Is The Conners on the chopping block? This season finale update isn't a good sign

Is the end nigh for The Conners? A new report indicates the popular spin-off may not make a season 7! Here’s what we know!

The Conners has had an interesting journey on television. In late 2017, ABC ordered a revival of Roseanne, the hit 1990s sitcom with almost the entire original cast returning. It undid the much-criticized series finale to continue looking at the blue-collar Chicago family enduring life’s ups and downs with a new generation taking part. 

The show was a hit and easily renewed. However, in early 2018, Barr was fired after making several bigoted and insulting social media postings. The show appeared canceled, but instead, ABC reworked it into The Conners, with Roseanne’s character written off as dying of a drug overdose.

The series has continued its run, mixing real-life elements like the pandemic and Dan (John Goodman) finding a new romance with Katey Segal. Like all network shows, Season 6 was delayed due to the 2023 Hollywood strikes before shifting to a 13-episode schedule. However, there are enormous concerns now that this could be the end of the road, driven by how the producers seem prepared for a possible cancellation. 

Is The Conners about to be canceled?

Usually, at this point in time, the cast (which includes Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Sara Gilbert and Lecy Goranson) take one-year renewal deals but at this moment, there’s been no negotiations set. According to TV Line, ABC and production company Tom Werner Entertainment are hoping to get the show a seventh season, which would likely be its last. 

However, there’s also the possibility there will be no renewal at all. The producers are thus hedging their bets as they’ve filmed the Season 6 finale in hopes of a renewal. But just in case, they’ve also filmed a special “tag” to be added on in case it’s the final episode and bring the saga of the family to a close.

So far, there’s no date for when the Season 6 finale will be, but it will likely be after ABC announces its 2024-25 schedule. That leaves time for the producers to add the tag on in case there’s no Season 7.

There is precedent for this, with some series preparing such “tags” for a show on the bubble. Famously, Castle Season 8 was to end with a big cliffhanger, but the producers also shot a special ending, which ended up being used when ABC canceled the show just before the finale aired. 

Given the show’s popularity, having one final season to end on their own terms would be great, but the producers seem set to ensure this could be the final run for The Conners after all.

The Conners airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.