
Maybe they are saving something for later. The Conner family has a history of tension. Look back at Dan and his father, Ed. Jackie and Bev, etc… Would it be so odd if they wrote a storyline where Jerry has a falling out with the family, leaves Lanford, and doesn’t call, text or visit? Estrangment is common to the Conners. Maybe Dan and the kids are moving on from something in the past. I think that there’s more to this story coming.
The current show is so good, I try to forget their continuity errors.
But here’s my current list:
What happened to the original Lunch Box?
What happened to Jackie’s house and Andy?
Where’s Leon (obv Scott is deceased, RIP)?
Where’s Nancy?
Why did Crystal have nothing to do with the Ed Jr storyline? Where’s Lonnie?
Where’s Jerry Garcia?
Where’s Crystal’s daughter that is Dan’s sibling? I know she was mentioned but why not see her?
Why is Crystal MIA? You’d think she’d be over the house non-stop once Roseanne was killed off.
What happened to Becky being pregnant in the original series finale?
Why isn’t Bev still a lesbian?
Why is the basement nothing like it used to be? Not even a makeover can change the structure of the house.
Why is DJ basically offscreen a majority of the time?
Did Wellman’s close down or was it bought out by the employees? They shouldn’t avoid both possibilities.
Why are they ignoring the fact that the series finale didn’t “erase” S9 but changed the entire meta of the show?
Why is Bruce Helford allowed to make all these harebrained decisions about what actually happened and what is part of this insipid “dream world”?
Crystal didn’t have a daughter she had a son which is Dan’s half brother…known as little Ed
She also had a daughter, Angela.
Jerry’s off partying with Chuck Cunningham and Bobby Martin.
and that Winslow girl…..who I can’t even remember now.
Judy. Judy Winslow. Never forget.
Judy Winslow
And Emma from Friends.
Also Violet and Tina Pinciotti, Donna’s sisters on That 70s Show.
Also Emma never disappeared from Friends. Riss’ son Ben did.
Don’t forget Sara Spooner
Also Roscoe from Mom. Violet we sort of got closure. She thought she was better without Chrissy in her life. But Roscoe is a different story.
Doesn’t Rosco now live with his father and his new wife as they could provide him with a better life?
Yeah, Roscoe is with his dad. He’s been mentioned a few times since.
And the original ghosted character: Tim Considine who played oldest brother Mike on “My Three Sons,”
And Will and Grace’s kids.
They threw Barr under the bus so nothing is above these people. I would like to be watching this show but I won’t watch a bunch of spineless back-stabbers. I can barely watch the original show now.
Roseanne can’t act and needs some help. So how exactly is everyone else a back stabber?
Roseanne has no one to blame but herself.
They didn’t throw Roseanne under the bus. Roseanne gassed up that bus, threw her career down underneath it, and drove at high speed, cackling like a lunatic.
^This. So tired of idiots who don’t believe in personal responsibility.
She’s gone. Get over it. Tired of still hearing about her. It’s like Trump still carrying on about Clinton….BORING.
Good lord, this. It’s a few years now, people, time to move on already.
Oh please Roseanne screwed herself. Get over it
Nice try ROSEANNE, we know it’s you!
Now how about Jackie’s son, Andy?
Don’t blame them if Jerry is removed because it seemed he was just a plot device via the dream season.. season 9 doesn’t exist so shouldn’t Jerry
Jerry was pre S9 as he was written in to accommodate Roseanne’s real life pregnancy. If you knew the original show at all you’d aslo know the kid was also originally stated to be a girl in S7.
S9 wasn’t a dream season. The whole show was per the series finale.
You are correct. Jerry was before the DREAM season.
“JERRY AND ANDY WERE BOTH BORN PRE SEASON 9 WAY BEFORE THE DREAM SEASEN WICH WASNT AT THE END A DREAM AT; BUTH THE ‘BOOK’ ROSEANNE FINlly after all Dan encouragement and the office he set up in the basement for her to write in peace; and when she finished it was “AFTER DAN’S DEATH AÑD HER WAY OF COPING WITN IT ALL!! SO THE WHOLE LOTTERY THING WAS PART OF THE BOOK SHE WROTE; ÉNDING EVERYTHING AND SAYING WHAT AGREAT LIFE THEY WOULD HAVE HAD IF THEY HAD WON THE LOTTERY INSTEAD OF DAN DYING AND SHE SAID HER GOODBYES; SO HE WAS STILL DEAD AND THE BOOK WAS HER WAY OF COPING AND GETTING THRUOGH THE PAIN TO THEN GO ON WITH THR RESPONSIBILITY OF RAISING 4 CHILDREN AND BE BEING POOR, AS ALWAYS “ONLY WITHOUT HER BEST FRIEND AND HUSBAND AND NOW HAVING TO DO IA ALL ALONE!!!!!!! FADE TO BLACK
Also those children should be remembered and on the Connors they have their whole story of HOW THEY WERE RAISED IN COMPARRISON TO BECKY DARLENE, AND the son years and years of difference and like another fsn mentioned it gives so much room toake Jackie a more interesting character especially if she did end up parenting like herotjrt wouldn’t that be THE GREATEST OF LAUGHS FOR ALL INVOLVED.., BRING THEM BACK, BRING THEM BACK, BRING THEM BACK, BRING THEM BACK!!!!!! IT EILL ADD SO MUCH EE ALL EANT IT aA{THE REAL FANS} I MEAN. SHANNON…
What bugged me much more in this episode was that they want to have Mary move in with them, but last week’s episode had them being evicted in 5 days! Did Dan just forget that?
At the end of last week’s episode Jackie walked in and said something about it being several months later. Apparently they saved their house off-camera and did a time jump.
All the kids are paying rent now to help out Dan. That was stated.
It is stoopid to suddenly pretend he didn’t exist as he was confirmed in the reboot. The time to erase him was at the beginning of the reboot when Dan was found to be alive.
Honestly, Jerry Garcia is not needed. Im glad they went back to 3 kids. Now I wouldn’t mind seeing Jackie’s kid Andy.
Why is The baby of Becky’s still in a blanket covered up like a newborn for many episodes!?you sure did show Jerry a lot !
Probably because of Covid filming restrictions for young children. Beverly Rose is an infant on the show and at present, they can’t film due to health and safety restrictions.
I really like the show, but are we forgetting that Dan died of a heart attack at Darlene’s wedding (last episode of season 8). Then on the last episode of the dream season, Rosie writes about his death
Like Jerry on the boat, that was covered when they were in the garage and Dan mentioned how no one had read her book.
What about Jackie son she had? He’s not apart of the show either
Honesty moments here. Why is everyone so worked up over 2 kids who didn’t talk or do anything on the show when the actual kid DJ is on the show, is a great Person, and gets next to nothing for lines or story. Is rather see him get more to work with than worry about characters they’d have to completely make up as adults now
Sounds like a screw up by the writers
How did they erase Jackie’s son?
Poor Jerry, he was given the Chuck Cunningham treatment!
Please tell that Helford guy that we don’t need that “guess, wait, and see” garbage. We’ve been through enough mess in 2020 and TV is all some of us have to fall back on! Bring back Jerry and Andy; I’m pretty sure they can find a couple of starving actors to play them and use that cash they’re saving after firing Roseanne.
Didn’t Jacki also have a son?
As linked above in story: https://tvline.com/2020/01/08/the-conners-where-is-andy-jackies-son-missing/
Where’s Jackie’s son?
As linked above in story: https://tvline.com/2020/01/08/the-conners-where-is-andy-jackies-son-missing/
Since the show came back as Roseanne, if You recall, from the moment Dan had his heart attack in the park at Darlenes wedding. Dan died then, everything was her imagination till the first finale. Then in the return in the first episode explaining Why Dan IS alive it was a quick 1 or 2 sentence passing of Did she write another story where he died, and the laugh audience laughed. That one brief sentence, we can assume baby Jerry was also made up.
I KNEW Jackie had a son! What a waste. She would be a crazy mother.
Back in the Conners. Jackie had a son. Crystal was married to Dan’s father and had a baby with him. A lot of things don’t add up. The show is still funny; but, it would have been nice to tie up the loose ends.
ABC does this. They did it with the Winslow family on family matters. Judy Winslow just disappeared. They did it in Happy Days as well. Chuck Cunningham vanished after getting hooked on quaaludes and went into rehab. I hear he went to Mexico to play basketball after burning down Arnold’s. Chachi took the heat for it. We all know he couldn’t have done it. Poor kid.
Its just a TV show people.