Grace Under Fire
Encyclopedia
Grace Under Fire is an American sitcom that aired on ABC
from September 1993 to February 1998. The show starred Brett Butler
, and was the highest rated
new comedy of the 1993
–1994
season.
.
Grace Under Fire followed a similar formula; Butler starred as Grace Kelly, 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. The show revolved around Grace; her children, mischievous Quentin (Noah Segan
, pilot; Jon Paul Steuer
, seasons 1-3; Sam Horrigan
, seasons 4-5), happy-go-lucky Libby (Kaitlin Cullum
), and infant Patrick (Dylan and Cole Sprouse
); her happily married best friends and neighbors, Nadine and Wade Swoboda (Julie White
and Casey Sander
); and the town's bachelor pharmacist, Russell Norton (Dave Thomas
). All of them helped Grace keep whatever shreds of sanity she had left.
In the first three seasons, the show had a very blue-collar appeal due to Grace's chosen line of work, post-divorce; she operated pipelines at the local oil refinery, and had a second family of fellow crew workers down at the plant. Among them were heavy-set Dougie Boardreau (Walter Olkewicz
), friendly Vic (Dave Florek
), and Carl (Louis Mandylor
). Their gruff boss was Bill Davis (Charles Hallahan
). Both Bill and Carl were dropped after the first season; while Carl hadn't a permanent on-screen replacement, the crew's new boss was John Shirley (Paul Dooley
) starting in the second season.
Russell's affection for Grace, and their on-and-off dating rituals, became a running theme in the series. While never fully attached, it was suggested that Russell and Grace may have done a lot of right for each other as a couple, especially given the nature of their no-good exes. In between their periods of dating, they often tried others; for a time in 1994, Grace dated Ryan Sparks (William Fichtner
). In season three, Grace entered into a relationship with plant executive Rick Bradshaw (Alan Autry
), despite their radically different places in the company ladder. As the fourth season opened, Grace moved on from the oil refinery and took an entry-level position with an ad agency, transitioning her way up to being a white-collar
professional. That job only lasted a year, but she then took on similar business work for a construction company owned by D.C. (Don "D.C." Curry). In the final season, Russell found some romantic interest in Dottie (Lauren Tom
), a gossipping makeup artist.
Throughout the entire five-year run, Grace's ex-husband Jimmy Kelly (Geoff Pierson
) showed up, sometimes causing problems and at others miraculously clean and sober, trying to win Grace back. A reconciliation never quite happened, but the two did settle on a good friendship for the sake of the kids. In the midst of Jimmy's attempts to get straight, his father Emmett (guest star Matt Clark
) passed away and his mother Jean (Peggy Rea
), Grace's mother-in-law, offered to move in and help Grace raise the kids. Russell eventually reconciled with his estranged dad, Floyd (Tom Poston
), who ended up moving in with him and working with him in the pharmacy. Jean and Floyd eventually started going out. As far as Grace's own kin and past life went, she had a regular source of support from her sister Faith (Valri Bromfield
) in the first two seasons. Another development came when Grace was contacted by her first child, Matthew (guest star Tom Everett Scott
), whom she gave up for adoption before meeting Jimmy. Matthew had questions about his ancestry and ended up meeting his biological father.
In early 1998, Grace's old best friend Bev Henderson (Julia Duffy
) came back to town and ended up moving in with the Kellys. In the intervening years, Bev had become quite successful and wealthy. She returned to her old home town to get in touch with her working-class roots. Grace and Bev's personal reunion was unexpectedly the last major storyline of the series. Although she was joining the cast full time, Duffy only appeared in two network-aired episodes of Grace Under Fire before the series was suddenly canceled in mid-February.
new show in its first season. 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.
Jean Stapleton 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" written by Brett Butler and Wayne Lemon.
, 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.
In the fourth and fifth seasons of the show, Butler was fighting a painkiller addiction, for which she eventually sought medical help. During Butler's addiction and subsequent treatment, clashes with other cast members occurred. Butler allegedly flashed her breasts at actor Jon Paul Steuer, who was 12 years old at the time and was playing the son of Butler's character. Sources have speculated that Steuer's exit from the show in 1996 was because his mother pulled him out after the incident with Butler. At the start of Season 4, Sam Horrigan
became the third actor to play Quentin Kelly, and with him in the role, the character's age advanced to 16. Cast member Julie White
left the show after Season 4, also citing Butler's behavior as the reason.
Butler's first round of treatment and rehab delayed the start of the 1997–98 season until November. After Grace Under Fire resumed production on season five, a newly-clean Butler struggled to stay that way; the morale on the set was little better than in the previous season, due to the star's erratic behavior. Around the holidays Butler relapsed again, and although the producers were as committed as ever to continuing the show, ABC was becoming concerned about Butler's overall health, and was less patient with her accelerated amount of missed tapings. Rather abruptly, with the February 17, 1998 telecast, ABC canceled the series.
in Canada.
In the United Kingdom
, the series was picked up by BBC2 where it aired from 1994 to 1999.
A Polish adaptation titled Hela w opałach (Hela Under Fire, Hela is short form from Helen) aired on TVN
in September 2006.
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
from September 1993 to February 1998. The show starred Brett Butler
Brett Butler (comedian)
Brett Butler is an American actress, writer, and stand-up comedian, best known for playing the title role in the comedy series Grace Under Fire.-Early life:...
, and was the highest rated
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
new comedy of the 1993
1993 in television
The year 1993 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1993.For the American TV schedule, see: 1993-94 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-1950s:...
–1994
1994 in television
The year 1994 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1994.For the American TV schedule, see: 1994-95 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-Miniseries:...
season.
Premise of show
Grace Under Fire, produced by Carsey-Werner International, was part of a wave of shows in the late 1980s and 1990s that were built around a comedienne (and in some cases, closely based on his or her comedy routine). As for Carsey-Werner, many of their shows were based around non-traditional, non-nuclear familiesNuclear family
Nuclear family is a term used to define a family group consisting of a father and mother and their children. This is in contrast to the smaller single-parent family, and to the larger extended family. Nuclear families typically center on a married couple, but not always; the nuclear family may have...
.
Grace Under Fire followed a similar formula; Butler starred as Grace Kelly, 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. The show revolved around Grace; her children, mischievous Quentin (Noah Segan
Noah Segan
-Acting career:He has appeared in Brick, Adam & Steve, What We Do Is Secret , The Picture of Dorian Gray, Cabin Fever 2, All About Evil, an award-winning performance in Deadgirl, Chain Letter and others...
, pilot; Jon Paul Steuer
Jon Paul Steuer
Jon Paul Steuer was the first child actor to play the role of "Quentin Kelly" on the ABC show Grace Under Fire from 1993 to 1996. He was replaced by Sam Horrigan...
, seasons 1-3; Sam Horrigan
Sam Horrigan
Samuel Emmett "Sam" Horrigan is an American actor best known for his role as Quentin Kelly on the hit ABC sitcom Grace Under Fire....
, seasons 4-5), happy-go-lucky Libby (Kaitlin Cullum
Kaitlin Cullum
Kaitlin Cullum is an American former child actress. Her older sister Kimberly Cullum is also a former child actress.She is known for her role as Libby Kelly in the sitcom Grace Under Fire. Her other television credits include 7th Heaven, The Amanda Show, Malcolm in the Middle and a brief recurring...
), and infant Patrick (Dylan and Cole Sprouse
Dylan and Cole Sprouse
Dylan Thomas Sprouse and Cole Mitchell Sprouse are American actors. They are twins and are collectively referred to as Dylan and Cole Sprouse or the Sprouse Bros. Their first prominent major theatrical film role was in Big Daddy, where they starred alongside Adam Sandler...
); her happily married best friends and neighbors, Nadine and Wade Swoboda (Julie White
Julie White
Julie White is an American actress. She is known for her role in Grace Under Fire and for her role as Judy Witwicky in the Transformers film series.-Personal life:...
and Casey Sander
Casey Sander
Casey Sander is an American actor known as the character "Captain" Jimmy Wennick on the short-lived TV series Tucker. His television credits also include The Golden Girls, Grace Under Fire, Home Improvement, Malcolm in the Middle, Buffy the Vampire Slayer , and Hunter among other...
); and the town's bachelor pharmacist, Russell Norton (Dave Thomas
Dave Thomas (actor)
David "Dave" Thomas is a Canadian comedian and actor. He was born in St. Catharines, Ontario, but moved to Durham, North Carolina where his father, John E. Thomas, attended Duke University and earned a PhD in Philosophy. Thomas attended George Watts and Moorehead elementary schools...
). All of them helped Grace keep whatever shreds of sanity she had left.
In the first three seasons, the show had a very blue-collar appeal due to Grace's chosen line of work, post-divorce; she operated pipelines at the local oil refinery, and had a second family of fellow crew workers down at the plant. Among them were heavy-set Dougie Boardreau (Walter Olkewicz
Walter Olkewicz
Walter Olkewicz is an actor who played Marko in Wizards and Warriors and Coach Wordman in Making the Grade. He also guest starred in many TV shows including Night Court, Seinfeld, ER, and Who's The Boss...
), friendly Vic (Dave Florek
Dave Florek
Dave Florek is an American actor. Florek is the brother of actor Dann Florek. He is known for playing Mr. Chopsaw, the wood shop teacher, in the Nickelodeon sitcom Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide. He also he portrayed Coach Smiley on Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and appeared in one episode of...
), and Carl (Louis Mandylor
Louis Mandylor
Louis Mandylor is an Australian film and television actor.-Life and career:Mandylor was born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, the son of Greek immigrants Louise and Yannis Theodosopoulos, a taxi driver...
). Their gruff boss was Bill Davis (Charles Hallahan
Charles Hallahan
Charles John Hallahan was an American film, television and stage actor best known for his performances in Going in Style, The Thing, and Dante's Peak.-Life and career:...
). Both Bill and Carl were dropped after the first season; while Carl hadn't a permanent on-screen replacement, the crew's new boss was John Shirley (Paul Dooley
Paul Dooley
-Personal life:Dooley was born Paul Dooley Brown in Parkersburg, West Virginia, the son of Ruth Irene , a homemaker, and Peter James Brown, a factory worker. Dooley was a cartoonist as a youth and drew a strip for a local paper in Parkersburg. He joined the Navy before discovering acting while at...
) starting in the second season.
Russell's affection for Grace, and their on-and-off dating rituals, became a running theme in the series. While never fully attached, it was suggested that Russell and Grace may have done a lot of right for each other as a couple, especially given the nature of their no-good exes. In between their periods of dating, they often tried others; for a time in 1994, Grace dated Ryan Sparks (William Fichtner
William Fichtner
William Edward Fichtner is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Sheriff Tom Underlay on Invasion, as Alexander Mahone on Prison Break, as William Sharp in Armageddon, and as Ken Rosenberg in the video games Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.- Early life...
). In season three, Grace entered into a relationship with plant executive Rick Bradshaw (Alan Autry
Alan Autry
Carlos Alan Autry is an American actor, politician, and former National Football League football player. He is best known for his role as Captain Bubba Skinner on the television series In the Heat of the Night; he also has been in numerous movies and other television shows...
), despite their radically different places in the company ladder. As the fourth season opened, Grace moved on from the oil refinery and took an entry-level position with an ad agency, transitioning her way up to being a white-collar
White-collar worker
The term white-collar worker refers to a person who performs professional, managerial, or administrative work, in contrast with a blue-collar worker, whose job requires manual labor...
professional. That job only lasted a year, but she then took on similar business work for a construction company owned by D.C. (Don "D.C." Curry). In the final season, Russell found some romantic interest in Dottie (Lauren Tom
Lauren Tom
Lauren Tom is an American actress and voice actress perhaps best known for her roles as Lena St Clair in The Joy Luck Club, Julie in the TV series Friends, and for providing the voices for both mother and daughter characters on two animated TV comedy series: on Futurama she voices Amy Wong and her...
), a gossipping makeup artist.
Throughout the entire five-year run, Grace's ex-husband Jimmy Kelly (Geoff Pierson
Geoff Pierson
Geoff Pierson is an American actor known for his role on The WB series Unhappily Ever After as Jack Malloy, the father of a dysfunctional family whose best friend is a stuffed animal rabbit named Mr. Floppy...
) showed up, sometimes causing problems and at others miraculously clean and sober, trying to win Grace back. A reconciliation never quite happened, but the two did settle on a good friendship for the sake of the kids. In the midst of Jimmy's attempts to get straight, his father Emmett (guest star Matt Clark
Matt Clark
Matthew or Matt Clark may refer to:* Mat Clark, American ice hockey defenceman* Matt Clark * Matt Clark * Matt Clark * Matt Clark *Matthew Clark*Matthew H. Clark...
) passed away and his mother Jean (Peggy Rea
Peggy Rea
Peggy Jane Rea was an American character actress known for her many roles in television, often playing matronly characters...
), Grace's mother-in-law, offered to move in and help Grace raise the kids. Russell eventually reconciled with his estranged dad, Floyd (Tom Poston
Tom Poston
Thomas Gordon "Tom" Poston was an American television and film actor. He starred on television in a career that began in 1950...
), who ended up moving in with him and working with him in the pharmacy. Jean and Floyd eventually started going out. As far as Grace's own kin and past life went, she had a regular source of support from her sister Faith (Valri Bromfield
Valri Bromfield
Valri Bromfield is a Canadian comedian, actor, writer, and television producer who started her career as one half of a comedy team with Dan Aykroyd. Together, they joined the first Toronto company of The Second City where she was one of the original players.-Television appearances:Bromfield was a...
) in the first two seasons. Another development came when Grace was contacted by her first child, Matthew (guest star Tom Everett Scott
Tom Everett Scott
Thomas "Tom" Everett Scott is an American film, theatre and television actor. His film work includes a starring role as drummer Guy Patterson in the film That Thing You Do! .-Career:...
), whom she gave up for adoption before meeting Jimmy. Matthew had questions about his ancestry and ended up meeting his biological father.
In early 1998, Grace's old best friend Bev Henderson (Julia Duffy
Julia Duffy
Julia Duffy is an American actress from Minneapolis, Minnesota, specializing in character roles, best known as the spoiled rich girl and Dick Loudon's inn maid, Stephanie Vanderkellen, on the 1980s sitcom, Newhart.-Career:Duffy's early caeer included parts in soap operas such as One Life to Live,...
) came back to town and ended up moving in with the Kellys. In the intervening years, Bev had become quite successful and wealthy. She returned to her old home town to get in touch with her working-class roots. Grace and Bev's personal reunion was unexpectedly the last major storyline of the series. Although she was joining the cast full time, Duffy only appeared in two network-aired episodes of Grace Under Fire before the series was suddenly canceled in mid-February.
Cast
- Brett ButlerBrett Butler (comedian)Brett Butler is an American actress, writer, and stand-up comedian, best known for playing the title role in the comedy series Grace Under Fire.-Early life:...
as Grace Kelly - Dave ThomasDave Thomas (actor)David "Dave" Thomas is a Canadian comedian and actor. He was born in St. Catharines, Ontario, but moved to Durham, North Carolina where his father, John E. Thomas, attended Duke University and earned a PhD in Philosophy. Thomas attended George Watts and Moorehead elementary schools...
as Russell Norton - Julie WhiteJulie WhiteJulie White is an American actress. She is known for her role in Grace Under Fire and for her role as Judy Witwicky in the Transformers film series.-Personal life:...
as Nadine Swoboda (1993–1997) - Casey SanderCasey SanderCasey Sander is an American actor known as the character "Captain" Jimmy Wennick on the short-lived TV series Tucker. His television credits also include The Golden Girls, Grace Under Fire, Home Improvement, Malcolm in the Middle, Buffy the Vampire Slayer , and Hunter among other...
as Wade Swoboda - Jon Paul SteuerJon Paul SteuerJon Paul Steuer was the first child actor to play the role of "Quentin Kelly" on the ABC show Grace Under Fire from 1993 to 1996. He was replaced by Sam Horrigan...
as Quentin Kelly (1993–1996) - Sam HorriganSam HorriganSamuel Emmett "Sam" Horrigan is an American actor best known for his role as Quentin Kelly on the hit ABC sitcom Grace Under Fire....
as Quentin Kelly (1996–1998) - Kaitlin CullumKaitlin CullumKaitlin Cullum is an American former child actress. Her older sister Kimberly Cullum is also a former child actress.She is known for her role as Libby Kelly in the sitcom Grace Under Fire. Her other television credits include 7th Heaven, The Amanda Show, Malcolm in the Middle and a brief recurring...
as Elizabeth Louise "Libby" Kelly - Dylan and Cole SprouseDylan and Cole SprouseDylan Thomas Sprouse and Cole Mitchell Sprouse are American actors. They are twins and are collectively referred to as Dylan and Cole Sprouse or the Sprouse Bros. Their first prominent major theatrical film role was in Big Daddy, where they starred alongside Adam Sandler...
as Patrick Kelly - Walter OlkewiczWalter OlkewiczWalter Olkewicz is an actor who played Marko in Wizards and Warriors and Coach Wordman in Making the Grade. He also guest starred in many TV shows including Night Court, Seinfeld, ER, and Who's The Boss...
as Dougie Boardreau (1993–1996) - Dave FlorekDave FlorekDave Florek is an American actor. Florek is the brother of actor Dann Florek. He is known for playing Mr. Chopsaw, the wood shop teacher, in the Nickelodeon sitcom Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide. He also he portrayed Coach Smiley on Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and appeared in one episode of...
as Vic (1993–1996) - Louis MandylorLouis MandylorLouis Mandylor is an Australian film and television actor.-Life and career:Mandylor was born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, the son of Greek immigrants Louise and Yannis Theodosopoulos, a taxi driver...
as Carl (1993–1994) - Charles HallahanCharles HallahanCharles John Hallahan was an American film, television and stage actor best known for his performances in Going in Style, The Thing, and Dante's Peak.-Life and career:...
as Bill Davis (1993–1994) - Valri BromfieldValri BromfieldValri Bromfield is a Canadian comedian, actor, writer, and television producer who started her career as one half of a comedy team with Dan Aykroyd. Together, they joined the first Toronto company of The Second City where she was one of the original players.-Television appearances:Bromfield was a...
as Faith Burdette (1993–1995) - William FichtnerWilliam FichtnerWilliam Edward Fichtner is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Sheriff Tom Underlay on Invasion, as Alexander Mahone on Prison Break, as William Sharp in Armageddon, and as Ken Rosenberg in the video games Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.- Early life...
as Ryan Sparks (1994) - Paul DooleyPaul Dooley-Personal life:Dooley was born Paul Dooley Brown in Parkersburg, West Virginia, the son of Ruth Irene , a homemaker, and Peter James Brown, a factory worker. Dooley was a cartoonist as a youth and drew a strip for a local paper in Parkersburg. He joined the Navy before discovering acting while at...
as John Shirley (1994–1996) - Peggy ReaPeggy ReaPeggy Jane Rea was an American character actress known for her many roles in television, often playing matronly characters...
as Jean Kelly (1995–1998) - Tom PostonTom PostonThomas Gordon "Tom" Poston was an American television and film actor. He starred on television in a career that began in 1950...
as Floyd Norton (1995–1998) - Alan AutryAlan AutryCarlos Alan Autry is an American actor, politician, and former National Football League football player. He is best known for his role as Captain Bubba Skinner on the television series In the Heat of the Night; he also has been in numerous movies and other television shows...
as Rick Bradshaw (1995–1996) - Don 'D.C.' CurryDon 'D.C.' CurryDon 'D.C.' Curry is an American actor and stand-up comedian, who got his first start on BET's Comic View. He is best known for starring as Craig's sex-crazed Uncle Elroy Jones in Next Friday and Friday After Next and for his role on the sitcom Grace Under Fire...
as D.C. (1997–1998) - Lauren TomLauren TomLauren Tom is an American actress and voice actress perhaps best known for her roles as Lena St Clair in The Joy Luck Club, Julie in the TV series Friends, and for providing the voices for both mother and daughter characters on two animated TV comedy series: on Futurama she voices Amy Wong and her...
as Dot (1997–1998) - Julia DuffyJulia DuffyJulia Duffy is an American actress from Minneapolis, Minnesota, specializing in character roles, best known as the spoiled rich girl and Dick Loudon's inn maid, Stephanie Vanderkellen, on the 1980s sitcom, Newhart.-Career:Duffy's early caeer included parts in soap operas such as One Life to Live,...
as Bev Henderson (1998)
Ratings
The show was the highest ratedNielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
new show in its first season. 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.
- 1993–1994: #5 (17.9 rating)
- 1994–1995: #4 (18.8 rating)
- 1995–1996: #13 (13.2 rating)
- 1996–1997: #45 (tie)(9.1 rating)
- 1997–1998: #68 (tie)
Awards
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.Jean Stapleton was nominated for the 1995 Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy series Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for playing Aunt Vivian in the episode "The Road to Paris Texas." Diane Ladd
Diane Ladd
Diane Ladd is an American actress, film director, producer and published author. She has appeared in over 120 roles, on television, and in miniseries and feature films, including Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore , Wild at Heart , Rambling Rose , Ghosts of Mississippi, Primary Colors, 28 Days , and...
was nominated for the same award the previous year for playing Louise Burdett in the episode entitled "Things Left Undone" written by Brett Butler and Wayne Lemon.
Controversy and cancelation
After the first season, the creative aspect of the show experienced a revolving door of producers and writers. These changes were a result of creative clashes between the production team and Butler. 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 LorreChuck Lorre
Chuck Lorre is a writer, director, producer and composer who has created many American sitcoms, including Grace Under Fire, Cybill, Dharma & Greg, Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory...
, from production work, although he stayed with the show as a "comedy consultant." As with Roseanne
Roseanne (TV series)
Roseanne is an American sitcom broadcast on ABC from October 18, 1988 to May 20, 1997. Starring Roseanne Barr, the show revolved around the Conners, an Illinois working class family...
and Cybill
Cybill
Cybill is an American television sitcom created by Chuck Lorre, which aired on CBS from January 2, 1995 to July 13, 1998. Starring Cybill Shepherd, the series revolves around Cybill Sheridan, a twice-divorced single mother of two and struggling actress in her 40s, who has never gotten her show...
, the back-stage conflicts of Grace Under Fire were well publicized.
In the fourth and fifth seasons of the show, Butler was fighting a painkiller addiction, for which she eventually sought medical help. During Butler's addiction and subsequent treatment, clashes with other cast members occurred. Butler allegedly flashed her breasts at actor Jon Paul Steuer, who was 12 years old at the time and was playing the son of Butler's character. Sources have speculated that Steuer's exit from the show in 1996 was because his mother pulled him out after the incident with Butler. At the start of Season 4, Sam Horrigan
Sam Horrigan
Samuel Emmett "Sam" Horrigan is an American actor best known for his role as Quentin Kelly on the hit ABC sitcom Grace Under Fire....
became the third actor to play Quentin Kelly, and with him in the role, the character's age advanced to 16. Cast member Julie White
Julie White
Julie White is an American actress. She is known for her role in Grace Under Fire and for her role as Judy Witwicky in the Transformers film series.-Personal life:...
left the show after Season 4, also citing Butler's behavior as the reason.
Butler's first round of treatment and rehab delayed the start of the 1997–98 season until November. After Grace Under Fire resumed production on season five, a newly-clean Butler struggled to stay that way; the morale on the set was little better than in the previous season, due to the star's erratic behavior. Around the holidays Butler relapsed again, and although the producers were as committed as ever to continuing the show, ABC was becoming concerned about Butler's overall health, and was less patient with her accelerated amount of missed tapings. Rather abruptly, with the February 17, 1998 telecast, ABC canceled the series.
Syndication
The series airs in syndication on the Oxygen Network in the United States, and TVtropolisTVtropolis
TVtropolis is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Shaw Media and Rogers Media.The channel operates two time shifted feeds: East and West .-Programming:...
in Canada.
In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the series was picked up by BBC2 where it aired from 1994 to 1999.
International remakes
The show was remade in Russia as Lyuba, Children and the Factory in 2005.A Polish adaptation titled Hela w opałach (Hela Under Fire, Hela is short form from Helen) aired on TVN
TVN (Poland)
TVN is a major Polish commercial television network. The broadcaster was co-founded by Polish businessmen Mariusz Walter and Jan Wejchert. The network launched on October 3, 1997. TVN belongs to the TVN S.A...
in September 2006.