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PEOPLE & ARTS Monday 9 april 2018

'Roseanne' spurs new look at blue-collar, conservative fare

By LYNN ELBER of deciphering and recre- said, "but something that
AP Television Writer ating a show's appeal, es- really does address the
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The pecially one led by a brassy specifics of what the news
instant-hit status of "Rose- personality like Barr and the keeps showing us as the
anne" is triggering the en- strong viewpoint she brings Trump supporter. As people
during Hollywood impulse to her work. are looking at, 'How are we
to copycat success. Some outlets are trying. going to top "Roseanne?' I
Even with series pilots near- Chetwynd, an Oscar and think that's probably what
ing completion for the Emmy nominee who counts they're looking to do. How
2018-19 TV season, produc- himself among Hollywood's that's going to be execut-
ers are eagerly pitching re- rare political conservatives, ed could be very dicey."
vivals of sitcoms that, like said he received queries Tim Winter, president of the
"Roseanne," had their day from cable channels and Parents Television Council
20 or 30 years ago, accord- streaming networks about media watchdog group,
ing to an industry insider. developing blue-collar se- sees other reasons for the
There are networks and ries after Trump's election In this image released by ABC, Roseanne Barr, left, and Lau- audience's embrace of
streaming services trying and again when "Rose- rie Metcalf appear in a scene from the reboot of the popular "Roseanne," back two de-
comedy series "Roseanne." 18.4 million viewers tuned in for its
to figure out how to create anne" debuted March 27 premiere. cades with the original
projects that similarly reso- with exceptional ratings. Associated Press 1988-97 cast including John
nate with viewers, said vet- Initial skepticism about Goodman, Laurie Metcalf
eran movie and TV screen- whether viewers would series and other programs that it's bringing a conver- and Sara Gilbert.
writer Lionel Chetwynd. welcome such fare "is now that thrive on skewering sation to the forefront that "I know there's been much
The ABC sitcom is part of diminished significantly," he the president and his poli- I feel a lot of people are ado about the whole par-
a still-expanding reboot said. cies, including late-night having in their own lives. But tisan angle," Winter said. "I
trend that's brought TV Broadcast networks aren't talk shows and "Saturday it's not really taking place don't think that had much
back to the future and in- likely buyers at this point. Night Live." on (series) television at this to do with it. I think what
cludes revamped versions They're getting close to The Trump factor also has moment," Dungey said this has more to do with it is that
of "Will & Grace," ''One Day deciding on next season's earned the show a wealth week. it's entertaining ... (and)
at a Time" and "The X-Files," lineups, with schedules to of media and other atten- "Roseanne" may only be we can actually laugh
and the upcoming "Mur- be presented to advertisers tion, including from the skimming the surface of without resorting to the
phy Brown." in May. president himself. He called what's to come, predicted more crude dialogue that
That doesn't mean view- Even if there's interest down to congratulate Barr on its Robert Thompson, director seems so pervasive in a lot
ers should prepare for a the road, skepticism ex- 18 million-plus debut audi- of Syracuse University's Blei- of programming."”It’s not
wave of newcomers ap- ists about how much the ence and in a speech said er Center for Television and about politics. It’s about
ing "Roseanne," about a back-and-forth between the show "was about us." Popular Culture. recognizing yourself in what
working-class family whose Barr's character and her ABC Entertainment Presi- "I think we are going to see, you see on television, and
matriarch is a supporter of anti-Trump sister, the most dent Channing Dungey within the next year or two, people creating a world
President Donald Trump partisan element so far, is said the topicality of "Rose- a real attempt to show that is so alien to people
— as is star and produc- an attraction. It's certainly anne" is part of its success. a no-holds-barred Trump who watch television that
er Roseanne Barr. Timing made the show stand out "I think the reason it's con- family, and I don't know ex- they stop watching broad-
aside, there's the challenge among carefully apolitical necting with audiences is actly what that means," he cast TV,” Chetwynd said.q

Kimmel apologizes for Melania

Trump joke amid Hannity feud

NEW YORK (AP) — Late- about "without being used countered by Kimmel, who
night comic Jimmy Kim- as a prop to increase TV said Hannity was the "whole
mel has apologized for a ratings." ass circus."
"silly" joke about first lady On ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel "Game on," Hannity said on
Melania Trump's accent Live" on April 2, Kimmel Friday. He rolled a series of
and moved to deescalate prodded the first lady's Kimmel clips, mostly from
a feud with Fox News host reading of a children's book the comedian's days as a
Sean Hannity. at the White House Easter co-host of Comedy Cen-
Kimmel said in a Twitter egg hunt. He mocked the tral's "The Man Show," that
post made Sunday that his accent of the first lady, featured segments showing In this June 16, 2017, file photo, Jimmy Kimmel attends the 30th
annual Scleroderma Foundation Benefit at the Beverly Wilshire
exchanges with Hannity who was born in Slovenia. Kimmel with an exagger- hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.
were fun but he didn't want "Dees and dat," Kimmel re- ated fake erection, asking Associated Press
to add to the "vitriol" of their peated, with a laugh. women to find something
spat, which included Han- Hannity, cable television's hidden in his pants and go- was "slobbering over" Don- Kimmel, in his Twitter mes-
nity calling Kimmel a "sick, most fervent supporter of ing up to random women ald Trump is, "to quote a sage, said he hopes Han-
twisted, creepy, perverted the Republican president, in the street asking if they fella you love very much, nity will "continue his new-
weirdo" during his Fox show took exception, and he wanted to have sex with 'sad.'" Trump boasted on a ly-found advocacy for
on Friday. Kimmel said such and Kimmel exchanged him. Kimmel thanked Han- 2005 "Access Hollywood" women, immigrants and
animosity is "harmful to barbs through the week. nity for the trip down mem- tape about fame enabling First Ladies."
our country." He also said Hannity's initial attack on ory lane but said the idea him to grope and try to Hannity said he'd address
President Donald Trump's Kimmel, calling him an "ass that Hannity would call have sex with women, and Kimmel's statement on his
wife had enough to worry clown," was enthusiastically anyone a pervert while he he later apologized. Monday show.q