Designing Women: Season 1

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Mixed or average reviews based on 6 Critic Reviews

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The Best Of Designing Women

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Season Details & Credits

CBS | Season Premiere Date: September 29, 1986

Starring: Jean Smart, Delta Burke, Meshach Taylor

Summary: 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 divorcedJulia 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… Expand

Genre(s): Comedy, Drama

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Season 1 Episodes

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S1:E21. Bachelor Suite
Air Date: May 11, 1987
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S1:E20. Grand Slam, Thank You Ma'am
Air Date: May 4, 1987
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S1:E19. Seams From a Marriage
Air Date: April 13, 1987

See all Seasons and Episodes

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Critic Reviews

Robert P. Laurence

Feb 5, 2014

It will inevitably be compared with "The Golden Girls," NBC's hit from last year about four older women sharing a house in Miami...But this entry from CBS is considerably different and, for my money, funnier and better...It is the best new show CBS is offering this season. [28 Sept 1986, p.TV-6]

Steve Sonsky

Feb 5, 2014

May be the most outrageous new comedy since "All in the Family," in terms of what it's willing to try and say. It's going to make some people laugh. It's going to offend some people...For my money, it's the best and brightest new sitcom of the year -- sharp and tart in its writing, sharp and tart in its execution by four splendid actresses. They, and it, have got spirit and style and sass. [29 Sept 1986, p.C1]

John J. O'Connor

Feb 5, 2014

Ms. Bloodworth-Thomason is no Susan Harris, whose crackling humor keeps "The Golden Girls" popping steadily from week to week. On the other hand, Designing Women has a first-rate cast. Read full review

Tom Shales

Feb 5, 2014

Funny, yes. Wildly funny, no...As an addition to pop literature about women in groups, Designing Women appears more derivative than innovative, but being derivative hardly ever hurts in prime-time television. [29 Sept 1986, p.C3]

Howard Rosenberg

Feb 5, 2014

The premiere of Designing Women...provides fewer answers than indications. And the indications are that even good performers in an appealing setting won't make Designing Woman funny without better-designed scripts. Snappy, yes. Laughs, no. Read full review

Clifford Terry

Feb 5, 2014

Routed as the most promising new series on the woeful CBS fall schedule, Designing Women disappoints. Already tiresomely pegged as a younger version of "The Golden Girls," it seems more like "The Carping Capitalists." [29 Sept 1986, p.7C]

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Seasons & Episodes

61

Series Overview
Season 8

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- Season 8 Overview
  Air Date: July 28, 2003
Season 7

tbd
- Season 7 Overview
  Air Date: September 25, 1992
Season 6

tbd
- Season 6 Overview
  Air Date: September 29, 1986
Season 5

tbd
- Season 5 Overview
  Air Date: September 17, 1990
Season 4

tbd
- Season 4 Overview
  Air Date: September 18, 1989
Season 3

tbd
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: November 14, 1988
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: September 14, 1987
Season 1

54
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: September 29, 1986
- tbd
  S1:E21. Bachelor Suite
  Air Date: May 11, 1987
- tbd
  S1:E20. Grand Slam, Thank You Ma'am
  Air Date: May 4, 1987
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  S1:E19. Seams From a Marriage
  Air Date: April 13, 1987
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  S1:E18. Mary Jo's Dad Dates Charlene
  Air Date: April 6, 1987
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  S1:E17. Oh, Suzannah
  Air Date: March 23, 1987
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  S1:E16. Nashville Bound
  Air Date: March 16, 1987
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  S1:E15. Reese's Friend
  Air Date: February 22, 1987
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  S1:E14. And Justice For Paul
  Air Date: February 15, 1987
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  S1:E13. Monette
  Air Date: February 8, 1987
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  S1:E13. Old Spouses Never Die
  Air Date: February 1, 1987
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  S1:E12. Old Spouses Never Die
  Air Date: February 1, 1987
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  S1:E12. Old Spouses Never Die
  Air Date: February 1, 1987
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  S1:E11. New Year's Daze
  Air Date: January 1, 1987
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  S1:E10. The Slumber Party
  Air Date: December 18, 1986
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  S1:E9. The IT Men
  Air Date: December 11, 1986
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  S1:E8. I Do, I Don't
  Air Date: December 4, 1986
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  S1:E7. Perky's Visit
  Air Date: November 24, 1986
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  S1:E6. Design House
  Air Date: November 17, 1986
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  S1:E5. Mary Jo's First Date
  Air Date: November 3, 1986
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  S1:E4. Julia's Son
  Air Date: October 27, 1986
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  S1:E3. A Big Affair
  Air Date: October 20, 1986
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  S1:E2. The Beauty Contest
  Air Date: October 6, 1986
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  S1:E1. Designing Women
  Air Date: September 29, 1986