Grace Under Fire

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Grace Under Fire was a television series which ran on ABC from 1993 to 1998. The show starred Brett Butler as a divorced single mother and recovering alcoholic. The show begins after the main character divorces her abusive alcoholic husband of eight years in an attempt to start life anew and prevent her children from making the same mistakes she did. It aired on Wednesday nights, starting September 29, 1993. Grace Under Fire was produced by Carsey-Werner International which is known for producing other hit shows such as The Cosby Show, Roseanne, Cybill, 3rd Rock from the Sun, and That 70s Show.

It was the highest rated new comedy of the 1993–1994 season. The show revolved around the life of Grace Kelly (the character was named as a nod to the actress), who raised three children herself. Her neighbors Nadine and Wade, along with the town's bachelor pharmacist, Russell Norton (played by Dave Thomas of SCTV fame), helped Grace keep whatever shreds of sanity she had left.

Grace Under Fire was nominated for three Golden Globe awards: Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series Comedy/Musical in 1995 and 1997 and Best TV Series Comedy/Musical in 1995.

Unfortunately, the show fell victim to a revolving door of producers and writers over its five seasons. Brett Butler constantly fought for (and eventually won) more creative control for her character and show. These arguments led to the removal of the show's Creator/Executive Producer, Chuck Lorre, from production work, although he stayed with the show as a "comedy consultant." As with Roseanne and Cybill, the back-stage conflicts of Grace Under Fire were well publicized. Butler's battle for creative control on the show was categorized by the press as the behavior of a woman being "difficult." Cast changes, backstage feuds, and Butler's personal problems ultimately led to the show's cancellation in February 1998. The last episode aired on February 17, 1998.

It can currently be seen on the Oxygen Network in the United States and TVtropolis in Canada.

[edit] Trivia

The role of Nadine was originally offered to Sheila McCarthy, who declined the role since she did not want to commute between her home in Toronto and the Los Angeles filming location.
Grace Kelly is not the only character named after famous Kellys from the entertaining world. Grace has in-laws named Jean Kelly (homophone for Gene Kelly), Emmett Kelly, and DeForest Kelly.
Jean Stapleton (Edith Bunker from All in the Family) was nominated for the 1995 Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy series Emmy Award for playing Aunt Vivian in the episode "The Road to Paris Texas." Diane Ladd was nominated for the same award the previous year for playing Louise Burdett in the episode entitled "Things Left Undone."
In the month before Grace Under Fire first aired, Showtime broadcast the Carsey Werner-produced Brett Butler Special, a half-hour comedy performance by Butler.