The Roseanne Cast Defends the Decision to Make Roseanne a Trump Voter

Monday
Jan 8, 2018 at 9:21 PM

TV Guide

Roseanne is returning and the sitcom hopes to mirror the conversations happening in living rooms across the country, just as it did in the '90s.

That might have a few people nervous considering the huge political divide occurring across the country. Roseanne Barr, the creator of the series and outspoken President Trump supporter, wasn't afraid to tackle that divide head on by making Roseanne a Trump voter in the revival's pilot. Barr was reluctant to say whether her own political views inspired the character choice while promoting the show Monday at the Television Critics Association winter previews on Monday, but instead emphasized the importance of representing both sides of the political spectrum in the sitcom.

"I've always had [the show] try to be a true reflection of the society that we live in," she told reporters. "Half the people voted for Trump and half the country didn't, so it's just realistic."

New Roseanne Promos Poke Fun at Dan's Resurrection

Barr's TV daughter and fellow executive producer of the revival Sara Gilbert elaborated on how important it is for this debate to happen with a family that everyone is familiar with.

"This is a time where we all know where our country is very divided. We did have a wonderful opportunity to talk about this in the context of a family," Gilbert explained. "I think part of what's going on is that people feel like they can't disagree and still love each other or still talk to each other. For me, it was a great opportunity to have a family that can divided by politics but still is filled with love and what a great thing to bring into the country right now."

The nine episodes of the new season will cover a wide swath of issues from the election to health care and family. There's a wide array of opinions on those issues and Roseanne will attempt to house those universal debates in a way that the majority of Americans can relate to because they are having the same potentially contentious conversations with their own families.

Check out our complete TCA coverage here

"I think what you'll see in this show is how diversity fits into our family and that we are not as close minded as maybe some people anticipate,"added Michael Fishman, who plays D.J. Connor. "It's really important to me that we understand that people may vote in a way that we totally find reprehensible and opposing, but there is this nature of we have to go into a booth and pick someone...I think you can vote one way and then have beliefs that at times that feel like they're opposed. I think that's what this show does well where we have the dialogue of why we feel the way we feel and why it's important."

Can America put aside their differences to listen to both sides?

Roseanne premieres Tuesday, March 27 at 8/7c on ABC.



Other Links From TVGuide.com RoseanneRoseanne BarrSara GilbertMichael Fishman

Monday
Jan 8, 2018 at 9:21 PM

TV Guide

Roseanne is returning and the sitcom hopes to mirror the conversations happening in living rooms across the country, just as it did in the '90s.

That might have a few people nervous considering the huge political divide occurring across the country. Roseanne Barr, the creator of the series and outspoken President Trump supporter, wasn't afraid to tackle that divide head on by making Roseanne a Trump voter in the revival's pilot. Barr was reluctant to say whether her own political views inspired the character choice while promoting the show Monday at the Television Critics Association winter previews on Monday, but instead emphasized the importance of representing both sides of the political spectrum in the sitcom.

"I've always had [the show] try to be a true reflection of the society that we live in," she told reporters. "Half the people voted for Trump and half the country didn't, so it's just realistic."

New Roseanne Promos Poke Fun at Dan's Resurrection

Barr's TV daughter and fellow executive producer of the revival Sara Gilbert elaborated on how important it is for this debate to happen with a family that everyone is familiar with.

"This is a time where we all know where our country is very divided. We did have a wonderful opportunity to talk about this in the context of a family," Gilbert explained. "I think part of what's going on is that people feel like they can't disagree and still love each other or still talk to each other. For me, it was a great opportunity to have a family that can divided by politics but still is filled with love and what a great thing to bring into the country right now."

The nine episodes of the new season will cover a wide swath of issues from the election to health care and family. There's a wide array of opinions on those issues and Roseanne will attempt to house those universal debates in a way that the majority of Americans can relate to because they are having the same potentially contentious conversations with their own families.

Check out our complete TCA coverage here

"I think what you'll see in this show is how diversity fits into our family and that we are not as close minded as maybe some people anticipate,"added Michael Fishman, who plays D.J. Connor. "It's really important to me that we understand that people may vote in a way that we totally find reprehensible and opposing, but there is this nature of we have to go into a booth and pick someone...I think you can vote one way and then have beliefs that at times that feel like they're opposed. I think that's what this show does well where we have the dialogue of why we feel the way we feel and why it's important."

Can America put aside their differences to listen to both sides?

Roseanne premieres Tuesday, March 27 at 8/7c on ABC.



Other Links From TVGuide.com RoseanneRoseanne BarrSara GilbertMichael Fishman

Choose the plan that’s right for you. Digital access or digital and print delivery.

Learn More