Sweet Tea & TV

Designing Women S5E5 - Suzanne and Anthony Go on a Date

We’ll sum this one up in three words (and a couple of symbols): Suzanne + Anthony = Love. 

When we’re not swooning over these two, we’ll pause for a “Salina’s Sidebar” about auctions because people have bid on some weird stuff and we just have to talk about it.

Come back Thursday for a very special “Extra Sugar” on Mary Mac’s Tea Room – an Atlanta institution known for its Southern comfort food. This inevitably – and edible-ly (?) leads to a “Nikki’s Nibbles” discussion about the best meat and threes in the city.

Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have to go lie down because our Roseanne Barr Disease is acting up.

Scary Sweet Extra Sugar: The Ghosts of Atlanta: A Spooky Tour of the City’s Most Haunted Places

Happppppy Halloween! While the kids are out gathering their candy tonight, we offer you this ear candy: a special ghoulish, extra spooky, Extra Sugar!

In episode 1 this season, we talked about the oldest houses in Atlanta. But we didn’t talk about the specters who saunter the halls of these historic homes. The apparitions who abide the walls of these well-lived manors and mansions. The poltergeists who… Well, you get it. Old houses+ghosts=spooky Extra Sugar. 

Designing Women S5 E5 Extra Sugar - Eatin’ Good in the Neighborhood: A Brief History of Tea Rooms in Atlanta

Welcome to the segment that left both of us a little hungry after recording. In honor of the hot and bothered crowd of ladies all hopped up on two-for-1 daiquiris from the Ruffles and Bows tea room, hootin’ and hollerin’ for our boy Anthony during the bachelor auction, let’s talk all things “Atlanta tea rooms.” 

Ruffles and Bows may not have been a real tea room in Atlanta, but Mary Macs - a true Atlanta staple - IS a real Atlanta tea room. And there are a few other ATL spots where folks can get their “tea room” fix today - but in the 1940s Atlanta sense of the term “tea room.” We’ll get into it…

Designing Women S5 E6 - Mrs. Stillfield’s Haunted Sleepover

A Halloween episode?! YES. Our time has come. The whole gang is having an impromptu sleepover in Charlene’s new haunted house with pranks, ghost stories, roasted marshmallows, and of course, a grumpy Julia. (She hates sleepovers, y’all, she is very mature.)

Anyways, you know we have to celebrate “Spooky Season,” so we’ll break in the middle to talk about the origins of Halloween, including some Southern connections, and celebrations like Día de los Muertos (including a good one right here in Atlanta). 

Come back Thursday for a very special “Extra Sugar” where we’ll chat about scary stories and urban legends, with a Southern twist, of course. 

Designing Women S5 E6 Extra Sugar - Southern Secrets: Unsolved Mysteries and Legends from the Deep South

This week was all thrills and chills on “Designing Women” - something we never knew we’d have a chance to say. As the ladies spent the night in Charlene’s spooky house, they told two urban legend stories around the living room campfire. They weren’t totally new to us - the girl in the prom dress who was never really there at all! And the hook hand hooligan grabbing on to cars while couples are making out. But, it got us thinkin’ about whether there were even more tales we don’t remember or that we’ve never heard.

 

And, boy are there. Let’s discuss some of the spookiest, most mystifying urban legends from the South, as well as a funsies from Massachusetts, the home state of the spooky season.

Designing Women S5 E7 - Mary Jo and the Runaways

Our ladies get houseguests – and a glimpse into their future – when Mary Jo’s childhood teacher and her cantankerous friend run away from their slightly scary nursing home. Now: is this one pure shenanigans, or is the show giving us something truly deeper to consider? 

Come back Thursday for an all-new “Extra Sugar” inspired by Olivia’s brief modeling career. (Big Hint: we’re talking about child models + Nikki surprises Salina with a Grits Blitz, so play along!)

Come on y’all, let’s get into it! 

Designing Women S5 E7 Extra Sugar - The {Tiny} Next Big Thing: Child Models

Ah, sweet Charlene. In this week’s “Designing Women” episode, she was once again sucked into the mystic allure of fame. But, this wasn't like all those times before - from the designs on being a country and western singer, or when she thought about being a lady preacher, OR when she wanted to be a jury foreperson.

No, this week’s dream of fame is a bit more removed. A bit more vicarious. A bit more…stage mom.

That’s right: this one is all about Olivia. Petite. Charming. Her little bald head gleaming in the limelight. A Star is Born indeed.

Which got us (or at least, Nikki) in the mindset of baby and child models. So, let’s fall down the rabbit hole on child models a little bit and why not play a Grits Blitz along the way! 

Designing Women S5 E8 - Julia and Mary Jo Take Up Jogging

Stuck in a rut? Run from it. That’s Mary Jo’s plan – she drags Julia along. We guess that means we’re coming, too, but don’t expect us to jog while we do it.

 

A running-themed episode inspired a sidebar where we’ll dig into Atlanta races and legendary runners. It has a history all its own, y’all! Like Julia, we also can’t get enough exercise, so come back Thursday for an “Extra Sugar” about workout trends throughout the years.

Designing Women S5 E8 Extra Sugar - Fitness Trends Throughout the Years

This week’s Extra Sugar is inspired by Mary Jo and Julia’s stint in the jogging world – and Julia taking it a little TOO serious. Like 2010s crossfit serious. 

That’s right, y’all, we’re talking about fitness trends. We’ll probably admit to more than a few. Some are flat out hilarious, and there are time stamps galore. This one is just for funsies. 

Designing Women S5 E9 - Charlene Goes to School

Charlene is having a rough time. She’s going to take some college courses, so naturally, Julia and Mary Jo insinuate she’s, oh how would Suzanne put it? Ah! Has more boobs than brains. Then her professor hits on her in THE MOST awkward way possible. 

Meanwhile, we’re jazzed they’re threading episodes but have some questions about this timeline. We’ll also sidebar about three (Southern) psychologists who fundamentally changed the way we look at the world.

And, then, it’s finally happening. We’ve patiently waited for an opportunity to do a “Sweet Tea & TV After Dark” – and it has arrived. Come back Thursday for "Extra Sugar" - it’s the Hite Report, y’all. NSFW nor children.