As a feminine boy who woke up at 5am every day in middle school to watch reruns on lifetime: I loved this show. It was such a meaningful experience to see it play out and I felt so seen and supported. I had no idea LBT was/is a Hillary person, but of course it makes sense! The gay episodes especially helped me so much, and I remember when I saw this episode. So powerful.
Oh yes, and I forgot to mention Meshach Taylor! He was a crucial member of the “family.’ And there were the anti-fat-shaming episodes, too. A great show.
And always a Julia Sugarbaker “moment” can get me through a tough spot!
I read once that Dixie Carter was conservative so each time she went on one of Julia’s rants she’d also work in a singing number so she could have some fun. ;)
I was assigned jury duty and it wasn’t quite as bad as all that, but I channeled my inner Julia to do it!
Last ones: I loved especially the way they cared for Bernice as she aged and they helped her maintain her dignity, and will always, always, always have a soft spot for Suzanne, her housekeeper and her pig. So many issues that we still can’t seem to get right, like blackface, and always through the complex and compassionate lenses brought by these women.
“Could she ever have gone by the name of Roberta Harwood?” in that Suzanne Sugarbaker tone! 😂
“You all act like I should be ordering fabric over at ‘Georgia Tent and Awning’.”
“As a matter of fact, after work I’ll probably be crashing my car into a Taco Bell, what’s it to you?”
The storyline of her romance with MT — so many wonderful things.
Thanks for this. I worked in broadcast news during this era and you hit all the high (and low) notes. I stll suffer with PTSD from my experiences. In fact i just came out with a memoir and writing about those experiences triggered me again! So good to read yor piece here.
I remember watching Maude, MTM, and Murphy Brown, but never watched Designing Women. I'll have to watch that episode. I like how you created a spectrum of shows using a feminist lens. In the shows I did watch, I think the only men who came off as being non-clueless were Lou Grant (I remember liking the spin-off show) and Murphy's painter Eldon (had to google his name). Thanks for this Susan.
I binged all of Designing Women while writing about them for Small Screen Souths just a few years ago. It’s a fascinating time capsule—much of which is still crucially relevant today. (And so much of it is fun to watch.)
As a feminine boy who woke up at 5am every day in middle school to watch reruns on lifetime: I loved this show. It was such a meaningful experience to see it play out and I felt so seen and supported. I had no idea LBT was/is a Hillary person, but of course it makes sense! The gay episodes especially helped me so much, and I remember when I saw this episode. So powerful.
Oh yes, and I forgot to mention Meshach Taylor! He was a crucial member of the “family.’ And there were the anti-fat-shaming episodes, too. A great show.
And always a Julia Sugarbaker “moment” can get me through a tough spot!
I read once that Dixie Carter was conservative so each time she went on one of Julia’s rants she’d also work in a singing number so she could have some fun. ;)
I was assigned jury duty and it wasn’t quite as bad as all that, but I channeled my inner Julia to do it!
Last ones: I loved especially the way they cared for Bernice as she aged and they helped her maintain her dignity, and will always, always, always have a soft spot for Suzanne, her housekeeper and her pig. So many issues that we still can’t seem to get right, like blackface, and always through the complex and compassionate lenses brought by these women.
“Could she ever have gone by the name of Roberta Harwood?” in that Suzanne Sugarbaker tone! 😂
“You all act like I should be ordering fabric over at ‘Georgia Tent and Awning’.”
“As a matter of fact, after work I’ll probably be crashing my car into a Taco Bell, what’s it to you?”
The storyline of her romance with MT — so many wonderful things.
Oh let me guess:
MURPHY BROWN?
Nope. But good guess !
Enjoyable read!
Thanks for this. I worked in broadcast news during this era and you hit all the high (and low) notes. I stll suffer with PTSD from my experiences. In fact i just came out with a memoir and writing about those experiences triggered me again! So good to read yor piece here.
I want to read your memoir! Is there a link on your stack? Or maybe post one here.
Of course. a.co/d/3J5Wnzy. Thank you for asking!
Just ordered!
Thank you
Hope you enjoy.
I remember watching Maude, MTM, and Murphy Brown, but never watched Designing Women. I'll have to watch that episode. I like how you created a spectrum of shows using a feminist lens. In the shows I did watch, I think the only men who came off as being non-clueless were Lou Grant (I remember liking the spin-off show) and Murphy's painter Eldon (had to google his name). Thanks for this Susan.
I binged all of Designing Women while writing about them for Small Screen Souths just a few years ago. It’s a fascinating time capsule—much of which is still crucially relevant today. (And so much of it is fun to watch.)
https://lsupress.org/9780807167144/small-screen-souths/
I really enjoyed this take on it, too—and even Linda Bloodworth-Thomason approved.
https://www.atlantamagazine.com/article/onstage-atlanta-designing-women-live-fundrais/