The first set photos have emerged of the reunited and retooled cast for ABC’s revival of the classic sitcom Roseanne. One of the highest-rated shows on TV for most of its original nine-year run, Roseanne brings back almost the entire cast that made it such an enormous hit. That includes John Goodman as Dan Conner, the father who originally died of a heart attack in the 1997 series finale but has been revived along with the show itself.
Johnny Galecki was expected to return as Darlene’s on-and-off boyfriend and eventual husband David Healy, but his participation in CBS’ The Big Bang Theory has his status for the show uncertain at the moment. The confirmed cast, however, has gotten together to do their first table-read, and now they have the set photos to prove it.
As reported by TVLine on Tuesday, ABC released a pair of set photos of the cast at the inaugural Roseanne table read. Visible in the photos are stars Roseanne Barr, Goodman, Laurie Metcalf (Jackie), Sara Gilbert (Darlene), Michael Fishman (D.J.), and Alicia Goranson (Becky). Also present is Sarah Chalke, who portrayed the second incarnation of Becky but will play a new character in the revival. Newcomers Ames McNamara and Jayden Rey, who play David and Darlene’s son Mark and D.J.’s daughter respectively, can also be spotted. Check out the photos below:
Galecki, of course, was absent from the table read and his role as Darlene’s husband and Mark’s father could be in jeopardy. Gilbert, who also serves as one of the series’ executive producers, previously told TVLine that the network is “in productive talks and are hopeful it will work out” with the Big Bang Theory actor. Fellow EPs Dan Pasquin, Whitney Cummings, Tony Hernandez, and Bruce Helford can also be spotted in the set photos.
The hope is that ABC can work something out with Galecki and CBS so the actor can appear on both of his shows, but it’s not looking good for him at the moment. Fortunately, the vast majority of the original cast is back and has a good chance to once again capture American audiences’ attention. Roseanne’s honest, heartfelt, and frequently hilarious depiction of a working-class American family could have added resonance as it returns with a chance to make real statements on a turbulent time in American culture and politics.
The likelihood is that the show will have to undergo some significant rewrites if Galecki can’t return or can’t fully commit to the role, considering that his character’s son is now part of the cast. The series obviously isn’t worried about making major changes, though, as evidenced by Dan coming back from the dead. Based on these first photos, it appears that Roseanne is going to move along just fine as it gets ready for filming.
Next: ABC Confirms John Goodman’s Dan Is Alive in Roseanne Revival
The eight-episode Roseanne revival is expected to debut sometime in early 2018 on ABC.
Source: TVLine
