Roseanne Barr Reveals John Goodman Turned Down Cameo in Her New Sitcom ‘Meemaw’

When ‘Roseanne’ debuted on ABC in 1988, it quickly became a defining family sitcom of its time. The series ran until 1997, featuring Roseanne Barr as the witty matriarch and John Goodman as her husband, Dan Conner. The show returned for a revival in 2018, finishing its first season as the top scripted primetime show among the 18-49 demographic. Barr’s name was once synonymous with one of television’s biggest hits.

However, that changed dramatically. ABC canceled the revival in 2018 after Barr posted a controversial tweet about Valerie Jarrett, a former adviser to President Obama. The network continued the franchise without her, launching ‘The Conners,’ which ran for 7 seasons and 112 episodes through 2025, with Goodman leading the cast.

Now, Barr is making a comeback and has shared her struggles in getting former cast members on board. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she revealed that Goodman declined a cameo in her new sitcom, stating, “It wasn’t that I don’t want to work with John Goodman again. He doesn’t want to work with me.”

When asked about her relationships with former castmates Goodman and Laurie Metcalf, Barr admitted that they are not on good terms. She expressed that no one is more heartbroken than she is and chooses to remember the fun times they shared. Barr mentioned that her son reached out to Goodman to request a cameo, but he declined.

This aligns with a long-standing distance between the two. Goodman told The Hollywood Reporter in July 2025 that he hadn’t spoken to Barr in about 7 or 8 years and doubted she would want to talk to him. Barr has also expressed feelings of betrayal regarding Goodman’s reduced appearances in the later seasons of ‘Roseanne.’

The new sitcom, titled ‘Meemaw: A Modern Day Fable,’ is self-financed by Barr. She raised funds from private investors and filmed eight episodes in Austin, Texas, starting in November 2025, as a union production. The show is a single-camera comedy, reminiscent of trailer park comedies like ‘My Name Is Earl,’ rather than the traditional three-camera format of ‘Roseanne.’

Barr stars as the matriarch of a mixed-race family of preppers in Texas, who aims to dismantle a criminal empire while planning her granddaughter’s bat mitzvah. She describes the show as semi-autobiographical and co-wrote it with ‘Roseanne’ alum Allan Stephan and Allen Covert.

The cast features several familiar faces. Drea de Matteo plays Barr’s daughter, Randy Quaid portrays her husband, and Omar Gooding takes on the role of her son-in-law, with Doug Jones and young performer Indy Bugg also appearing. Jon Lovitz, Tony Hinchcliffe, and Kim Congdon are set for guest roles.

Barr mentioned that Oscar winner Mo’Nique helped connect her with Bugg, who plays her granddaughter. The series is also said to feature Hinchcliffe in a role as Satan.

Despite completing the season, ‘Meemaw’ currently has no buyer. Reports suggest that no network or streaming service has committed to distributing it, with Barr’s politics and reputation posing challenges. Newsmax has been considered as a potential home, but no deal has been finalized, and there is no premiere date yet.

Barr’s choice to produce the show independently reflects her current situation, with a project ready but lacking a platform. She has framed the series as an opportunity to create the kind of comedy she believes networks wouldn’t allow, aiming to address working-class issues in a way she feels has been stifled.

For those wishing to revisit the original, all ten seasons of ‘Roseanne’ are available for streaming on Peacock, while ‘The Conners’ can be watched on Hulu. Whether ‘Meemaw’ will ever find a screen remains uncertain, as does the possibility of any former castmates making an appearance.

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