After seven seasons, The Conners has officially ended, but it already has the perfect replacement show that features Roseanne Barr’s fellow sitcom legend. Born out of the canceled Roseanne revival, the John Goodman-led comedy was ABC’s premier sitcom for the most part of its time on broadcast. The network had to find a way to continue the franchise on the heels of Barr’s firing because of how well-received Roseanne season 10 was, and they decided on the idea that the Conner matriarch died of an opioid overdose. Despite the skepticism, The Conners lasted long enough to stage a proper ending.

Despite the massive change in the ensemble brought by losing the franchise’s poster character, The Conners was able to thrive thanks to the diversification of its storytelling, not to mention its commitment to what made the original show a success in the first place. This doesn’t mean that it didn’t contradict canon. In the end, however, what mattered was that it continued to reflect the stories of middle-class America. The Conners finale didn’t feature Roseanne, even in its flashbacks, but it effectively closed the door on the universe. Luckily, viewers have a different family that they can follow.

Tim Allen’s Shifting Gears Is The Perfect The Conners Replacement Show

Instead of debuting The Conners‘ shortened final run during its usual fall schedule for the 2024-2025 TV cycle, ABC decided to push it to March. Instead, the network used the Roseanne spinoff to debut Tim Allen’s sitcom return in Shifting Gears. Coincidentally, it’s also the perfect replacement show for those who are looking to fill the void that The Conners has left in the wake of its ending for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, Shifting Gears is also a family sitcom in the multi-camera format, meaning it is filmed in front of a live audience. This is important, because single-camera comedies have an entirely different feel and vibe to them. While the premise is different, considering that the Conners of Lanford are strictly middle-class while the Parkers are better-off, the familial aspect, especially in terms of bringing characters from different generations, offer the same comforting TV show.

Secondly, both Shifting Gears and The Conners are fronted by sitcom legends. This gives a sense of familiarity to viewers while watching them. After Barr was booted out of the Roseanne revival, John Goodman’s Dan and Laurie Metcalf’s Jackie took over as its most prominent characters — both were as notable as their co-star was during the original show’s run. While Shifting Gears is an original concept, much can be said how Allen is essentially playing the same role, which works for those who miss their old sitcoms.

Allen’s Comedy History Can Make Up For Shifting Gears Being An Original Series

A big part of The Conners‘ success came from being the sequel to the massively-successful Roseanne. This is something that Shifting Gears does not have because it’s an original concept. Unlike other shows on network TV, it’s an entirely new idea that is not based on anything. That said, the fact that Allen is legendary in the space, the comedy can lean into his personal history as sitcom leading man for nostalgia.

This is actually something that season 1 started tackling but is fully taking advantage of in Shifting Gears season 2, as the show brings in many of the actor’s old co-stars. Both former cast members of Home Improvement and Last Man Standing have returned for cameos. The project is also rife with Easter eggs from those aforementioned shows to further drum up nostalgia. Only time will tell if it can reach the same level of success that The Conners had, but it’s off to a good start.

The Conners

7/10

Release Date

2018 – 2025-00-00

Showrunner

Bruce Helford

Directors

Fred Savage, Jody Margolin Hahn, Lynda Tarryk, Bob Koherr, Gail Mancuso, Jude Weng, Michael Arden