For some strange reason, I always remembered this show. Maybe it was the outrageousness of it all or the fact that parodied Dallas. Anyway, I loved Dixie Carter, Ann Wedgeworth, Nedra Volz, and Delta Burke here more than I liked Dixie and Delta on Designing Women. I love parodies and this show should have been huge but again the demographics probably did not meet with network requirements like they did with Mama's Family and other shows that never made the cut. After all, they wanted a younger, hipper audiences. Now who is getting the last laugh since Blue Collar Comedy is back and in demand more than ever. That was the appeal of Filthy Rich was all the outrageousness about money and social classes. Too bad there were only fifteen episodes, we could have had more.
13 Reviews
Hooray for old tapes!
recyclepile-126 October 2008
I'm watching a few episodes of Filthy Rich right now, going through an old stockpile of VHS tapes. It is excellent! This would make a great addition to TV Land or Brilliant but Canceled.
I'm also amazed at how far backwards we've traveled, as some of the lightweight scenes of this comedy would never be permitted in the overly PC world of 20 years later. And that's sad.
Dixie Carter is great, Delta Burke is her perfect foil. The entire cast seems carefully crafted and perfectly chosen. The overly opulent sets are just as overblown as anything on Dynasty. The dialog is quick, the plots just ridiculous enough. I'll bet reruns of this would even have flown during the writer's strike, moreso than reality shows.
I'm also amazed at how far backwards we've traveled, as some of the lightweight scenes of this comedy would never be permitted in the overly PC world of 20 years later. And that's sad.
Dixie Carter is great, Delta Burke is her perfect foil. The entire cast seems carefully crafted and perfectly chosen. The overly opulent sets are just as overblown as anything on Dynasty. The dialog is quick, the plots just ridiculous enough. I'll bet reruns of this would even have flown during the writer's strike, moreso than reality shows.
"We don't serve gristle!"
mkpfan25 February 2004
There's no way to italicize Dixie Carter's delivery of the word "serve" with this particular forum, so that I will have to characterize it in prose. When Bootsie Westchester (breathily played by Ann Wedgeworth) worried aloud about what she would have to do if she got "a piece of gristle" at an upscale dinner party, Carlotta Beck (Dixie Carter's never been more caustic and haughty, but fun...) did a slow burn, and said, "We don't (shudder) *serve* gristle."
This sums up the basic us vs. them premise of "Filthy Rich." However, there were really two different rivalries for control of the family's wealth. Carlotta and Stanley were the Established, Recognized members of the family, but hated the gold digging Kathleen (Delta Burke, in her first former beauty queen-with-a-penchant-for-tiaras-at-the-dinner-table role), who was married to the recently departed "Big Guy." The second family feud was between these three "legitimate" characters and the "trailer trash" Westchesters, who recently discovered that Wild Bill was the Big Guy's illegitimate son,
and was in line for an inheritance, if they could all get along...
As a raw parody of "Dallas" and other night time soaps, the show was absolutely perfect in its timing. It appeared as a summer replacement program and was wildly popular. Critics hated it, but audiences demanded that the network put the show in its regular lineup in the fall.
Unfortunately, the show couldn't maintain the level of interest that it generated in the slow, dull, dog days of summer. Maybe the show was too "one joke" to sustain extended audience interest, plus the competition was providing new material, and it was no longer the only new fish in the pond.
The writing was bawdy, brilliant, and satisfying when U.S. audiences couldn't get enough of oil-rich families fighting and trying to out-maneuver one another. It's a shame that it never got the chance to grow.
This sums up the basic us vs. them premise of "Filthy Rich." However, there were really two different rivalries for control of the family's wealth. Carlotta and Stanley were the Established, Recognized members of the family, but hated the gold digging Kathleen (Delta Burke, in her first former beauty queen-with-a-penchant-for-tiaras-at-the-dinner-table role), who was married to the recently departed "Big Guy." The second family feud was between these three "legitimate" characters and the "trailer trash" Westchesters, who recently discovered that Wild Bill was the Big Guy's illegitimate son,
and was in line for an inheritance, if they could all get along...
As a raw parody of "Dallas" and other night time soaps, the show was absolutely perfect in its timing. It appeared as a summer replacement program and was wildly popular. Critics hated it, but audiences demanded that the network put the show in its regular lineup in the fall.
Unfortunately, the show couldn't maintain the level of interest that it generated in the slow, dull, dog days of summer. Maybe the show was too "one joke" to sustain extended audience interest, plus the competition was providing new material, and it was no longer the only new fish in the pond.
The writing was bawdy, brilliant, and satisfying when U.S. audiences couldn't get enough of oil-rich families fighting and trying to out-maneuver one another. It's a shame that it never got the chance to grow.
Want the Video!!
rapdunit22 June 2002
This was the funniest series that was ever on TV. It needs to be available on video. I for one would buy several to give as gifts. Ann Wedgeworth is just hilarious, but every actor is superb. After 20 years, I still remember some of the scenes! Anyone who ever saw it has never forgotten it.
Hilarious Series
vs66196613 August 2005
I remember watching this show during the summer. It was truly hilarious, especially if you were a fan of "Dallas" and "Dynasty" and other nighttime soap operas since this show was a spoof of them. Dixie Carter, Delta Burke, Nedra Volz and Ann Wedgeworth were are all hysterical in their roles and made the show the side-splitting comedy it was. We all know Delta Burke and Dixie Carter went on to play the Sugarbaker sisters on "Designing Women." Nedra Volz was a guest star on many shows and played one of the maids on "Diff'rent Strokes" for a while. Ann Wedgeworth played Dan Conner's mother on "Roseanne" and also played sex-starved neighbor Lana on "Three's Company" for one season (1979-1980); she was always hitting on Jack Tripper. (She was probably added to fill the void left by Mrs. Roper, who was also sex-starved, when the Ropers left "Three's Company" for their own spin-off show.) Like many others posted here, it would be great to see this show again.
I would also like to see "The Nutt House" with Cloris Leachman (Phyllis from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show") and Harvey Korman (from "The Carol Burnett Show"). This show ran on ABC for about one month in 1989. If you blinked, you missed it! If you liked "Filthy Rich" you would most likely enjoy this show, too. It was full of funny and witty dialogue, zany sight gags and screwball antics. But it never got a chance. I think both shows were, unfortunately, way ahead of their time in their type of humor and just did not catch on with most viewers.
It's a shame both of these shows did not run for years. Hopefully, they will show up soon somehow. DVD releases would be wonderful. I'm hoping that the great cable channel TV Land will at least trot them out for a mini-marathon. Are you listening, TV Land??? :)
I would also like to see "The Nutt House" with Cloris Leachman (Phyllis from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show") and Harvey Korman (from "The Carol Burnett Show"). This show ran on ABC for about one month in 1989. If you blinked, you missed it! If you liked "Filthy Rich" you would most likely enjoy this show, too. It was full of funny and witty dialogue, zany sight gags and screwball antics. But it never got a chance. I think both shows were, unfortunately, way ahead of their time in their type of humor and just did not catch on with most viewers.
It's a shame both of these shows did not run for years. Hopefully, they will show up soon somehow. DVD releases would be wonderful. I'm hoping that the great cable channel TV Land will at least trot them out for a mini-marathon. Are you listening, TV Land??? :)
Ahead of It's Time
ballcaptodd14 August 2005
While I would be hesitant to name 'Filthy Rich' as one of the funniest sitcoms of all time, it is most definitely one of the funniest series of the 1980's. Some consider it a shame that it never found it's audience. Actually, that may be its saving grace because thankfully it never had a chance to go downhill. The episodes that were made are total gems. The acting is hysterically funny; Ann Wedgeworth being at her absolute best and, in my opinion, robbed of an Emmy nomination. Nedra Volz is also a standout, along with Dixie Carter and Delta Burke in their pre-'Designing Women' days. If this ever becomes available, buy it on the spot! You won't be disappointed. I WANT MY DVD!!
First two episodes were deliriously funny!
drwhobob-217 February 2001
Unfortunately, the storylines from the third episode forward didn't keep up the standards. First, they replaced Slim Pickens as the late "Big Guy" Beck with Forrest Tucker. Although a great actor, Forrest just didn't come off as funny as Slim did. (Unfortunately, I believe they had no choice, as that was about the time Slim passed away.) The banter between Delta Burke and Dixie Carter was incredible, and the addition of Nedra Volz as "Big Guy's" ex, whose elevator didn't go to the top, whose porch-light was on, but nobody was home, helped as well. If only the story-lines kept up the standards set by the first two, maybe the series would have lasted.
Even with that being said, this series should be released, as the first two episodes make the whole series worth having. (I was beside myself when Dixie Carter told Delta Burke to "shove her Mary Ann Mobley act into a hatbox and hit the road.")
Even with that being said, this series should be released, as the first two episodes make the whole series worth having. (I was beside myself when Dixie Carter told Delta Burke to "shove her Mary Ann Mobley act into a hatbox and hit the road.")
Why Is This Still Sitting in the Vaults?
TelevisionJunkie21 January 2001
Warning: Spoilers
You would think that since this show laid the groundwork for "Designing Women," and was a scathing spoof of '80s prime-time dramas, some network would pull it out of the vaults. It was, however, very different in tone and style than its successor...
The Becks were a cut-throat, rich, Southern family who recently lost their patriarch, Big Guy. As a stipulation of Big Guy's "video" will, in order to acquire his wealth, the family had to live together at the family mansion and "cohabitate in love, peace and harmony" with one another -- and with Big Guy's recently revealed illegitimate son, trashy RV salesman Wild Bill Westchester ("and his lovely and whimsical wife, Bootsy"). This did not bode well with Big Guy's whiny son, Marshall, Marshall's domineering wife, Carlotta, or Big Guy's second (trophy) wife, gold-digger Kathleen. Although Marshall and Carlotta didn't particularly like Kathleen, "nothing brings enemies together like greed." Mother B was Big Guy's first wife (mother to Marshall and Stanley), a loopy nursing-home-runaway. Stanley was Big Guy's other son (and the object of Kathleen's affection), the only normal one in the family, who had invested his money wisely and didn't need any of Big Guy's anyway.
The result was comedic gold. Dixie Carter, Delta Burke and Michael Lombard were hilarious as they devoured the scenery while conspiring to get Big Guy's cash. Nedra Volz was hysterical as the senile mother who spouted off whatever came to her mind ("Anyhow, I'm senile, half my teeth are gone - I don't care if you date goats!"). Ann Wedgeworth was brilliantly cast as the insipidly stupid country hick who thought she was smart (after all she had read the encyclopedia from A-Y!). Jerry Hardin was great as Wild Bill, a smooth talking southern dork. Charles Frank as the down-to-earth ladies man (who was often seen in a bubble-bath sporting a cowboy hat) was fantastic. And Slim Pickens was delightful as goofy Big Guy (though Forrest Tucker, who took over the role when Pickens was too ill to continue, was a little too sedate in the part). The writing was clever (though sometimes dated today) and the cast had an incredible chemistry.
So what happened? CBS happened. It debuted as the #1 show, but CBS quickly bumped it around the schedule before dropping it altogether. What should have been a long-running hit was quickly reduced to a 15-episode memory. In one way, that's perhaps a good thing or "Designing Women" wouldn't have come to be. In another way, it's a horrible shame, since this was truly a great show. With the success of DW, it's surprising that Columbia has just left it sitting in the vaults -- more than a curio, it's a gem in a sea of rocks (since many '80s sitcoms were the latter) and tapes are extremely difficult to come by, even from TV collectors...
The Becks were a cut-throat, rich, Southern family who recently lost their patriarch, Big Guy. As a stipulation of Big Guy's "video" will, in order to acquire his wealth, the family had to live together at the family mansion and "cohabitate in love, peace and harmony" with one another -- and with Big Guy's recently revealed illegitimate son, trashy RV salesman Wild Bill Westchester ("and his lovely and whimsical wife, Bootsy"). This did not bode well with Big Guy's whiny son, Marshall, Marshall's domineering wife, Carlotta, or Big Guy's second (trophy) wife, gold-digger Kathleen. Although Marshall and Carlotta didn't particularly like Kathleen, "nothing brings enemies together like greed." Mother B was Big Guy's first wife (mother to Marshall and Stanley), a loopy nursing-home-runaway. Stanley was Big Guy's other son (and the object of Kathleen's affection), the only normal one in the family, who had invested his money wisely and didn't need any of Big Guy's anyway.
The result was comedic gold. Dixie Carter, Delta Burke and Michael Lombard were hilarious as they devoured the scenery while conspiring to get Big Guy's cash. Nedra Volz was hysterical as the senile mother who spouted off whatever came to her mind ("Anyhow, I'm senile, half my teeth are gone - I don't care if you date goats!"). Ann Wedgeworth was brilliantly cast as the insipidly stupid country hick who thought she was smart (after all she had read the encyclopedia from A-Y!). Jerry Hardin was great as Wild Bill, a smooth talking southern dork. Charles Frank as the down-to-earth ladies man (who was often seen in a bubble-bath sporting a cowboy hat) was fantastic. And Slim Pickens was delightful as goofy Big Guy (though Forrest Tucker, who took over the role when Pickens was too ill to continue, was a little too sedate in the part). The writing was clever (though sometimes dated today) and the cast had an incredible chemistry.
So what happened? CBS happened. It debuted as the #1 show, but CBS quickly bumped it around the schedule before dropping it altogether. What should have been a long-running hit was quickly reduced to a 15-episode memory. In one way, that's perhaps a good thing or "Designing Women" wouldn't have come to be. In another way, it's a horrible shame, since this was truly a great show. With the success of DW, it's surprising that Columbia has just left it sitting in the vaults -- more than a curio, it's a gem in a sea of rocks (since many '80s sitcoms were the latter) and tapes are extremely difficult to come by, even from TV collectors...
Please bring this back--Nick at Nite or DVD!
howelljd8 August 2005
This show was utterly hilarious--one look at the cast list alone shows how much talent they had at their fingertips: Dixie Carter, Delta Burke (pre-"Designing Women") Forrest Tucker, Ann Wedgeworth, Slim Pickens, etc. The knives-and-dagger dialog between Carlotta (Dixie) and Kathleen (Delta) was some of the funniest and most quotable I've ever heard, including my favorite shot of all time (which happens to be missing from the IMDb quotes list): (Carlotta)"Yes, Kathleen has beautiful skin. It's from all that fresh air she gets on those early mornin' cab rides home." The style and characters remind me of other camp-filled projects, like Del Shore's play/film "Sordid Lives," or even BBC's series "Absolutely Fabulous." Maybe it was just ahead of its time. This show well deserves to be brought back on Nick at Nite or on Trio's Brilliant But Cancelled, or even DVD.
Caroltta funny quote
l-f-s2 August 2008
There were so many hilarious quotes on Filthy Rich but one of my favorites that didn't make the quote list was: "For a moment there I had an overwhelming sensation of total desolation and utter futility, but I'm okay now." The episode with Bootsie and her "fantasy fur" was hilarious. Bootsie said something like "it's soft, it enhances trash cans and hair spray" the Carlotta says; " a lot of brightly colored monkeys had to die for that." Another favorite was when Carlotta got a job on Mud Island in Memphis. She apparently fell into the Mississippi River. When she came home, Marshal asked her something like what was she wearing. She said it was a Souther Belle outfit. He said, you look like you've been rung. I've literally been looking for this series to come out on tape or DVD. I'd love to have it and add it to my collection of favorite TV shows. Come on, it's only 15 episodes!
One of the funniest series I have ever seen. A fresh and new comedy that captured me. Wonderful stars.
cecesvie21 June 2001
I saw this series some time ago and absolutely loved it. I believe it ended with the untimely death of Slim Pickens. I would love to see this in reruns or as rentals. If they found the right actors and resurrected this, I would definitely tune in.
It was a great beginning for a great team!
AlbertGray6 April 2002
I thought Filthy Rick was the beginning of a great pairing with Linda Bloodworth Thomason, Delta Burke and Dixie Carter. I've always thought that anything Dixie Carter did was golden, and she delivered here as the vile Carlotta Beck! :) Carlotta was classy but she was so bent of doing in the Westchesters and she was fantastic! :)
And naturally that set her up as the indomitable head of the Sugarbaker Design Firm on Designing Women.
Delta's portrayal of Kathleen Beck was the beginning of who would become the one and only Suzanne Sugarbaker! :)
And Nedra Volz, (Mother B) was also making an appearance on Designing Women when she played the mother of one of the bone-headed construction workers who were insulting and humiliating the women! :)
And naturally that set her up as the indomitable head of the Sugarbaker Design Firm on Designing Women.
Delta's portrayal of Kathleen Beck was the beginning of who would become the one and only Suzanne Sugarbaker! :)
And Nedra Volz, (Mother B) was also making an appearance on Designing Women when she played the mother of one of the bone-headed construction workers who were insulting and humiliating the women! :)
Yea, It Started Off Funny . . . . . . . . . . .
richard.fuller110 January 2006
Warning: Spoilers
I was thinking about this today.
As others have noted, you had to hear Dixie Carter's deliveries to believe them.
I for one felt that Designing Women really wasted what Carter could do. Making Dixie Carter and Delta Burke sisters (of all things!) was one of the worst castings I had ever seen.
I believe the show began with Big Daddy (Slim Pickens. I must have stopped watching the show when Forrest Tucker took over, and i have no idea how he was portrayed) had died and the family had gathered to watch his videotape will. This was when he revealed the illegitimate son and the son's wife.
They were all funny, including the cardboard son, Charles Frank, as Stanley.
Stanley: "Well, Marshall, it seems like your plan has been foiled." Marshall: "I don't like the tone of your voice, Stanley." Stanley repeats himself, imitating a duck this time.
Delta would throw herself at the young handsome son, and again, as someone else noted, while he would be bathing in a bubble bath and wearing his cowboy hat.
I was recalling one bit with Dixie Carter, as Carlotta. She had been taking a shower and had realized she left the bottle of shampoo she just bought down in the car in the garage, so she ran naked to get it, since no one else was home. She was telling this story to Marshall as she entered the bedroom wrapped in some tarp.
As she stood in the garage, the door went up or something, and her hand got caught and the garage door raised up.
Marshall: "Did the door open all the way?" Carlotta: "Eleven times, Marshall." Marshall: "Did anyone see you?" Carlotta: "The mailman." Marhsall: "Did he say anything?" Carlotta: "HE SAID HAVE A NICE DAY!!!" This was the opening joke of this episode, but I do recall nothing else was funny in the episode.
Filthy Rich had come about as a mid-season replacement or shown over the summer, instead of another show called "Mamma Malone" (pronounced Mah-low-nee, she was Italian).
Mamma Malone was shelved and eventually did air later on. It was a shame Malone had been trounced so badly by Filthy Rich's arrival, because truthfully, Mamma Malone wasn't that bad either.
Lila Kaye, an English actress, had played the character.
Two very good shows that left much too soon. Ah well.
As others have noted, you had to hear Dixie Carter's deliveries to believe them.
I for one felt that Designing Women really wasted what Carter could do. Making Dixie Carter and Delta Burke sisters (of all things!) was one of the worst castings I had ever seen.
I believe the show began with Big Daddy (Slim Pickens. I must have stopped watching the show when Forrest Tucker took over, and i have no idea how he was portrayed) had died and the family had gathered to watch his videotape will. This was when he revealed the illegitimate son and the son's wife.
They were all funny, including the cardboard son, Charles Frank, as Stanley.
Stanley: "Well, Marshall, it seems like your plan has been foiled." Marshall: "I don't like the tone of your voice, Stanley." Stanley repeats himself, imitating a duck this time.
Delta would throw herself at the young handsome son, and again, as someone else noted, while he would be bathing in a bubble bath and wearing his cowboy hat.
I was recalling one bit with Dixie Carter, as Carlotta. She had been taking a shower and had realized she left the bottle of shampoo she just bought down in the car in the garage, so she ran naked to get it, since no one else was home. She was telling this story to Marshall as she entered the bedroom wrapped in some tarp.
As she stood in the garage, the door went up or something, and her hand got caught and the garage door raised up.
Marshall: "Did the door open all the way?" Carlotta: "Eleven times, Marshall." Marshall: "Did anyone see you?" Carlotta: "The mailman." Marhsall: "Did he say anything?" Carlotta: "HE SAID HAVE A NICE DAY!!!" This was the opening joke of this episode, but I do recall nothing else was funny in the episode.
Filthy Rich had come about as a mid-season replacement or shown over the summer, instead of another show called "Mamma Malone" (pronounced Mah-low-nee, she was Italian).
Mamma Malone was shelved and eventually did air later on. It was a shame Malone had been trounced so badly by Filthy Rich's arrival, because truthfully, Mamma Malone wasn't that bad either.
Lila Kaye, an English actress, had played the character.
Two very good shows that left much too soon. Ah well.
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