Designing Women

[ClassyCo]

"Killing All the Right People" (S2, E4) just might be the most famous episode in the history of DESIGNING WOMEN. Kendall Dobbs (guest star Tony Goldwyn) is a young man who also works as a interior designer. He is a friend of the ladies as Sugarbaker's, even though this is the first time he's been mentioned on-screen that any of them know him. Kendall comes by Sugarbaker's one day and asks Julia, Suzanne, Mary Jo, and Charlene if they'd be willing to decorate his funeral. Shocked, the ladies learn that Kendall has contracted AIDS and is dying. This sets in motion perhaps the first straightforward "message" episode we've had on DESIGNING WOMEN so far.

The women are naturally all concerned about Kendall and there is significant dialogue provided to cue the viewers in on AIDS, who it effects, how it is contracted, and so on. Julia is the midst of helping a snooty client named Imogene Salinger (guest star Camilla Carr), who rips poor Kendall to shreds when she learns he's the young man dying with AIDS. Imogene is the one that says that AIDS is "killing all the right people", hence the title of the episode. Julia, naturally, comes to the defense of Kendall and puts Imogene in her place, exclaiming that her holier-than-thou attitude is what is wrong with people and their perception on an issue like AIDS.

The B-plot of the episode concerns Mary Jo being tasked with taking the "pro" side of teenagers being given sex-related materials upon request at school.

This whole episode feels like an "After School" special masquerading as a sitcom episode. The first few minutes barely have a laugh, and you can practically hear the silence of the audience. It's almost like the audience is taken off guard by the dramatic, in-your-face subject matter.

Then comes "Half an Air Bubble Off" (S2, E5), where Sugarbaker's works with the wealthy, but weirdly eccentric Lamar Tyson (guest star Elliott Reid). When the man takes to fancying Julia, the quartet decides to set him up with Berniece (Alice Ghostley), whose entered into the Mrs. Senior Citizen Beauty Pageant. This just might be the funniest episode of Season 2 I've seen so far, and it's definitely Berniece's best episode yet. This is also the first episode where the women go from saying "Mrs. Clifton" to "Berniece".

I almost skipped "Killing All the Right People" today because I've seen a few times before. DESIGNING WOMEN leans left in its politics, and with that, my right-leaning views don't typically align with what the writers push in these "message" episodes. I do not see AIDS a punishment for one's sins, but I also do not think it is wise to push or offer sex-related material to teenagers. Sure, everyone won't agree with the messages the show presents, just as everyone won't agree with mine. This a forum, so to each their own.

I'm looking forward to Season 2 steadily approving. As I recall, there are quite a few good episodes on the back-half of this season.

Happy Viewing!

 

[Daniel Avery]

Julia's best line in her tirade against Imogene:
"If God were giving out sexually transmitted diseases as punishment for sinning, then you would be at the free clinic all the time!"

 

[ClassyCo]

I've watched several more episodes of DESIGNING WOMEN, putting me halfway through Season 2.

Just some random thoughts about some random episodes:

We meet Suzanne's other ex-husband, Dash Goff (guest star Gerald McRaney) in "Dash Goff, the Writer" (S2, E6). Dash comes back to Atlanta after suffering writer's block, but eventually finds his inspiration again. Delta Burke and Gerald McRaney have good chemistry together (no wonder they got married in real-life), and the episode ends with a good ode to Southern belles and a nice portrait of the four women.

I had forgotten how much "Cruising" (S2, E8) is basically a showcase for female impersonator Charles Pierce. We see his impressions of Bette Davis and Joan Collins, and even see him out of drag as the steward and waiter aboard the run-down ocean liner. There's a B-plot where Suzanne and Mary Jo compete for who can find the better-looking date for the captain's dinner.

"I'll Be Seeing You" (S2, E9) marks the debut of Douglas Barr as Colonel Bill Stillfield, the handsome stranger who steals Charlene's heart. The episode has a nice little throwback to a WWII-style gathering hole and offers a nice slice of nostalgia. Don't get me started on Dixie Carter's singing, though. Yes, it's that bad.

"I'll Be Home for Christmas" (S2, E12) is a sweet holiday episode, providing some good laughs and some touching sentiment throughout. I enjoy the interplay between Charlene and Anthony in the episode, and I also like how Charlene (even as an adult) still holds a childlike innocence and fondness for the Christmas season. Again, Dixie Carter sings and it is bad.

We finally meet Anthony's prison cellblock mate T. Tommy Reed (guest star M. C. Gainey) in "Great Expectations" (S2, E13), but being this is an Anthony-heavy episode, it's not necessarily a favorite of mine.

I felt genuinely heartbroken for Charlene in "Second Time Around" (S2, E14) when she and Bill have their issues and break-up. To say I was happy at their reconciliation in the end would be an understatement.

I don't believe I've ever seen "Oh, Brother" (S2, E15) before this morning. It's the episode where Julia and Suzanne's half-brother Clayton (guest star Lewis Grizzard) has been released from a mental hospital and wants to try his hand at stand-up comedy. I had zero memory of this episode whatsoever, but I found it fun for what it was. I'm almost certain there is no other reference to Clayton outside of this episode. (Kind of like Blanche's brother Clayton on THE GOLDEN GIRLS is never mentioned but in the two episodes in which he appears.)

That's all I've got so far.

Happy viewing!

 

[Soaplover]

The strength of this show was that all five leads in the first five seasons had such chemistry with one another that they could be paired up in an episode and it would be funny. I have so many memorable scenes of Mary Jo/Charlene, Charlene/Julia, Charlene/Suzanne, etc and that is the secret to a strong show.

 

[ClassyCo]

I've finished Season 2 and I've watched the first two episodes of Season 3. The wife and I watched several episodes last night. She didn't use to be a big fan of DESIGNING WOMEN (she preferred THE GOLDEN GIRLS), but the former has grown on her over time and she actually quite enthusiastic when I proposed the idea of us watching some of DESIGNING WOMEN last night.

"There's Some Black People Coming Over to Dinner" (S2, E16) tackles the issue of black-white interracial relationships directly, if in a very '80s-TV-kind-of-way. In this case, it's Mary Jo's teenage daughter Claudia who wants to go to the school dance with a black boy in her class. Mary Jo, naturally, is all for it, but the boy's father is less accepting. Just once I wish these shows would tackle race from white disapproving of blacks, y'know just to shake things up. But I guess that wouldn't be "P.C." enough.

Suzanne loses her fortune in "The Return of Ray Don" (S2, E17), but gambles it back in Atlantic City just one episode later in "High Rollers" (S2, E18). These two episodes bring some funny Suzanne moments, and there's even some memorable scenes between Suzanne, Charlene, and Anthony, the three whom always get caught in some sort of trouble.

"The Incredibly Elite..." (S2, E19) (Who wants to the that long title? Go look it up.) brings "The Beauty Contest", the second episode of the show, back to my mind. Suzanne has the opportunity to join this snooty, uppity Atlanta country club, but only if Julia joins too. Of course, as life would slice it, the club thinks Suzanne is tacky and only wants Julia. When Julia learns this, she gives the snooty people a piece of her mind before sliding out in the ever-so-classy Julia Sugarbaker fashion.

One thing I like about DESIGNING WOMEN is how it deals with real issues, often in a very authentic, Southern way. Such is the case with "How Great Thou Art" (S2, E20), where poor Charlene's faith in her Baptist preacher is rattled when she learns he doesn't support women ministers. I must say that the subject of women preachers is quite touchy in various parts in the South. Some churches are outright against it. I like how the show handles the issue and how Charlene makes it clear that she isn't questioning God, but questioning the man she's allowed to pastor her for so many years. There's some really good moments from Bernice in the episode, who spurts a lot of Bible verses in favor of women in the ministry.

"Ted-Bare" (S2, E21) basically centers on Mary Jo's possible reconciliation with her ex-husband Ted. Was Ted trying to patch things up with Mary Jo, or was Mary Jo overthinking things? I honestly couldn't tell you. As I've said, Mary Jo-centric episodes aren't my favorite.

"Reservations for Eight" (S2, E22) is another quite iconic episode of the show. Julia, Suzanne, Mary Jo, and Charlene take Reese, Dash, JD, and Bill, respectively, to a snowy cabin. What happens is a battle of the sexes comedy and it's the men versus the women. There are some hilarious moments with the entire cast going back and forth between one another at the cabin. It's genuinely funny and easily one of the best episodes of the show in my opinion. It's a strong Season 2 finale.

Season 3 starts off strong with "Reservations for Twelve, Plus Ursula" (S3, E1), where the heard of men and women and their kids go away for a few days. A young, good-looking Swedish woman, Ursula, is hired to help during their stay, and another battle of the sexes ensues. This time, though, the women are ruffled by Ursula and how the man fawn over her. Suzanne handles it all in the finale scene in what is easily one of Delta Burke's most memorable bits on the entire show.

"The Candidate" (S3, E2) is a conservative versus liberal episode, where the liberal view is definitely presented as the "better" of the two viewpoints. It's honestly a mid-range episode overall. Julia has a lot of rants and they get a little overbearing for me.

I'm sliding on through this watch of DESIGNING WOMEN. Any one else wanna watch and share their ideas?

 

[Chris2]

I discovered that Hulu has DW, and not the syndicated edits that have been floating around for years, but the full-length versions, complete with original openings.

I find the show is very hit or miss. When it’s good, it’s very good. I like sitcoms that are funny but can show heart (and not in a cheesy way, a la TGIF sitcoms). “The Rowdy Girls” is a good example of this and so are “There She Is” and“They Shoot Fat Women, Don’t They”. That said, I don’t like it when it gets too preachy, which it does too often, especially when Linda Bloodworth Thomason is writing the episode. Some of the best episodes don’t get into issues or drama, and just focus on the funny, like “Foreign Affairs”, where Anthony helps Suzanne’s maid pass a citizenship test.

The men vs women episodes are not my favorites; I don’t particularly care for the male characters, and has there ever been a duller actor on the show than blandly handsome Doug Barr?

I think the strongest seasons are 4 and 5, and this is when Bloodworth-Thomason pulled back a bit to work on “Evening Shade”, so Pam Norris was writing some of the scripts.

I’ve been enjoying your posts - thanks for doing them.

 

[Daniel Avery]

Suzanne handles it all in the finale scene in what is easily one of Delta Burke's most memorable bits on the entire show.

I do recall how brilliantly Suzanne "righted" the whole situation with the au pair, Ursula, flouncing around acting totally unaware of the effect she was having on the men.
Paraphrasing Suzanne: "The problem here is that you're just...too much. I oughta know, because I'm too much too."
Ursula: "What are you saying?"
Suzanne: "What I'm sayin' is that you need to take your great big knockers and hit the road."

 

[ClassyCo]

"E.P. Phone Home" (S3, E3) mixes goofy and sentiment quite well. Charlene wins tickets to Graceland, and being the Elvis mega-fan she is, she pulls the whole crew along with her. There are a fair amount Elvis fandom jokes and speculation, but Julia has a touching scene with a truck driver whose son looked up to Elvis.

"Getting Married and Eating Dirt" (S3, E4) wasn't a standout at all. Bernice thinks she's received a marriage proposal, and Julia rants about a magazine article saying all Southerners eat dirt.

I was surprised at how I liked "Big Haas and Little Falsie" (S3, E5), even though it focuses on Mary Jo's deciding on whether or not she wants breast implants. There were actually some really funny scenes for Mary Jo this go-round.

"Hard Hats and Lovers" (S3, E6) isn't very memorable, but I do like the scenes with Charlene and Bill's romance. They're such a cute, charming couple. Likewise, "Curtains" (S3, E7) is basically a bland installment dealing with the poor working conditions of people in a factory.

One of my favorite episodes of the show is "The Wilderness Experience" (S3, E8), where Bernice has paid for everyone to take part in a days-long experience in the Georgia wilderness. There are some delightful moments for Bernice, Suzanne, Charlene, and I always like to see Julia butt heads with Edie, the woman she's paired up with during the experience. Even Anthony has some funny moments disguised as Cindy. It's a favorite of mine, and has been for a long time.

Happy viewing!

 

[Daniel Avery]

Anthony disguised (badly) as a woman named Cindy Birdsong* is one of the most hilariously silly things ever in the series, but man, could Meshach Taylor sell it. The high-pitched voice had me copying the line (and its delivery) for years:

Edie: "Who signed you in?"
"Cindy Birdsong": "I dunno...some white girl".

Every time the ladies+Anthony left Atlanta, they all seemed to end up in the middle of a disaster, with Anthony usually getting hit the hardest.

* And it was many, many years before I found out that Cindy Birdsong was a real person and was not just some random name Anthony made up in desperation:

Cindy Birdsong - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Chris2]

Despite the show’s floors, boy does that original quartet have chemistry! The characters balance each other out perfectly. Suzanne is a wonderful comic center, but I think Charlene was underrated with her warmth - the show suffered just as much from her absence.

 

[Soaplover]

Of the four original lead female characters, the show took longest to find Mary Jo's comedy sweet spot.. and I think episodes such as Big Haas and Little Falsie showcased her sweet spots as a comedic character.

 

[Chris2]

Despite the show’s floors, boy does that original quartet have chemistry! The characters balance each other out perfectly. Suzanne is a wonderful comic center, but I think Charlene was underrated with her warmth - the show suffered just as much from her absence.

Apologies - meant flaws! Although I bet the floors at Sugarbaker’s were nice too - probably hardwood.

 

[ClassyCo]

Despite the show’s floors, boy does that original quartet have chemistry! The characters balance each other out perfectly. Suzanne is a wonderful comic center, but I think Charlene was underrated with her warmth - the show suffered just as much from her absence.

DESIGNING WOMEN definitely has some low points, but the original quartet play fabulously together. Regardless to any behind-the-scenes friction, their interplay on-screen is practically flawless. Their banter and relationships seem genuine.

Delta Burke as Suzanne is easily my favorite of the four. Suzanne is one of the best sitcom characters there's ever been in my opinion. In saying that, during my current episode-by-episode rewatch, I'm liking Jean Smart as Charlene more and more. She is honestly the heart of the show, and the most relatable character in the ensemble.

I'm almost halfway through Season 3 so far, and I'm already dreading Burke and Smart's exit after Season 5 -- yeah, I know Jean Smart sticks around for the sixth season premiere.

 

[ClassyCo]

The episode "Tyrone" (S3, E9) sees Anthony acting as a big brother to a young juvenile delinquent. It gets too schmaltzy for me. I liked "Mr. Bailey" (S3, E10) better, where Sugarbaker's client passed away and they end up having to decorate a home for a cat, whose been left millions in a will.

"The Naked Truth" (S3, E11) is a really good episode, where the ladies decide to decorate a nudist camp. This episode is also when Julia and Suzanne's nieces, Camilla and Jennifer, come and they offer some great highlights. Camilla's final line is a standout. In response to Jennifer's request for needing makeup for red cheeks, Camilla says, "Jennifer, if you want red cheeks, why don't I just slap them for you?"

"The Junies" (S3, E12) finds Charlene getting tangled up in a personality cult (or sorta) when she starts selling Lady June cleaning products. This episode has always been a favorite of mine. I like how Suzanne knows that Julia's "Terminator" mode won't work on these sales ladies.

Suzanne becomes the object of desire for a blind client in "One Sees, the Other Doesn't" (S3, E13). Naturally, worries about the relationship, fearing her image as the "pretty one" is lost and that she is no longer herself while dating a blind man. On the flip side, the blind man gives Julia, Mary Jo, and Charlene some insight on Suzanne, proving their superficial view of her isn't complete.

Charlene's younger brother takes center stage in "Odell" (S3, E14) when he comes to town and stirs up trouble in an old family feud by announcing his intentions to elope. This episode honestly has some touching moments, and even though the bow that's wrapped up at the end comes too fast, I like it and find the episode enjoyable.

"Full Moon" (S3, E15) is another essential episode of the entire show. Julia has an embarrassing moment when her dress gets hung in her pantyhose at a fashion show, Suzanne is receiving threats to barbecuing her pet pig, Mary Jo is trying to keep her teenage daughter from having sex, Charlene is hosting a sleepover, and Anthony is being recruited to help Suzanne. Of course, there are funny results, as everyone ends up at the police station at the end. This is easily one of my favorite episodes.

Happy viewing!

 

[Daniel Avery]

"Full Moon" is just peak DW. It only works because we know and like all these characters, and have gotten used to the way they draw the best and worst out of one another. Mary Jo muttering Don't have sex under her breath would seem ridiculous to a new viewer, but knowing their history with those silly National Enquirer articles Charlene shares with them (in this case, an article about subliminal suggestion) makes it hilarious. And how can you not enjoy "the day Julia mooooooned Atlanta" [/wide-eyed Suzanne]. The image of Suzanne, clad in her ostrich-feather nightgown, leaning out her window and shooting an AK-47 into the night should not be as riotously funny as it is, though I would not laugh if Anthony were nearby. No wonder Noel ran away.

 

[Soaplover]

"One Sees, the Other Doesn't" I liked that Julia did defend her sister Suzanne after the way Mary Jo/Charlene went off on Suzanne for wanting to break the date... and even did say 'it's silly, but maybe she fears that she doesn't have other resources other than her looks'. It showed me that Julia knew that Suzanne had more to offer than her looks.

 

[ClassyCo]

We finished up Season 3 of DESIGNING WOMEN over the weekend. I can't believe we breezed through that many episodes, but Hulu was on a continuous loop this past Friday night.

I swear Mary Jo won't be happy with J.D. for anything. In "Ms. Meal Ticket" (S3, E16), she and J.D. temporarily move in together while his new condo is being approved by the bank. Of course, when J.D. suddenly looses his job, things go haywire. Mary Jo is driven crazy because he's taking over the house chores. She just has to bring it to his attention, make the poor man feel bad, and then she practically forces him out of her home. What irritates me about these liberal-leaning shows is how they have to put someone down in order to lift someone else up. In this case, it's lowering men to elevate women.

I have zero recollection of seeing "The Engagement" (S3, E17) before. This is where Charlene and Bill get engaged and Bill takes Charlene home to meet his fussy mom and even fussier aunt. It's a typical social class conflict-type of episode where Charlene, the poor class, is made to feel inferior by Bill's high class family. In the following episode, "Come On and Marry Me, Bill" (S3, E18), we see Charlene and Bill tie the knot. It's a shenanigans episode because, this being a sitcom, they can't just get married without some hiccups along the way. Oh, and don't get me started on Julia's singing again. It's terrible!

"The Women of Atlanta" (S3, E19) has always been an episode I liked. Charlene gets the gang involved with a shady photographer wanting to take pictures of business women who work in Atlanta. Naturally, the man wants them to pose seductively and in questionable outfits. Mary Jo, for instance, ends up in an outfit that looks "like something Bo Derek washed up on the beach in". Julia, as one would imagine, ends up telling the sleaze bag off in the end, just as everything gets tied up in a nice little bow.

"Stand and Fight" (S3, E20) brings us to an inevitable episode for a sitcom led by women -- the self defense episode. After Mary Jo is mugged, the women all take a self defense course to help them become better equip with potential violence on the streets. There's some funny Suzanne bits, as she does, as is inevitable, become too invested in being the best at self defense.

"The Last Humorously Dressed Bellboy in America" (S3, E21) is quite a funny episode. Suzanne's old accountant, Reggie Mac, comes back to town and she vows to make him pay for stealing her money. Of course, nothing goes as planned, but it's a fun ride all the way.

The Season 3 finale, "Julia Drives Over the First Amendment" (S3, E22), is a typical "Julia Rants" episode. She takes it upon herself to keep running into a local news stand because she doesn't like the magazines and posters they're selling and advertising. I must agree that the depiction and representation of women isn't acceptable, but Julia could've handled it differently. She just gets to heavy handed about some stuff.

I haven't started Season 4 just yet, but I will soon. Just giving myself a little breather.

 

[Soaplover]

"Julia Drives Over the First Amendment" (S3, E22) has my favorite Charlene/Suzanne team up when they go to see the head of the magazine with both of them tag teaming the owner.. and a great parting remark from Suzanne shows that she and Julia are more alike then either admit LOL

 

[ClassyCo]

"Julia Drives Over the First Amendment" (S3, E22) has my favorite Charlene/Suzanne team up when they go to see the head of the magazine with both of them tag teaming the owner.. and a great parting remark from Suzanne shows that she and Julia are more alike then either admit LOL

Yes! That was a hilarious bit for Charlene and Suzanne. They're easily my two favorite characters on the show!

 

[Daniel Avery]

I have zero recollection of seeing "The Engagement" (S3, E17) before. This is where Charlene and Bill get engaged and Bill takes Charlene home to meet his fussy mom and even fussier aunt. It's a typical social class conflict-type of episode where Charlene, the poor class, is made to feel inferior by Bill's high class family.

What I like about this episode is how Julia explains to Charlene (and thus the audience) that the purpose of manners is to put your guests at ease, and not to use as a weapon against them. A lot of non-Southerners seem intimidated by (or just plain incensed by) our "Southern Hospitality" and want to believe that our behavior is two-faced or somehow has a negative intent (like the behavior of Bill's relatives). Having Julia point out that their behavior was not normal and not acceptable (and helping Charlene stand up for herself, if not standing up to them) helps make it clearer to those who needed to know it. Charlene had the "double whammy" against her: an inferiority complex from her modest upbringing, and that nagging voice in the back of everyone's mind that tells you to be respectful and deferential to your elders, even non-relatives. Yes, there are snobs and bullies in all cultures, but these ol' biddies should not be given a pass just because they're older ladies who know which fork to use with their salad.