John Goodman accepted the role of Eli Gemstone as he believed that his other day job, Roseanne (1988), wasn't going to continue. Racist comments made by Roseanne Barr had effectively canceled the reboot of the sitcom. After he'd completed filming Season 1 of The Righteous Gemstones (2019), he got the call that he would be fronting The Conners (2018) with Laurie Metcalf (and without Barr).
Danny McBride has stated in interviews that he would love for the show to last longer than his previous series. Eastbound & Down (2009) lasted four seasons while Vice Principals (2016) only made it to two.
Filmed entirely in South Carolina.