ABC Shelves COUNTER CULTURE Pilot Due to Delta Burke Injury

Deadline.com reports that the ABC network has shelved its pilot COUNTER CULTURE due to an injury to its star Delta Burke. The actress reportedly took a fall on the set during pre-shooting, only days before main taping in front of a live audience was to begin.

After it was learned that Burke would not be recovering quickly from her injury, pilot producers decided to shelve the project. The show's insurance company must now sort out issues such as compensation for the cast and crew due to the shutdown. According to the report, the actors have not been formally released from their contracts.

COUNTER CULTURE was written and executive produced by Stephnie Weir and executive produced by Claudia Lonow. The pilot was considered to be an early favorite and was the first comedy pilot to be picked up by the network. Production had been previously held up due to casting difficulties.

The show was to center on three sisters, Billie (Kerri Kenney), Nonie (Burke) and Joyce (Margo Martindale) who together manage their family diner in West Texas. The siblings run into a host of issues resulting from their differing personalities. Doris Roberts was cast as the sisters’ aunt.