"Grace Under Fire" (1993) TV series 1993-1998

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Creator:

Chuck Lorre

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

29 September 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

Grace is a recovering alcoholic, now divorced from an abusive marriage, struggling to bring up 2.4 children on her own.

Plot Keywords:

Pharmacist | Oil Refinery | Divorcee | Multiple Actors For One Character | Male Female Relationship

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 7 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Brett Butler	...	Grace Kelly (112 episodes, 1993-1998)
Casey Sander	...	Wade / ... (112 episodes, 1993-1998)
Kaitlin Cullum	...	Libby Kelly / ... (112 episodes, 1993-1998)
Dylan Sprouse	...	Patrick Kelly (112 episodes, 1993-1998)
Cole Sprouse	...	Patrick Kelly (112 episodes, 1993-1998)
Dave Thomas	...	Russell Norton (111 episodes, 1993-1998)
Julie White	...	Nadine Swoboda (97 episodes, 1993-1997)
Jon Paul Steuer	...	Quentin Kelly (73 episodes, 1993-1996)
Peggy Rea	...	Jean Kelly / ... (51 episodes, 1993-1998)
Walter Olkewicz	...	Dougie Boudreau / ... (48 episodes, 1993-1996)

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Elgin, Illinois, USA

Company:

Carsey-Werner Company

Trivia:

Sheila McCarthy was originally offered the role of Nadine. She declined the part because she didn't want to commute from her home in Toronto, to Los Angeles were the series was filmed.

Quotes:

[Grace and Jimmy are talking about their past relationship]
Jimmy Kelly: Grace, I am truly sorry for what I did to you. Hell, if I was the man I was today, I beat the Hell out of the guy I was then.
Grace Kelly: You would?
Jimmy Kelly: Yep. You know, I wonder how that fight would turn out? I got more meat on me now, but I was one quick son of a gun back then.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 52nd Annual Golden Globe Awards (1995) (TV)

Brett Butler, you're a gem.

There have been many talented women that have headlined their own sitcoms, but few can match Brett Butler when it comes to solid, quality humour. Butler's snappy, vibrant delivery coupled with some brilliant writing made Grace Under Fire essential viewing for me. Thank God for repeats, that's what I say. The series revolved around Butler's Grace Kelly, a salty, good-humoured Southern woman struggling to raise her three children alone. Grace has had her fair share of problems in life. A spell of alcoholism and being married to a violent man have made her realise that her life needs to be turned around, and she does so with the help of her best friend Nadine, Nadine's husband Wade, and local pharmacist Russell. Grace Under Fire worked so well as a sitcom because it tackled serious issues and put them in a humorous light. It's not often that you encounter such serious topics as spousal abuse and actually find yourself laughing at them. They were presented in a realistic fashion, and the show made you think as well as laugh. The premise was rather thin, and the supporting cast weren't brilliant, but Butler's presence made it all the more worthwhile. Why this woman never made it big in Hollywood I'll never know. The rapid rate that her spiky one-liners hit you was breathtaking, and she never hit a dull moment. The only thing that stopped this from being brilliant were the flat performances of her co-stars, the worst offender being Julie White as Nadine, who simply wasn't funny. Still, that aside, Grace Under Fire was a good series, and one that I'll watch any time it's on. One of the better comedies to come out of the depths of American television.