Much like its on-screen family, “The Conners” has faced its challenges over the years — going back to its original sitcom “Roseanne” and the exits of several of its leads, including star Roseanne Barr. But one fixture has remained: John Goodman.
“He is really fearless,” Emma Kenney, 24, also known for “Shameless,” told The Post about Goodman, 71.
“I think a lot of the castmates on this show are super fearless, which is super important in comedy. You really won’t get to take two takes that are alike. You really always bring something new, which is really fun to watch.”
“He’s definitely got quite the resume. … It’s been really cool to work with him that long, and be on set with such an icon.”
“The Conners” is now in its sixth season, airing Wednesdays (8 p.m.) on ABC.
A spinoff of “Roseanne,” “The Conners” premiered in 2018 and follows patriarch Dan (Goodman), his sister-in-law Jackie (Laurie Metcalfe), his daughters Darlene (Sara Gilbert) and Becky (Lecy Goranson), and Darlene’s daughter, Harris Conner-Healy (Kenney). Sean Astin is also part of Season 6, as Tyler, Becky’s love interest.
“A lesson I’ve learned from the ensemble, I think, is to just to be fearless,” said Kenney.
“I mean, Laurie Metcalf is such a perfect example of that. She’s so fearless on set. She’s so funny. She’s someone I really look up to as well.”
About Harris, Kenney said, “I think she’s at a point in life that a lot of young people face where they’re figuring out where they want to take their life.”
Rehearsals are rigorous for the show, as the cast runs through lines for about three days on set before filming each episode.
“We’re very prepared come Thursday and Friday on shoot days. We typically will do maybe three to four takes, but there’s been hours of preparation before,” she noted to The Post.
“We all have a really great time doing it, and we love that so many fans watch the show and connect. And I think we all love giving a voice to the Middle America states that maybe don’t get as much camera time.”
Acting in front of a live studio audience is a change for Kenney, who worked on “Shameless” for 11 seasons from 2011 to 2021.
“Sometimes it’s scary. I did have some butterflies in my stomach … There’s always that little layer of feeling a little bit in a fishbowl, but it’s really fun,” the actress said.
She added: “I love having the audience’s live reactions. I love to watch them.”
