Is “Reservations for Eight” your favorite or LEAST favorite episode of “Designing Women”? How can a simple television comedy cause us to dive into a deep discussion of First Wave Feminism? Yes, it’s time for the 90’s TV Babies to weigh in on Linda Bloodworth-Thomason’s Designing Women.
Serita Fontanesi, Sergio Perez and Megan Ruble were given the assignment: Watch nine seminal episodes of the series, from the first season to the last, that feature all seven main cast members -- and be prepared to discuss. Find out who loved it, who hated it – and who wants a reboot!
Here are the episodes they watched – in case you want to check them out, too:
S1, EP1: “The Pilot”S1, EP2: “The Beauty Contest”
S2, EP22: “Reservations For Eight”
S4, EP11: “They Shoot Fat Woman, Don’t They?”
S6, EP8: “The Strange Case of Clarence and Anita”
S7, EP1: “Of Human Bondage”
S7, EP7: “Fools Rush In”
S7, EP 18: “It’s Not So Easy Being Green”
S7, EP 20: “A Difficult Cross To Bear” (a.k.a. “The Lying Game)
THE CONVERSATION- Can Serita, Sergio and Megan agree what makes the best Thanksgiving sides?
- Did Designing Women help invent First Wave Feminism?
- Was Anthony straight? Gay? Gay coded? Or just Southern?
- A 90’s TV Babies drinking game?? It’s on. Let’s go!
- Shipping Anthony and… Julia? Okaaaaaaaay…
- Did Sheryl Lee Ralph confront Harry Thomason at a political event for the Clintons – and end up with a role on the show?
- Cos-playing Mary Jo? Megan’s considering it…
- SERITA ON DELTA: How discussions of body image issues have – and haven’t -- changed over the past 30 years.
- Sharon and Megan could NOT be further apart when it comes to their feelings for “Reservations for Eight” (S2, EP22)
- THE LEVEL OF DISCOURSE: What the show got right in its political discussions and comedy – and what hasn’t aged as well.
So join Susan and Sharon – and Megan and Sergio and Serita – as they talk sweet potato mash, big Texas hair, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Beyoncé – and “the 11:00 o’clock rant”!
AUDIOGRAPHYWatch Designing Women on
Hulu,
Amazon Prime,
Pluto!
Read the 2016 MTV News article on "Confirmation" and
The Strange Case of Clarence and Anita.Watch Ladies of the 80’s: A Divas Christmas on
Lifetime. THE 90s TV BABIESListen to Serita Fontanesi's podcast:
Not Ugly Pod. Also on
Apple Podcasts and
Goodpods. A weekly podcast challenging traditional colonial beauty standards one conversation at a time.
CONNECTFor transcripts, contact info and more, visit
80sTVLadies.com.
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LISTENER FEEDBACKSend us a message on our
8TL website:- What modern day show talks to current events in ways similar to Designing Women? When the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearings were taking place, did any scripted show – comedy or drama – do an episode highlighting their characters' reactions?
- And let us know: Do you watch holiday movies? Where do you watch them? What are your favorites?
- What are your favorite episodes of Designing Women? And what do you prefer: mashed potatoes or rice pilaf?
Have a beautiful Holiday season!