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.
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 let me guess:
MURPHY BROWN?
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 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/