History of The Conners in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: April 20, 2025

The Conners is an American sitcom created as a direct continuation of Roseanne. Produced by Werner Entertainment and executive produced by Bruce Helford, the series stars John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Sara Gilbert, and other original cast members. It follows the lives of the Conner family as they navigate the challenges of life in Lanford after the death of Roseanne. The show deals with family dynamics, financial struggles, and social issues, reflecting working-class American life.

1987: Sagal and Barr considered for Peggy Bundy role

In 1987, both Katey Sagal and Roseanne Barr were seriously considered for the role of Peggy Bundy on the series Married... with Children.

May 2018: Roseanne's eleventh season cancelled

In May 2018, a planned renewal for Roseanne's eleventh season was cancelled due to controversial tweets by its star, Roseanne Barr, on Twitter.

May 29, 2018: Roseanne cancelled following Barr's controversial remarks

On May 29, 2018, ABC cancelled Roseanne despite initially renewing it for an eleventh season, following controversial Twitter remarks made by Roseanne Barr about Valerie Jarrett.

June 15, 2018: Reports emerge that ABC close to making deal to continue show

Around June 15, 2018, reports emerged that ABC was close to making a deal to continue the show without Barr.

June 21, 2018: ABC orders "The Conners" spin-off

On June 21, 2018, ABC ordered a 10-episode spin-off tentatively titled The Conners, which would involve every cast member except Roseanne Barr.

August 28, 2018: Kenney, McNamara, and Rey confirmed as series regulars

On August 28, 2018, Emma Kenney, Ames McNamara, and Jayden Rey were officially confirmed as series regulars for The Conners.

August 31, 2018: Production began

Production on The Conners series began on August 31, 2018, at the Warner Bros. Studios lot in Burbank, California.

October 16, 2018: Series premiere on ABC

On October 16, 2018, The Conners series premiered on ABC, airing in the Tuesday 8:00 p.m. slot.

October 26, 2018: Extra episode ordered by ABC

On October 26, 2018, ABC ordered an extra episode of The Conners, bringing the first season episode count to eleven.

December 15, 2018: Preliminary negotiations for second season

On December 15, 2018, Deadline Hollywood reported that preliminary negotiations were underway with the cast for a second season of The Conners.

2018: #1 new comedy for 2018 TV season

In 2018, The Conners ranked as the #1 new comedy for the TV season in the key demographic of adults 18-49 (2.2 rating) as well as in total viewers (9.5 million).

2018: First season ratings nearly double prime time shows

In 2018, The Conners' first season ratings nearly doubled the average rating of all prime time shows to air on ABC during the 2018–19 season.

March 21, 2019: Renewal for Season 2 close

On March 21, 2019, Deadline reported that renewal for season 2 was close.

March 22, 2019: Series renewed for second season

On March 22, 2019, The Conners was renewed for a second season consisting of 13 episodes by ABC.

May 14, 2019: ABC orders six extra episodes

On May 14, 2019, ABC ordered six extra episodes of The Conners, expanding the number to 19.

September 24, 2019: Second season premiere

On September 24, 2019, the second season of The Conners premiered.

2019: Consistent ratings in second season

In 2019, The Conners' ratings were remarkably consistent from one episode to the next, down only slightly from season one, bucking the industry trend.

May 21, 2020: Series renewed for third season

On May 21, 2020, ABC renewed The Conners for a third season.

August 17, 2020: Production began on the third season

Production on The Conners third season began on August 17, 2020.

October 21, 2020: Third season premiere

On October 21, 2020, the third season of The Conners premiered on ABC, moving from Tuesday to Wednesday.

2020: Highest-rated comedy on ABC

In 2020, The Conners remained by far the highest-rated comedy on ABC.

March 18, 2021: Terrel Richmond death

On March 18, 2021, the show's sound engineer and boom operator Terrel Richmond died after suffering a medical event on set.

May 14, 2021: Series renewed for fourth season

On May 14, 2021, ABC renewed The Conners for a fourth season.

September 22, 2021: Fourth season premiere

On September 22, 2021, the fourth season of The Conners premiered.

May 13, 2022: Series renewed for fifth season

On May 13, 2022, The Conners was renewed for a fifth season.

August 2022: Michael Fishman written out of show

In August 2022, Michael Fishman confirmed that his character D.J. Conner would be written out of The Conners for the fifth season.

September 21, 2022: Fifth season premiere

On September 21, 2022, the fifth season of The Conners premiered.

October 12, 2022: Fifth season expanded by ABC

On October 12, 2022, ABC expanded the fifth season of The Conners to feature its largest season to date, ordering 22 episodes.

January 2, 2023: Series began being shown in the United Kingdom

On January 2, 2023, The Conners began being shown in the United Kingdom on Sky Comedy.

May 3, 2023: Fifth season concluded

On May 3, 2023, the fifth season of The Conners concluded.

May 16, 2023: Series renewed for sixth season

On May 16, 2023, The Conners was renewed for a sixth season by ABC.

August 8, 2023: Werner Entertainment signed global licensing deal

On August 8, 2023, Werner Entertainment signed a global licensing deal with Lionsgate’s Worldwide Television Distribution Group and Debmar-Mercury to make past episodes of The Conners available in syndication.