Designing Women


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

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About

From Wikipedia:

Designing Women is an American television sitcom that centered around the working and personal lives of four Southern women and one man in an interior design firm in Atlanta, Georgia. It aired on the CBS Television network from September 29, 1986 until May 24, 1993. The show was created by writer Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, who wrote many of the episodes in the show's initial seasons.

Sisters Julia Sugarbaker (Dixie Carter) and Suzanne Sugarbaker (Delta Burke) are polar opposites. Julia is an elegant, outspoken liberal intellectual; Suzanne is a rich, flashy, often self-centered former beauty queen and Miss Georgia World. They are constantly at personal odds but have launched Sugarbaker Designs, an interior design firm. Julia manages the company while Suzanne is mostly a financial backer who simply hangs around and annoys everyone under the guise of being the firm's salesperson.

The pragmatic designer Mary Jo Shively (Annie Potts), and the sweet-natured but somewhat naive office manager Charlene Frazier Stillfield (Jean Smart) were initial investors. Anthony Bouvier (Meshach Taylor), a former prison inmate who was falsely accused and convicted of a robbery, was the only man on staff and later in the series became a partner. Bernice Clifton (Alice Ghostley), an absent-minded friend of the Sugarbaker matriarch, also appeared frequently.

Created by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason

Starring

Delta Burke (1986-1991)

Dixie Carter

Annie Potts

Jean Smart (1986-1991)

Meshach Taylor

Julia Duffy (1991-1992)

Jan Hooks (1991-1993)

Judith Ivey (1992-1993)

Country of origin United States

No. of seasons 7

No. of episodes 163

Production

Running time approx. 30 minutes (with commercials)

Production company(s) Bloodworth-Thomason

Mozark Productions

Columbia Pictures Television

Broadcast

Original channel CBS

Original run September 29, 1986 – May 24, 1993

Who talked about this show

Tommy Cole

View Interview
Make-up artist Tommy Cole on working with the cast of Designing Women
04:21
Make-up artist Tommy Cole on working on Wings and Designing Women
04:40

Barbara Corday

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Barbara Corday on her favorite shows at Columbia including Who's the Boss?, Married... With Children, and Designing Women
05:35

Judy Crown

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Judy Crown on crafting the hair styles for the characters on Designing Women for producer Linda Bloodworth-Thomason
05:40
Judy Crown on the process of doing hair for Designing Women, and on following the trends in hair styles as the seasons progressed
03:54

Hal Holbrook

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Hal Holbrook on playing "Reese Watson" on Designing Women, with his wife Dixie Carter
03:34
Hal Holbrook on directing some episodes of Designing Women, and on working with Linda Bloodworth Thomason
02:43
Hal Holbrook on working with Jean Smart, Delta Burke, and Dixie Carter on Designing Women
03:58
Hal Holbrook on having to be convinced to take a role on Designing Women
01:25

Della Reese

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Della Reese on guest-starring on Designing Women
00:46

Jack Shea

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Jack Shea on directing Designing Women - on the cast, premise, and producers
08:47

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