Sweet Tea & TV

Designing Women S5 E19 Extra Sugar - The World of Drag

Suzanne’s stand off with female impersonator Lolita DuPage got us thinking – and chatting – about the world of drag: its history–or herstory if you will–the major players, and the legal attempts to restrict it in recent years.

Designing Women S5 E20 - Mary Jo Meets Her Mugger

In one corner, we have Mary Jo, tiny, agile, and out for justice. In the other corner, her opponent and former mugger, Norman Bates (yes, we said Norman Bates), pizza slinger and plea bargain extraordinaire. Will Mary Jo get her day in court? Sort of. Will there be obligatory Rocky references? Absolutely. Join us to see the inner workings of the justice system through the lens of situational comedy. 

Then come back Thursday for an “Extra Sugar” dedicated to another Southern court movie, only slightly more prestigious, To Kill A Mockingbird. Join us to talk about the ins and outs of this classic film. 

Designing Women S5 E20 Extra Sugar - Sweet Tea & TV Takes on To Kill a Mockingbird

Why in the world would a 2024 podcast about a late-80s/early-90s TV show have an entire episode about a 1960s movie about the 1930s? Well, if you’ve been around ST&TV for any amount of time, you know we have our reason! This week, we have three of ‘em:

1. It’s a tie-in to this week’s courtroom drama” in “Designing Women”. 
2. Bernice is in it! In our S2 E5 “Extra Sugar” about Alice Ghostley, we mentioned this was one of her first major roles. 
3. Finally, this is one of Charlene Stillfield’s fave movies. Over the seasons, we’ve heard her mention it as a girl’s night must-watch and as her late-pregnancy comfort movie.

So, if it’s a “Designing Women” favorite and a Southern classic, we felt we owed it to ourselves and to our listeners to watch it and see what we think. 

We’ll talk about the movie generally, the actors in it, and its cultural and historical influence (plus, you know how we do our movie reviews - we’ll throw in some fun facts along the way!) 

Designing Women S5 E21 - Julia's Parenting 101

We learn two major lessons: 1) Designing Women boyfriends don’t often make it (RIP Reese, who IRL was settling in on LBT’s other show Evening Shade) and 2) you will finish the burger Julia made you – come hell, high water, or several broken vases. 

Her unique parenting style inspired this week’s "Extra Sugar" was a perfect excuse to bust out the Amy Vanderbilt etiquette handbook that Nikki bought after she was first referenced in season 3. Yes, yes, we’ll talk etiquette, but also about Mrs. Vanderbilt, AND what would go in our updated guide. 

Designing Women S5 E21 Extra Sugar - A Minimum Standard of Good Manners with Julia Sugarbaker

Julia’s hilariously unconventional parenting techniques had us cracking open our etiquette books and asking WWAVD? That is, what would the “arbiter of manners” and the “authority on etiquette” Amy Vanderbilt do? 

We’ll talk about it. But look: Ms. Vanderbilt has a fascinating story all her own – so we’re going to talk about her, too. We’ll wrap up with a chat about modern etiquette because someone has got to teach people how to be polite in social media comments. Sheesh.

Designing Women S5 E22 - Another Kodak Moment Down the Drain

Bill’s back from the Gulf War?! Mary Jo and Charlene are writing a kid’s book?! Julia is just now taking her driving test?! We have questions. 

Meet us in the middle for a Nibbles segment about Southern desserts – all thanks to Bill’s penchant for peach cobbler.

Then come back Thursday for an Extra Sugar all about America’s favorite pastime: watching people get hurt, but you know, in a hilarious way. We’re chatting America’s Funniest Home Videos, y’all. 

Designing Women S5 E22 Extra Sugar – Belly Laughs to Belly Flops: An Ode to America’s Funniest Home Videos

Ah, Bernice. Forever our inspiration. But DEFINITELY our “Extra Sugar” inspiration when she spends an entire episode attempting to land a whopper of a home video for what would have been brand-new must-see TV: “America’s Funniest Home Videos.” 

Bernice didn’t succeed, but thousands of people have and we’re here to talk all about it.

Designing Women S5 E23 - Crawling Buck Naked Over Broken Glass

There’s only one thing standing between Suzanne and the Beaumont Driving Club and his name is Anthony Bouvier. Worse still, there are only two things standing between us and the end of Suzanne’s reign on Designing Women: the last two episodes of season 5. Soak every moment up with us y’all. 

This one just has to be accompanied by Nikki’s previous “Extra Sugar” back when we very first encountered the illustrious Beaumont. Her exploration of country clubs gets right at the crux of what happens with Anthony.

Designing Women S5 E23 Extra Sugar - Let's Revisit Country Clubs

This week, we’re replaying a ST&TV “classic” (are we allowed to call it that???) At any rate, if not a classic, maybe it’s fair to call it an oldie but a goodie! We’re headed back to season 2 of ST&TV, to an “Extra Sugar” where we spilled the tea on country clubs. Throughout the segment, we learn about the history and breakdown some of the “-ism” claims Julia makes against Beaumont. 

Designing Women S5 E24 - To the Victor Go the Spoils

Julia and Mary Jo go head-to-head – and arm-to-arm for that matter – after they start co-coaching Quent and Randa’s baseball team. 

Meanwhile Suzanne is protecting her car windshield from foul balls – and taking Charlene along for the ride. There’s no getting around the fact it’s our last episode with her. 

Meet us in the middle for a sidebar on parents who, uh, get a wee bit too into kids sports. Then come back Thursday to reminisce about Suzanne and Charlene.