'The Conners' Cast Talks Season 5 While Emma Kenney Teases ‘Shameless’ Reunion With Ethan Cutkosky (Exclusive)

etonline.com:

, is back as the spinoff returns for season 5. On the ABC series, Dan (John Goodman), Jackie (Laurie Metcalf), Darlene (Sara Gilbert) and Becky (Lecy Goranson) continue to grapple with the ups and downs of parenthood, aging, financial pressures and dating while the younger generation faces their own hardships and heartbreaks.

This year, the longtime TV family is down one member -- Michael Fishman is not returning as DJ -- but the cast tells ET the door is always open for him to return while also teasing what’s in store for the new episodes as well as previewing Emma Kenney’s reunion with Ethan Cutkosky.

When it comes to Harris, she’s still reeling from her breakup with Aldo (Tony Cavalero), when “things kind of went haywire,” Kenney says. “So, she’s kind of going through a little bit of heartache and maybe trying to move on and find herself.” But things aren’t all blue as the actress gets to reunite with her former co-star. “He’s playing Neville and Louise’s nephew,” Kenney says, referring to the characters played by Nat Faxon and Katey Sagal, both of whom have now married into the Conner family, while Cutkosky adds that “it’s cool” to get to “come on as a cameo for .” Elsewhere, Darlene and Ben (Jay R.

Ferguson) as well as Jackie and Neville are settling into married life after the two couples tied the knot at the end of season 4. “I think we’re figuring out how to exist under the same roof,” Faxon says while Metcalf reveals that audiences will see their new home together. “We’re in our happy place right now,” she adds.