There has been back and forth when it comes to whether The Conners will be moving forward but it looks like we might be sailing into a season 7. Deadline reports that ABC is closing in on a deal to bring the comedy back for its swang song. I'm sure that's music to fans' ears, but there's a flat note in this bop. If greenlit, the final season won't be getting a full order.
Typically, a season of television (if it's not premiering in the midseason) will get around 18-22 episodes depending on the network that it's not. The Conners' first season was only 11 episodes bringing it from its October premiere to a January finale. But seasons 2-4 got an order of 20 episodes--yes, this included during the pandemic--and season 5 received a 22 episode run.
Season 6 has been an outlier due to the Hollywood strikes last summer that delayed production. 13 episodes were ordered by ABC. But now the potential season 7 will be clocking in at even lower than the show's freshman season. Reportedly, it'll get a six episode order. Yes, six. How they're going to close out the series with that limited a run is anyone's guess but that's what's on the table.
The good news, however, is that John Goodman, Sara Gilbert, Laurie Metcalf, and Lecy Goranson are all expected to return for the final season. 'Expected' is the key word here because we won't know for sure until ABC announces that they are moving forward with a seventh season and who will be a part of it. If you're concerned that the short episode order might mean that The Conners is on the move on the network's schedule, I'd pump your brakes.
I think it's a given that the comedy will premiere in the Fall TV season even with the decreased episode count. That's where it typically airs. Now whether it'll lead-in the block in the 8 p.m. ET slot as usual is unknown, but we'll see. Stay tuned to Hidden Remote for more TV news and coverage!
The Conners airs Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. ET after Abbott Elementary.