One of the show's taglines describe the character of Billie as: "Rude. Bitchy. Promiscuous. And those are her good qualities."; in fact many gags of the show are based on Billie's bad attitudes. Despite of this, however, it often proves to possess some good qualities, such as affection for family and friends, as well as being more significant than might at first sight seem.

Billie Frank was inspired by executive producer/creator Claudia Lonow's experience. Billie is an alcoholic has-been ex-soap actress who struggles with her self-destructive habits. She got famous for playing the part of Diana Gateway in the fictional soap "Emerald Bluff". She was born on 1965, and has a complicated relationship with her mother nymphomaniac and resistant to the idea of growing old, Trudy Franks (Lynn Redgrave). Situation that is one of major reason of the character's alcoholism.

At series beginning, Billie has a DWI accident and an embarrassing interview on an Entertainment Tonight type TV show, so with the help of her friends and the support of Alcoholics Anonymous, she decides to tries to manage her temper and her addictions. The show depicts her difficult relations with her mother, the other members of AA and her Neighbor, best friend, and later love interest, Dave Parelli (Jonathan Penner).

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