Roseanne (original show run, 1988 – 1996): Barr vs. Production
Roseanne Barr’s recent firing from The Connors wasn’t the first conflict between Barr and her production team. In the late 1980s, Roseanne centered on an imperfect but loving working-class family struggling with money, ever-changing jobs, and very realistic teenage angst. Barr, as the one whose name was literally attached to the show, frequently fought with show creator Matt Williams over creative control and creation credit. At one point, Barr prohibited producers from coming to the set. Producers considered retooling the show to feature just the Roseanne character’s husband Dan (John Goodman) and sister Jackie (Laurie Metcalf). Goodman and Metcalf refused to do the show without Barr. She hired her husband for a role, and set off a new wave of conflicts. To be fair, her efforts paid off; Roseanne was a hit, ranking in the top five of the Nielsen ratings during its first six seasons.