Do you know of anything in television that has ever done (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ScrewedByTheNetwork) that was seriously detrimental to a show's (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SeasonalRot) (or a network's (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NetworkDecay) for that matter) credibility? For instance, the infamous "dream season" (http://www.ultimatedallas.com/episodeguide/dreamzonefaq.htm) of Dallas (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dLk7VI7wKE).

Married with Children: The Seven debacle, Peg's pregnancy, and the "It was all a dream" explanation.


CBS: The Rural Purge. WTF?!


All in the Family: The rape episode. OMG!


Little House: The mime rape episode. OMG!



Angel: Season Four, when the writing was so bad that Cordy started having sex with Angel's son, Conner, who she had previously babysat. I had to bleach my eyeballs after watching that.



The Facts of Life: Firing more than half the cast due to "bad ratings" when network execs purposely scheduled the show against two established hits: Fantasy Island and The Incredible Hulk, during an era when there were only three television networks. And not bothering to promote the show until at least four episodes had already aired. Why would anyone DO this?!

Married with Children: The Seven debacle, Peg's pregnancy, and the "It was all a dream" explanation.


CBS: The Rural Purge. WTF?!


All in the Family: The rape episode. OMG!


Little House: The mime rape episode. OMG!



Angel: Season Four, when the writing was so bad that Cordy started having sex with Angel's son, Conner, who she had previously babysat. I had to bleach my eyeballs after watching that.



The Facts of Life: Firing more than half the cast due to "bad ratings" when network execs purposely scheduled the show against two established hits: Fantasy Island and The Incredible Hulk, during an era when there were only three television networks. And not bothering to promote the show until at least four episodes had already aired. Why would anyone DO this?!

How about Fox not allowing Married with Children to have proper finale even though it was one of the shows (along with The Simpsons, Beverly Hills, 90210, and In Living Color) that carried the network (until they landed the NFL contract) and put it on the map.

The firing of Delta Burke from Designing Women. When her character was gone, so was the soul of the show and it limped for 2 terrible seasons before it was put out of it's misery. They never should have fired her....and just because she gained weight!

And this was a women produced show. Talk about losing credibility when women were ousting women for being fat. Terrible and hypocritical.

Getting rid of John Schiender and Tom Wopat and replacing them with two no names on Dukes of Hazards. I cant imagine anything worse than that.

The decision to put pop up ads and promos during the actual shows.

Getting rid of John Schiender and Tom Wopat and replacing them with two no names on Dukes of Hazards. I cant imagine anything worse than that.


I remember that season. It was terrible. Yes, terrible, horrible idea. Even as a kid, I felt ripped off. The look-alikes couldn't hold a candle to the real Duke brothers.

The firing of Delta Burke from Designing Women. When her character was gone, so was the soul of the show and it limped for 2 terrible seasons before it was put out of it's misery. They never should have fired her....and just because she gained weight!

And this was a women produced show. Talk about losing credibility when women were ousting women for being fat. Terrible and hypocritical.


Gotta agree. What's even worse (if possible) is that TV Guide began using a donut icon to represent Delta Burke, as a parody of Prince changing his name to a glyph. When the media got in on the fat-shaming of Delta, it was just... horribly cruel.


Why couldn't they have done a show where they addressed Delta's weight gain in a respectful, dignified manner (because that character had been a beauty queen) and then moved on? No man would have been fired for weight gain. We know this because Kevin James keeps getting shows.

The decision to put pop up ads and promos during the actual shows.


Ugh! I try to never watch any channel with those horrible on-show promos. TBS and TNT became horrible about that.

How about Fox not allow Married with Children to have proper finale even though it was one of the shows (along with The Simpsons, Beverly Hills, 90210, and In Living Color) that carried the network (until they landed the NFL contract) and put it on the map.


I wasn't even aware of that. I know they did a behind-the-scenes farewell thing; I didn't know they wanted to do a proper finale. MWC, along with The Simpsons, totally carried Fox during its first eight years.

Why couldn't they have done a show where they addressed Delta's weight gain in a respectful, dignified manner (because that character had been a beauty queen) and then moved on?

Well, there was the "They Shoot Fat Women, Don't They?" episode.

Why couldn't they have done a show where they addressed Delta's weight gain in a respectful, dignified manner (because that character had been a beauty queen) and then moved on? No man would have been fired for weight gain. We know this because Kevin James keeps getting shows.

Delta Burke was a beauty queen? Now that would have been a funny series!

Speaking of Kevin James, we shouldn't forget the "indefensible decision" he made after the first season of "Kevin Can Wait" when he fired the actress who played his wife (and was doing a good job at it), replaced her with Leah Remini, all for the sake of higher ratings and cashing in on the current reunion trend, and even worse, killing off the character and treating it as a mere footnote and cheap punch line at the start of the next season. I still consider this as the most awful, heartless decision ever made by any series in history.

Allowing TV channels to show as many commercials as they want.

Well, there was the "They Shoot Fat Women, Don't They?" episode.

Yes, and an excellent episode too. Which only made Burke's firing all the more hypocritical by her producers.

Yes, and an excellent episode too. Which only made Burke's firing all the more hypocritical by her producers.

Right. I guess Delta Burke and the producers eventually made up because they gave her character her own spinoff several years after they fired her (Women Of The House).

Right. I guess Delta Burke and the producers eventually made up because they gave her character her own spinoff several years after they fired her (Women Of The House).

I have a vague memory of that show when it was on. I remember being thrilled Delta was coming back as Suzanne Sugarbaker, but thought the show was terrible after tuning in.
Correct me if i'm wrong, but I remember a scene where she was actually singing and dancing? It was just really really bad.

It was good the Designing Women producers made up with her, but the cynic part of me wonders if they purposely made the show so bad that it would fail for her. Who knows?

Looking at the show's Wikipedia page it says Terri Garr was in it, and it's been so long that I have absolutely no recollection of that, and I love Terri Garr....I only remember that cringe inducing scene with Suzanne singing in the White House...I'm wondering now if I dreamed it lol....I'm gonna see if I can find it on You Tube.

EDIT: Wow. I found clips on you tube and shocked to see Patricia Heaton was in it too!

How about Fox not allowing Married with Children to have proper finale even though it was one of the shows (along with The Simpsons, Beverly Hills, 90210, and In Living Color) that carried the network (until they landed the NFL contract) and put it on the map.

Being an MWC fan and having watched it from the very beginning, I would've liked to have seen a proper sendoff, too. However, I can totally understand why FOX didn't bother. The show became a pile of hot, steaming garbage in the last two seasons and in the 11th year, it was running on empty. Then was any time as any for the writers to end the show of its own accord but they decided to keep going. I can totally see FOX execs not caring enough about the show to allow it to end with a finale because the writers were just going through the motions at that point.

Anyway, going back to the topic, there was something weird that Married with Children did that kind of spoiled the series. The show had an anniversary special. Now usually, anniversary specials are fun and lighthearted, but in this case, it was super serious. The cast was all sitting in chairs--out of character-- with stern expressions on their faces, with an equally stern George Plimpton. It was something like Inside the Actor's Studio. There was an overall feeling that the cast was haughtily looking down on the audience, saying, "We're serious actors! Got that?"

I wasn't sure if it eventually became a joke episode because I didn't last long enough to watch it. But whatever the case may be, it left me feeling as if everyone connected to the show was a pretentious douche bag who felt that the show was beneath them and the show's audience. I don't know whose idea it was to go with this approach for the anniversary special, but it was a huge mistake.

https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marriedwithchildren/images/f/ff/George_Plimpton-MWC.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20140901012132

Good Times - Florida goes off to Arizona to marry Carl, then comes back with no Carl and Carl is written out of the show like he never existed.

Roseanne - having the Conners win the lottery.

Family Matters - dumping "Judy Winslow" with no explanation.

Mama's Family - after season 2, Vint's kids are written off the show and vanish with no explanation.

Mom - Character "Regina" who was once a big part of the ladies AA group just vanishes, never to be mentioned or heard from again.

lazy and/or stupid writers

Good Times - Florida goes off to Arizona to marry Carl, then comes back with no Carl and Carl is written out of the show like he never existed.

Roseanne - having the Conners win the lottery.

Family Matters - dumping "Judy Winslow" with no explanation.

Mama's Family - after season 2, Vint's kids are written off the show and vanish with no explanation.

Mom - Character "Regina" who was once a big part of the ladies AA group just vanishes, never to be mentioned or heard from again.

lazy and/or stupid writers

Former TV writer here - none of those decisions were at the hands of the writers. All were dictated by the producer/network based on ratings/salaries and audience testing.

Delta Burke was a beauty queen? Now that would have been a funny series!


No, I meant her character, Suzanne. She was a former beauty pageant contestant.


I understood that because her character was supposed to look a certain way, in the same way that Blair Warner on The Facts of Life was supposed to look a certain way, there might be some pressure for her to maintain her figure.


But Suzanne was a former beauty pageant contestant. Her figure wasn't necessary to the role: Delta could still play a self-absorbed character without any need to be svelte. They could still have written her as self-absorbed, but now fully beyond her beauty pageant days.





Speaking of Kevin James, we shouldn't forget the "indefensible decision" he made after the first season of "Kevin Can Wait" when he fired the actress who played his wife (and was doing a good job at it), replaced her with Leah Remini, all for the sake of higher ratings and cashing in on the current reunion trend, and even worse, killing off the character and treating it as a mere footnote and cheap punch line at the start of the next season. I still consider this as the most awful, heartless decision ever made by any series in history.


Ugh, don't remind me. That was such a disservice to the wife, as a character, and to the actress as well. And to the audience. It actually felt sinister, every time Kevin James would make a joke about her death. Painful to even watch it. :(

Well, there was the "They Shoot Fat Women, Don't They?" episode.


Thanks. I don't remember that episode at all (but then, it's been many years). As CFR says, it just makes it even more weird that the producers would fire Delta Burke. I mean, if they truly understood the plight of larger women, enough to produce an episode about it, why would they can Delta for weight gain?

Former TV writer here - none of those decisions were at the hands of the writers. All were dictated by the producer/network based on ratings/salaries and audience testing.

Yeah, I never said that the writers made the decisions. They are just the ones who wrote stupid story lines after the fact.

Thanks. I don't remember that episode at all (but then, it's been many years). As CFR says, it just makes it even more weird that the producers would fire Delta Burke. I mean, if they truly understood the plight of larger women, enough to produce an episode about it, why would they can Delta for weight gain?

There was a lot more to Delta being fired from DW than her weight. Her weight was just the tip of the iceberg. The real problem was a behind the scenes feud between Delta and the producers, which resulted in cast tensions between Delta and the other cast members, especially Dixie Carter. That coupled with Delta apparently having a bad attitude and becoming a diva was the real catalyst for Delta being fired; though her weight was partly to blame was well.

Yeah, I never said that the writers made the decisions. They are just the ones who wrote stupid story lines after the fact.

No problem - I'm a little sensitive. Everyone blames the writers when the producer tells us someone isn't coming back out of the blue, tells us some bizarre way to write them off and we have to make it happen. Okay. The writers don't control the storyline, we were told what was going to happen and had to write a script. Writer's don't' control casting decisions or storylines. That's done by the network and producer.

Former TV writer here - none of those decisions were at the hands of the writers. All were dictated by the producer/network based on ratings/salaries and audience testing.


Welcome to the discussion, Greenbeans. Your insight into the industry could be useful, here.


I somehow find it hard to believe that the Roseanne plotline for the Conners to win the lottery had anything to do with ratings, salaries, or audience testing. Roseanne Barr herself said it was because she wanted Roseanne Conner's life to mirror her own: she had become rich and famous, and thus Roseanne Conner also became rich.


The lottery idea itself wasn't bad, but it was so poorly executed because (according to Roseanne writer April Winchell), Roseanne was abusing drugs heavily by that last season, and could often barely get out of her dressing room, let alone run and star in a hit show. The writers who had made the show so successful had long since moved on, and instead of what could have been a skillful critique of what fortune does to a family, the series' final season was a massive trainwreck.

There was a lot more to Delta being fired from DW than her weight. Her weight was just the tip of the iceberg. The real problem was a behind the scenes feud between Delta and the producers, which resulted in cast tensions between Delta and the other cast members, especially Dixie Carter. That coupled with Delta apparently having a bad attitude and becoming a diva was the real catalyst for Delta being fired; though her weight was partly to blame was well.


Thanks for the reply. I don't think her weight should have played any role in her firing. Diva attitude, or mental health issues, fine. But weight gain? :lol:

I have a vague memory of that show when it was on. I remember being thrilled Delta was coming back as Suzanne Sugarbaker, but thought the show was terrible after tuning in.
Correct me if i'm wrong, but I remember a scene where she was actually singing and dancing? It was just really really bad.


It's on Tubi and I've been watching it periodically there. I don't recall a scene with Suzanne singing and dancing, but I might have seen it and forgot about it. Plus there's two episodes that I haven't gotten around to watching yet.

No, I meant her character, Suzanne. She was a former beauty pageant contestant.


I think Delta was too.

I think Delta was too.

Delta Burke was Miss Florida 1974.

It's on Tubi and I've been watching it periodically there. I don't recall a scene with Suzanne singing and dancing, but I might have seen it and forgot about it. Plus there's two episodes that I haven't gotten around to watching yet.

I figured out my confusion. I'm mixing it up with another sitcom attempt she made after Designing Women. The one she sang and danced in was called "Delta" where she played a country/western singer.

I have absolutely NO recollection of this series at all...just that vague memory of mortified horror of watching her sing and dance in her new sitcom.

I had to go to her Wikipedia page to find it, and in the Filmography list saw "Delta" was her first return to sitcom after Designing Women. This was September of 1992 and it only lasted for 17 episodes.

**I just found a full episode of it on You Tube....After seeing a bit of it, NOW i'm starting to remember this one because she had hideous platinum blond hair in this show. (and it was bad) So this was the one where she sang and danced. Here's a link to it if anyone's interested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYNRc5wDfSI

I was mixing that up with "Women of the House" which didn't come until 1995. I don't remember too much of that one, but I think it was the better of the 2 attempts.

I see she's only 63 now and hasn't really done much TV in years. I'd welcome another comeback attempt by her.

Delta Burke was Miss Florida 1974.

Yes she was. If I remember I heard she was a contestant in the Miss USA pageant but of course she didn't win.

Ed.

I would think “indefensible” would be something like cancelling a series or sacking an actor due to a grudge between a network or producer and/or actor. Like perhaps firing Valerie Harper from her 1980s show.

Delta Burke’s departure was not about her weight; rather, it was due to a power struggle between her and the producers, and her poor relationships with her colleagues:

https://people.com/archive/cover-story-odd-woman-out-vol-36-no-3/

Speaking of Kevin James, we shouldn't forget the "indefensible decision" he made after the first season of "Kevin Can Wait" when he fired the actress who played his wife (and was doing a good job at it), replaced her with Leah Remini, all for the sake of higher ratings and cashing in on the current reunion trend, and even worse, killing off the character and treating it as a mere footnote and cheap punch line at the start of the next season. I still consider this as the most awful, heartless decision ever made by any series in history.
I've never seen "Kevin Can Wait" but I've seen every episode of King Of Queens with Kevin James and Leah Remini. I didn't realize that Kevin was such a douche in real life. So on "Kevin Can Wait" he fired the wife character to replace her with Leah? Sounds like a real douche move if the original wife actress was doing a good job. Not only that, I think it was stupid to bring in Leah. Why not move on?

So did Leah take over the wife role on that show or was she a totally different character. How did she die? How long did the series run for? Was the show any good?

I've never seen "Kevin Can Wait" but I've seen every episode of King Of Queens with Kevin James and Leah Remini. I didn't realize that Kevin was such a douche in real life. So on "Kevin Can Wait" he fired the wife character to replace her with Leah? Sounds like a real douche move if the original wife actress was doing a good job. Not only that, I think it was stupid to bring in Leah. Why not move on?

So did Leah take over the wife role on that show or was she a totally different character. How did she die? How long did the series run for? Was the show any good?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Can_Wait

Delta Burke’s departure was not about her weight; rather, it was due to a power struggle between her and the producers, and her poor relationships with her colleagues:

https://people.com/archive/cover-story-odd-woman-out-vol-36-no-3/

That's not what Delta stated at the time (https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1990-11-14-9002250515-story.html).

"The once svelte, now plump Burke accuses the Thomasons of forcing her to go on "extreme diets" and of warning her that she was on the verge of being replaced on the show."


If she was forced to go on extreme diets, I can see where she would want to leave the show. No male star of a show has been axed because of his weight. And Delta's "poor relationships with her colleagues" doesn't explain why there continued to be a cast exodus after she left: the show became a revolving cast of characters. By the end, only Dixie Carter and Annie Potts, from the original cast, were left. It sounds like it became an unhappy set.

I would think “indefensible” would be something like cancelling a series or sacking an actor due to a grudge between a network or producer and/or actor. Like perhaps firing Valerie Harper from her 1980s show.


Yeah. They not only fired Valerie Harper, they called her "crazy" in court documents, and then killed off Valerie Hogan in the most painful way possible.

Allowing TV channels to show as many commercials as they want.


It's out of control. I record everything to DVR before watching so I can skip the commercials. I wouldn't mind a few, but they have become endless.

Yeah. They not only fired Valerie Harper, they called her "crazy" in court documents, and then killed off Valerie Hogan in the most painful way possible.

I recently read Valerie's autobiography and she mentioned how the producers tried to paint the picture of her as crazy, moody and erratic while on set and they even brought in videotape of her on set into court as evidence.

Valerie then brought into court good friend Carol Burnett as an expert witness to view these tapes and her testimony immensely helped shoot down that "crazy on set" theory producers tried to paint of her.

On the video, directors instructed Valerie to play a specific scene 3 different ways, one being soft, one in the middle and one being really intense and mad at her on screen son Jason Bateman's character. She did all 3 different ways as instructed and producers tried showing this acting as evidence of crazy!! Can you believe that?!

Burnett stated that all this shows is that Valerie was taking her instructions perfectly from directors and wonderfully so while showing her impressive range as an actress and it was that testimony that shot all that down and helped Valerie win her suit. And rightfully so. She got millions from Lorimer for the wrongful termination. (During the process, she dropped her suit against NBC and they continued hiring her for television movies.)

I can't believe I didn't think of this incidence for the topic question because it is a perfect example of "indefensible TV decisions".

Yeah. They not only fired Valerie Harper, they called her "crazy" in court documents, and then killed off Valerie Hogan in the most painful way possible.

In retrospect, I wonder what made the producers think they could get away with that.

I recently read Valerie's autobiography and she mentioned how the producers tried to paint the picture of her as crazy, moody and erratic while on set and they even brought in videotape of her on set into court as evidence. <br>
<br>
Valerie then brought into court good friend Carol Burnett as an expert witness to view these tapes and her testimony immensely helped shoot down that "crazy on set" theory producers tried to paint of her. <br>
<br>
On the video, directors instructed Valerie to play a specific scene 3 different ways, one being soft, one in the middle and one being really intense and mad at her on screen son Jason Bateman's character. She did all 3 different ways as instructed and producers tried showing this acting as evidence of crazy!! Can you believe that?! <br>
<br>
Burnett stated that all this shows is that Valerie was taking her instructions perfectly from directors and wonderfully so while showing her impressive range as an actress and it was that testimony that shot all that down and helped Valerie win her suit. And rightfully so. She got millions from Lorimer for the wrongful termination. (During the process, she dropped her suit against NBC and they continued hiring her for television movies.)<br>
<br>
I can't believe I didn't think of this incidence for the topic question because it is a perfect example of "indefensible TV decisions".

CFR, thanks so much for sharing this. While I remember the "Valerie" dispute very well, I didn't know about Carol Burnett testifying on her behalf. Carol is a living legend. So glad she was able to successfully defend Valerie against Lorimar.

I wonder if Valerie hadn't been set up during her last taped episode in order to provide the "crazy" footage, and that's the only reason they brought her back for what turned out to be her last episode.

In retrospect, I wonder what made the producers think they could get away with that.

I suppose the precedent was: all earlier TV and film producers were able to get away with it. The men who ran the film and television industries could blackball anyone they thought was a threat to their empires. If they could portray a rebellious star who dared question her salary, or the direction of the show, as crazy, they would. No-one had stopped them before. Actors and actresses who didn't do as demanded were simply... replaced.

CFR, thanks so much for sharing this. While I remember the "Valerie" dispute very well, I didn't know about Carol Burnett testifying on her behalf. Carol is a living legend. So glad she was able to successfully defend Valerie against Lorimar.

I wonder if Valerie hadn't been set up during her last taped episode in order to provide the "crazy" footage, and that's the only reason they brought her back for what turned out to be her last episode.

I had no idea of Carol Burnett testifying either until I read the book. Here's an excerpt from her book where Valerie describes her testimony. Excerpts in BOLD:

"Carol Burnett, an undeniable expert on television comedy acting, had already watched the tape of the entire evening. When she got to the three takes of the scene in question, her evaluation was "This is great. She did the same scene three ways, so the producers had three choices when they edited it. She was soft with her son. Then she was tough on him. Then she was in between. One scene, three distinct ways. Not only is this a good performance, it's great."

Carol also had something complimentary to say about the raw footage of the evening--the filmed record of what happened between takes. "Look," she said, "Valerie doesn't seem angry or upset between takes. In fact, you can see her laughing with the boys and joking with the audience. She's going beyond her duties as an actress. This is not unprofessional behavior in the least."

After Carol's powerful testimony, Lorimar had to take off the table their allegation that I was "unable to perform". It was clear that I'd comported myself professionally all evening. Soon all they were left with was the charge that I was unhappy with my job. People are unhappy with their jobs all the time, but they don't get fired for it. Truth be told, I wasn't unhappy. I wanted our contract upheld.

If they did try and set her up with those different takes, it was a very stupid move since she's obviously acting and following directions for different emotions to portray. I'm glad she was vindicated and won. And yeah, Carol Burnett was really wonderful to give that testimony. I always liked her. :)

That's not what Delta stated at the time (https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1990-11-14-9002250515-story.html).

"The once svelte, now plump Burke accuses the Thomasons of forcing her to go on "extreme diets" and of warning her that she was on the verge of being replaced on the show."

If she was forced to go on extreme diets, I can see where she would want to leave the show. No male star of a show has been axed because of his weight. And Delta's "poor relationships with her colleagues" doesn't explain why there continued to be a cast exodus after she left: the show became a revolving cast of characters. By the end, only Dixie Carter and Annie Potts, from the original cast, were left. It sounds like it became an unhappy set.

Read the People story. The cast and crew voted and they wanted her gone, because she was disruptive on the set. Linda Bloodworth wrote the They Shoot Fat Women, Dont They? episode for Delta. That doesnt sound like someone who was continuing to harass Delta about her weight.

Jean Smart left because she wanted to spend more time with her baby, which is tough to do with a weekly series. And Julia Duffy was let go because her character didnt work. Their departures had nothing to do with Delta.

This is another good story, more recent, which has interviews with the surviving cast members. They all make it clear that Delta’s problems were about much more than her weight. Including Delta herself.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/designing-women-at-30-a-tribute-to-the-four-man-loving-feminists-who-changed-tv-201223694.html

It wasn't just Delta being "disruptive" on set. Producers were pissed after she gave an interview revealing terrible work conditions on set. She accused them of forcing the actors to work over 15 hours a day and even went as far as barricading exits so they weren't able to leave.
After this was revealed by Delta, producers were most likely livid and whatever they were doing only escalated further. It's said Dixie Carter sided with producers and stopped speaking to Delta.
My take is that Delta was telling the truth and everyone punished her for it. So perhaps it wasn't solely the weight issue that got her the boot, but all this other stuff that snowballed.

It wasn't just Delta being "disruptive" on set. Producers were pissed after she gave an interview revealing terrible work conditions on set. She accused them of forcing the actors to work over 15 hours a day and even went as far as barricading exits so they weren't able to leave.
After this was revealed by Delta, producers were most likely livid and whatever they were doing only escalated further. It's said Dixie Carter sided with producers and stopped speaking to Delta.
My take is that Delta was telling the truth and everyone punished her for it. So perhaps it wasn't solely the weight issue that got her the boot, but all this other stuff that snowballed.

EDIT: I don't know why this posted twice??!!

You would think that after all these years, Delta Burke’s costars would have backed up her claims about the working conditions if they were that bad.

It wasn't just Delta being "disruptive" on set. Producers were pissed after she gave an interview revealing terrible work conditions on set. She accused them of forcing the actors to work over 15 hours a day and even went as far as barricading exits so they weren't able to leave.
After this was revealed by Delta, producers were most likely livid and whatever they were doing only escalated further. It's said Dixie Carter sided with producers and stopped speaking to Delta.
My take is that Delta was telling the truth and everyone punished her for it. So perhaps it wasn't solely the weight issue that got her the boot, but all this other stuff that snowballed.

EDIT: I don't know why this posted twice??!!

There was a glitch that happened last night where it caused the posts to post twice.

You would think that after all these years, Delta Burke’s costars would have backed up her claims about the working conditions if they were that bad.

Well the only one's still alive are Jean Smart & Annie Potts and I don't know how close they are to Delta after all this time and since so many years have passed they probably don't want to dredge that up again.

But I think it would be nice to finally hear from those two regarding exactly what happened and if their recollections match up with Delta's accusations.

I guess we may never know the full truth but my personal opinion is on Delta's side. She may have been guilty of some wrongdoing herself, but it always takes two to tango.

This is another good story, more recent, which has interviews with the surviving cast members. They all make it clear that Delta’s problems were about much more than her weight. Including Delta herself.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/designing-women-at-30-a-tribute-to-the-four-man-loving-feminists-who-changed-tv-201223694.html

Thanks for the link, which really is quite a resource. It truly is.

Those interviewed don't say that Delta, and Delta alone, was at fault. Indeed, disputes are rarely one person's fault.

From TVHerStory (https://www.tvherstory.com/longform/2017/2/8/designing-women-1-bodyshaming-0), which excerpts from Delta's 1998 book (three years after Delta and producers buried the hatchet):

"Delta Burke had dieted throughout her time on the show, particularly between seasons one and two. In her book, she lists some of those diets by name. She wrote that at the end of the first season, when she had heard rumors that network executives had given her an ultimatum to lose weight or lose the part, she went to great lengths to limit her food intake."

Delta: "The ‘weight problem’ was something I couldn’t ignore even if I wanted to. The issue was forced on me. When I was doing the Designing Women pilot, the image that sticks in my mind is me out there in the middle of the stage, with everybody looking at me, moving around me, and judging how I looked in outfits. ‘How,’ they asked, holding up their hands, ‘can we cover up those big old thighs?’ Talking about me like I was a piece of meat who couldn’t hear what they were saying."

So indeed there were cutting remarks on set, fat-shaming happened, and Delta herself maintains, even after reuniting with LB-T, that she heard rumors that she could be fired because of her weight gain. This is exactly in line with what other female stars in the 1980s have said, so it's in no way controversial.

I don't doubt that these comments and rumors didn't feed into Delta's insecurities (because of course they would), and only made the situation worse.

Minor compared to what we talked about so far, and Mike and Molly wasn't ever a deep sitcom, but changing it come season 4 to make Molly into, well, every other Melissa McCarthy character.