On this day August 9 1982, Filthy Rich premiered on CBS. Created by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, this offbeat Southern comedy put a satirical spin on wealth, greed, and family dysfunction. With its over the top characters and soap opera flair, the show offered a parody of prime time melodramas that were dominating the television landscape.
The series centered on the Beck family, who were thrown into turmoil after the passing of their wealthy patriarch. His videotaped will revealed that half the estate would go to an illegitimate son, Wild Bill, whom the rest of the family had never met. Chaos followed as the bickering relatives schemed and plotted to keep their hands on the fortune.
Starring Dixie Carter, Delta Burke, and Charles Frank, Filthy Rich became known for its sharp wit, eccentric storylines, and lavish set pieces. Although it only lasted two seasons, it laid the groundwork for future Southern themed comedies and introduced audiences to the comedic pairing of Carter and Burke, who would later reunite in Designing Women.
80s insight: Filthy Rich delivered biting satire and Southern charm, helping define a new kind of ensemble comedy just as the 80s TV landscape began shifting.
The series centered on the Beck family, who were thrown into turmoil after the passing of their wealthy patriarch. His videotaped will revealed that half the estate would go to an illegitimate son, Wild Bill, whom the rest of the family had never met. Chaos followed as the bickering relatives schemed and plotted to keep their hands on the fortune.
Starring Dixie Carter, Delta Burke, and Charles Frank, Filthy Rich became known for its sharp wit, eccentric storylines, and lavish set pieces. Although it only lasted two seasons, it laid the groundwork for future Southern themed comedies and introduced audiences to the comedic pairing of Carter and Burke, who would later reunite in Designing Women.
80s insight: Filthy Rich delivered biting satire and Southern charm, helping define a new kind of ensemble comedy just as the 80s TV landscape began shifting.
