Some people are surprised that, all these years later, “Roseanne’’ is a hit again. Not Tom Werner.

Before he was Red Sox chairman, Werner was a TV executive with a host of hit sitcoms to his credit, including “Roseanne,’’ and he had a pretty good idea that reviving the show about a fictional blue-collar family — whose matriarch now is a Trump supporter — would resonate with viewers.

Boy was he right. The “Roseanne’’ reboot, executive produced by Werner, drew more than 18 million viewers Tuesday, prompting President Trump himself to call star Roseanne Barr to congratulate her on the show’s success (and, we’re just guessing, take credit for the excellent ratings).

“I’m happy the president called Roseanne,’’ Werner told us Thursday. “Part of what we’re trying to do with this show is generate a conversation about the economic struggles of the Conner family. There’s no doubt one reason Trump was successful in places like Pennsylvania and Michigan and Wisconsin is because there were working-class voters who wanted to see change.’’

Werner, whose resume also includes “The Cosby Show,’’ “3rd Rock From the Sun,’’ “Cybill,’’ and “That ’70s Show,’’ said the characters on “Roseanne,’’ and the issues they deal with, are relatable in a way that a lot of TV shows aren’t.

“So much of television is escapist, and ‘Roseanne’ is the opposite of that,’’ he says.

But Werner says the reboot isn’t written to appeal specifically to Trump supporters. He wonders how folks in red states reacted to the show’s second episode, in which Roseanne’s grandson expressed a desire to wear girls’ clothing. A future episode will deal with a character who develops an opioid addiction, and another is about John Goodman’s character feeling frustrated about immigration.

“These are stories you won’t see on many other comedies,’’ Werner says. “They’re incredibly relevant.’’

Asked if Barr’s own political views — she’s voiced support for Trump — helps or hinders the show, Werner drew a comparison to the ’70s sitcom “All in the Family.’’

“Archie was an extremely conservative character but the show worked because it was social commentary,’’ he says. “I think people are aware of Roseanne Barr’s political inclinations, but they’re more interested in her character’s relationships with (Goodman’s character) Dan and her daughters and grandchildren.’’

Notwithstanding the success of the new “Roseanne,’’ don’t expect Werner to resuscitate all of his past shows.

“I’m not necessarily a fan of reboots myself,’’ he says. “What was exciting to me about this was introducing very relevant themes and the opportunity to see these relatable character wrestling with economic issues.

“I really don’t want to see Ashton Kutcher playing a 45-year-old on ‘That ’70s Show.’ ’’