This story contains plot points from Wednesdays episode ofThe ConnersonABC.
The Connerscelebrated a big milestone 100 episodes!
And now,the spinoff, The Conners,is celebrating 100 episodes.
Laurie Metcalf and John Goodman in ‘The Conners’Disney/Chris Willard
DAVE CAPLAN:We have a hard time believing that ourselves.
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BRUCE HELFORD:There are a couple of milestones.
This is the first time to have the whole cast of a show hit the 100-episode milestone twice.
HELFORD:It worked into the story and we thought it would be nice.
Were very proud of that.
And Crystal was always a wonderful part of the show.
CAPLAN:We werent really trying to do an issue show, per se.
But for these mom and pops, theres a bigger impact than that.
The chemistry between John and Laurie is particularly strong.
Were going to get something that we didnt anticipate.
Were going to get extra value over and above what we wrote.
DEADLINE:How was it taping the 100th episode?
Anything special happened that night?
Did you guys look at each other and think, holy sh, were still here?
We wanted to kind of undo that.
The idea was really just to go one season, and then see what happens after that.
The actors only have contracts year to year.
There are no long term contracts.
Every year we get together and say, are we still having fun?
Do we still feel the quality is up?
When we agree on that, then we move forward.
So this is one of those things that nobody expected to go to 100 episodes.
And yet when you get there, it feels like it went by so quick.
DEADLINE:So when will you have that discussion for the new season?
HELFORD:Well, weve had the discussion.
Everybodys very much in love with doing the show.
And if ABC gives us the opportunity to continue, we definitely will.
CAPLAN:The three of us also dont want to be searching for stories and forcing the issue.
But the stories keep coming, which indicates that we dont feel like its over.
Theres still a lot of things to talk about with the disappearing middle class in this country.
We have that theme and these fantastic characters and actors.
It still feels pretty vibrant to us.
HELFORD:The ratings have been very strong this season.
DEADLINE:What kind of notes do you get from the web connection?
HELFORD:I think were given a bit more leeway.
Were kind of grandfathered in from what the show was.
The show was always was edgy, it always took on things that could make people uncomfortable.
And weve been allowed to continue doing that.
Its very difficult anyways, launching new shows.
Weve been very fortunate to have probably the most successful reboot.
DEADLINE:Is there another live episode in your future?
HELFORD:Im the one who brought that in from the old Drew Carey days.
I love a live episode.
But it is huge, especially with this season being shorter.
So we really didnt have the schedule that would allow for it this year.
But I bring it up every year.
And sometimes they say yes, but mostly they say no.
We have a tribunal.
DEADLINE:As you are sitting here right now, do you know how this season will end?
We know what we want to do.
DEADLINE:Is it a cliffhanger?
And so it will be unexpected, and it will be emotional.
DEADLINE:The show has yet to be picked up for the new season.
Are you feeling like you have to craft a series finale just in case this is the last year?
HELFORD:Well, we dont know.
Well see what happens.
Weve got a final episode that may be one or the other.
