Roseanne Barr Seeks Comeback with New Show ‘Meemaw’

Roseanne Barr is making a bold move to re-enter television. Eight years after her departure from the ‘Roseanne’ reboot, she is self-funding a new sitcom, ‘Meemaw: A Modern Day Fable.’ At 73, Barr is actively shopping the show to potential buyers, asserting its potential to become a hit.

According to reports, Barr believes Hollywood is overlooking a great opportunity with her new project. The original ‘Roseanne’ reboot attracted millions of viewers and was the top-rated primetime sitcom in the 18-49 demographic. ‘Meemaw’ explores the life of a matriarch in a mixed-race family of preppers in Texas, partly inspired by Barr’s life experiences.

Despite pitching ‘Meemaw’ to high-profile individuals like Elon Musk, Barr has not yet secured a commitment. She expressed her surprise that Musk has not responded, considering their potential collaboration.

The show features actors Drea de Matteo, Omar Gooding, and Randy Quaid. Quaid plays Barr’s love interest, and their on-screen chemistry has been a highlight for Barr.

Reflecting on her past, Barr addressed her controversial tweet about Valerie Jarrett. She denied it was racist, clarifying it was meant as a political statement. She recalled her discussions with ABC, which insisted that she sign off on the show’s rights or face cancellation. The alternative was allowing the show to continue as ‘The Conners’ without her.

Barr did not receive compensation for ‘The Conners,’ which ran for seven seasons. Her character was written off in the first episode. The transition in the storyline to an opioid overdose was a pointed narrative choice.

Entertainment writer Brie Stimson contributed to this report, providing detailed insights from Los Angeles.