#‘The Conners’ starts filming Season 3 with COVID safety protocols

By Nellie Andreeva, Deadline

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ABC’s “The Conners” stars Michael Fishman as D.J. Conner, Jayden Rey as Mary Conner, Lecy Goranson as Becky Conner-Healy, Sara Gilbert as Darlene Conner, Emma Kenney as Harris Conner-Healy, Ames McNamara as Mark Conner-Healy, John Goodman as Dan Conner and Laurie Metcalf as Jackie Harris.
ABC

ABC’s flagship comedy series “The Conners” is back in production on its upcoming third season. I hear production started today, with the first taping slated for later this week. The multi-camera show is being shot with minimal crew and without an in-studio audience.

“The Conners” is believed to be the first broadcast comedy series to resume production on set. It is produced by Tom Werner’s Werner Entertainment.

Independent studios have been the most active in pursuing return to production amid the pandemic with strict COVID-19 protocols.

Sony Pictures TV’s “S.W.A.T.” became the first broadcast drama to start filming new episodes, while Tyler Perry was the first to start primetime series production in the U.S. with his BET shows. Sony TV’s “The Goldbergs” is eying a production restart in a week.

Elsewhere in comedy, I hear Peacock’s “Saved by the Bell” reboot series resumed production last week after being shut down due to the pandemic in March. I also hear the NBC/Universal TV comedy pilot “Night School” also started production last week.

Disney TV Studios, Warner Bros. TV and TV Studios’ comedy series have been exploring September returns.

Shooting in Los Angeles, “The Conners” is enforcing rigorous safety and health protocols, aligned with all state and local requirements as well as union and industry guidelines for production. They had been developed by the show’s producers for several months.

The “Roseanne” spin-off, featuring Dan, Jackie, Darlene, Becky and D.J., stars John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Sara Gilbert, Lecy Goranson, Michael Fishman, Emma Kenney, Ames McNamara and Jayden Rey. Produced by Sara Tom, it is exec produced by Tom Werner, along with Sara Gilbert, Bruce Helford, Dave Caplan, Bruce Rasmussen and Tony Hernandez. Bruce Helford, Dave Caplan and Bruce Rasmussen are also writers.