Roseanne Conner wants to make America great again.
Roseanne Barr said as much Monday – revealing her iconic character is depicted as a supporter of President Donald Trump – as she appeared on a panel for ABC’s Roseanne reboot at the Television Critics Association’s Winter Press Tour held at The Langham Huntington in Pasadena, California.
Roseanne opened up about the contemporary aspects that will be integrated into the show, which is returning for an eight-episode run after a 20-year absence from TV.
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New twist: Roseanne Barr, 65, said that her TV character Roseanne Connor will be depicted as a supporter of President Donald Trump, 71, when the show returns to the air in March. She appeared Monday on a cast panel at the Television Critics Association’s Winter Press Tour held at The Langham Huntington in Pasadena
‘I’ve always attempted to portray a realistic portrait of the American people and of working class people. And in fact it was working class people who elected Trump,’ the actress, 65, said, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
She appeared on a dais alongside her co-stars John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Sara Gilbert, Michael Fishman, and Alicia Goranson, who are all reprising their roles from the first run.
Also appearing on the panel for the reboot of the show, which originally ran from 1989 thru 1997, were co-stars Sarah Chalke, Ames McNamara, Emma Kenney, Jayden Rey; and producers Tom Werner, Bruce Helford and Whitney Cummings.
Barr wore a dark red sweater with a grey scarf and black pants and shoes on the dais. She noted that while she’s ‘not a Trump apologist,’ thinks she could likely do better in the Oval Office than the controversial commander-in-chief – or other celebs linked to politics. She said, ‘I think I’d be a better president than Oprah and Susan Sarandon, probably even President Trump.’
They’re back! Originals Laurie Metcalf (L) and John Goodman (R) flanked the comedy icon as the group answered questions for media at the event
Ensemble: The reboot’s three main characters sat on the show’s famed couch while surrounded by cast and producers as they promoted the returning program
Reflecting the times: Roseanne reminded reporters that it ‘was working class people who elected Trump,’ which makes for a natural fit for the updated show
Still got it: The comedic chemistry was still there for Roseanne and Goodman, who’s been a mainstay in entertainment in the two decades since the show’s been off the air
‘There are a lot of things he’s said and done I don’t agree with, like there’s probably a lot of things Hillary Clinton has done and said that you don’t agree with,’ the veteran entertainer said. ‘No one’s brainwashed into agreeing with 100 percent of what anybody says, let alone a politician or a candidate.’
Helford noted that the extended cast of the program will reflect a ‘full cross-section of ideas and beliefs,’ adding that ‘there’s no agenda on anybody’s part but to get honest feelings out there, and within a family that’s relatable.’
Gilbert said that the reboot will reflect a politically-divided family, which can be ‘a great thing to have’ as long as it’s still ‘filled with love.’
Contemporary: Sara Gilbert noted that it’s a ‘great thing’ for loving families to disagree on political issues, which will be depicted on the show
Comeback: Michael Fishman reprises his role as DJ on the famed TV show
Familiar face: Actress Whitney Cummings, a producer on the show, sat in on the panel
Mixed emotions: Roseanne said of Trump, ‘There are a lot of things he’s said and done I don’t agree with’
‘People feel like they can’t disagree,’ she said, ‘and still love each other and talk to each other.’
Goodman last week told Entertainment Weekly that things had hardly missed a beat when the cast reconvened for the new programs.
‘It was like we wrapped last week instead of 20 years ago,’ Goodman said. ‘The hair on my arms stands up. It’s like if I was going to put my Boy Scouts uniform on again and it still fit.’
Roseanne returns to the air March 27 at 8/7c on ABC.
Stylish: The entertainer donned a leather coat over a red top with black pants and boots at a party ABC threw for the TCA event. She carried a leopard print purse
My two Beckys: Roseanne posed in between Lecy Goranson (L) and Sarah Chalke (R), who both played Becky on the show’s original run. Chalke will play a different character in the reboot
One big happy family: Roseanne posed in the center of a partial cast shot at the network bash
Back to basics: The Conner family was a mainstay on TV throughout the 80s and 90s
Bragging rights: Goodman’s career has thrived since the show went off the air, with his most bandied-about performance coming in 1998’s The Big Lebowski. Gilbert has had tremendous success with The Talk on CBS