"The Conners" says it's "awkward" to film without Roseanne Bar

Without "Roseanne Barr" expected to debut this month, the remaining cast members are thinking about their new direction after Barr's dismissal.

"It was embarrassing, but not embarrassing," said Laurie Metcalf, who plays Jackie Harris, in People, on Barr-Free Film. "It was right but not true, fake but not fake."

While the series has to address itself, Barr's character is killed and the family has to recover.

"Any sadness we feel about what we have lost is, we hope, channeled honestly into the series," added Sarah Gilbert, who has regained her role as Darlene Conner and a producer of the series. "And our show has always been able to handle difficult topics, especially for a sitcom."

In May, ABC quickly canceled "Roseanne" after Barr, 65, posted racist tweets about Valerie Jarrett. The network has described his behavior as not matching his values. Then came the question of whether the show could come back without Barr – who played a crucial role both in front of and behind the camera. Barr finally chose to retire so the show could survive.

"It was very serious," said John Goodman, who plays Dan Conner. "To give us a chance."

Goodman, 66, adds that the other actors did not want to let the series end until it was really over. "There was a debt to this fictional family. We will find a way to overcome that, the family, everyone. We want to finish telling this story. "

Of the remaining stars, Goodman seemed to have the most difficulty with the news of the cancellation.

"I had a bad time for about a month," he recalls. "And then other things started to go wrong. I fell down the steps and broke a rib. My wife got sick – all kinds of strange things happened at the same time. "

Metcalf, 66, and Gilbert, 43, treated the news differently.

"I was trying to reconcile myself with the show being gone," Metcalf said.

Gilbert compartmentalized his feelings and treated the news one day at a time.

However, they collectively decided to shoot for another chance. Their newly reformed show will be back on October 16th.

"We all decided as a group to take the risk, knowing that we could be judged by deciding to come back," said Metcalf.

Goodman is full of hope. "But we can create something new from that. Let us finish the story on our own terms. Come with us and see how we are doing.