2 weeks Ago
The Conner family is saying goodnight. The Conners has officially ended, more than three decades after audiences first met the sitcom family. In the emotional one-hour special on April 23, Dan ( John Goodman ), Becky ( Lecy Goranson ), Darlene ( Sara Gilbert ) and Jackie ( Laurie Metcalf ) quite literally said goodbye to viewers.
The first episode of the two-part finale, titled “Exercise Bands, Money Plans, and Faraway Lands” follows Dan as he prepares for the deposition against the pharmaceutical company that issued the opioid that killed his wife Roseanne ( Roseanne Barr ). Darlene’s 19-year-old son Mark ( Ames McNamara ) shocks her when he tells her he is moving to New York City, and while she isn’t exactly ready for him to leave, she finds her own way to say goodbye. Meanwhile, Becky and boyfriend Tyler ( Sean Astin ) take a big step in their relationship, decide to take a big step in their relationship with a joint bank account.
And in the second part, “The Truck Stops Here,” Dan describes his late wife as “the love of his life” in a touching testimony, leading the company to award Dan with a check. Though as the entire family—including Jackie, Becky and Darlene—gather at Roseanne’s grave to share the moment together, it’s revealed the check is revealed to be worth just $700 and not the large payout they’d expected. Still, each member of the Conner family says goodbye to Roseanne, sharing their successes as a family.
For Jackie, it’s being back on the police force, and both daughters show their mom the men they are in love with. Meanwhile, Darlene and ex David’s eldest Harris ( Emma Kenney ) tells her grandmother that she owns her grandmother’s restaurant, the Lanford Lunch Box. And Louise ( Katey Sagal ), Dan’s second wife, gives him his own private moment at Roseanne’s grave, giving him a moment to reflect on their family, telling her, “We always said if the kids were still alive at the end of the day we did our job.
I think we did better than that.” Later that night, they each take turns saying an emotional goodnight to one another, the last being Dan on the coach looking directly into the camera, saying goodnight to the audience at home. For the ending, executive producers Dan Helford and Dave Caplan wanted to make sure that the family’s story would continue beyond the finale, leaving their stories open.
“I don’t think we wanted a kind of ending where somebody turns off the lights and closes up shop,” Dave told TV Insider on April 18. “The Conners go on.” As Dan added, “It’s true to their characters, which I think the audience of this show particularly wants.
” Indeed, that’s been the case with the Conner family since 1988 when Roseanne , centered around the titular comedian’s tight-knit blue-collar family debuted, ultimately running until 1997. Though in 2018, 21 years after season nine concluded, ABC revived the sitcom with the entire original cast returning—including John, Lecy, Sara, Laurie and Michael Fishman . However, amid its successful season 10, Roseanne sparked controversy over a racist tweet about an official in former President Barack Obama ’s administration, leading to her firing from the show and the series being refashioned into a spinoff in which her character has recently died from an accidental drug overdose.
But despite The Conners ’ rocky origins, family endured and now, seven seasons later, the rest of the cast is saying goodbye to these beloved characters. “We always knew this would come to an end, but somehow it felt like it would be forever,” Sara, who plays Darlene, told Us Weekly on April 18. “The best thing television can do is make people feel connected.
” And the head of the family Dan, played by John, hopes his character and the show is remembered by how audiences connected with their television family. “I would hope that the legacy of this show would be that people saw a little of themselves in us,” John explained to Us Weekly . “Humor has always been the thing that has pulled this family through.
” He added, “I am going to miss it very, very much. Above all, we had fun.” Keep reading for more shows that made their way to the small screen this year.
Secrets of the Penguins (National Geographic) - Apr. 20 Executive produced by National Geographic Explorer-at-Large and Academy Award-winning filmmaker James Cameron , this latest installment in National Geographic’s Emmy-winning “Secrets of” franchise takes viewers of all ages to the farthest corners of the world to witness penguin behaviors captured on film for the first time—showcasing the cute and fluffy flightless birds as they brave some of the most extreme environments on Earth. Dr.
Pimple Popper: Breaking Out (Lifetime) - Apr. 21 Lifetime sets all-new series with the “pop”-ular dermatologist in Dr. Pimple Popper: Breaking Out beginning April 21.
Dr. Sandra Lee , better known as Dr. Pimple Popper, returns with more bursts, oozes, and pops only on Lifetime.
For the first time, Dr. Lee will be inviting several proteges, the next generation of dermatologists, into the operating room with her to pass on her unique knowledge and skill set. Andor (Disney+) - Apr.
22 Season two will see the characters and their relationships intensify as the horizon of war draws near and Cassian becomes a key player in the Rebel Alliance. Everyone will be tested and, as the stakes rise, the betrayals, sacrifices and conflicting agendas will become profound. Race for the Crown (Netflix) - Apr.
22 Race for the Crown takes you deep into the action-packed world of professional horse racing. With exclusive access to jockeys, trainers, and owners, this series offers an inside look at the high-stakes quest to win across the prestigious Triple Crown circuit. Meet the big personalities that drive the sport, and experience the passion, strategy, and drama as these dedicated individuals strive for victory.
Battle Camp (Netflix) - Apr. 23 In Battle Camp , the greatest stars from across Netflix’s broad slate of reality and doc-series return to face the ultimate physical and mental competition, where a giant spinning wheel randomly decides who stays and who goes. In order to keep your name off that wheel, our returning fan favorites need to be unbeatable in high octane challenges, unbreakable in grueling punishments and, last but certainly not least, unhateable in camp, as everyone has a vote.
The player who achieves all three, becomes the ultimate Netflix reality competitor and takes home the $250,000 prize. Vanderpump Villa (Hulu) - Apr. 24 Get ready to sip some tea because Lisa Vanderpump is back, along with Stassi Schroeder and a mix of familiar faces and new staff at Castello Rosato in the countryside of Italy.
Hulu’s original series Vanderpump Villa is serving up a hot second season with all ten episodes dropping on April 24, 2025. Black Snow (AMC+) - Apr. 24 In season two, Travis Fimmel reprises his role as Detective Cormack as he tackles two separate missing persons cases.
One is professional, as he investigates the disappearance of Zoe Jacobs ( Jana McKinnon ), from her own 21st birthday party in 2003. And the other is personal, as Cormack searches desperately for his own younger brother, who went missing when they were children. Étoile (Prime Video) - Apr.
24 The original new series is set in both New York and Paris, and follows the dancers and artistic staff of two world-renowned ballet companies as they embark on an ambitious gambit to save their storied institutions: swapping their most talented stars. Jessica Kirson: I'm the Man (Hulu) - Apr. 25 Jessica Kirson: I’m the Man is a fast-paced and sharp-tongued special that showcases Kirson’s searing perspective on everything from TikTok girls to her bizarre time at a trauma center.
WondLa (AppleTV+) - Apr. 25 This futuristic coming-of-age story follows sixteen-year-old Eva 9 as her epic journey continues, and she uncovers startling truths about her past and the world she calls home. Picking up from season one’s shocking cliffhanger, Eva is drawn toward the promise of home—but new discoveries only lead to more unanswered questions.
As she searches for the truth, Eva finds herself pursued by a relentless force that believes she holds the key to something far greater than she ever imagined. In a season brimming with revelations, sacrifice, and an existential fight for survival, Eva must choose where she truly belongs. Gold Rush: White Water (Discovery Channel) - Apr.
25 Last year, Dustin Hurt 's crew struck a 6-ounce, $70K nugget—the biggest in Gold Rush history. This season, he's risking everything for more. It's all or nothing—a gamble that could make them millions or end their mining careers forever.
In the season premiere, Dustin and his loyal crew head deep into the remote Alaskan wilderness on their most ambitious, difficult, and dangerous season ever, as they risk their lives in the raging creeks of Alaska searching for a life-changing pile of gold nuggets. PolyFamily (TLC) - Apr. 25 TLC's latest ducoseries dives deep into the world of polyamory and non-traditional family structures.
The show follows two married couples, Alysia & Tyler and Sean & Taya , who have chosen to live together as a closed quad. In this unconventional family set up, Tyler is dating Sean’s wife, Taya, and Sean is dating Tyler’s wife, Alysia. With four children already and another on the way, the quad is redefining what it means to be a family Bravo's Love Hotel (Bravo) - Apr.
27 Real Housewives Luann de Lesseps , Gizelle Bryant , Ashley Darby and Shannon Beador look for love on Bravo's new dating show. Southern Fried Lies (Oxygen) - Apr. 27 The tw-hour special travels to Camden, Ark.
, a quiet bucolic town where the only thing thicker than the humidity is the gossip. However, when one of Camden’s richest men dies mysteriously, a web of lies overwhelms this tightknit, rural community, leaving families destroyed and the town forever altered. Yes, Chef! (NBC) - Apr.
28 José Andrés and Martha Stewart are inviting a crop of skilled chefs from all over the country to join them on NBC’s new competition series, Yes, Chef! From big egos and hot tempers to confidence issues, these chefs have all been nominated by colleagues and loved ones who are hoping this competition will soften their sharp edges and help them reach their full potentials. Castle Impossible (HGTV) - Apr. 29 High school sweethearts and married couple Daphne Reckert and Ian Figueira will abandon their plans of living in a California tiny home when Daphne inherits her late grandfather’s 500-year-old chateau on a 130-acre estate just outside of Paris, France, in the new HGTV series, Castle Impossible .
Red Bull Soapbox Race (Discovery) - Apr. 29 High-octane races filled with outrageous obstacles unfold when Discovery Channel and Red Bull join forces for the all-new series. Hosted by NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr.
and motorsports announcer Mike Bagley , the series features amateur teams as they design and build one-of-a-kind, gravity-powered soapbox racers that compete – and crash – on intricate, downhill courses. In the Kitchen With Harry Hamlin (AMC+ and IFC) - Apr. 30 In each episode, Harry Hamlin and his chef niece Renee Guilbault cook up savory stories and craft and curate gorgeous, and reasonably easy, dinner parties for their celebrity friends.
Special guests this season include Ben Feldman , Kevin Rahm , Angela Kinsey , Kate Flanner y, Joel McHale , Aisha Tyler and many more. Brett Goldstein: The Second Best Night of Your Life (HBO) - April 2025 The Ted Lasso star brings the laughs this April with his new comedy special. The Four Seasons (Netflix) - May 1 Six old friends head for a relaxing weekend away only to learn that one couple in the group is about to split up.
The three couples, Kate ( Tina Fey ) and Jack ( Will Forte ), Nick ( Steve Carell ) and Anne ( Kerri Kenney-Silver ), and Danny ( Colman Domingo ) and Claude ( Marco Calvani ), are completely upended by the news. Over the course of a year, we follow the friends on four vacations, and watch how this shake-up affects everyone’s dynamic—sending old issues and new bubbling to the surface. The Four Seasons is a hilarious and heartfelt love letter to long marriages and old friendships.
Based on the 1981 feature film of the same name. 100 Foot Wave (HBO/Max) - May 1 100 Foot Wave returns for a third season to chronicle the globe-trotting adventures of big wave surfer Garrett McNamara , his wife Nicole and their young family, as well as those of fellow surfers Andrew “Cotty” Cotton , CJ Macias , Justine DuPont , Lucas “Chumbo” Chianca , Nic von Rupp , Kai Lenny , Pedro “Scooby” Vianna and more. Season three expands from the cliff tops of Nazaré, Portugal, where McNamara first set a big wave world record in 2011, to exciting new locales such as Cortes Bank in the far reaches of the Pacific Ocean, Safi, Morocco, Montaldo, Italy, and O’ahu, Hawaii for the rarely held Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational.
The adrenaline-filled series closely follows these extreme athletes’ drive and passion, with cameras by their side for the highs and lows of their lives - the doubts and tragedies, the euphoria and triumphs, the life -changing decisions, the fears that haunt them and the challenges that fuel them. Lucky Chow (PBS) - May 1 In this five-part season, host Danielle Chang immerses herself in the vibrant food and culture of her homeland, Taiwan, spotlighting indigenous boar hunters, cutting-edge bubble-tea makers, late-night seaport dives and Buddhist temples where vegetarian cooking is turned into high art. Join Danielle on a season-long tour of this island crossroads, where ancient folkways co-exist with the world's most futuristic technologies, and see Taiwan as you've never seen it before.
The Walking Dead: Dead City (AMC) - May 4 The Walking Dead: Dead City follows the popular Maggie ( Lauren Cohan ) and Negan ( Jeffrey Dean Morgan ) characters traveling into a post-apocalyptic Manhattan, long ago cut off from the mainland. In season two, in the growing war for control of New York City, Maggie and Negan find themselves trapped on opposite sides. As their paths intertwine, they come to see that the way out for both is more complicated and harrowing than they ever imagined.
Conan O’Brien: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor (Netflix) - May 4 On Sunday, March 23, the 26th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor celebrated Conan O'Brien at the Kennedy Center. Lineup of leading performers included Nikki Glaser , Will Ferrell , David Letterman , Kumail Nanjiani , Tracy Morgan , Adam Sandler , John Mulaney , Sarah Silverman and many more. The program paid tribute to the humor and accomplishments of O’Brien and featured a host of his admirers, friends and collaborators.
The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor Celebrating Conan O'Brien will premiere Sunday, May 4, only on Netflix. The Playboy Murders (Investigation Discovery) - May 5 The third season is set to return as Holly Madison reprises her role as host and executive producer, recounting the shocking intersections of murder and mystery within the world of the iconic adult men’s magazine, Playboy . Madison, renowned for her intimate knowledge of the Playboy empire and her compelling storytelling, brings a unique perspective to the series, providing an empathetic voice to the untimely deaths of those connected to the brand.
David Spade: Dandelion (Prime Video) - May 6 With signature sardonic takes on the perils of flying, charity auctions and the evolution of porn, David Spade is sharper and funnier than ever in his new comedy special Dandelion . Poker Face (Peacock) - May 8 Charlie Cale is back on the run, and in season two we’ve taken her journey to the next level one murder mystery at a time. From minor league baseball to big box retail, from funeral homes to alligator farms and even a grade school talent show, Charlie navigates her crime solving existential road-trip with deadpan wit, human empathy, and her signature uncanny lie-detecting ability.
Forever (Netflix) - May 8 Judy Blume 's groundbreaking 1975 novel, Forever , is being reimagined for a new generation by Mara Brock Akil . It’s an epic love story of two Black teens exploring romance and their identities through the awkward journey of being each other’s firsts, set in Los Angeles, 2018. Karol G: Tomorrow Was Beautiful (Netflix) - May 8 Karol G was told her dream was too big, that she was the wrong gender, and from the wrong place, to ever be a global star.
But only fools bet against a Bichota. Karol G: Tomorrow was Beautiful , a documentary from This Machine and director Cristina Costantini , traces Karol’s rise from humble beginnings in Medellín, Colombia, to international stardom, as she proves the critics wrong with an electrifying, record-breaking stadium tour. It’s a rare look at the unique determination, raw talent, and relentless work ethic that has launched Karol G to superstardom and paved a path for future generations of Latinas.
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (Paramount+) - May 9 In this new season, there will be 18 All Stars, the largest in the franchise’s herstory, returning to compete in the ultimate competition for the crown. For the first time ever, season 10 will introduce a brand-new format across 12 episodes: the Tournament of All Stars. The queens will be divided into three groups of six, each competing in their own bracket across three episodes.
At the end of each bracket, the top three queens with the highest point totals will advance to the semi-finals where they’ll go head-to-head with the top queens from the other groups in another round of fierce competition over two episodes. The tournament will then culminate in an epic Lip Sync Smackdown for the Crown grand finale episode, where the finalists will battle it out for a grand prize of $200,000 and a place in the coveted Drag Race Hall of Fame..
