Sweet Tea & TV

Designing Women S5E24 Extra Sugar – A Farewell to Suzanne and Charlene

Cue the sad music and grab the kleenex: today we say goodbye to Suzanne and Charlene. 

That's right, we’ve finally watched and discussed Delta Burke’s last episode. Jean Smart isn’t far behind.

Mourn the loss with us – let’s talk about some favorite moments, what they mean to us, and what happened to them both IRL next. We’ll wrap by asking…an oracle of sorts…what would have happened if we’d followed Charlene and Suzanne on their international journeys. 

Designing Women S5 E25 - Finale-Finale

Another season of “Designing Women” has come and gone. In this fifth season, “Sweet Tea & TV” explored every topic from cool stuff you have to see and do if you visit NOLA like the Sugarbaker’s team did, to a deep-dive on “To Kill a Mockingbird”, to “potty parity” (spoiler alert: it’s a thing!) But, believe it or not, there were some stones unturned. So, we’re using our traditional “finale-finale” to wrap up those loose ends, and do a little ST&TV season 5 reflection. 

We’re also delivering a Patreon-exclusive “Extra Sugar”, where we’re giving the episodes of “Designing Women” season 5 the ole “March Madness” treatment, in a segment we’re calling: Designing Women Season 5 Episode Showdown. (Consider joining us over at our Patreon page to hear us duke it out over our favorite episodes from season 5!)

Special Episode - ST&TV Takes on the 1991 Cult Classic: Soapdish

This is a special episode one year in the making: Soapdish. And with this 1991 cult classic under our belts, we will have rounded out the Robert Harling trifecta: Steel Magnolias, First Wives Club, and of course, Soapdish. 

Join us for Nikki’s first watch to see if she loved it or REALLY loved it. Clearly those are the only two options. Then it really gets the Sweet Tea & TV treatment – what we liked and didn’t, as well as movie trivia, and any Designing Women universe connections. 

You can find Soapdish streaming on MAX. You can also rent or buy it from Amazon, AppleTV, YouTube, GooglePlay, and Vudu. 

[Revisit] Designing Women S1E2 – Hot Dogs and Pageants

Only two episodes into the series, “The Beauty Contest” remains a fan favorite. We were recently reminded on Instagram of the lasting endurance of Julia’s epic “the night the lights went out in Georgia” takedown. 

But this one was more than that. It was about coming to terms with your own identity (via Suzanne), sisterly love (via Julia), and facing the both unrealistic and hypocritical beauty standards that live rent free in our heads (Mary Jo). 

This one also kicked off two segments we still do today: the “sidebar” and “extra sugar” The former is about the history of beauty pageants and the latter wraps up some unfinished business from our very first episode. 

[Return to Hollywood] Special Episode: The One Where Nikki Watched Pretty Woman for the First Time

Ah, it feels like just yesterday when Salina introduced Nikki to arguably the most popular rom com of all time: Pretty Woman. That’s right, Nikki, so versed in pop culture had somehow missed it. But back in 2021, we saved her from this big mistake. Big. Huge.

Revisit it with us, will you? Her first reactions to this modern(ish)-day fairy tale, the trivia, the movie's enduring legacy, and of course, some Southern and Designing Women connections. 

[Revisit] Designing Women S1E10 – Curse of the Slumber Party

This one holds a very special place in our hearts. These were still early pandemic days, and after three months of painstaking virtual recordings – this here was our very first in-person recording. We were vaxed, relaxed, and ready to party! 

It was also a Designing Women first: the first of several slumber parties. The first time we saw Mary Jo get a little tipsy, and subsequently, the first time she confronted Suzanne about dating her ex-husband. 

We sidebarred to break up stereotypes about voodoo (preferably referred to as Vodon by practitioners). Then we reminisced about sleepovers for our Extra Sugar.

Designing Women S4E21 Re-Sugar – Blue Collar Chuckles

Ah, it feels like just yesterday we spotted Bill Engvall in Designing Women’s fourth season (E21 Tough Enough). It was the perfect opportunity to talk about a real Southern phenomenon: The Blue Collar Comedy Tour. Nikki clued us in on a really interesting Designing Women crossover – and she used her CRAZY good Internet sleuthing skills to track herself down in a live taping from 20 years ago. It’s really impressive, y’all. 

[Revisit] Designing Women S1E18 – How Do We Title This One…All Crying Emojis?

A VERY important episode for us: the first time we really see Delta Burke get to do her thing as Suzanne. Like her real thing – not flighty Suzanne and not “excuse me” Suzanne. THIS is the version grappling with her identity, her age, and what she wants out of life. All prompted when Suzanne falls in love with the little girl she temporarily adopts, only to have to let her go forever. 

A quick reference to a popular 80s toy leads to one of our most twisted Extra Sugars to date: the weird history of cabbage patch kids. 

Designing Women S4E10 Re-Sugar – A Guide…to Dating Guides: Sheesh

Back in season 4, (E10, “Manhunt”), Suzanne helps Mary Jo “find a man” using an awful dating book. It led us down another Google hole: this time looking at dating advice over the years. We chatted about it and the scare tactics the media loves to lord over women every few years whether we need it or not. 

Here are some 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 Women” where we talked about the history of dating

[Revisit] Designing Women S2E10 – Things Get Screwy OTW to St. Louis

Oh, now this one here is a fan favorite. And thanks to a Southern snow storm and a motel short on rooms, it’s the first time we get to see the truly magnetic chemistry between Suzanne and Anthony. 

This one also led to an “Extra Sugar” on the weird and twisty history of interracial marriage.