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Season 1 – Designing Women

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Designing Women Sep 1986 Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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73% Tomatometer 15 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Series creator Linda Bloodworth-Thomason uses the fictional Atlanta design firm of Sugarbaker and Associates as a witty bully pulpit for caustic social and political humor. The founder of the company is Julia Sugarbaker, a sharp-tongued but elegant and surprisingly compassionate woman. Her younger sister, Suzanne, is a former beauty queen who is long on charm but a bit slow on the uptake. Their associates are Mary Jo Shively, a recent divorcee, and officer manager Charlene Frazier, whose sweetness is matched only by her naivete. Their deliverman is Anthony Bouvier, a well-spoken ex-convict, and cheerfully dotty senior citizen Bernice Clifton often drops by for a visit as well.
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Designing Women — Season 1

Designing Women — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Although the jokes don't always stick the landing, the excellent actresses alone make Designing Women worth watching.

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Critics Reviews

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Marvin Kitman Newsday 04/18/2022
Designing Women is a promising show, but it doesn't seem to be a big hot comedy. It’s too traditional -- an insult-humor show like Golden Girls at a time when the opposition is doing Sledge Hammer and ALF and Amen. Go to Full Review Howard Rosenberg Los Angeles Times 05/29/2018
Punchless punch lines that leave this very good cast all dressed up with no place to go. Go to Full Review Clifford Terry Chicago Tribune 05/29/2018
Already tiresomely pegged as a younger version of The Golden Girls. Go to Full Review Michael Cuby them. 11/01/2022
Designing Women is one of those sitcoms everyone should see. Go to Full Review Bruce R. Miller Sioux City Journal 04/18/2022
Dixie Carter, Delta Burke, Jean Smart and Annie Potts (winners all) play four interior designers who share their lives and loves over a swatch book. The lines are snappy (and a bit risqué) and just what CBS needs to shed its lethargic image. Go to Full Review Karl Vick Tampa Bay Times 04/18/2022
The characters are true in the manner of effective scenery -- exaggerated just a little. And the dialogue works so well you don't know which to credit more, writing or cast. Go to Full Review Read all reviews
Designing Women — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Delta Burke

Suzanne Sugarbaker

Dixie Carter

Julia Sugarbaker

Jean Smart

Charlene Frazier Stillfield

Annie Potts

Mary Jo Shively

Meshach Taylor

Anthony Bouvier

Richard Gilliland

J.D. Shackleford

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Sep 29, 1986 Pilot Julia and Charlene are horrified to learn Suzanne has fallen for Mary Jo's ex-husband (Scott Bakula). Details Episode 2 Aired Oct 6, 1986 The Beauty Contest Charlene agrees to sponsor Mary Jo's daughter (Priscilla Weems) in the Miss Pre-Teen Atlanta Contest. Details Episode 3 Aired Oct 20, 1986 A Big Affair Suzanne arranges a date for Charlene with a very portly gentleman (Walter Olkewicz). Details Episode 4 Aired Oct 27, 1986 Julia's Son Julia is shocked to learn her son (George Newbern) is dating a college professor who is twice his age. Details Episode 5 Aired Nov 3, 1986 Mary Jo's First Date Mary Jo goes on a date; Julia learns that her tax auditor is a man she verbally abused in a restaurant. Details Episode 6 Aired Nov 17, 1986 Design House Suzanne's first redecorating assignment ends when the house she is working on burns to the ground. Details Episode 7 Aired Nov 24, 1986 Perky's Visit Julia and Suzanne's mother (Louise Lathem) and her friend (Alice Ghostley) visit Sugarbakers for Thanksgiving. Details Episode 8 Aired Dec 4, 1986 I Do, I Don't After a wild night on the town, Julia's attorney, Reese Watson (Hal Holbrook), proposes marriage. Details Episode 9 Aired Dec 4, 1986 The IT Men Charlene gets involved with a married man (Madison Mason) who is also a Sugarbakers' client. Details Episode 10 Aired Dec 18, 1986 The Slumber Party A maid puts a voodoo curse on Suzanne and she persuades Julia, Charlene and Mary Jo to spend the night. Details Episode 11 Aired Jan 1, 1987 New Year's Daze On New Year's Eve, Charlene's date, Thomas Callaway, raises suspicions of being a dangerous prison escapee. Details Episode 12 Aired Feb 1, 1987 Old Spouses Never Die Mary Jo and J.D.'s romance heats up despite interference from their respective ex-spouses; Charlene receives disturbing medical news. Details Episode 13 Aired Feb 1, 1987 Old Spouses Never Die Mary Jo and J.D.'s (Richard Gilliland) romance heats up despite interference; Charlene receives disturbing medical news. Details Episode 14 Aired Feb 8, 1987 Monette The women are forced to consider the ethics involved in a most lucrative assignment. Details Episode 15 Aired Feb 15, 1987 And Justice for Paul The ladies face jail when Charlene's friend offers them authentic antiques at bargain prices. Details Episode 16 Aired Feb 22, 1987 Reese's Friend Julia jumps to the conclusion that Reese is seeing another woman. Details Episode 17 Aired Mar 16, 1987 Nashville Bound Charlene is convinced that she will become the next country music star. Details Episode 18 Aired Mar 23, 1987 O Susannah Suzanne volunteers her services as a temporary foster mother to a Vietnamese girl (Connie Lew). Details Episode 19 Aired Apr 6, 1987 Mary Jo's Dad Dates Charlene Mary Jo's divorced father takes a romantic interest in Charlene. Details Episode 20 Aired Apr 13, 1987 Seams From a Marriage The women of Sugarbakers begin receiving lavish gifts from a wealthy couple (Guy Boyd, Janet Carroll). Details Episode 21 Aired May 4, 1987 Grand Slam, Thank You Ma'am An ex-husband's (Gregg Henry) sizzling autobiography reveals some personal moments in his marriage to Suzanne. Details Episode 22 Aired May 11, 1987 Bachelor Suite Mary Jo is sexually harassed by a handsome and wealthy client. Details

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Season Info

Director
Jack Shea, Barnet Kellman, Arlene Sanford, Michael Lassac, Harry Thomason, Ellen Gittelsohn, Matthew Diamond, David Steinberg
Network
CBS
Rating
TV-PG (D)
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date
Sep 29, 1986