TV Talk: ‘The Conners’ feel the effects of the pandemic in new season

Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen offers a viewing tip for the coming week.

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After the “Roseanne” revival imploded following star Roseanne Barr’s racist tweet, there was every reason to fear its sequel series, “The Conners,” would simply be a ratings grab.

But as its third season premieres this week, “The Conners” (9 p.m. Wednesday, WTAE-TV) has become one of broadcast TV’s most reliably funny and topical sitcoms.

It looks like that will continue as the new season finds the Conners in danger of losing their home due to the covid-19 pandemic.

“The characters were built for disaster, and we’ve been following their life and their trials through all the things that have been going on since the 1980s,” said executive producer Bruce Helford during a September ABC teleconference. “I know there are a lot of shows that probably aren’t going to be reflecting what’s really going on, but we felt that it was an obligation to our viewers to stay relevant and to show them what it’s like for a family that knows how to get through hard times but is thrown a curve like never before.”

Although the Conners do not wear masks at home while quarantining together, they are masked when on the job, including at a new workplace for a couple of characters: Wellman Plastics, the workplace of Roseanne and her sister Jackie (Laurie Metcalf) in the early years of the original “Roseanne.” (Archival footage in the “Conners” season premiere shows Jackie interacting with her 1980s-era Wellman Plastics boss played by a young George Clooney.)

“The Conners” was one of the earliest scripted comedy series to resume production.

There are covid-19 safety protocols in place, including taping episodes without the presence of a studio audience.

Helford said the show will take place during the pandemic for the foreseeable future. Early episodes will also explore Halloween in the time of covid-19 and the polarization of American politics in an episode airing before the presidential election.

Actress Katey Sagal (“Sons of Anarchy”) has had a recurring role on “The Conners” as a love interest to Dan (John Goodman) and she’s in this week’s season premiere. But Sagal will also be the lead in ABC’s “Rebel,” a drama series inspired by activist Erin Brockovich today.

“Katey, I know, wants to be here as well and we want to have her here as her schedule permits,” said Sara Gilbert, who stars in and executive produces “The Conners.” “Our plans are to keep her a part of the family.”