Delta is an American sitcom television series starring Delta Burke that aired on ABC from September 15, 1992, to August 25, 1993. It was a new starring vehicle for Burke, as her return to television following her dismissal from the CBS sitcom Designing Women in the spring of 1991.
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Synopsis
Burke portrays Delta Bishop, a young woman with dreams of writing and singing country music. She became a hairstylist at Mona's House of Hair, married Charlie Bishop and thought she had found happiness. After eight years of marriage, she became restless: she was eager to follow in the footsteps of her childhood idol, Patsy Cline, and become a country music star. She quits her job, leaves her husband and friends behind, and travels to Nashville, Tennessee. There, she finds an apartment over the garage of a home owned by her cousin, Lavonne Overton (Gigi Rice), and her husband, Buck (Bill Engvall). She also finds a job waiting tables at The Green Lantern, a local bar that hosts an amateur night which she believes that if she could sing her songs there, it could jumpstart her career.
Burke, most popular for her role as Suzanne Sugarbaker on Designing Women, reportedly utilized her own singing talents for the role of Bishop, and dyed her familiar brunette hair blonde to play the role. The theme song was "Climb That Mountain High" by Reba McEntire which was not a charted single; the tune was featured on Reba's 1990 MCA album Rumor Has It.
Cast
Delta Burke as Delta Bishop
Earl Holliman as Darden Towe
Beth Grant as Thelma Wainwright
Nancy Giles as Connie Morris
Bill Engvall as Buck Overton
Gigi Rice as Lavonne Overton
Joe Urla as Sandy Scott
Production
In early 1992, ABC had commissioned a pilot order of a new sitcom that starred Delta Burke, from Barry Kemp and Universal Television, the producing team behind Coach. The show was given a series order in May 1992, airing on Thursday nights. It was given a back end order in October 1992. The series was cancelled in May 1993 due to low ratings.
Broadcast history
The sitcom premiered September 15, 1992, to healthy ratings following Roseanne. It then moved to Thursday nights opposite FOX's The Simpsons, and ratings began to sink. It was pulled from the schedule in December 1992 and returned to ABC the following spring 1993 for six episodes before finally being canceled. In an attempt to infuse ratings, the show was moved back to Tuesdays after Roseanne, two new characters introduced, and Burke brought her brunette hair back that spring (including a rejig of the credits), in the sake of familiarity, but these changes proved to be too little, too late. It would rank 72nd for the season with an average 9.6 rating.
Award nominations
Earl Holliman was nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film at the 50th Golden Globe Awards in 1992.