The Conner family is saying goodnight.
The Conners has officially ended, more than three decades after audiences first met the sitcom family. In the emotional one-hour special on April 23, Dan (John Goodman), Becky (Lecy Goranson), Darlene (Sara Gilbert) and Jackie (Laurie Metcalf) quite literally said goodbye to viewers.
The first episode of the two-part finale, titled “Exercise Bands, Money Plans, and Faraway Lands” follows Dan as he prepares for the deposition against the pharmaceutical company that issued the opioid that killed his wife Roseanne (Roseanne Barr).
Darlene’s 19-year-old son Mark (Ames McNamara) shocks her when he tells her he is moving to New York City, and while she isn’t exactly ready for him to leave, she finds her own way to say goodbye. Meanwhile, Becky and boyfriend Tyler (Sean Astin) take a big step in their relationship, decide to take a big step in their relationship with a joint bank account.
And in the second part, “The Truck Stops Here,” Dan describes his late wife as “the love of his life” in a touching testimony, leading the company to award Dan with a check. Though as the entire family—including Jackie, Becky and Darlene—gather at Roseanne’s grave to share the moment together, it’s revealed the check is revealed to be worth just $700 and not the large payout they’d expected.
Still, each member of the Conner family says goodbye to Roseanne, sharing their successes as a family. For Jackie, it’s being back on the police force, and both daughters show their mom the men they are in love with.
Meanwhile, Darlene and ex David’s eldest Harris (Emma Kenney) tells her grandmother that she owns her grandmother’s restaurant, the Lanford Lunch Box. And Louise (Katey Sagal), Dan’s second wife, gives him his own private moment at Roseanne’s grave, giving him a moment to reflect on their family, telling her, “We always said if the kids were still alive at the end of the day we did our job. I think we did better than that.”
Later that night, they each take turns saying an emotional goodnight to one another, the last being Dan on the coach looking directly into the camera, saying goodnight to the audience at home.
For the ending, executive producers Dan Helford and Dave Caplan wanted to make sure that the family’s story would continue beyond the finale, leaving their stories open. “I don’t think we wanted a kind of ending where somebody turns off the lights and closes up shop,” Dave told TV Insider on April 18. “The Conners go on.”
As Dan added, “It’s true to their characters, which I think the audience of this show particularly wants.”
Indeed, that’s been the case with the Conner family since 1988 when Roseanne, centered around the titular comedian’s tight-knit blue-collar family debuted, ultimately running until 1997. Though in 2018, 21 years after season nine concluded, ABC revived the sitcom with the entire original cast returning—including John, Lecy, Sara, Laurie and Michael Fishman.
However, amid its successful season 10, Roseanne sparked controversy over a racist tweet about an official in former President Barack Obama’s administration, leading to her firing from the show and the series being refashioned into a spinoff in which her character has recently died from an accidental drug overdose. But despite The Conners’ rocky origins, family endured and now, seven seasons later, the rest of the cast is saying goodbye to these beloved characters.
“We always knew this would come to an end, but somehow it felt like it would be forever,” Sara, who plays Darlene, told Us Weekly on April 18. “The best thing television can do is make people feel connected.”
And the head of the family Dan, played by John, hopes his character and the show is remembered by how audiences connected with their television family.
“I would hope that the legacy of this show would be that people saw a little of themselves in us,” John explained to Us Weekly. “Humor has always been the thing that has pulled this family through.”
He added, “I am going to miss it very, very much. Above all, we had fun.”
Keep reading for more shows that made their way to the small screen this year.
Everything on the Menu With Braun Strowman (USA) – Oct. 24
The new series follows WWE legend Braun Strowman as he brings his superhuman appetite to America’s most delicious destinations, from the ultimate greasy-spoon favorites to the Michelin-starred temples of gastronomy and everything in-between. Braun doesn’t just eat…he obliterates every dish in his path, bonds with the culinary warriors behind the counter and picks his favorite from each city’s most iconic flavors. The eight-city tour includes Fort Worth, Washington D.C., Orlando, Las Vegas, Chicago, Milwaukee, New Orleans and Tampa.
IT: Welcome to Derry (HBO Max) – Oct. 26
Set in the world of Stephen King’s IT universe, IT: Welcome to Derry is based on King’s IT novel and expands the vision established by filmmaker Andy Muschietti in the feature films IT and IT Chapter Two.
The Boston Strangler: Unheard Confession (Oxygen) – Oct. 26
The new true crime special uncovers shocking new details about one of the most chilling cases in American history. For the first time ever, viewers will hear from the long-lost 16-hour audio tapes of alleged serial killer Albert DeSalvo’s confession, offering a raw and unfiltered account of the crimes that contradict the official story and raises new questions. Just one night before he was reportedly set to recant his confession, DeSalvo was mysteriously murdered in prison and now, decades later, we get to hear what he really said behind closed doors.
Mayor of Kingston (Paramount+) – Oct. 26
In season four, Mike’s control over Kingstown is threatened as new players compete to fill the power vacuum left in the Russians’ wake, compelling him to confront the resulting gang war and stop them from swallowing the town. Meanwhile, with those he loves in more danger than ever before, Mike must contend with a headstrong new Warden to protect his own while grappling with demons from his past.
Anne Rice’s Talamasca: The Secret Order (AMC & AMC+) – Oct. 26
The newest series in Anne Rice’s Immortal Universe focuses on a secretive society called the Talamasca, comprised of the men and women responsible for tracking and containing the witches, vampires and other creatures scattered around the globe.
Don’t Date Brandon (Paramount+) – Oct. 28
Don’t Date Brandon is a gripping true-crime docuseries that follows a modern romance that spiraled into a dangerous game of deception. When Amber starts dating Brandon after meeting him online, he seems like the perfect boyfriend. But when she connects with his ex-wife, Athena, everything is turned upside-down as they learn the truth together: Brandon is a manipulative liar with dark secrets.
As the two women launch a podcast to expose Brandon and discuss the warning signs they missed, more victims come forward, and new details and stories emerge. This is a story about more than one man’s lies…it’s about survival, solidarity and the women who refused to stay silent.
Selling Sunset (Netflix) – Oct. 29
The O Group agents are back for an explosive season nine. New faces bring new feuds and as the pressure turns up in their personal and professional lives, some might not have what it takes to keep their seat at the brokerage. As the landscape in Los Angeles quickly changes, everyone will have to adapt to a new reality.
Love Is Blind Reunion (Netflix) – Oct. 29
If season nine of Love is Blind left you blindsided, just wait until the reunion. It’s time to set the stories straight and reveal the biggest shockers of all.
Down Cemetery Road (Apple TV+) – Oct. 29
When a house explodes in a quiet Oxford suburb and a girl disappears in the aftermath, neighbor Sarah Tucker (Ruth Wilson) becomes obsessed with finding her and enlists the help of private investigator Zoë Boehm (Emma Thompson). Zoë and Sarah suddenly find themselves in a complex conspiracy that reveals people long believed dead are still among the living, while the living are fast joining the dead.
Bigfoot Took Her (Discovery Channel) – Oct. 29
When teenager Theresa Bier mysteriously vanished in California’s Sierra National Forest in 1987, a surprising suspect emerged: Bigfoot. Now, investigator Jessica Chobot and 29-year LAPD veteran Robert Collier reopen one of the most bizarre missing persons cases in modern history in hopes of bringing closure to Theresa’s unsolved disappearance.
Hazbin Hotel (Prime Video) – Oct. 29
Hazbin Hotel follows Charlie, the princess of Hell, as she pursues her seemingly impossible goal of rehabilitating demons to peacefully reduce overpopulation in her kingdom. After a yearly extermination imposed by angels, she opens a hotel in the hopes that patrons will be “checking out” into Heaven. While most of Hell mocks her goal, her devoted partner Vaggie, and their first test subject, adult film-star Angel Dust, stick by her side. When a powerful entity known as the “Radio Demon” reaches out to assist Charlie in her endeavors, her crazy dream is given a chance to become reality.
Joy to the World (Hulu & Disney+) – Nov. 1
Lifestyle guru Joy Edwards (Emmanuelle Chriqui) – whose cookbooks feature her perfect home life and family – is horrified when a TV network decides to film Christmas dinner at her fabled, but fabricated, country home. Now, she must recruit her best friend Max (Chad Michael Murray) to pose as her fake husband for the cameras – but they both discover something real along the way.
Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking (Food Network) – Nov. 2
Season two will feature even more spellbinding creations, enchanted elements and baking wizardry as a new field of competitors embark on the experience of a lifetime. Hosts James and OliverPhelps (Fred and George Weasley) bring their charm, humor and behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and are joined by esteemed culinary judges Carla Hall and Jozef Youssef, who bring their discerning palates and high expectations to the table. Special guests Warwick Davis (Professor Flitwick), Afshan Azad (Padma Patil) and Devon Murray (Seamus Finnigan) help evaluate the competitors’ showpieces as they share their own stories from the films.
I Love LA (HBO) – Nov. 2
The new comedy follows an ambitious friend group as they navigate life and love in L.A.
Robin Hood (MGM+) – Nov. 2
Robin Hood brings a modern energy to the classic tale of the roguish outlaw hero who stole from the rich and gave to the poor, and the epic love story between him and a courageous and daring Marian. It is a smart, sweeping, romantic adventure that brings historical authenticity, psychological depth, and a heightened focus on the relationship between Rob and Marian to the beloved story. Following the Norman invasion of England, Rob – a Saxon forester’s son – and Marian, the daughter of a Norman lord – fall in love and work together to fight for justice and freedom. As Rob rises as the leader of a band of rebel outlaws, Marian infiltrates the power at court, as both work together to thwart royal corruption and bring peace to the land.
In the Eye of the Storm (Discovery Channel) – Nov. 2
The season continues with powerful stories from across the country: Local residents in Los Angeles and Pacific Palisades who became unexpected heroes as overwhelming wildfires engulfed entire neighborhoods in early 2025; the terrifying path of a tropical wave that intensified into Category 4 Hurricane Ian and devastated entire coastal communities in Florida; a rare and unexpected EF3 twister that touched down in a small Northern Michigan town; and the dramatic search-and-rescue efforts in Texas, where locals navigated streets by boat after Hurricane Harvey’s raging 130-mph winds tore apart entire buildings.
Holiday Baking Championship (Food Network) – Nov. 3
Holiday Baking Championship will return and, for the first time ever, will split the 12 competing bakers into two teams of Naughty vs. Nice as host Jesse Palmer welcomes them to an adorable, immersive holiday village with a working coffee shop, general store, and town hall. In this joyful world, the teams will take on tasks like “Snow Day Desserts,” “Chrismukkah Platters,” and of course, “Naughty Elf Desserts” – complete with advantages that lean either mischievous or merry. Judges Duff Goldman, Nancy Fuller andKardea Brown will bring tough love as they determine which amazing baker will earn the title of Holiday Baking Champion and receive a feature in Food Network magazine and the grand prize of $25,000.
St. Denis Medical (NBC) – Nov. 3
The medical comedy returns for season two.
All’s Fair (Hulu) – Nov. 4
A team of female divorce attorneys leave a male-dominated firm to open their own powerhouse practice. Fierce, brilliant, and emotionally complicated, they navigate high-stakes breakups, scandalous secrets, and shifting allegiances—both in the courtroom and within their own ranks. In a world where money talks and love is a battleground, these women don’t just play the game—they change it.
The series stars Kim Kardashian, Naomi Watts, Niecy Nash-Betts, Teyana Taylor, Matthew Noszka with Sarah Paulson and Glenn Close.
Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix) – Nov. 4
Squid Game: The Challenge returns for a gripping second season. This time, 456 brand-new contestants will enter the ultimate test of strategy, alliances, and endurance as they compete for a life-changing $4.56 million prize. Inspired by the iconic original series – with shocking new twists and never-before-seen games – season two raises the stakes higher than ever. As players face elimination at every turn, only one can emerge victorious. New players. New games. New rules.
Tournament of Champions: All-Star Christmas (Food Network) – Nov. 5
Guy Fieri makes the most wonderful time of the year even more wonderful, with a high-stakes holiday incarnation of the ultimate sudden-death culinary showdown, Tournament of Champions: All-Star Christmas. And because the holidays are a time for cooking with the ones you love, chefs will be invited to pair up in teams of two to compete for glory and goodwill. In every battle, teams will serve up a savory and a sweet dish based on the spin of the Randomizer. The chef teams will need to be in sync and on their game to earn the title, the belt, a $100,000 cash prize furnished by Carnival Cruise Lines and their split of an additional $50,000 prize to give to a cause close to their hearts.
Expedition Unknown (Discovery Channel) – Nov. 5
With exclusive access to one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, explorer Josh Gates unravels long-held conspiracy theories about how this marvel of engineering was truly built. Using first-of-its-kind 3D scans of a mysterious tunnel system, Gates executes a daring experiment to replicate the Pyramid’s construction, uncovering a labyrinth of secrets buried deep beneath the stone.
Expedition Files (Discovery Channel) – Nov. 5
Gates embarks on a time-travelling quest, taking us into the past to solve history’s most enduring mysteries. Gates reveals fresh evidence and striking, new revelations that could rewrite history as we know it. In the season premiere, Gates examines an explosive new theory about the fate of vanished Teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa. He also reveals the extraordinary artifact that may finally end the age-old hunt for the Holy Grail and sets sail to unravel a maritime mystery – the disappearance of German inventor Rudolph Diesel, the man whose engines changed the world.
All Her Fault (Peacock) – Nov. 6
Marissa Irvine (Sarah Snook) arrives to collect her young son Milo from his first playdate, but the woman who answers the door isn’t a mother she recognizes. She doesn’t have Milo and has never heard of him. And so begins every parent’s worst nightmare.
Wicked Special Event (NBC) – Nov. 6
In celebration of Universal Pictures’ highly anticipated film Wicked: For Good, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande will be joined by their co-stars and other surprise guests to perform many songs from the first movie—and maybe some from the sequel—at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
ALEX VS AROD (HBO) – Nov. 6
From the pinnacle of athletic success to the depths of scandal, Alex Rodriguez saw his prolific baseball career marred by a high-profile suspension for performance-enhancing drug use. Told through a series of intimate interviews with Rodriguez, ALEX VS AROD explores the dualities of one of the most polarizing figures in sports. With the benefit of hindsight and years of intense self-examination, Rodriguez confronts the personal struggles and controversies that shaped his journey from “Alex,” a baseball prodigy abandoned by his father, to “A-Rod,” the decorated MLB superstar driven by a relentless pursuit of greatness, no matter the cost. Featuring insights from family, friends, teammates, and broadcasters, the series examines the events that fueled Rodriguez’s rise and fall, as well as his extraordinary talent, his place in baseball history, and the personal growth that defines his life as “Alex” today.
Happy’s Place (NBC) – Nov. 7
Bobbie (Reba McEntire) inherits her father’s tavern (Happy’s Place) and is surprised to discover that she has a new business partner, Isabella (Belissa Escobedo), a twentysomething half-sister that she never knew she had.
Season two debuts this fall.
Stumble (NBC) – Nov. 7
A mockumentary about the ridiculously high stakes competitive world of junior college cheer.
Maxton Hall – The World Between Us (Prime Video) – Nov. 7
Those who fly high can also fall low…After their passionate night together in Oxford and her greatest life goal within reach, everything seems to be going perfectly for Ruby (Harriet Herbig-Matten). But a stroke of fate in James’ (Damian Hardung) family changes everything and James himself, of all people, brings her back from cloud nine to a harsh reality. Ruby is devastated. She has never had such strong feelings for anyone as she does for James – and she has never been so hurt by anyone either. She wants her old life back, where no one at Maxton Hall knew her and she wasn’t part of the elitist world of her classmates. But she can’t forget James – especially since he’s doing everything he can to win her back.
Power Book IV: Force (Starz) – Nov. 7
This season, Tommy Egan’s relentless ambition to dominate Chicago’s drug game comes at a high cost. In order to claim the throne as kingpin, he must navigate an ever-evolving dynamic with his business partner, Diamond (Isaac Keys), and a contentious relationship with Diamond’s brother, Jenard (Kris D. Lofton). As pressure mounts from the coalition, the Feds, Miguel’s crew and the Marquez Cartel, Tommy must find a way to protect his family and those he loves, including Mireya (Carmela Zumbado).
