The show follows the Conners, a working-class family struggling to get by on modest household incomes. After the death of the original show's lead character, Roseanne, they are forced to face the daily struggles of life in the fictional mid-state exurb of Lanford, Illinois, in a way they never have before.
While the show follows on from the series Roseanne, producer Bruce Helford has explained that the creative staff have chosen to deliberately ignore certain developments from the sixth season of Roseanne onwards. This includes Jackie's marriage to Fred and the birth of her son Andy; the birth of Roseanne and Dan's fourth child, Jerry; and nearly all of Roseanne's controversial ninth season.