Fans of The Conners are hoping to say a final goodbye to a main character who was written out of the show.
While many viewers would love to see late matriarch Roseanne (Roseanne Barr) knock on the door when The Conners ends its seven-season run on April 23, others are asking for the return of her son D.J. Conner (Michael Fishman) for the series finale. The Conner son was written out of the show after four seasons in 2022.
In the comment section of a Conners finale teaser on Instagram, fans expressed hopes for a cameo from Fishman.
“❤️ the Conners..I wish DJ was there at the end.. it’s a great family show,” one viewer wrote on Instagram.
“Please bring back lil DJ for the final episode 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 ,” another begged.
Others noted that Fishman was not seen at all in the flashback-filled promo. “You couldn’t even put DJ in the clips for a family show. Bye bye,” one commenter wrote.
Fishman was just six years old when he first appeared as D.J. Conner in the original Roseanne series in 1988. Thirty years later, he reprised the role on the reboot, which later became The Conners. The character’s adult storyline involved him raising his daughter Mary (Jayden Rey) while his wife Geena (Maya Lynne Robinson) was serving military duty overseas.
In August 2022, Fishman announced he would not be returning to The Conners after four seasons. “It has been my honor to play D.J. Conner,” Fishman said in a statement to People magazine at the time. “It’s every actor’s dream to be a series regular, especially on a groundbreaking show, where we tackle significant topics. I am proud of the work I did as part of Roseanne and The Conners.”
The actor made it clear that it was not his choice to depart the role, noting that he was “told” he would not be returning for Season 5 of the ABC sitcom. It was explained on the show that D.J. joined his wife overseas.
At the time, executive producer Bruce Helford told TV Line that there was a chance that the D.J. character could return at some point. “We love him,” Helford said of Fishman’s character. “He’s part of the family. There’s certainly no one saying he will never be on the show [again].”
But in March 2025, the outlet confirmed that Fishman would not appear on the seventh and final season of The Conners.
Fans will have to tune in to see if anything changed at the last minute or if Fishman will appear in flashbacks in the finale episode.
Fishman has posted nostalgic memories of Roseanne and The Conners on Instagram. On April 21, he shared a throwback scene of himself and co-star John Goodman with the caption, “Heartfelt scenarios combined with perfect comedic writing and timing. Proud of what we built and how it echoes through eternity.”
Related: ‘The Conners’ Producer Teases ‘Emotional,’ Never-Before-Seen Series Finale
