Roseanne Is Getting A Second Season After Blockbuster Debut (UPDATED)
A source at ABC revealed to CNN that the announcement is “imminent” for a second season of Roseanne, the sitcom blockbuster everyone’s talking about and no one really expected to talk about this much.
It’s been mere days since 18 million people tuned in to see the return of the Conners, but ABC is signing on for what they hope will continue to be a delightful romp through the myriad problems facing modern American families.
Perhaps the biggest point of conversation about Roseanne‘s success is how it’s captivated the interest of President Donald Trump, who called the show’s star, Roseanne Barr – a pro-Trumper and longtime friend of the president – to congratulate her.
“Look at Roseanne, look at her ratings,” Trump said during a speech about infrastructure in Ohio yesterday. “They were unbelievable. Over 18 million people! And it was about us!”
Was it though? Former Amazon Studios executive Matthew Ball went on a tweet storm about why the show was greenlit and how little its success had to do with the president:
1/ The ‘Roseanne’ narrative has gotten out of control.
Deadline: “Revival’s Huge Debut Stuns Hollywood, Prompts Soul-Searching” https://t.co/1YtSeMvph5;
NYT: Reboot sprang from ABC’s heartland strategy after Trump’s victory https://t.co/k9qXO5Qe3u
— Matthew Ball (@ballmatthew) March 30, 2018
3/ It’s easy to say Roseanne reaches under-served, middle of the country Trump voters, but does anyone believe that a Seinfeld, Cosby Show (ceteris paribus), Friends, Cheers, Frasier reboot wouldn’t score as well if not higher?
— Matthew Ball (@ballmatthew) March 30, 2018
5/ Roseanne was greenlit, like other reboots, because it is existing IP that markets itself and has an existing base of awareness and, more importantly, fans.
Like the film industry, TV has moved to sequels because it has become impossible to launch new concepts to similar #s
— Matthew Ball (@ballmatthew) March 30, 2018
7/ You also don’t bank premiere ratings. Will & Grace reboot premiered to 10M (v. Roseanne’s 18M), dropped to 7MM on Episode 2 and fell below 4M at 13.
As it moves from an event premiere + press darling, the need to watch (esp live) will diminish and ratings will cool.
— Matthew Ball (@ballmatthew) March 30, 2018
“Roseanne was a differentiated, lauded, sitcom with a huge following,” he tweeted. “That’s why it’s back, not to fill a cultural gap.”
UPDATE – 2:19 p.m. EST: It’s happening.
You asked for it! #Roseanne is getting another season! pic.twitter.com/1hpXx54jhI
— Roseanne on ABC (@RoseanneOnABC) March 30, 2018
[image via screengrab]
