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Parents' Guide to

Grace Under Fire

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Comedy with serious themes for teens and up.

TV Oxygen Comedy 1993
Grace Under Fire Poster Image

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What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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What's the Story?

GRACE UNDER FIRE, which is loosely based on the life of comedienne Brett Butler, is about the daily life of Grace Kelly (Butler), a divorced recovering alcoholic and domestic abuse survivor who's raising three children on her own. With her tough Southern attitude and lots of sarcasm, Grace finds herself working at an oil refinery, on construction sites, and in cocktail bars in order to earn enough money to support son Quentin (played by both Jon Paul Steuer and Sam Horrigan), daughter Libby (Kaitlin Cullum), and baby Patrick (played by twins Dylan and Cole Sprouse of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody). But Grace doesn't have to go it alone, getting willing help from friends such as wacky high school buddy and next door neighbor Nadine Swaboda (Julie White), her veteran husband Wade (Casey Sander), quirky local pharmacist Russell (Dave Thomas), older sister Faith (Valri Bromfield), and even her sharp-tongued ex-mother-in-law Jean Kelly (Peggy Rea). Occasional boyfriends like refinery manager Rick Bradshaw (Alan Autry) provide both support and additional pressure, as the fiercely independent Grace struggles to balance her personal life with her life as a working-class single mom.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

It's not always easy to start your life over, especially in the best of circumstances. Grace Under Fire reminds us that not only is it possible to start from scratch despite difficult odds, but that you can laugh while you do it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the challenges families face after a divorce. How do you maintain a relationship with a parent who doesn't live at home? How can a family feel whole after a parent leaves? Families can also discuss some of the serious social issues that affect people, such as addiction and domestic violence.

TV Details

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