As 2017 crashes to its conclusion, we find ourselves growing cautiously optimistic about that Roseanne revival set for next spring – and the show’s creators are starting to share some compelling details.
Entertainment Weekly has the lowdown on how the show will manage, as previously reported, to include both Beckys: the role’s originator, Lecy Goranson, and future Scrubs co-star Sarah Chalke, who took over the role when Goranson went off to college in season six. The actors shared the character in season eight, and then Chalke resumed the role in season nine. It was all very confusing!
For the nine-episode reunion season, Chalke will play Andrea, a character unrelated to the Connors, who hires Becky as a surrogate mother. “The plot twist not only leads to some drama within the Conner family,” according to EW, “but it gives the producers a chance to wink at how important both women were to series.”
TV Line, meanwhile, has the deets on Darlene and David’s kids. Shameless’ Emma Kenney will play the couple’s 14-year-old daughter Harris – who first appeared during the show’s ninth season, which is apparently one of the few details of that horrid year they’re not erasing/ignoring. Harris is reportedly very much cut from the same cloth as her rebellious mom:
And Ames McNamara will play Mark, their gender-fluid son, whom TV Line describes as “a ‘sensitive and bright’ kid who occasionally dresses in girls’ clothing.” The revival’s interest in gender fluidity is hardly surprising; the original series included some of prime-time television’s first gay characters, and one of its first same-sex kisses and gay weddings.
Roseanne returns to ABC on Tuesday, March 27 with a one-hour premiere.