Dixie & Delta Reunite

ET: On-camera, Delta Burke and Dixie Carter were sassy co-stars in Designing Women, but turmoil behind-the-scenes ended their friendship. Now, the stars are back together and, for the first time, talk about what happened for our Entertainment Tonight Cover Story.

DIXIE: We were apart for a long time. And, now we're very grateful that we're together again. (both Dixie and Delta smile)

ET: They were the closest of friends who became like sisters during their hit tv show, Designing Women.

DELTA: See, I'm the broad, and she's the lady. (Dixie laughs) And I'm proud to be a broad!

DIXIE: We're both from the South . . . We both were in beauty contests -- although she won her's, you know she was Miss Florida, and I was 1st runner up to Miss Tennessee.

ET: Their rift began during Delta's last year on Designing Women when she had very public problems with the producers. The two women didn't talk for years, but when Dixie learned from columnist, Liz Smith, about a death in Delta's family, the time was right for reconciliation.

DIXIE: She said: "Delta's grandmother has passed away." (Dixie pauses) So that was --

DELTA: Oh, she told you? (Dixie nods) I didn't know that.

DIXIE: -- and so then, I began to think, well . . . gulp, gulp . . . you know, this is our life going by here.

DELTA: She wrote this very sweet letter, and it was so very touching, and I called her up, and we just talked for hours.

ET: Their relationship preceeded Designing Women, going back 20 years to the series, Filthy Rich.

DELTA: My whole experience in Hollywood, Dixie was a part of.

ET: Now, they're working together again on Dixie's CBS drama, Family Law. Delta is guest-starring as Dixie's cousin, who's accused of abusing her elderly mom, who suffers from Alzheimers.

{CLIP FROM THE UPCOMING EPISODE OF "FAMILY LAW"}

DELTA: We'll be doing the scenes, and I'll be talking about my "mom," but a lot of times I'll be thinking about my grandmother, and she knew my grandmother and I knew her mother, and we miss them and love them, and we have a lot of just shared experiences and history.

ET: Dixie is making sure Delta gets everything she wants on the set -- like her favorite drink: Coke on the rocks.

ET: There is news tonight that the CBS series, Family Law, could be cancelled. We were behind the scenes with guest star, Delta Burke, as she reunited with her Designing Women pal, Dixie Carter, for the season's final episode.

DELTA: It's been really fun (laughing) except that we're not behaving.

{CLIP FROM THE UPCOMING EPISODE OF "FAMILY LAW"}

ET: The two play cousins in Monday's episode and while their TV reunion was a happy one, the storyline is much more serious. Dixie has to defend Delta against accusations she abused her mother, an Alzheimer's patient.

{CLIP FROM THE UPCOMING EPISODE OF "FAMILY LAW"}

DIXIE: The emotional scenes were like (snaps her fingers) this because it comes up so fast, so easily.

ET: And while this may be the finale for Family Law, it's not the last time these two will work together.

DELTA: Oh, it's been great! I get Coke on the rocks. Of course, that's all I ever ask for -- just give me a Coke on the rocks (Dixie laughs) and I'm a happy woman, and uh --

DIXIE: And I keep her cigarette intake down to nothing.

DELTA: Yeah, a Coke and a smoke, that's me.

ET: The two have a lot in common: They're both from the South and they're both former beauty pageant contestants -- Delta was a Miss Florida, Dixie was first runner up to Miss Tennessee.

Back to Talk Shows