Roseanne Barr Plots Comeback With New Comedy Series, About a Family Who ‘Saves America With Guns, the Bible, Petty Crime and Alcoholism’ (EXCLUSIVE)

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Call it the Trump 2.0 effect.

Roseanne Barr, who was let go by Disney from her hit ABC show in 2018, is planning a return to television. Barr has revealed to EbMaster that she has written a new comedy series with collaborator Allan Stephan, and is now preparing to shop it around.

The upcoming series features Barr as its lead and consists of 4 to 6 episodes, following a structure similar to U.K. comedies. According to her, it’s described as a blend between “The Roseanne Show” and “The Sopranos.” This show revolves around a small-town farmer in Alabama who takes on the mission of protecting America from drug cartels and external threats like China. The main character is depicted as someone who cultivates and trades unconventional drugs such as cannabis and psilocybin mushrooms.

She finds it absurd and outlandish,” she remarks. “[The story] is filled with offensive language, vulgar ideas, and a lot of profanity. I reside with my daughter, her husband, and their six kids on a farm in Hawaii. The place is often invaded by goats roaming freely inside the house. This narrative is inspired by my life as a farmer here. It portrays how they save America through guns, the Bible, petty crimes, and alcoholism. In essence, it’s reminiscent of a Coen Brothers production.

In 2018, Roseanne Barr referred to a former aide of Michelle Obama, Valerie Jarrett, using derogatory and offensive language on Twitter, describing her as being from “the Muslim Brotherhood & Planet of the Apes.” After an apology and deleting her Twitter account, ABC swiftly responded by terminating Barr’s employment and canceling the popular TV show “Roseanne,” which had concluded its first season as the highest-rated scripted prime-time TV program for viewers aged 18-49.

As a dedicated cinema enthusiast, I’ve noticed that Roseanne, my longtime “Roseanne” co-star John Goodman has vouched for, hasn’t been active in mainstream entertainment since. However, he asserted, “I know for a fact that she’s not a racist.” Remarkably, her upcoming series seems to bear a striking resemblance to our megahit series “Roseanne,” which chronicled the life of a working-class family from 1988 to 1997, and was later revived successfully in 2018. In an interview with EbMaster, Barr revealed that her new series will focus on a family resembling the Conners, the family we followed in both shows.

In one part, I find myself fastening a corset, assisted by my granddaughter. Afterward, I venture out into town and playfully flirt with the shopkeepers who, she jokes, are quite unsightly. It’s more like a whimsical, exaggerated situation.”

This version maintains the original meaning but uses simpler, more natural language to make it easier for readers to understand.

Barring any further details, Barr herself has mentioned that she plans to market her upcoming project within Hollywood’s circles, though she hasn’t revealed who will be handling the sale.

She states, “If Hollywood doesn’t take interest, I’ll produce it independently. It seems odd that those in [Hollywood] don’t appreciate America or its television audience, considering they’d relish a series where common folks triumph over adversaries who oppose America.

2018 saw Barr being severed ties with Disney, prior to any sponsor withdrawals, allegedly due to a politically charged phone call. According to her, CEO Bob Iger contacted both Jarrett and Obama, assuring them that the contentious star would be taken off the airwaves. However, a Disney source asserts that Iger only communicated with Jarrett after the decision had already been made, and never spoke to Obama.

In contrast to Trump’s initial presidency, the climate seems to have changed quite significantly in recent months. Back then, during Trump 1.0, figures like Barr were part of a select group who publicly endorsed him during his 2016 campaign. She later expressed that this support may have led to her dismissal. Iger criticized one of her tweets as being highly insensitive and disrespectful.

Fast forward to now, many key figures in the tech and media sectors are backing Trump, visiting Mar-a-Lago or otherwise fostering close relationships with him. Notable individuals such as Apple’s Tim Cook, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos were all present during the swearing-in ceremony of both the 45th and 47th presidents on January 20. Larry Ellison, the man behind the Paramount-Skydance merger, has been a loyal Trump supporter and is collaborating closely with him on AI projects. Even Iger contributed corporate funds to the Trump inaugural fund. As a movie enthusiast, it’s interesting to observe these shifts in allegiances and partnerships.

Barr suggests that the latest presidential election outcomes demonstrate a strong desire among audiences for content that Hollywood has been reluctant to produce.

She argues that Hollywood has become disconnected from the American public. To remain viable, she suggests they collaborate with the newly elected president, as he was chosen by a landslide vote. The American people expect them to reconnect and generate profits, which I’m not sure they have been doing due to their ideological leanings rather than focusing on business. What astounds me is their willingness to incur losses, only to explain this decision to their shareholders who seem unfazed by it.

Currently, Barr serves as the host of “The Roseanne Barr Podcast” and has been a guest on various comedy programs, such as “Club Random With Bill Maher.” When asked about potential future work with ABC, her response was firm and clear: “Absolutely not.

As for other potential Hollywood suitors, Barr isn’t so sure that one will step up.

She clarifies that she doesn’t have strong feelings about the matter either way. She expresses her desire to be compensated generously for reviving another struggling network, as she has done successfully with ABC twice. However, she questions how they could avoid interfering in her work. If they don’t offer a suitable arrangement, she is prepared to look elsewhere and manage the project on her own website.

Despite being a devoted MAGA supporter, she doesn’t necessarily enjoy close friendships within Trump’s inner circle. She extended invitations to several members of his team for her podcast, but none accepted. Two days before the inauguration, she released a music video with Canadian rapper Tom MacDonald titled “Daddy’s Home,” which is a tribute to the president. The video has garnered over 4.8 million views so far.

She states that the Trump administration views her as unpredictable, and she agrees with this assessment. She’s not someone who strictly adheres to party lines; instead, she only champions her own beliefs. The staff within the Trump administration seems apprehensive towards her. Being a vocal comedian, she understands their hesitation. However, it did cause some hurt feelings. But what can one do?

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2025-01-27 21:21