The Conners’ Bosses Tried To Get George Clooney’s Roseanne Character For The Final Season, But I Honestly Totally Get Why He Said No

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The initial run of “Roseanne” on ABC helped establish it as a highly acclaimed sitcom during its time and even now ranks among the most popular ever produced. Following in these successful footsteps is its spin-off show, “The Conners.” Although several main cast members from the original series have appeared in “The Conners,” when the series concludes tonight, some prominent figures like George Clooney will not be returning to reprise their roles.

One fun fact from television history is that George Clooney, in his early acting days, played Roseanne’s boss Booker Brooks during the first season of “Roseanne”. Although he later achieved great success, appearing in blockbuster films like Batman movies and winning Oscars, the producers of “The Conners” attempted multiple times to bring him back, but he declined. This was because his appearance could have led to an influx of other guest stars on the show. As Executive Producer Bruce Helford explained to TVLine:

We made multiple attempts to contact him, and he responded by explaining that if he helped us, he’d have to help everyone else he’s ever collaborated with who has a TV show, as it wouldn’t be fair to exclude anyone. In essence, this was his way of declining our request.

Clooney, similar to many actors, made numerous TV appearances before he became part of the principal cast on ER, which subsequently propelled his movie career. Interestingly, The Conners is the only one among those shows to receive a direct revival. However, it’s plausible that several individuals who worked on those shows are still active in the industry, and if Clooney lent his help for that show, it wouldn’t be surprising if other shows followed suit.

I can understand why one might not find it entirely unexpected given the rumors of a revival for “Murder, She Wrote” and George Clooney’s past appearances on the show. If he were to guest star on “The Conners,” it could potentially set a pattern leading to more such offers. However, if he accepts some invitations but declines others, it would inevitably upset different groups of people.

George Clooney has slowed down his acting career in Hollywood, taking on fewer roles compared to the past. Now, he has the luxury to select projects he’s interested in, turning down many offers. He doesn’t intend to refuse roles any more frequently than he currently does.

If Cloney was sincere in his remark and not merely attempting to soften the blow for the producers, it seems he might have considered joining The Conners had it been a single, standalone episode. It’s regrettable that this opportunity didn’t arise, as it would have made for an exciting and fitting TV moment, and potentially marked a full circle in Clooney’s career if they could have managed to make it happen.

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2025-04-23 21:07