‘Roseanne’ Revival Premiere Is A Big Ratings Hit For ABC

John Goodman and Roseanne Barr. Image by Getty Images

By Jenny Singer March 28, 2018

She’s back. The revival of the 90’s sitcom “Roseanne” returned to ABC on Tuesday night, achieving ratings that are widely considered spectacular.

The comedy, which has been off the air since 1997, settled comfortably back in on ABC with original stars Roseanne Barr, John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, and Johnny Galecki. The hour-long premiere averaged 18.1 million viewers, and earned a 5.1 rating in the highly desirable 18-49 year-old demographic.

This promising beginning suggests that ABC was right to build on a sense of 90’s nostalgia and a desire in the wake of the 2016 election for television to represent Trump voters. Vox called the premiere “incredibly honest about life in Trump’s America” and Vulture, in uncharacteristic snark-less-ness, noted, “Times have changed, but the people haven’t, which is why it’s so good to have the Conners back.” Positive critical reviews and whopper numbers suggest that the show, so far slated for just nine episodes, is back to stay.

Jenny Singer is a writer for the Forward. You can reach her at Singer@forward.com or on Twitter @jeanvaljenny

Jenny Singer is a student in the MFA Nonfiction Writing Program at the University of Iowa, a former staff writer at Glamour, and a former writer and editor at the Forward.

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