Description

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”!

AUDIOGRAPHY
Watch 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 BABIES
Listen 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.

CONNECT
For transcripts, contact info and more, visit 80sTVLadies.com.
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Find more cool pods on WeirdingWayMedia.

LISTENER FEEDBACK
Send 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!

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