A show presumably about a small interior designer firm, though precious few episodes are actually about designing. And only a few episodes in, you get the feeling that the audience is what they are designing.
Playing the overplayed and trite cast-the-conservative-as-a-dufus card, the writers consistently consistently use the character of Suzanne Sugarbaker for straight lines to be struck down comically by the more liberal - and therefore more "enlightened" - partners. Liberal potshots at conservative politics were gratuitously and irrelevantly sprinkled into the script.
The character of Bernice Clifton used one whole episode to take a half-hour slam on the conservative church.
I'll grant that the show had it;'s truly funny moments. But unless you enjoy having your core values ridiculed, there was really little reason to watch the show.
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Show Summary
EDIT
Julia Sugarbaker (Dixie Carter), Mary Jo Shively (Annie Potts), Charlene Frazier-Stillfield (Jean Smart) and Suzanne Sugarbaker (Delta Burke) are associates at their design firm, Sugarbaker and Associates. Julia Sugarbaker is the owner of Sugarbaker and Associates and is very outspoken and strong-willed. Mary Jo Shively is a divorced single-parent who is just as strong-willed as Julia, but isn't as self-confident. Charlene is the naive and trusting farm girl from Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Suzanne Sugarbaker is the self-centered ex-beauty queen who has a number of wealthy ex-husbands.
At the end of Season 5 Delta Burke was fired from the series and Jean Smart left to pursue other goals. Two new characters were introduced: Allison Sugarbaker (Julia Duffy) and Carlene Frazier Dobber (Jan Hooks). Soon, Julia Duffy was taken out of the series and a final cast change brought in Bonnie Jean "B.J." Poteet (Judith Ivey).
The series was very successful for CBS, lasting 7 seasons (163 episodes). Reruns from the series continue to air on Lifetime.
In 1995, Delta Burke reconciled with the series creators and reprised her role of Suzanne Sugarbaker for the far less successful spin-off Women of the House, which co-starred Teri Garr and Patricia Heaton. Carter, Burke, and Bloodworth-Thomason had all previously worked together on the 1982-83 sitcom Filthy Rich, from which a lot of dialogue in Designing Women was recycled. Nielsen Ratings: (Top 30 or Better)
#23 in the 1989- 1990 Season
#11 in the 1990- 1991 Season
#6 in the 1991- 1992 Season
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 Dixie Carter |
Julia Sugarbaker |
 Annie Potts |
Mary Jo Shively |
 Meshach Taylor |
Anthony Bouvier |
 Delta Burke |
Suzanne Sugarbaker (Seasons 1-5) |
 Jean Smart |
Charlene Frazier (Seasons 1-3) |
 Jan Hooks |
Carlene Frazier Dobber (Seasons 6-7) |
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VIDEO TRIBUTE
Remembering Designing Women's Dixie Carter
Dixie Carter, known for her portrayal of Julia Sugarbaker on Designing Women, passed away last weekend; we've rounded up some of her memorable performances.
By Ilana Diamond, Apr 15, 2010
ACTRESS DIXIE CARTER, WHO USED HER CHARM AND STATELY BEAUTY IN A HOST OF ROLES ON BROADWAY AND TELEVISION, HAS DIED AT THE AGE OF 70.
Actress Dixie Carter dies at 70
By Press Association, Apr 13, 2010
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Season 6 on DVD: 3rd of april, 2012
01/09/121Reply
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It's back in Styndication
10/04/111Reply
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Season 5 DVD Info
09/10/111Reply
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Season 4 on DVD - 14th of September :)
05/26/101Reply
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Dixie Carter has passed on at the age 70
04/12/105Reply
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Themes
buddies and gal pals, ensemble cast, for women, gender roles, laugh track