NIVΞCTOR
NewsSupport

The counter has not started

Film & TV · News

Roseanne Barr Films Secret Comedy Series "Meemaw" Eight Years After ABC Firing

Published:

Roseanne Barr Utah Pride Festival 2011
Image credit: Jonathan Mauer · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

In brief

Roseanne Barr has secretly shot an eight-episode comedy series called "Meemaw" in Austin, Texas, marking her first major scripted TV project since ABC fired her from the 2018 "Roseanne" revival. The privately funded show has no network or streaming distributor yet, and features Randy Quaid, Drea de Matteo and Omar Gooding.

Roseanne Barr has quietly completed filming on a new eight-episode comedy series titled "Meemaw," according to multiple entertainment outlets that reported on the project in October 2026. The series was shot in Austin, Texas, and represents Barr's first major scripted television comeback since ABC removed her from the "Roseanne" revival in 2018.

What is "Meemaw" about?

The show follows Barr as the matriarch of what outlets describe as a "mixed-race family of preppers" in Texas. According to plot details reported by Yahoo Entertainment and The Daily Beast, her character sets out to "take down a criminal empire" while trying to throw her granddaughter the perfect bar or bat mitzvah. The series is described as semi-autobiographical, centering on a woman from a liberal East Coast Jewish family who is disinherited and relocates to Texas.

Barr co-wrote the series with "Roseanne" alum Allan Stephan and Allen Covert, a longtime writing collaborator of Adam Sandler, according to Yahoo Entertainment. The production was financed by private investors, and as of the reporting, no television network or streaming platform had acquired distribution rights.

Who is in the cast?

The reported cast includes Randy Quaid, who plays Barr's husband; Drea de Matteo, known for "The Sopranos"; and Omar Gooding. Doug Jones, of "What We Do in the Shadows," also appears in the cast. Guest appearances are credited to Jon Lovitz, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, and Kim Congdon, according to Yahoo Entertainment and Reality Tea.

The granddaughter role went to Indy Bugg, described by Yahoo Entertainment as a viral young social-media personality. According to Yahoo Entertainment, Oscar winner Mo'Nique recommended the 12-year-old performer to Barr, telling her the girl resembled and acted like her.

Why was Barr off television for eight years?

ABC canceled the "Roseanne" revival in 2018 after Barr posted a tweet comparing Valerie Jarrett, a Black former adviser to President Barack Obama, to the "offspring" of the Muslim Brotherhood and "Planet of the Apes," according to The Daily Beast. The network subsequently continued the series without her as "The Conners," killing off Barr's character.

Michael Fishman, who played Barr's on-screen son, recently defended ABC's decision to fire her, which Reality Tea reported prompted a public response from Barr. In a separate interview cited by The Daily Beast, Fishman called her original tweet "dehumanizing."

How has Barr described the new project?

Barr told Yahoo Entertainment that she views "Meemaw" as more significant than her original "Roseanne" series, saying her work has matured over time.

I'm an equal opportunity destroyer.

— Roseanne Barr, quoted by The Daily Beast

Co-writer Allen Covert was quoted by The Daily Beast saying he would "dive in front of a bullet for Trump," a remark the outlet cited as evidence of the show's politically conservative creative team. The same report noted that Barr had sought funding from Elon Musk for the project but that Musk had not provided financial backing or returned her calls.

Key facts

Questions

What is Roseanne Barr's new show called?
It is titled "Meemaw," an eight-episode comedy series shot in Austin, Texas, according to Yahoo Entertainment.
Who is in the cast of "Meemaw"?
Reported cast members include Randy Quaid, Drea de Matteo, Omar Gooding and Doug Jones, with guest appearances by Jon Lovitz and Tony Hinchcliffe.
Why was Roseanne Barr fired from television in 2018?
ABC canceled the "Roseanne" revival after Barr posted a tweet comparing former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett to the Muslim Brotherhood and 'Planet of the Apes,' as reported by The Daily Beast.
Where can viewers watch "Meemaw"?
As of the reports in October 2026, no network or streaming service had acquired the series; it was privately funded and is still seeking a distributor.
Is "Meemaw" based on Roseanne Barr's own life?
Outlets describe it as semi-autobiographical, following a woman from a liberal East Coast Jewish family who is disinherited and moves to Texas, similar to elements of Barr's own background.

Sources

  1. Yahoo Entertainment — Roseanne Shoots Secret Series 'Meemaw' With Prepper Family Premise
  2. Yahoo Entertainment — Roseanne Barr Reveals Details of Her Brand New Star-Studded Sitcom 'Meemaw'
  3. The Daily Beast — MAGA Star Roseanne Barr Attempts Comeback With Secret Trumpy Sitcom
  4. Reality Tea — Roseanne Barr Returns With a Surprise Project After 2018 Scandal

This piece was prepared with artificial intelligence and passed an automated source check before publication. If you see an error, ask for a correction. Request a correction or reply · How we make this

Related