The Conners Casts Jane Curtin as Dan’s New Mother-in-Law — First Look
An original Not Ready for Primetime Player is headed to Lanford, just in time for the holiday season.
TVLine can exclusively reveal that The Conners has cast two-time Emmy winner (and OG Saturday Night Live cast member) Jane Curtin as Doris Goldufski, mother of Dan’s wife Louise (played by Katey Sagal) and Jackie’s husband Neville (Nat Faxon). We also have a first look at her debut:
In the episode, titled “The Dog Days of Christmas” and airing Wednesday, Dec. 7 (ABC, 8/7c), “The holidays are approaching and Dan meets his mother-in-law for the first time,” according to the synopsis. “Elsewhere, Darlene helps Becky with a parenting problem.”
The holiday installment doubles as the sitcom’s fall finale, before it resumes its 22-episode fifth season on Wednesday, Jan. 11.
The Conners recently welcomed back Roseanne veteran Estelle Parsons as fan-favorite Bev. In the episode, Jackie discovered that her emotionally manipulative mother, who she’d cut off for two years, was deep in the throes of dementia.
As previously reported, an upcoming episode will feature the surprise return of an OG Roseanne character, marking their first appearance since early in the original series’ 1988-1997 run. Executive producer Bruce Helford recently let slip to TVLine that the character in question is a man. “And it’s not just a character,” he teased. “It’s the person who played the character.”
The sitcom will also welcome former Shameless patriarch William H. Macy in a forthcoming episode as Smitty, one of Dan’s best buds from high school. The gig reunites Macy with former TV daughter Emma Kenney.
Have thoughts on Curtin’s casting? Excited to meet Dan’s new mother-in-law? Sound off in Comments..
OH WOW! Jane is only 6 years older than Katey, lol but I gotta admit Katey looks younger than her real age. Anyway, ignoring that little info, this is so great! Jane Curtin is a comedy legend. This duo bringing in the comedy TV nostalgia. Can’t wait.
Angela Landsbury was only 8 years older than Elvis but played his mother in Blue Hawaii.
Beau Arthur was actually a year older than her mother’s portrayer, Estelle Getty.
Estelle Getty was made up to make her character look older
And Carol Burnett is sixteen years older than Vicki Lawrence (Mama Harper).
Again, Vicki was made up to look older
And Lansbury was only THREE years older than her “son” Laurence Harvey in THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE.
Anthony Steward Head is only 8 years older than James Marsters – which is why he was so furious that people had no problem with the episode where their memory got wiped and they thought they were father and son.
Hmm that means she had Katey Sagal’s character when she was about 7 or 8. The ages of Curtain, Goodman and Sagal are too close to assumption of disbelief. Playing her mother is too much of stretch.
Tom Sellecks dad on Blue Bloods is only 5 or 6 years older than Tom. It happens on TV all the time
However, IMO Tom Selleck looks a lot younger than his actual age.
Disagree on your “assumption of disbelief” and “too much of a stretch.” An older character doesn’t mean ancient looking in this day and age, nor does a younger character have to look in their 20’s anymore. This is the 21st century not the 1900’s where a 40 yr old woman or man looked 60!
Actually 13 years separate them…I can’t wait!!
Don’t be silly, this ain’t no documentary, TJ in DC! lord you guys are so picky sometimes!
Still having a hard time fathoming casting Katey with Dan. Not that he isn’t a cool Dad but just it’s a strange pairing. Guess Katey is off doing another role somewhere after the whole RV reiteration away “on the road” which is another weird premise for a woman her age..
She’s in a rock band, and they don’t get a lot of gigs in Lanford, so it makes sense they’d be on the road a lot.. And there are plenty of real-life rockers who are still performing in their 70s and even 80s, and she ain’t that old.(68 in real life).
The age thing is curious — but the idea that Katie’s hip, sexy rocker character fell for acerbic couch potato Dan Conner already requires a certain suspension of disbelief.
So true.
Opposites attract.
Don’t forget Dan wasn’t just a couch potato then, he was also a bar-fly where she worked.
I have not watched one episode since the firing of Roseanne and will never watch it. The guy that plays Dan looks awful, to thin. I do realize it more healthy. I still enjoy watching “Roseanne ” repeats on Saturday and Sunday .
Good for you. Five years later and still nattering in about Roseanne. LOL. I’m guessing you are also carrying on about rigged elections? Thank gawd you are a dying breed.
Oh god, Tammie, you’re really digging your heels in on this, after 5 yrs? And now you’re making fun of how John Goodman looks? It’s called aging, Tammie, shame on your judgements! It’s just a tv show, enjoy it, laugh or don’t watch it, we don’t care but honestly complaining about something from 5 yrs ago is so ridiculous!
Ridiculous. They look the same age. If Louise Conner’s mother was still alive, she’d be pushing 90.
Sorry but in this day and age, an 80 yr old can look 50. And actors keep themselves looking young and still attractive regardless of their age. So its not as ridiculous as you think.
We can assume she had Louise at a young age. Remember Louise is 20 years older than her brother Neville. So I’m assuming she
the only ridiculous comment is YOUR’S, Caroline. Please for the love of god, hush with your moronic comment! geez louise, it’s a tv comedy, not a documentary! Just don’t watch if you have this poor of a reaction!
I like Jane Curtan in all if her endeavors . I think she’s very funny and I also think that would be a good fit for her . I wish her much success !
conners is rockin it this season… the bev episode was amazing… and jane cutin is sure to be a blast… and fyi it’s crazy but the show’s ratings are up almost 20% this season and is abc’s top rated scripted show. there’s so much interesting stuff going on with all the characters i wish we could get them all in one episode together but they are spreading it around.
Great casting. Jane is the consummate comedy professional who upgraded everything she does.
Curtin will be a blast on this. Bring it! Regarding age differences, I remember as a kid my folks laughing at the movie “Earthquake” where Lorne Greene played Ava Gardner’s father. He too was only 7 years older. I couldn’t tell back then. Watching it many years later as an adult, it is kind of funny casting.
I don’t watch it anymore
Roseanne was amazing they did her wrong
Not a fan anymore Terri
Get a life!
Terri, seriously, get a life! You say you don’t watch or haven’t since Roseanne was let go? Then why in the world would you comment on a post like this when you don’t even watch? Sweet lord!
Jane Curtain is only FIVE YEARS OLDER than John Goodman! How the heck is she playing his MOTHER-IN-LAW?????!!!!!!
Hollywood, please knock off this disgusting practice of ageism when it comes to women!!!
This so sucks because I love both she and John Goodman as performers.
Do you even know what “ageism” means? Casting a 75-year-old woman in anything is the literal opposite of ageism.
YOU ARE A MORON … there’s not tons of avail and note worthy actresses still working who are freakin’ 96 yrs old so your little mind can make this make sense! lol it’s a tv show for crying out loud!
How can Jane Curtin be cast as the mother, when she is only 7 years older than Katey Sagal????
They had children at an earlier age back then???
It IS odd casting. Curtin and Sagal look and sound NOTHING alike, and Curtin’s character mentioned being 3 years old in 1937 when the Hindenburg exploded, making her current age 88 – and Jane does not look that old.
As talented as Curtin is, using a bit of age makeup may have helped viewers suspend disbelief.