Looks Like ‘Roseanne’ Really Not Returning

It apparently is the end of the road for “Roseanne” after all.

Although the Carsey-Werner Co., which produces the series, did discuss bringing back some version of it with ABC, the proposal fell apart over money and is dead, according to Jeff Wald, Roseanne’s manager.

“As of today, it is done and over. But anything can happen,” Wald said. “There is no such thing as 100% in show business. Some network could pick up the phone on Monday and make us an offer we can’t refuse.”

There had been reports that the star and her representatives had approached other networks with the idea of bringing the Roseanne Conner character back in a spinoff series, but Wald denied them.

The actress is talking to other networks, he said, but the discussions have centered on a new series featuring a different character and concept. She is also considering firm offers from major syndicators to host a talk show, he said.

Carsey-Werner declined to accept ABC’s offer to bring back “Roseanne” at a license fee in excess of $1.7 million per episode, Wald said. ABC has been paying about $2 million per episode this season, making “Roseanne” one of the most expensive comedies on network television.

The comedy, which airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. and centers on the blue-collar Conner family, was scheduled to tape scenes for its final episode Friday night. The series was once the No. 1 show on television, but its ratings have declined in recent years.

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Spokesmen at other networks would neither confirm nor deny that they had been in discussions with Roseanne. Representatives for Carsey-Werner and ABC could not be reached Friday for comment.

The effort to keep “Roseanne” going had come as a surprise, since the star had said repeatedly that this season would be her last.

“That’s it for television,” she said in an interview last November. “This has been a whole decade of my life.”

Saying she was concentrating on completing this season, Roseanne has been quiet about her plans, but many insiders have wondered what she would do after the series ended. She has not starred in a feature film since 1989’s “She-Devil,” a late-night comedy show that she produced for Fox last season didn’t last long and a planned American version of the British comedy “Absolutely Fabulous” never came to light.

One prominent production company executive insisted that Roseanne’s willingness to continue her series in some form may have been due to its continuing popularity. Although it doesn’t draw the audience it once did, it still performs relatively well--attracting about 11.8 million viewers last week, for example. Wald said “Roseanne” remains ABC’s top-rated 8 p.m. show.

“Clearly a lot of what she does and what she has is a function of this show,” said the production executive, who requested anonymity. “She has a gigantic role in American pop culture. There are 6 million reasons why someone would be reluctant to give that up.”

But Wald said Roseanne has no shortage of job offers. She is scheduled to start rehearsals later this month for a Broadway production of “The Wizard of Oz” in which she’ll play the Wicked Witch of the West.

Wald said the star is considering other options beyond that, including another sitcom, a talk show, a clothing line and writing a book. “She’s looking at everything,” he said, “but the first thing she has to do is learn how to fly.”