'The Conners' Recap: New Series Still Hooked On Addiction

LANFORD, IL — In the spring, Patch gave weekly recaps for "Roseanne," ABC's revival of the popular sitcom, and published those articles on Elgin Patch, the nearest community to the Conner family's fictional Illinois home of Lanford.

The series has returned to TV this fall with a new name and without its outspoken star. Find out how a tumultuous summer turned "Roseanne" into "The Conners" and what its first Roseanne Bar-less season is like.

"The Conners" (Season 1, Episode 2): "Tangled Up in Blue"

The Lowdown: Darlene (Sara Gilbert) adjusts to her life apart from David (Johnny Galecki) and his new girlfriend, Blue (Juliette Lewis). She's also adjusting to a newly sexually active daughter (Emma Kenney). Dan (John Goodman) hires Becky (Lecy Goranson) to work on his new construction job, and he finds out his late wife wasn't the only one with a substance abuse problem.

What Worked: The big lesson "The Conners" should have learned from Season 10 of "Roseanne" is that it doesn't matter how talented a show's cast is if they don't have enough screen time together. Goodman is his generation's Gene Hackman — his performance is great even if the movie or TV show isn't — but Gilbert, Goranson and Laurie Metcalf (Roseanne's sister, Jackie) make up the holy trinity of the series. A mid-episode scene of the three together at a bar where Becky works could be the "backdoor pilot" for a 21st century relaunch of "Cheers." Their chemistry is undeniable, if another reboot is needed, the name could always change to "Jackie, Becky and Darlene." Or maybe "2 Sisters and Their Aunt?"

What Didn't: Although the final season of "Roseanne" tried to address the very real struggles working class men and women have with addiction, particularly opioid painkillers, the series ran up against the limits of a half-hour, network sitcom, ultimately using the epidemic as an expedient way to get rid of the lead character.

"The Conners" Season 1 Recaps:

• Episode 1, "Keep on Truckin' "

"Roseanne" Season 10 Recaps:

• Episode 3, "Roseanne Gets the Chair"
• Episode 4, "Eggs Over, Not Easy"
• Episode 5, "Darlene v. David"
• Episode 6, "No Country for Old Women"
• Episode 7, "Go Cubs"
• Episode 8, "Netflix & Pill"
• Episode 9, "Knee Deep"

More Patch Coverage:

• 'Roseanne' Canceled After Racist 'Ape' Tweet
• Roseanne Defends Valerie Jarrett Tweet: 'I Thought She Was White'

Addiction is back in the second episode of "The Conners" as Becky deals with her alcoholism, something that only was alluded to in the previous series. But have the writers learned anything from the mistakes of Season 10? It doesn't appear so, as Becky too-easily promises Dan she'll get her drinking under control. The season still has eight more episodes, and it's just as likely for the show to pivot in a different direction and head into Tom Hanks' in a "very special episode" territory.

Or even worse, she could have a serious drinking problem.

Where Were They Then, Part 1: With this episode, "The Conners" doesn't just rip a page out of the "Will & Grace" playbook, it tears out an entire chapter by going heavy with the guest stars. So what was Juliette Lewis up to when the "Roseanne" premiered in 1988? She starred in the two-part series finale of "The Facts of Life" and had landed the role of Audrey Griswold in "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation." She also was three years away from earning an Oscar nomination for her role in Martin Scorsese's "Cape Fear."

Where Were They Then, Part 2: In what looks like a recurring role as a love interest for Darlene, Justin Long was only 10 and hadn't landed his first acting gig when Gilbert — who's three years older — was a series regular on "Roseanne." It would be nearly 10 years before he was cast in his first film (1999's "Galaxy Quest") and almost 20 before appearing with John Hodgman in Apple's famous series of "I'm a Mac"/"I'm a PC" commercials.

Best Line, Runner Up: "Hey, that guy's stitches are even. That them's doctor's stitches. Health care! Job!" —Jackie (Metcalf), helping Darlene size up potential singles at the local bar.

In an Alternate Universe …: Do you think Becky's alcoholism will take a dark turn and she'll visit the Gallagher family on the "Shameless" set on Chicago's South Side? Emma Kenney is already doing double-duty on both shows, and Emmy Rossum will be leaving the Showtime series after ninth season.

And in an Alternate, ALTERNATE Universe …: Maybe Becky from "The Conners" and Lip Gallagher from "Shameless" head to California and join the Alcoholic Anonymous on "Mom." Hey, there have been weirder TV crossovers.

Best Line: "Pierce Brosnan is a much better singer than he gets credit for!" DJ (Michael Fishman) listening to the "Mama Mia!" soundtrack and making a strong case that he needs more screen time.

"Roseanne" airs at 7 p.m. Tuesdays on ABC.

YOUR TURN: What do you think about "The Conners?" Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section.

Juliette Lewis (left) and Sara Gilbert in "The Conners." (Photo by Eric McCandless | ABC)