Sara Gilbert reached her peak after being cast as Darlene Conner on Roseanne. She was only 13 when the sitcom premiered in 1988, and somehow, she was just as hilarious as comedy legends like Roseanne Barr, John Goodman, and Laurie Metcalf.
After Roseanne ended in 1997, Gilbert kept going at it, and in 2010, she created The Talk, which became a big deal on CBS. She was also the one who pulled the strings for the Roseanne revival, which later turned into The Conners (RIP Roseanne Barr’s career). So yes, Gilbert has had a long, complicated career, and her co-stars have had plenty to say about her.
Roseanne Barr Praised Gilbert For The Reboot
Before things got really messy, Roseanne Barr actually gave Gilbert credit for helping bring Roseanne back in 2018. She said Gilbert was okay with doing all the behind-the-scenes work needed to get the revival moving. And at first, the reunion sounded like a dream come true. The cast was joking around and slipping right back into those familiar family dynamics. Gilbert’s Darlene always felt like one of the characters closest to Roseanne herself, hence the admiration.
Then She Changed Her Mind And Claimed Gilbert “Destroyed” Her
Unfortunately, the reunion did not last because in 2018, Barr decided to ruin her career and posted a racist tweet, which made ABC cancel Roseanne almost immediately. Gilbert publicly condemned Barr’s comments, saying that the cast has nothing to do with that. And of course, Barr felt betrayed, claiming in later interviews that Gilbert was the reason why the show was canceled. By 2023, Barr was still talking about how she got stabbed in the back.
Barr Forgave Her, But Not For Long
Right after the controversy, Barr said that she forgave Gilbert and Michael Fishman, who played D.J., though she also said she wished they had contacted her privately instead of speaking out publicly. But in reality, Barr was still furious. From her perspective, Gilbert failed her, and that’s that. This went from a workplace disagreement to a Hollywood family feud in a blink.
Her TV Family Praised Her Leadership
While Barr was throwing her hissy fit, Gilbert’s on-screen siblings were much more supportive. Michael Fishman was thankful she helped bring everyone back together for the reboot and for being modest about it. The reunion was a challenging task. Lecy Goranson, who played Becky, also said sitting around the table with the cast again made her feel grounded and connected. For the Conner kids, Gilbert became the person who helped reopen the door to Hollywood.
Sarah Chalke Was In Awe Of Her
Sarah Chalke, who played Becky, had a different kind of experience with Gilbert. When Chalke joined Roseanne as a teenager, she felt completely out of her depth being surrounded by ridiculously talented actors. When she later appeared on The Talk, Chalke said she had always thought Gilbert was hilarious and that watching her work on Roseanne was like getting free acting lessons.
John Goodman Sees The Cast Like Family
John Goodman has always seemed deeply attached to the Roseanne cast. He once called The Conners cast some of his favorite people in the world and remembered the original show as a wonderful home for many seasons. He also said that playing a TV dad to Gilbert and the other Conner kids helped prepare him for raising his own daughter. The fact that his fake family became a little bit real has to stand for something.
Laurie Metcalf Trusted Her
Laurie Metcalf, who played Aunt Jackie, reminisced about Gilbert being called “Scuffy” on set because of the way she shuffled around in her boots. Metcalf described her as shy and soft-spoken, but also extremely smart and funny. And when Gilbert became a producer on The Conners, Metcalf admitted she sometimes had to remind herself to trust Gilbert’s instincts. That is a pretty big compliment coming from a veteran like Laurie Metcalf.
Johnny Galecki Has Always Had Her Back
Johnny Galecki and Sara Gilbert go way back. He played Darlene’s boyfriend and later husband, and the two even dated in real life. Gilbert later shared that Galecki was one of the first people she came out to, and he never broke her trust. They also worked together again on The Big Bang Theory, where Gilbert played Leslie Winkle. Galecki admitted he was worried it might feel awkward at first, but ultimately their friendship prevailed.
Sharon Osbourne Cried When Gilbert Left The Talk
Gilbert created The Talk with industry giants like Julie Chen Moonves, Sharon Osbourne, Leah Remini, and Holly Robinson-Peete. When she left in 2019, Osbourne got emotional on air and praised Gilbert’s dry humor, quick sarcasm, and the energy she brought to the table. Even though Osbourne had some tension with other co-hosts, her bond with Gilbert clearly went beyond casual co-worker territory.
Julie Chen Moonves Respected Her Vision
Julie Chen Moonves also praised Gilbert’s original idea for The Talk. She explained that Gilbert wanted to create a show for women who needed connection, especially mothers at home. It was rare to find five celebrities who actually got along, especially in daytime TV, and who were also fun to watch, but Gilbert pulled it off. Julie eventually dropped out after feeling betrayed by some of the co-hosts, but she did give credit to Gilbert for building something that worked.
