Shows
Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S4 E12 - Would You Like Fries with that Child Support?Ted strikes again. He’s behind on child support, so Mary Jo finds herself slinging burgers and fries. And before the episode is over - all of Sugarbakers is doing the same. Except for Charlene – who is having a baby IRL. Suzanne is absent. (shrug emoji)
Salina takes on “Nibbles” to talk about the art of fast food. Come back later in this week for a very special “Extra Sugar” where Nikki deep dives on the fabulous, Ms. Annie Potts.
2023-04-1059 minSweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S4 E11 Extra Sugar - Fat Shaming, Body Shaming & Body Acceptance“They Shoot Fat Women, Don’t They” was a seminal moment in Designing Women’s history and simultaneously a denouement to the media and public’s relentless obsession with Delta Burke’s weight.
In this week’s “Extra Sugar”, we’ll talk about what was happening behind-the-scenes, and then we’ll pivot to talk about concepts like fat shaming and body shaming. Why do they matter? And what can we do to take care of ourselves and each other?
2023-04-0626 minSweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S4 E11 - Remember Me Any Way You LikeSuzanne gets bullied at her high school reunion for gaining weight, while Anthony, Julia, and Mary Jo go on a two-day fast to raise awareness about world hunger. We miss Charlene. (tear emoji)
So where are we on world hunger in the 21st century? We’ll sidebar on it. Then come back Thursday for an “Extra Sugar” dedicated to Suzanne’s plot line including how this episode came about in the first place.
2023-04-0354 minSweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S4 E10 Extra Sugar - A Guide...to Dating Guides: SheeshThis week’s episode reminds us that the media loves a few things: 1) to publish scary stories that scare the bejeesus out of women and 2) sell them something to remedy whatever they scared them with in the first place. Also, have y’all looked at dating advice over the years? Weird stuff, friends. Weird. Stuff. We’ll talk about it.
You may also want to listen to these unintentional companion episodes:
S1E5, “1986 Called and It Wants Its Jokes Back” where we discussed the now infamous Newsweek article during the “Extra Sugar”
S3E6, “A Virtual Smorgasbord of Wom...
2023-03-3022 minSweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S4 E10 - Old Widow ShivelySuzanne and Mary Jo are the team up we didn’t know we needed. They’re on the prowl to find Mary Jo a man – and armed with the newest, hottest dating how-to book – nothing’s gonna stop ‘em now. Nikki also sidebars on funny notes left on cars.
Come back Thursday for an “Extra Sugar” taking a closer look at trendy dating guides.
2023-03-2751 minSweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S4 E9 Extra Sugar - Unique Stays, Travel Tips, and StoriesOh lawd, Suzanne and Julia stayed in a capsule hotel and now Salina may never emerge from looking at every unique place to stay on the planet. Why? Because the Internet is a dark hole from which we can never escape, but also because there are just sooooo many fascinating places to go! Tune in for this chat about staying everywhere from a replica of Dorothy’s house in North Carolina to your own library shelf in Tokyo. We’ll wrap up with some travel tips and stories.
2023-03-2347 minSweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S4 E9 - EXCUSE ME!Some of us go to the dealership down the road for a new car; not Suzanne! She heads to the manufacturer’s home country! And takes Julia along for the ride. We’re in for a “trip” as the duo heads to Japan. And we finally get a Mary Jo/Anthony madcap adventure in the form of some overpriced phone calls (AKA an 80s reference we need to talk about!) Somewhere along the way, we’ll also “Salina’s Sidebar” about snow days. Ah, memories.
And come back later this week for “Extra Sugar,” where Salina is going to ho...
2023-03-2048 minSweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S4 E8 Extra Sugar - The Mansion to Rule Them AllIn this week’s “Designing Women” episode, a relatively-rare Julia mishap landed us square in the entryway of the Georgia Governor’s Mansion for nearly the entire episode. Which, of course, means it’s time to deep-dive into that one (and a few others) - and why not throw in a “Grits Blitz” while we’re at it?
2023-03-1627 minSweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S4 E8 - The Bannister Buffs of AtlantaYou know what they say: "Well-behaved women rarely make history!" With a little prodding, our Julia made history this week when she became the first person to stick her head through a (not-quite-so-real) bannister in the most famous house in Georgia. And she did it all for the ‘gram! At least, the old point-and-shoot-and-take-to-Rite-Aid-to-print-it-out-5-to-7-business-days-later version.
And come back later this week for “Extra Sugar.” You didn’t think we were going to sleep on that massive Georgia Governor’s Mansion reference, did you? NO WAY! We’ve got a whole “Grits Blitz” in store for ya!
2023-03-1339 minSweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S4 E7 Extra Sugar - Jim & Tammy Faye BakkerThroughout “Designing Women”, we’ve heard the Bakkers referenced more than a time or two. That’s Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, to be exact. Throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s, they were two of the most famous televangelists in the United States, until their empire came crashing down under scandal in the late-80s. We’ll talk about the highs, the lows, and their remaining legacy in this week’s segment.
2023-03-0946 minSweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S4 E7 - Some Like Dolls, Some Like RevengeOK, when Bernice is at the center of the plot, you just know it’s a good one. Her niece wants to have her declared incompetent. Is it Sugarbakers + Anthony to the rescue, or will their shenanigans lock away our beloved Bernice forever? We just have to talk about IRBAT – as in the International “Rich B!t*h” Alimony Tour – in a Salina’s Sidebar.
Come back later this week for an “Extra Sugar” where Nikki breaks down another “Designing Women” favorite reference: Jim & Tammy Faye Bakker.
2023-03-061h 08Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S4 E6 Extra Sugar - What can we learn from Charlene’s cousin?In this week’s episode of “Designing Women”,, we learned that Charlene’s cousin, Mavis, is in trouble. Let’s focus this “Extra Sugar” on what we can learn from Mavis’ situation and where we can go from here.
Most importantly, support is available 24/7. Please call 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY).
2023-03-0213 minSweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S4 E6 - No Such Thing as a Sad Old DreamOh gosh, this week’s episode is a heavy one. While the ladies of Sugarbakers are preparing for a local talent show, Charlene learns that her dear cousin is living a reality that doesn’t match appearances.
Both plotlines touch on pretty serious cultural topics. As is our duty, we’ll bring you a little about both. Salina’s going to give us a sidebar on blackface and come back later this week if you can for an “Extra Sugar” inspired by Charlene’s cousin, Mavis.
2023-02-271h 03Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S4 E5 Extra Sugar - Silly SalesIn this week’s episode, Anthony, our favorite recently-licensed contractor hung out his shingle and promised to “eat a bug” if the job wasn’t done on time! What other kinds of wacky stunts do companies pull to sell their products? Well, by golly, let’s find out in this week’s edition of “Extra Sugar.”
2023-02-1622 minSweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S4 E5 - Hair’s Okay. Legs Alright. I Give Her a 6.8.Changes are afoot for our dearest Anthony. He has a new girlfriend named Lita. He’s also now a licensed contractor with his first gig, but his clients are being a little unreasonable if you ask us. We’ll talk about it.
We’ll also “Salina’s Sidebar” about some legendary Atlanta and Peach State references (who still has their Rich’s teddy bear?!). Don’t forget to come back on Thursday for an Anthony-inspired “Extra Sugar” where Nikki breaks down some crazy marketing gimmicks.
2023-02-131h 05Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S4 E4 Extra Sugar - DeliveranceCue the banjos! It’s time to talk about one of Designing Women’s favorite references – or at least Suzanne’s – Deliverance!
This movie turned 50 in 2022, but it still has a foothold in the pop culture zeitgeist. Join us as Salina breaks down the trivia, themes, and impact on the South. Scout’s honor: there will be no squealing like pigs.
2023-02-0926 minSweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S4 E4 - We Need Some Kind of Vacation CounselingHaven’t these women learned their lesson yet? They canNOT - we repeat, CANNOT! - go on a trip with the menfolk. Even a short weekender. It NEVER works out well. Unfortunately, they decide to head up to North Georgia and take us on the painfest with them. Fortunately, we can distract ourselves discussing the various and sundry offensive ways they talk about the locals. (We’ll also do a “Nikki’s Nibbles” called “Wild Dinner”, in honor of the ladies’ dinners at the local bar.)
Come back later this week for “Extra Sugar”, where we’ll talk about the c...
2023-02-061h 02Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S4 E3 Extra Sugar - An Hour to Endow Her and Devour, Let’s Hook it up with a Baby Shower!Tiny sandwiches, tiny clothes, and, hopefully, a big ‘ole cake - all ingredients for a successful baby shower! Let’s discuss traditions, Southern and otherwise.
2023-02-0218 minSweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S4 E3 - Miss Georgia for the Rest of My LifeWhen the Miss Georgia pageant moves their records over to computers, they discover a clerical error in the voting tally is putting Suzanne’s most cherished title in peril. First, computers? Nothing but trouble. Amiright? Secondly, how…is…Suzanne…going…to…take…this? Maybe not so well given Consuela and some voodoo curses come up, but that’s OK! It’s an excuse to “Salina’s Sidebar” about Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen of NOLA. OH! And Charlene's baby shower is happening! Come back later this week for an "Extra Sugar" all about baby showers!
2023-01-3059 minSweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S4 E2 - Extra Sugar: Dixie CarterWe’ve done segments about the lives and careers of LBT, Meschach Taylor, Delta Burke, and Jean Smart, but we owe you a Dixie Carter deep-dive. Today’s the day we pay up. We’re finally talking about Ms. Julia Sugarbaker herself, THE Dixie Carter.
2023-01-2612 minSweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S4 E2 - Julia’s Date with a High School StalkerThis week, we get some big news that a dying man’s last wish is for a date with one of the Sugarbaker sisters. But, not the one you’d expect. Spoiler alert: she goes on the date and *gasp* ENJOYS IT! (Not sure we can say the same for us…)
In the background, Suzanne’s raising money for charity and learning thar’s gold in them hills, when she realizes rich people can live in Arkansas, too, and Charlene knows them!
Come back for “Extra Sugar” later this week when we finally talk all things Dixie C...
2023-01-2350 minSweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S4 E1 - Extra Sugar - 1989Like we mentioned Monday, we’re doing things a little differently this year and pulling “Extra Sugar” out into its special episode drop on Thursdays. First up - a deep-dive into 1989.
2023-01-1918 minSweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S4 E1 - Anthony the Living Ken DollHow ‘bout we kick off a new season with an obsession and a little deception? First, Suzanne makes an injured Anthony her own personal dress-up toy, then, Mary Jo leads a (mean!) former friend from her childhood through a web of lies, which include donning a client’s robe and probably breaking some trespassing laws. Salina will give us a sidebar on popular baby names and maybe there’s a Grits Blitz in the mix.
We’re mixing things up this season and serving up a second helping of “Sweet Tea and TV” in the form of “Extra Sugars”...
2023-01-171h 15Sweet Tea & TVSpecial Episode: ST&TV Takes On Harry & Meghan, New Netflix DocuseriesAck! A brand-new bonus episode! We really intended to take the rest of the year off and kick off 2023 with “Designing Women” season 4. BUT, then Netflix and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex so rudely (J/K!) dropped their new docuseries, Harry & Meghan. As dedicated Royal Watchers, we didn’t hesitate watching it. And then, we NEEDED to talk about it. So, here we are with an unexpected drop into your feed with our top six thoughts on the docuseries.
2022-12-221h 33Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S3 E24 - O Captain, My Captain (Ron)
Nikki found another crack in Salina’s movie-watching history: the one, the only, “Captain Ron.” The best part? You picked it! (ICYMI: it was an Instagram poll, so don’t forget to follow @sweetteaandtv OR become a Patreon for these special opportunities!)
Did she love it, did she hate it? You gotta tune in to find out!
OH! And hang around for "Extra Sugar: Nautical or Knot?", where that "son of a gun" Salina takes us on a nautical "filibuster." This segment is "chock-a-block" full of a "Grits Blitz" challenge that had Nikki wondering if some of Salina's Nespresso advent calendar wa...
2022-12-121h 13Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S3 E23 - Finale Finale
Y’all. You know the drill by now – we have to give Designing Women season three the proper send off. Join us as we reflect on what happened both on the show and here on the Sweet Tea & TV podcast. We’ll sneak in a game because…why not?
And, to show our appreciation for the ongoing support, this week’s “Extra Sugar” is exclusively available for our Patreons. We’re looking into new-this-season co-writer, Pam Norris, and getting a sense for what’s going on around the time of this season for the show and the actors. (Don’t miss out! You can sign...
2022-11-2158 minSweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S3 E22 - Airbrushed and Spread-Eagle in a CenterfoldIt’s an epic showdown in the season 3 finale of Designing Women between feminism and free speech. But, we mean, can’t we have both?? Not according to Julia…
Naturally, we have to close out the regular season with an “Extra Sugar” about censorship (spoiler alert: we’re not into it).
2022-11-141h 10Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S3 E21 - Return of the MacWell, well, well. Reggie Mac Dawson – and the accountant who absconded with all Suzanne’s money – is back and stirring up trouble for the ladies. It’s a real circus (wink, wink). We had strong opinions on this one.
Stick around for this week’s “Extra Sugar” where we explore crazy Southern laws and ordinances. (Psst, there may be a “Grits Blitz” afoot!)
2022-11-0747 minSweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S3 E20 - We’re Mad As Hell and We’re Not Going to Take It AnymoreFirst up: a trigger warning. This episode is about assault and, in turn, self-defense. If that’s triggering for you in any way, press “pause” and come back to us next week. We’ll be here for you.
Mary Jo’s mugging sends all the ladies to a self defense class. They learn how to protect themselves and we learn, once again, that being a woman is…complicated.
Then we’re going to lighten things up - topically anyway - with a “Southern Spotlight” on New Orleans cuisine thanks to several mentions during the episode. It’s an all-new “N...
2022-10-311h 19Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S3 E19 - The Real Women of AtlantaWhat does riding a hobby horse, straddling a desk chair, and sucking on a string of pearls have in common? It’s all part of a good day’s work! Or at least it is according to the skeevy photographer who shows up to photograph the ladies for an article in a national magazine.
Stick around for this week’s “Extra Sugar” about women in business where we’ll hear from a special guest AND highlight some businesses right here in Atlanta.
2022-10-241h 08Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S3 E18 - Menage a Trois MarriageIn a tale as old as time, Charlene, Bill–and the exotic dancer they’re both handcuffed to–will take that age-old walk down the aisle where three become one. Join us as we break down all the wedding festivities!
Stick around for this week’s “Extra Sugar” – we’re talking bachelorette parties y’all!
2022-10-1759 minSweet Tea & TVST&TV Road Trip! Designing Women - 2020, The Big Split Play at the Horizon Theatre in AtlantaWe were so excited to visit Horizon Theatre, here in Atlanta, to see the Designing Women play, 2020: The Big Split! Let’s cover our special, Sweet Tea & TV field trip, complete with a delicious dinner at Wisteria!
Join us as we discuss our reactions, as well as how it compares to the virtual performance from TheatreSquared that we watched and reviewed over two episodes in season 2 of our show.
2022-10-1330 minSweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S3 E17 - Meet the Stillfields
Charlene and Bill are getting married! Her first test: meeting her very fancy, very wealthy in-laws. Meanwhile, Mary Jo is over JD and onto a 20-something who throws keggers and…wears boxers on his head? Sure.
We just have to dedicate a “Salina’s Sidebar” to old Southern money. But stick around for this week’s “Extra Sugar” – we’re talking Southern wedding traditions y’all!
2022-10-101h 11Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S3 E16 - You Make the Money, You Make the Rules
Oh no! It’s trouble in paradise for Mary Jo and JD when he loses his job and goes from business trips to casseroles. Elsewhere, Suzanne and Anthony squabble over their health club – and we finally meet Tovah, Charlene’s psychic!
Wait, wait…we see a “Salina’s Sidebar” about astrology and other mysticism in your future. And stick around for this week’s “Extra Sugar” – Shacking Up: A History.
2022-10-031h 13Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S3 E15 - The Women Who Mooned AtlantaWhat happens when you take a frog-gigging flashlight, an assault rifle, a full moon, and mix ‘em with our Designing Women? Well, you gotta end up at the jail to find out. This week, we’ve got a full Saturday night of madcap mayhem with the ladies.
Salina takes us on one of her sidebars: this time about car dates. Oh, and in Nikki’s, “Lunar Lunacy: The Myths, The Truths, and What To Do About It” “Extra Sugar”, she’s gonna tell us everything we need to know behind this myth (or is it a myth…???)
2022-09-261h 01Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S314 - The Hatfields & The McCoys ATL StyleBoy meets girl. Boy falls in love. Boy…secretly hides that love for a decade? That’s what we learned happened to poor Odell, Charlene’s beloved brother when he rushes to Atlanta for help navigating a tough family feud. Charlene faces an even tougher decision - help her baby brother or honor her father.
Stick around for “Extra Sugar”, where Salina learns us up about famous Southern feuds.
2022-09-191h 10Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S3 E13 - Even More Beautiful in BrailleThis week, we meet the *perfect* man. He’s educated, polite, funny and…RICH! Sounds like a match made in heaven for Suzanne. There’s just one little catch…he’s blind and can’t see her for how beautiful she really is. Or can he??? Guess we’ll find out
Speaking of how beautiful Suzanne is, let’s honor her hard work by talking all things spas in “Salina’s Sidebar.”
Last, but never least, stick around for this week’s “Extra Sugar,” where Julia’s taking us to the mall (in our heads) with her Lenox Mall reference.
2022-09-121h 32Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S3 E12 - Some Kind of Perky CultThe gals are worried when Charlene joins a cult, er, uh, we mean, starts selling cleaning products for Lady June Belle. Meanwhile, Anthony runs for homecoming representative, bringing him and Suzanne closer together. And whatever you do, don’t forget, “Don’t think of excuses to fail, think of reasons to succeed.”
Stick around for this week’s “Extra Sugar,” where we discuss multi-level marketing.
2022-08-291h 11Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S3 E 11 - A Game Room Full of Hoo-Has and Wah-HoosOh, boy - a nudist colony AND mini-me's for Suzanne and Julia ALL IN ONE EPISODE?!?! Can we even handle all the excitement? I think we can. Even if just to see how Julia and Suzanne react to their act-alike nieces (hey! Clayton’s back! Sorta.) AND what material is most comfortable on a couch…for bare bums.
At some point, we’ll “Salina’s Sidebar” on what a nudist colony community is exactly. Definitely stick around for some literal “Extra Sugar” this week - “Nikki’s Nibbles” is bringing us Southern candy!
2022-08-221h 19Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S3 E10 - The Million Dollar Cat MansionWhat do a tabby cat, a 1921 Alaska license plate, and a buncha fishing lure have in common? They’re all things Suzanne could love, once she learns their true price tag! This episode of “Designing Women” introduces us to Sugarbaker’s latest “off the beam” client, but is she really? She’s not telling, ‘cause she’s off to the “Great Pet Store in the Sky”, but maybe a newly-found, handwritten will can solve this mystery!
And stick around for this week’s “Extra Sugar”, where we learn about the value of “one man’s trash.”
2022-08-151h 26Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S3 E9 - Big Brother AnthonyWe learn more about Anthony’s back story after he becomes a ‘Big Brother’ to Tyrone, a precocious teenager, with a penchant for finding trouble. Meanwhile, Julia makes the news, Suzanne finds her first chin hair (psh, rookie), and we take a closer look at some important stereotypes in "Salina’s Sidebar."
Stick around for this week’s "Extra Sugar" and play a round of TV trivia with us!
2022-08-081h 04Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S3 E8 - Get on the Bus, Gus
Our ladies are going on a wilderness retreat–courtesy of Bernice–whether they like it or not. They get split into separate groups, and let’s just say, the results are surprising. As we learned in season 2, Bernice is not to be underestimated.
Stick around for this week’s "Extra Sugar", where we talk about National parks in the South, including Georgia.
2022-08-011h 03Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S3 E7 - The Evil, Money-sucking, Cash-whoring, Decorator MonsterIn an unexpected twist, LBT “Schoolhouse Rocks” audiences in 1989 about fair labor practices. Meanwhile, in a tale as old as time, Mary Jo gets ripped off by a body shop. And poor Anthony misses the turn at “the Big Chicken” (if you know, you know).
Stick around for this week’s "Extra Sugar" where we take a look at workers’ rights in the U.S. and the South. You know, keepin’ it light.
2022-07-251h 21Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S3 E6 - A Virtual Smorgasbord of WomenIf you like a filler episode, you’ll love this one! It’s the “will they, won’t they” we never needed from Charlene and Bill after Charlene takes questionable love advice from Suzanne. Everyone else is singularly focused on the construction workers, or “hard hats”, that keep harassing everyone with terrible pickup lines. There’s also a daytime costume gala squeezed in there somewhere.
Stick around for this week’s “Extra Sugar”, where we’re talking about the time-tested (and time-detested?) tradition of dating.
2022-07-1858 minSweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S3 E5 - Let’s Take These Babies on a Test DriveIt’s been well established that Mary Jo is a card-carrying member of the itty, bitty, “you know what” committee, but an unexpected cash infusion could change all that. In the meantime, can the other gals and Anthony take it as her ego grows with every inch of her bustline?
Stick around for this week’s “Extra Sugar” where we’re doing it - finally. Three seasons in and we’re FINALLY talking brassieres. AKA the over-the-shoulder-boulder-holder. AKA the bra. AKA that thing you sling in the corner everyday the first chance you get.
2022-07-111h 18Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S3 E4 - A Little Long on Drywall, And A Little Short On StudsCue the wedding bells: Bernice is getting married, and to a local “celebrity” no less. But our gals are preoccupied with other things: they all hate their “wedding costumes”, Suzanne is PMS-ing again, and Julia is stark-raving mad about another news article hatin’ on Southerners.
Stick around for this week’s “Extra Sugar”, where we play a word association game about Southern traditions.
2022-06-271h 23Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S3 E3 - Are You Lonesome Tonight?Roaaaaaaaaaaad trip! That’s right, the ladies leave Atlanta and head to Memphis overnight after Charlene wins VIP tickets to Graceland.
We make a pitstop to talk about the world’s largest convenience store: Buc-ee’s.
Stick around for this week’s “Extra Sugar” where we dig into this massive Southern reference from the episode: Graceland, and the King himself: Mr. Elvis Presley.
2022-06-201h 07Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S3 E2 - Sugarbaker v. BricketteJulia running for office = an entire episode dedicated to a classic “Julia rant” – and we are here for it. Any guesses how much the political debate has changed since 1988? [side-eye emoji]
Stick around for this week’s “Extra Sugar” where we take a closer look at homelessness in Atlanta, and what you can do to help here or in your neck of the woods.
2022-06-131h 09Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S3 E1 - Take Your Big Knockers and Hit the RoadOh boy, we’re on the road again! This time, it’s the whole fam jam down at Reese’s condo at the beach. But will it be all out war again between the men and women? Not if Suzanne has anything to do with it.
Oh, yeah, they’re in Florida, so we’re debating its Southerness and talking about beach memories in a Salina’s Sidebar. And stick around for an “Extra Sugar” dedicated to where we are in the show now: 1988.
2022-06-061h 30Sweet Tea & TVS2 Special Episode - Salina Watches ”Howard the Duck” for the First TimeWhat will a 36-year old woman think about a 1986 science fiction comedy about a duck who comes to the Earth, unexpectedly becomes a hero (of sorts) and uncomfortably…flirts…with Lea Thompson?
Then, because now we gotta know, what happened in the lead-up to this cult classic? Who gets the, er uh, credit – and how did it change movies forever? We discuss it all and more.
2022-05-3046 minSweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S2 Finale, Finale - Because Who Needs One Finale When You Could Have Two?That’s right - 24 hours of recording later, and we STILL have more to say about season 2. So, whatcha say, finale-finale? We'll do a behind-the-numbers; revisit some of our favorite moments of the season; a revisit references we've dug into along the way.
Stick around for “Extra Sugar”, where we learn about the woman, the myth, the legend: Linda Bloodworth-Thomason.
2022-05-091h 27Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S2 E22 - You’re So Good When You’re BadWhat do you get when you mix four men with four women and a whole lotta hot buttered rum? About 15 minutes of jabs, digs, and insults, followed by two solid minutes of awkward slow dancing. That’s right, y’all, season two wraps with a few reminders: men are from Mars, women are from Venus, and Anthony can’t ever be in the finale.
Stay tuned for an “Extra Sugar” where we talk about some of our favorite things to do in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
2022-05-021h 34Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S2 E21 - Phooey On You, Ted!Ugh, Ted returns, and this time he’s got Mary Jo all confused with infuriating compliments about her old soul, young bum, and unrivaled Beef Wellington (and we’re pretty sure that last one isn’t a euphemism). Meanwhile, Quint is acting up again, and only Anthony can help…not Ted. Let that sink in. OH! And, Quint’s Garfield lunch box gives us the perfect excuse for this week’s “Extra Sugar” on 80s and 90s cartoons. Eeeeeeek!
2022-04-251h 26Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S2 E20 - A Smidgen of Religion
LBT took a big swing at sexism in the church with this one, and in an exciting turn, she uses Bernice to hit it out of the park. That’s right, one of our faves, is a biblical savant and low key feminist who destroys Charlene’s minister’s antiquated argument against women in ministry. Meanwhile, Julia sings “for all us girls, everywhere” – giving us 2016 Hillary vibes all. over. again.
Stick around for this week’s “Extra Sugar” where we explore the genesis of this episode: women at the pulpit.
2022-04-181h 28Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S2 E19 - No Pigs AllowedWhat happens when you cross a pet pig, beauty titles, and a few pesky divorces with an exclusive, Old South country club? Well, you might not get invited to join. Poor Suzanne has her eyes set on an elite membership, but her big-mouthed sister (...and impending financial ruin…and a few other things…) may be standing in her way. But maybe that’s not such a bad thing?
After the show, let’s have a little “Extra Sugar” - where we’ll spill the tea on country clubs. We’ll talk a bit about the history and breakdown some o...
2022-04-111h 26Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S2 E18 - Mi My Mo Mena - Consuela!You know it’s a wild ride when we start by selling edible undies and end by winning big in Atlantic City, well, not us, but Suzanne and her PICs, Charlene (AKA the Roomie) and Anthony (AKA the Gambling Advisor).
That’s right, when times get desperate, Suzanne does what any of us would do: takes her last bit of money, puts it all on black, and lets it ride. (That’s a thing, right?) Meanwhile, we have questions: what do nightly cake and pie parties entail? Who’s doing this…and can we come?
Stick aroun...
2022-04-041h 10Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S2 E17 - How to Bribe an IRS Agent for DummiesIt’s wedding bells for Suzanne, who is marrying the oldest, meanest (and wealthiest) man in Atlanta after learning her accountant ran off with all her money. That’s OK, Julia’s gonna solve everything with a flirting technique that will haunt us ‘til our dying day.
Crack open something good for this week’s “Extra Sugar” where we’re talking about the history of canned cocktails.
2022-03-281h 00Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S2 E16 - Guess Who’s Going on a Double Date...to the High School Dance???It’s a tale as old as time. Boy asks girl to the dance. Boy’s father says no. Girl’s mom protests. Boy’s father asks the girl's mom on a date. You got all that? Yeah, we needed to watch this one a few times, too, but don’t worry! When the plot thickens, we’re here to break it. All. The. Way. Down.
Stick around for “Extra Sugar” where we unpack “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner”, including the barriers it broke down–and the ones it didn’t.
2022-03-211h 16Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S2 E15 - Honk If You Knew The Sugarbakers Had a BrotherOn this week’s "Designing Women", we learn about an extra branch on the Sugarbaker family tree - and he’s named Clayton. That’s right, Clayton Sugarbaker joins us from his latest stay at the “Macadamia Ranch”. Julia wants to put him on display, while Suzanne hopes maybe they don’t have to tell anyone about his mental health issues. Who would have ever guessed they would disagree on something??? But, worry not, together, they help him discover his dream by the end of the half-hour.
About halfway through the episode, Salina brings us a “Salina’s Sidebar” on gu...
2022-03-141h 16Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S2 E14 - A Man’s Wedding Ring and an Electric Power SawGrab your mandatory fluffy robe, tissue, and a pint (or two) of Häagen-Dazs: it’s a breakup episode. And when Charlene cries, we cry. But we have questions like: do people still watch “Home Shopping” in the Amazon age? Do you really not “care about your appearance” if you have a full face of makeup on? Will Charlene ever “get hip” to the MTV generation?
Stick around for this week’s "Extra Sugar" to explore the highs and lows of Hollywood’s favorite romantic trope: kissing in the rain.
2022-03-071h 12Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S2 E13 - The One Where T. Tommy Reed Shows UpWe meet the man, the myth, the terrifying legend: T. Tommy Reed. That’s right, Anthony’s infamous cellmate tracks him down to make him an offer he [probably] can’t refuse. Meanwhile, we’re still hotly debating what’s worse: Anthony’s plight or Mary Jo’s staycation with JD and their combined five children.
Stick around for this week’s "Extra Sugar" where we talk about our favorite staycation spots here in Georgia (and...like...close to Georgia).
2022-02-281h 06Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S2 E12 - Beware of the Uncredentialed Santa
When good intentions meet bad intentions, we get multiple Santas, a robbery, and an injured elf. Can the gals + Anthony salvage the Christmas spirit?! Uh, duh, it’s the 80s. Dollars to donuts: we’re all singing “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” before it’s all done.
Stick around for this week’s "Extra Sugar" where we talk about Southern Christmas traditions AND our standout Christmas memories.
2022-02-211h 29Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S2 E11 - Howard the DudMary Jo, Suzanne, Charlene, and Julia reluctantly find themselves on a date with Howard, a walking nosebleed they met on the singles cruise. At his 15-year high school reunion. Where he’s telling people he slept with all of them. Will they (will we?) make it through his revenge fantasy?
Stick around for this week’s "Extra Sugar", where we discuss TV, books, and food we’re enjoying right now.
2022-02-141h 17Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S2 E10 - Things Get Screwy OTW to St. LouisIt’s Design Expo ‘87, baby, and you know what that means: Charlene, Mary Jo and Julia come down with the plague, while a terrible snow storm forces Anthony and Suzanne to cuddle up in a Tennessee motel room. But the most unexpected reveal? Definitely Charlene’s domestic meat allergy that one year in high school.
Stick around for this week’s "Extra Sugar" where we dig into the history of interracial marriage.
2022-02-0757 minSweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S2 E9 - Look, This is America, You Big PalookaCharlene’s psychic didn’t see Colonel Bill Stillfield coming. That’s OK, we didn’t see this 1940s “fever dream” musical coming, so… hope you’re up to date on your WWII-era history and references! (A quick primer: America, good. HItler, bad. Rations were a thing.) And we’ll dig into one big, little reference, the Hollywood Canteen, in "Salina’s Sidebar."
Stick around for this week’s "Extra Sugar" where we take a closer look at the role and experiences of African Americans in WWII.
2022-01-311h 14Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S2 E8 - It’s an Honor Just to Guard Her BrassiereWhat’s worse than a single’s cruise? Four women bunking together in something roughly the size of a large walk-in closet? Maybe. Dinner seating with strangers? Warmer. Rebuffing the advances of someone whose shirt is unbuttoned uncomfortably low? Yep, that’s the one.
Suzanne and Mary Jo go head-to-head to see who can land the best looking man, and we meet Claude, who is a darn delight -- and the subject of this week’s Salina’s Sidebar.
This week’s Extra Sugar is all about our personal highs and lows on the high seas. (See w...
2022-01-241h 19Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S2 E7 - The One Where Suzanne has More Sense than God Gave a GooseOn this week’s “Designing Women” episode, we get a BIG health scare (not as big as season 1, episode 12/13, but a big one nonetheless.) Julia explores her true feelings for Reese, while fending off the romantic advances of one of his lifelong “frenemies.” And, one of our characters has an expected spurt of superhero, while another has to read an...uncomfortable...letter at a former client’s...funeral? Yeah...this one was a wild ride.
For a little “Extra Sugar”, let's play another round of “Grits Blitz”, Southern trivia-style!
2022-01-171h 17Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S2 E6 - We Meet the King of Southern SoftcoreAh, another one of Suzanne’s exes. This time it’s Dash Goff, the writer, and he’s sad, but he perks himself by individually meeting with each cast member. By the end, we all learn a few things: 1) Suzanne was a terrible spouse (?), 2) reading is important, and 3) Dash sure knows how to write some uncomfortable stuff about Southern women. Stick around for this week’s ‘Extra Sugar’ to discuss Dash IRL, Gerald McRaney and his marriage to the one, the only: Ms. Delta Burke.
2022-01-101h 05Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women, but Make it 2020: A Review of TheaterSquared’s Recent PlayPhew! We did it! We squeezed in for a last-minute virtual viewing of the recent Designing Women play. That’s right - we said play! Set in 2020, as one would expect, LBT’s thoughts on politics, religion, and public health were on full display and we had…thoughts.
2022-01-031h 14Sweet Tea & TVSneak Peek! Designing Women, but Make it 2020: A Review of TheaterSquared’s Recent PlayA holiday gift from us to you! We had originally planned to take the next couple of weeks off for the holidays. But, then we watched the recent Designing Women play and ended up with a special sweet treat for the podcast. We’ll start this week with a sneak peek of our reactions and we’ll be back next week with what we’re calling “The Full Sweet Tea & TV Treatment.”
2021-12-2704 minSweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S2 E5- Swirling, Twirling, and “Being Concerned with the Sadness in the World”Our "Designing Women" and poor Anthony have a knack for finding the most eccentric clients. This time it comes in the form of Mr. Tyson, who enjoys painting stick figure portraits and giving away anything that happens to be in his pocket at the time. Did we mention he falls in love easily? Meanwhile, Bernice shows up looking for help--and boy is that a mouthful.
Stick around for this week’s ‘"Extra Sugar" where we’ll talk about Alice Ghostley, who played Bernice.
2021-12-2048 minSweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S2 E4 - Killing All the Right PeopleGrab some tissue, no, like the whole box ‘cause this one is a gut puncher. Designing Women takes on the AIDS crisis, homophobia, and contraception in schools all in one episode.
Stick around for this week’s ‘Extra Sugar’ where we discuss the real events that inspired this one...right down to the episode title, as well as Designing Women’s place in LGBTQ TV history.
2021-12-131h 19Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S2 Ep3 - Lucy & Ethel Host a Dinner PartyHooray for an Anthony Bouvier episode! This time, he finds himself a lady friend and cooks up a scheme to have her and her parents over for dinner, while making them think he’s wealthy and successful, as one does. Unfortunately, his lady friend’s daddy isn’t super into the whole thing and he cooks up a little scheme of his own to get rid of Anthony. (Hint: This scheme is adorable and cries a lot. And wins over Anthony’s ever-lovin’ heart.) Oh, did we mention we finally got his origin story?
And hang tight for ‘Extra...
2021-12-061h 14Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S2 E2 - Watch Out for Those Miss Feed and Grain GalsMary Jo is having a rough go: she finds out Ted is getting remarried, while simultaneously luring their kids away with his extravagant lifestyle and gifts. Suzanne teaches us a lesson about frenemies (sort of), Charlene almost gets the hang of metaphors, and Anthony reaches gold-level status.
Hang around for this week’s scrumptious "Extra Sugar", where we’re talking Turkey Day, but with a Southern twist. It’s Nikki’s Nibbles y’all!
2021-11-221h 35Sweet Tea & TVDesigning Women S2 Ep1 - Everyone‘s Worth KnowingIt’s season 2, y’all! Our “Designing Women” gals find themselves sprucing up an old gas station for an unexpected client, who Julia goes off on and Charlene (de?) pantses to see if he is her future husband. And if we’ve learned anything: be sure to have a licensed professional check out any funky moles. Stick around for this week’s Extra Sugar where we talk all things 1987.
2021-11-151h 22Sweet Tea & TVEpisode 24: Nikki Watches ”Pretty Woman” for the First TimeAs we recorded season 1 of "Sweet Tea & TV", some alarming gaps in Nikki’s movie history came to light. What were two podcasters to do?? Watch the darn thing and talk about it. What first reactions did someone in 2021 have about a 1990 rom-com where a sex worker finds fairy tale romance with a handsome corporate raider? You know we’re not going to say! But we will tell you we broke down some fun trivia and the movie’s enduring legacy. And don’t worry, we connected the movie to the South and "Designing Women." All is well.
2021-11-0849 minSweet Tea & TVEpisode 23: Designing Women, Season 1 - Finale FinaleWhoa, whoa, whoa. Sure, we’ve wrapped our review of "Designing Women"'s first season (and incidentally the first season of the podcast), but we need ONE more episode to process it all. So we did what we do best: we ate the snacks, drank the drinks, and chatted the chats(?).
Stick around for ‘Extra Sugar’ where we talk about the less-than-stellar critical reception from, well, pretty much only male critics. Because, if they’ve taught us anything, do we really need multiple female-led casts?
Most importantly, thank you to everyone who tuned into our first se...
2021-10-181h 20Sweet Tea & TVEpisode 22: Well, that Finale Escalated QuicklyThis week's episode comes with a trigger warning: it's all about sexual harassment and assault. If that’s triggering for you, press “pause” and come back to us next week.
If you stick around, we'll talk about this week’s Designing Women episode, which was the season 1 finale, Bachelor Suite. Mary Jo is confronted with a difficult (and dangerous) client, but tries to stick it out for the Benjamins. But, JD - and the rest of the ladies - aren’t too happy about it. This rather ho-hum finale escalated super-quickly with an over-the-head-vase-break and a tersely-worded business car...
2021-10-111h 47Sweet Tea & TVEpisode 21: Saliva Balls and Baseball GroupiesThis week, Designing Women fiiiiiiinally introduces us to the source of one of Suzanne’s monthly alimony checks, a pitcher for the Atlanta Braves! And he’s got a little {steamy} light reading for his ex-wife. And after the show, we’ll take you out to the ball game in “Extra Sugar”, where we learn a bit more about Atlanta’s hometown baseball heroes, the Braves. (You bring the Cracker Jack!)
2021-10-041h 24Sweet Tea & TVEpisode 20: Integrity, Shmintegrity, How About a Mink Coat?
Money may not buy happiness, but it will buy you a tennis bracelet, Rolex, convertible Mustang, and a horse. The "Designing Women" find themselves literally caught in the crossfire of their new clients, The Tates, who are just as crazy as they are rich. Will our lady loves + Anthony make it out alive?? Hang around for this week’s "Extra Sugar", where we talk about Bill “Bojangles” Robinson after a subtle reference drop from Anthony.
2021-09-271h 19Sweet Tea & TVEpisode 19: The One Where Charlene Dates Mary Jo‘s DadUh-oh...on this week's "Designing Women", we find out two things: 1.) Mary Jo has a complicated relationship with her dad, and 2.) he has the hots for Charlene. Stick around for this week’s ‘Extra Sugar’ to see how Salina handles a rapid fire game all about sororities -- and Nikki shares some memories along the way.
2021-09-201h 27Sweet Tea & TVEpisode 18 - How Do We Title This One...All Crying Emojis?
Let's have a cleansing cry together, shall we?? In this week's "Designing Women", two big things happen: Suzanne falls in love with the little girl she temporarily adopts, and then we try and scrape ourselves off the floor...but we’re sobbing too hard. But, hey! We stopped crying long enough to talk about the weird history of one of the most popular toys from the 1980s in this week’s ‘Extra Sugar’.
2021-09-131h 14Sweet Tea & TVEpisode 17: Cheat Us, Rob Us, Kill Us - Just Get it Over WithOn the 17th episode of "Designing Women", Charlene trusts the wrong person again -- this time a hot shot Nashville producer promising to make her the next country music star. Anthony gets caught up in a love triangle gone wrong -- and we all meet Charlene’s next of kin...all 27 of them. Don’t miss out on this week’s ‘Extra Sugar’ where Nikki teaches all of us a little something about country music.
2021-08-301h 26Sweet Tea & TVEpisode 16: What’s the Difference Between Compost and a Lawyer?On this week's "Designing Women," Reese returns, and this time he and Julia are in a full-out war over a new, very attractive lawyer at his firm (though we hear she has big feet). So naturally, they do what any two mature adults would do -- break up in the most dramatic fashion possible and then rub each other’s noses in it. Perhaps the most interesting thing: Anthony is deftly skilled at folding napkins in a tulip pattern. Stick around for this week’s ‘Extra Sugar’ where we take a closer look at Southern etiquette.
2021-08-231h 11Sweet Tea & TVEpisode 15: More Unjustly AccusedAs it turns out, Charlene’s not doing too good on her New Year’s resolution. That’s right, she trusted the wrong person again and this time it’s turned the tables: now, the Designing Women have found themselves behind bars and Anthony is their legal representation. Like Salina always says, what could go wrong? Stick around for some “Extra Sugar” where Salina takes a closer look at a well known political figure referenced in the episode (or are they??)
2021-08-161h 13Sweet Tea & TVEpisode 14: The Princess of WhoopieNow, stop me if you’ve heard this one before: three interior designers and an office manager walk into a brothel…
This week, the Designing Women are thrown for a loop when an old friend of Charlene’s rolls into town with a big budget and a big secret. (And it’s not that she’s a carpenter.)
If that’s not enough for ya, stick around for a little “Extra Sugar”, where Salina highlights a true, national treasure, Ms. Jean Smart.
2021-08-091h 02Sweet Tea & TVEpisode 12/13: A Battle of the Exes, 400 Pairs of Pants, and a Jerry Lee Lewis Concert in MaconThis week, we're covering episodes 12 and 13, which debuted on the same night as a two-parter in 1987, in Designing Women's grand re-entry to network TV after it was unceremoniously put on hiatus. Stick around for our ‘Extra Sugar’ where we break down the answers to everything Charlene was “wonderin about”. But before all that, we’ve got big problems to solve: the “slacks king of the South '' is threatening to break every bone in Anthony’s body, Mary Jo and JD can’t seem to shake their exes, and Charlene has a health scare. Spoiler alert: it all works out in the end b...
2021-08-021h 24Sweet Tea & TVEpisode 11 - So, New Year’s Kinda Sucked in 1987, Too?We rang in 1987 with all of our fave ‘design ladies’...and a few gentlemen. New Year’s Eve was pretty much a bust until it turns out Charlene’s mysterious date is the prison escapee all of Atlanta is trying to find. Our Googles are tired from all the references we had to look up - and ‘Extra Sugar’ is all about New Year’s traditions...or lack there of.
2021-07-261h 19Sweet Tea & TVEpisode 10: The Curse of the Slumber PartyWhat does it take for Designing Women to acknowledge Suzanne’s relationship with Mary Jo’s ex-husband? One voodoo curse, a grown up slumber party, and approximately nine rum balls. Plus, stick around for "Extra Sugar", where we reminisce about our favorite sleepover memories; and Salina breaks up some Voodoo stereotypes.
2021-07-191h 38Sweet Tea & TVEpisode 9 - PMS, Mai Tais, and a Voice-Activated BrassiereCharlene finds herself in love with two men. Suzanne DOES NOT have PMS. And Julia doesn’t want to hear pet names or about who or what gets people all "hot and bothered." Meanwhile Mary Jo sucks down one too many Mai Tais, and inquiring minds need to know: why would one want a voice- activated brassiere? And stick around for another installment of Grits Blitz in this week's Extra Sugar.
2021-07-121h 23Sweet Tea & TVEpisode 8 - Love and...AnnulmentIn this episode, Julia and her boyfriend - played by real-life husband, Hal Holbrook, take us on the 22-minute “will they, won’t they” roller coaster ride that no one - even them - wanted. We share our feelings about the onscreen pair and get a glimpse at the couple’s off-screen romance and marriage.
2021-06-281h 09Sweet Tea & TVEpisode 7 - A Perky Prison PartyThanksgiving is gonna get awkward. We meet Julia and Suzanne’s mother, Perky, who comes into town along with her eccentric friend, Bernice. Julia and Mary Jo take a stroll through the bank’s drive thru, Anthony gets accused of murder, and we learn the dangers of a post-Thanksgiving sofa snooze. And stick around for Nikki’s Nibbles during this week’s Extra Sugar segment where Nikki fills us in on the history of pie. The kicker: Salina blind taste tests two pies -- can she figure out which is homemade and which is store-bought?
2021-06-211h 25Sweet Tea & TVEpisode 6 - The Roof, the Roof, the Roof is on FireWe find out how you can work a job on a “trial basis,” we meet ANTHONY!!! In fact, Salina’s Sidebar explores Meshach Taylor’s recollection of his character and what the show meant to him.) Oh! And a house burns down. As usual, hang around till the bitter end for some extra sugar - a fun game about a well-known character actor.
2021-06-141h 24Sweet Tea & TVEpisode 5 - Let’s Take a Ride in JD’s DeLoreanLet's get into the “madcap mayhem” that ensues after Suzanne sets Charlene up on a blind date, which doesn’t go quite the way Mary Jo wants it to. And a familiar face reappears. Stick around to the end for a little extra sugar where Salina takes us deep into the real-life Newsweek article the women discuss as the episode opens.
2021-06-071h 26Sweet Tea & TVEpisode 4 - Julia Doesn’t Like Her Son’s Lady FriendJulia has a son (and he’s a very familiar face for many of us!) And he has a lady friend who does NOT impress Julia. A mother-son dynamic + a significant age gap + two very strong women —> as Salina always says, “WHAT could go wrong?” Turns out, a lot.
2021-06-011h 51Sweet Tea & TVEpisode 3 - 1986 Called and It Wants Its Jokes BackThe episode that reminded us sitcoms are not like fine wines - the jokes don't always age well. But, we had some fun and maybe learned that Salina plays the oboe...?
2021-05-241h 09Sweet Tea & TVEpisode 2 - Hot Dogs and a PageantBuckle up, folks, we’re picking all the nits of this epic Designing Women episode, which dives into Suzanne’s identity as beauty pageant contestant. This episode is chock full: a homemade jingle, an epic Julia takedown, and a sidebar into the history of beauty pageants. NOT TO MENTION, a little extra sugar - where we revisit some “unfinished business” from episode 1.
2021-05-172h 17Sweet Tea & TVEpisode 1 - The PilotIn 1986, four brazen women shared Southern culture with the nation, through quick wit and real-life issues. 30 years later, two Southern women are revisiting the series to see what they got right, what they got wrong, and how the show holds in 2021. Let's explore episode 1 - the pilot.
2021-05-1057 min
Sweet Tea & TVThe PrologueHey y'all! Are we Southern enough to explore the better parts of Southern culture on TV and in entertainment? Join us for this prologue to learn more about us and our podcast - Sweet Tea & TV - before we dive into Designing Women, episode 1.
2021-05-0524 minSweet Tea & TVGrits Blitz 1.0In this episode, we're testing Salina's Southern movie knowledge in a game we like to call, Grits Blitz. Can she guess these twisted up Southern classics?
2021-04-1913 min