Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Comedy spin-off is familiar, fun, and socially relevant.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Conners
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 17 parent reviews
Parents say the spin-off lacks the charm and relatability of its predecessor, with many reviews criticizing the forced humor and political overtones, suggesting it has become stale and unfunny. While some enjoy the show for its nostalgic value, the general consensus is that it falls short of expectations and is not appropriate for family viewing.
- boredom
- poor writing
- unrelatable characters
- lack of humor
- negative political themes
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 3 kid reviews
What's the Story?
THE CONNERS, a spin-off of Roseanne, follows the Conner family after their matriarch passes away. After the sudden death of Roseanne Conner, the family must figure out how to pull themselves together. While Jackie (Laurie Metcalf) is trying to fill Roseanne's shoes, and Darlene (Sara Gilbert) tries to manage the family, Dan (John Goodman) is dealing with the loss the best way he knows how while being there for his grandchildren. Meanwhile, Becky (Alicia "Lecy" Goranson) and D.J. (Michael Fishman) try to cope in their own ways. It's a difficult time for the family, but they realize that as hard as it is, life must go on.
Is It Any Good?
This lighthearted series picks up the family narrative left behind after the controversial cancelation of the original show's reboot- - this time without Roseanne Barr. The absence of her semi-autobiographical character may prove jarring for long-time Roseanne fans. However, the show still pays homage to her character's head strong personality, and maintains the snarky, blue-collar vibe that she made famous.
To its credit, The Conners still feels both nostalgic and familiar as other long-time cast members take the spotlight. Like its parent series, it also addresses a wide-range of relevant social issues. But there is a also an intentional mildness to it, perhaps to underscore the fact that despite a major loss, people can still come together and move forward.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about some of the social issues discussed throughout The Conners. Are there lessons that can be learned, even though it's a comedy series?
What are the differences between The Conners and Roseanne? Is one funnier than the other?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 16, 2018
- Cast : Sara Gilbert , Laurie Metcalf , John Goodman
- Network : ABC
- Genre : Comedy
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate