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I’ve learned that ABC’s comedy pilot Counter Culture is being shelved following last week’s injury suffered by one of its stars, Delta Burke, who fell on the set during pre-shoots two days before the multi-camera pilot’s main taping in front of studio audience. The producers had been hoping for a quick recovery that would allow the pilot to shoot and be in consideration for fall but that didn’t happen. I hear the matter is now in the hands of the insurance company, which has to sort out a host of issues surrounding the shutdown, including compensation for the cast and crew. The actors have not been formally released, allowing the network and producer Sony Pictures TV to film the pilot after the upfronts, though that doesn’t appear likely.
Written and executive produced by Stephnie Weir and executive produced by Claudia Lonow, Counter Culture was an early favorite as it was the first comedy pilot picked up by ABC this season but its production was delayed because of difficulties casting some of the leads. Counter Culture revolves around three sisters — Billie (Kerri Kenney), Nonie (Burke) and Joyce (Margo Martindale) — running their family diner together in West Texas who find that sibling dynamics are always getting in the way of getting the job done. Doris Roberts was to play the sisters’ aunt.
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Darn I was looking forward to this one! … The show premise sounded awesome & the cast was slightly older then what you normally see on Primetime television.
Bummer. This project sounded promising. Was her injury that severe? Would have loved to have seen Delta back on tv.
Wow. I’ve had my share of pain during pilot season, but that has got to be the worst reason for your show not going forward. Ugh.
i was looking forward to this too – Weir (esp) & Lonow on board sounded very promising , then Martindale was another plus… but when I read of DB’s addition , sorry to say , i was less enthused.
in any case wishing her a speedy recovery… and more safety precautions on set for everyone!
If this show was going to be a hit, it wouldn’t have been because of Delta Burke. Recast.
Oh, you are so wrong. Delta is television.
No, Delta is faucets and airplanes.
OMG-I have to say this cast is brilliant and they should definitely make it happen with them. I wanted to see it
The insurance company won’t pay anyone anything for this. There’s no reason for them to pay the pilot can be postponed and it can be filmed whenever Delta is physically able to perform in it. And if she’s never able to perform she can be replaced. ABC and Sony should pay the cast and crew for their work and they can all reassemble at a later date.
So disappointing! Stephnie Weir is an innovative writer and hilarious, Kerri Kenney was fantastic in the run thru, Martindale was terrific too — so frustrating!!
Sad to read this. Maybe that means “The Manzanis” has better chance of being picked up or they can replace Delta with Kirstie Alley. I just needs my crazy Alley on TV in the fall.
They couldn’t find anyone to replace her? There has to be a half-dozen actresses that would love to have the part in this series, but the plot was just too far-fethched, so basically that’s what kind of doomed this show.
“far-fetched”? Family businesses with crazy family dynamics are a staple of cable reality shows, it makes perfect sense to try the idea as a sitcom premise.
Oh, and btw, many of us live that reality every day…
I was really looking forward to this show. Love the cast they had picked for it.
The show was an early favorite, true, and it would’ve been great to see Stephnie’s show get the chance it deserved. I know of many clients who were offered key roles in the pilot before the pilot was cast and those who signed on well before Mrs. Burke’s unfortunate injury mere days before the taping. Placing any blame on non-existent ‘difficulties’ casting a network pilot where everyone from crew, director and cast were set to go is inaccurate and coming from a disingenuous source, methinks.
Why can’t they recast? If they have all the elements together, it’s not unheard of after several actors were replaced in pilots this season.
cant they just push it back until shes better? off cyle pilot for midseason or summer?
For shame, really. Couldn’t they just wait or recast he part? I was really looking forward to see this one. In right hands could’ve been the hit that the Golden Palace never was.
Wishing Delta a speedy recovery. I was looking forward to seeing her on TV again, especially with Margo.
Sounds like a terrible show that we were fortunately spared.
Delta Burke is beyond washed up, and another Hollywood schlock pile mocking Texas and Southern-ish lifestyle in general is the last thing we need.
Folks, the show kinda revolves around Burke. (She’s not my pal, so I won’t cloyingly call her “Delta”.) I’m guessing that they’ll play the waiting game, maybe even a year.
=( =( =(
If they can hide (or attempt to hide) pregnancies of actresses on other TV shows, then can’t they just hid e her injury with her behind behind something, shooting scenes with her in the other room, or only shooting from the neck up?
Really sad ABC is not moving forward on this. It sounded like it could of had the dynamics that “the golden girls” had. Look how long that lasted.
Sorry, I’m behind the times. I just now learned about Counter Culture and only because I was researching Delta Burke. She is a favorite of mine and I certainly hope she recovers and this show gets off the ground. I would certainly watch it just because of Delta Burke. I admire both her and her husband, Gerald McRaney very much.