The Conners Episode Count Confirmed As EPs Downplay Final Season Buzz: 'Nobody's All That Anxious For It To End'

The Conners may not be ready to go off into that good night, after all, despite previous chatter that the ABC comedy was winding down.

It was last spring when the producers behind the Roseanne spinoff floated the idea that the series might end with Season 6. "We feel that [next season] is possibly going to be the last season of The Conners," EP Bruce Helford told TVLine at the time. "I would not [say that] definitively because the numbers were so good this season, and we've all had a really great time... but it's definitely a possibility."

One month later, leading man John Goodman added fuel to the fire when he suggested that The Conners was rounding the corner. "I think we may be coming to an end on it," he said in June, before adding, "It's lasted longer than I thought we would."

But in a new interview with TVLine, Helford and fellow EP Dave Caplan maintain that they have not been approached about bringing the veteran sitcom — which recently entered syndication — to a close.

"As far as going forward, it's funny... When I made that comment [about the possibility of it being the final season], the response by ABC was, 'We never agreed to that,'" Helford says with a laugh.

Adds Caplan: "When we feel like we're not telling relatable, interesting, novel stories anymore, we'll pull the plug." For now, "the journeys that these characters are on are inspiring us to go places we haven't. The show continues to feel fresh and interesting, so nobody is all that anxious for it to end."

In the meantime, the producers are focused on the strikes-delayed Season 6, which TVLine can confirm will consist of 13 episodes. (The seventh installment will mark the offshoot's milestone 100th episode.)

The Conners returns Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 8/7c with special guest star Nick Offerman. For additional scoop on the sitcom's return, click here.