ABC Mulling Keeping ‘Roseanne’ Show Without Roseanne Barr

Roseanne Barr arrives at the NBC Universal Summer Press Day on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, in Pasadena, Calif. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

ABC is reportedly considering ways it could run a version of the “Roseanne” show without the star Roseanne Barr, whose racist tweet led to the shows cancelation earlier this week.

TMZ was first to report on Friday that ABC was exploring the possibility of “rebranding” the show to focus on the character Darlene instead of Rosanne, who is played by Barr. Two sources familiar with the matter told CNN that talks are just preliminary, but the idea is appealing to ABC because it’d keep those who were working on the show employed.

ABC would likely have to buy out Barr, who has a “significant financial interest in the show,” Variety reported earlier this week.

The show was promptly canceled this week after Barr apologized and received significant backlash for a racist tweet she posted about former President Obama administration adviser Valerie Jarrett. She’s since deleted that Twitter apology and has vowed to fight for “FAIRNESS,” claiming she was “smeared” over a “stupid mistake.”

 

Latest Livewire
74
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. I’m surprised it took ABC so long to float this idea.

  2. Wouldn’t work - they killed off Dan, and yet he returned. lol

  3. Oh Good Keep that female Munt in the headlines a little longer

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

68 more replies

Participants

Avatar for robb_ludwig Avatar for jjwhack Avatar for gelfling545 Avatar for eggrollian Avatar for navamske Avatar for yskov Avatar for daveyjones64 Avatar for ralph_vonholst Avatar for thealphanerd Avatar for harry_r_sohl Avatar for sanni Avatar for careysub Avatar for fiftygigs Avatar for benthere Avatar for pshah Avatar for tena Avatar for kwd101 Avatar for professorpoopypants Avatar for tbctbc Avatar for remy Avatar for polisong Avatar for kenga Avatar for outis Avatar for captain_america

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: