Roseanne Barr felt 'betrayed' by John Goodman's reduced role on their hit sitcom

The comedian opened up about the behind-the-scenes dynamics of their popular 1980s/90s TV show.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Roseanne Barr revealed that she felt betrayed when her longtime co-star John Goodman scaled back his role on their hit sitcom "Roseanne" in the later seasons. Barr said she heard the news from the show's producers, not directly from Goodman, and felt unsupported by the cast and crew during her own personal struggles. Despite the tensions, Barr said she remained professional on set, staying in character even during breaks.

Why it matters

"Roseanne" was one of the most influential and popular sitcoms of the 1980s and 90s, tackling serious issues like money troubles and mental health in a groundbreaking way. Barr's comments shed light on the behind-the-scenes dynamics that shaped the show's legacy.

The details

Barr revealed that Goodman had decided to scale back his appearances on "Roseanne" in the later seasons, going from being in 24 episodes to only 6. Barr said she felt "betrayed" by this decision, which she heard about from the show's producers rather than directly from Goodman. Despite the tensions, Barr said she maintained a professional demeanor on set, staying in character even during breaks, as she felt unsupported by the rest of the cast and crew during her own personal struggles.

  • "Roseanne" aired on ABC for nine seasons from 1988 to 1997.

The players

Roseanne Barr

The 73-year-old comedian and star of the hit sitcom "Roseanne".

John Goodman

Barr's longtime co-star on "Roseanne" who scaled back his role on the show in the later seasons.

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What they’re saying

“I don't think I heard it from his agent, I think I heard it from the producers of the show actually [that] he doesn't want to be on the show anymore. I think they said he'll do six of the 24 or something like that.”

— Roseanne Barr, Comedian and star of "Roseanne" (The Roseanne Barr Podcast)

“None of them supported me in any of the s--- I went through the first show and I just had to sweep it aside and do the show. Always.”

— Roseanne Barr, Comedian and star of "Roseanne" (The Roseanne Barr Podcast)

The takeaway

Barr's comments provide a rare behind-the-scenes look at the tensions and challenges that shaped one of the most influential sitcoms of its era, highlighting the personal struggles and lack of support that the show's star faced even at the height of its success.