Roseanne Barr Lands Major Comeback Role in New Sitcom 'Meemaw'
Eight years after her sitcom was canceled, comedian Roseanne Barr is set to star in a new comedy series alongside a cast of right-leaning actors.
Roseanne Barr is returning to television with a leading role in a new comedy series titled "Meemaw," over eight years after her self-titled sitcom was canceled. The show is described as a major comeback for the controversial comedian, who was dropped by ABC in 2018 following an offensive social media post.
"Meemaw" will feature a cast of actors known for their right-leaning political views, including Drea de Matteo, Randy Quaid, and Jon Lovitz, as well as comedian Tony Hinchcliffe. Barr, 73, will play a "fiercely patriotic prepper grandma" with a "mixed-race family" who aims to "save America, take down a criminal empire, and throw her granddaughter the perfect Bat Mitzvah."
Quaid, 76, is cast as Barr's on-screen husband, while de Matteo, 54, will portray her daughter. De Matteo, who identifies as an independent, has previously expressed support for Donald Trump and voted for him in the 2024 election. She also gained a following on OnlyFans after leaving Hollywood due to disputes over COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Hinchcliffe previously faced backlash in 2024 for comments made at a Donald Trump campaign rally. Quaid has also been vocal in his support for Trump, calling for a redo of the 2020 presidential election.
Despite the conservative leanings of some cast members, Barr stated that "Meemaw" aims to "make fun of everybody" and will include jokes targeted at Republicans as well as progressives.
Barr's career was significantly impacted in 2018 when she posted a tweet comparing Valerie Jarrett, an African-American former advisor to Barack Obama, to a product of the "Muslim brotherhood & planet of the apes." Although she later apologized, ABC canceled the rebooted "Roseanne" sitcom, which had been one of the highest-rated shows that year. Following the cancellation, Barr was dropped by her agent.
A spin-off series, "The Conners," was subsequently created by ABC, featuring the original cast members except for Barr. Her character was written out of the series by dying from an opioid overdose. "The Conners" ran for seven seasons, concluding in 2025.
After "Roseanne" was canceled, Barr returned to stand-up comedy and launched a podcast. The production company for "Meemaw" has been contacted for further comment on the series, which Barr described as "every bit as revolutionary as The Roseanne Show, if not more."