Roseanne Barr’s controversial comments may have put the stopper on Roseanne, but you can’t keep a good cast down for long. In 2018, all the former Roseanne members (bar, unsurprisingly enough, the titular Roseanne) rose like a phoenix from the ashes to star in The Conners. The show follows the Conner family as they struggle through the daily grind after the death of the family matriarch (yep, Barr’s comments seem to have rankled producers too much them to explain her absence away on a long holiday — only death would do in this case). Now in its second season, the show’s empathetic treatment of changing family dynamics and warm, family-friendly feel has won approval from critics and audiences alike (in fact, the only person who doesn’t seem enamored is Barr herself, who’s complained that killing off her character in the way the creators did (i.e. by an overdose of opioids) “lent an unnecessary grim and morbid dimension to an otherwise happy family show.” But then, let’s face it, she would say that, and regardless of whether Roseanne Barr likes the show or not, we most certainly do. If you, like us, can’t get enough of that particular brand of bittersweet, feel-good comedy, check out these 5 great shows.
1. Roseanne
It had to be on the list really, didn’t it? You may disagree with the star’s opinions, but there’s no denying the prequel to The Conner’s set the bar for feel good, family-centric comedy. Focused on the everyday life of an everyday kind of family, Roseanne’s first run aired between October 18, 1988, and May 20, 1997, while its revival aired from March 27, 2018, to May 22, 2018. Regularly ranked as one the greatest series of all time, Roseanne was a rating’s hit, and for good reason. Until Roseanne, TV had largely been devoid of working-class families; Roseanne didn’t just give them a platform and a voice, it gave them warmth, character, and most importantly of all, humor. It also took huge strides in encouraging a more positive, inclusive attitude on TV; we saw gay people who were more than just tokens, larger people whose weight didn’t dictate the jokes, and a family that had its up and downs, but were ultimately just that- family. If you like The Conners, then this is most definitely one to add to your watch list.
2. The Durrell’s
OK, so The Durrell family isn’t exactly working class. Neither are they American. But at the heart of this feel-good show is the same warmth we see in The Connor’s, the same emphatic treatment of characters, and the same sense of a family just pulling together and getting on with life, whatever that brings them and wherever that takes them. If you want to snuggle down with a show knowing you’ll be left with that slightly cozy, all’s right with the world feeling at the end, this is guaranteed to deliver (and suffice to say, even if the family dynamics don’t appeal, the gorgeous scenery (the show is filmed on location on the Greek Island of Corfu) most definitely will.
3. Last Man Standing
Starring Tim Allen as a married dad of three (not to mention granddad to his eldest daughter’s son, Boyd), Last Man Standing is, like Roseanne, a show which died a death then got reborn (or, to be a little more literal, picked up by another network). Like The Conners, Last Man Standing is charming, funny, and at its heart, all about family. Oddly enough, it’s also been linked to similar controversy: some months before ABC declined to renew it for a 7th season (and just before Fox decided it would take the chance), its lead star (who’s a staunch Republican both on and off set) caused outrage after claiming that being a Republican in Hollywood is “like 1930s Germany. You gotta be real careful around here, you know. You’ll get beat up if you don’t believe what everybody believes. “Apparently, comparing the treatment of Republicans in Hollywood to the treatment of Jews in Nazi Germany is considered more acceptable than the comments Barr made, and when the show returned for its 7th season, Allen, unlike Barr, was still very much in situ.
4. Fuller House
Another show we thought we’d seen the last off, only for it to turn up again nearly 20 years later, is Fuller House. Those who grew up in the 1990s will be all too aware of its previous incarnation, Full House, a show that gave us family drama, humor, and Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. Mary Kate and Ashely may not be back in Fuller House, but most of the rest of the gang is, as, indeed, is the wit, the warmth, and the slightly cringe-worthy pop culture references. If you were a fan of the original show, or if you just need a fix of feel-good family entertainment in between episodes of The Conners, this may just be what you’re looking for.
5. Raven’s Home
Like Fuller House and The Conners, Raven’s Home has taken a good 1990s TV show, given the kiss of life to some of its beloved characters, made a few changes, and then given us the revised, revitalized version in the hope we take it to our hearts just as much the 2nd time around as we did the first. In the case of Raven’s Home, that’s pretty much exactly what we’ve done. Fans of That’s So Raven, the 1990s supernatural children’s drama starring Raven- Symoné, will be on familiar territory with its latest spinoff. Raven may be all grown up and struggling with the trials of single parenthood, but it’s still got that same infectious sense of fun and old-fashioned warmth at its heart. Granted, it’s got a paranormal twist that The Conners doesn’t (although can you imagine if it did…) but both shows share enough of the same qualities (sharp writing, family dramas, a warm heart) to appeal to a common audience.
Follow Us
