Sweet Tea & TV

Designing Women S7 E1 Extra Sugar: Series Finale Breakdown

We just had to give the series finale the old Sweet Tea & TV treatment. You know, break the WHOLE thing down – reactions, likes, dislikes, and allll the references. 

Join us as we give this fever dream, two-parter the send off it deserves – and frankly, we’ve all earned together these last four years. 

Come on y’all, let’s get into it! 

Designing Women S7E2 - BJ Poteet: A Little Air in Her Hair

Up first in our last Designing Women season EVER: Ms. Bonnie Jean Poteet, or BJ “if you’re nasty” (per Nikki, which, let’s be honest, makes it way better). We’re gonna talk about her season trajectory: her highs and her lows, and generally, what these two seasoned gals thought of this brief and final show addition.

We’ll break somewhere in the middle to talk about the woman behind the woman: Judith Ivey. Then come back on Thursday for a downright scandalous “Extra Sugar” inspired by the midseason obsession with Squidgygate – the world loves a “gate”, ya know?

Come on y’all, let’s get into it! 

Designing Women S7 E2 Extra Sugar - Celebrity Scandals

In season 7, episode 13, all the ladies – even the ones who didn’t want to admit it (JULIA) – were wrapped by the celebrity scandal of the moment: Squidgygate. 

This was the perfect inspiration for us to also talk about celebrity scandals. So join us as we break down their favorite – and then we both bring a few of our own to the table: several Southern ones and then one that we can’t stop obsessing over for like, oh, four months now. 

Designing Women S7 E3 - Anthony: The Law Student & The Showgirl

Next up in our character run-down for season 7, the one, the only: ANTHONY BOUVIER! 

As we wrap up our time with Anthony, let’s take a second to appreciate the endless shenanigans the Designing Women have put him through, his quickie, season 7 marriage, his never-ending law school career, and the twist ending that has us all wondering if Bernice’s feelings for him were truly unrequited.

We’ll make a pit-stop at Salina’s Sidebar, to talk about the one and only, Sheryl Lee Ralph. 

And we have a special bit for our Patreon listeners, inspired by the crew’s two-part Vegas visit this season.

Finally, don’t forget to come back Thursday for an “Extra Sugar” that was weeks of internet research, podcast listening, and light book-skimming in the making - Salina’s taking the Southern route to Vegas, talking all about the Dixie Mafia.

Designing Women S7 E3 Extra Sugar - Dixie Mafia

Our Anthony episode– and his rebound trip to Las Vegas – was a perfectly adequate excuse for Salina to talk about the Dixie Mafia. Confused? OK, stay with us. When people think about Vegas, they think about the mafia. But what if we told you there was a Southern mafia? The Dixie Mafia. AKA the Southern mob, AKA the Cornbread Cosa Nostra. 

Join us as we shed some light on their origins AND some of the most interesting figures and cases in their sordid history. 

Designing Women S7 E4 - Bernice Clifton: Still a Red-Hot Mama

All aboard! Headed to our next stop on the ST&TV Season 7 Train - BERNICE.

The writers for “Designing Women” season 7 were ALL IN on Bernice as the comic relief this season and so were we. (Don’t be surprised if we break all the rules and share dozens of “funniest moments” for Bernice this season!) We’ll hit all the highs and lows for this red-hot mama. 

And don’t forget to come back Thursday for a mental-health focused “Extra Sugar.”

Designing Women S7 E4 Extra Sugar: We’re Gonna Get Zen If It’s The Last Thing We Do

All the way back in season 4, in “Bernice’s Sanity Hearing” (which we called “Some LIke Dolls, Some Like Revenge”), Julia said: "I'm saying this is the South, and we're proud of our crazy people. We don't hide them up in the attic. We bring 'em right down to the living room and show 'em off. See, Phyllis, no one in the South ever asks if you have crazy people in your family. They just ask what side they're on.” 

Which leads us to the thesis of this “Extra Sugar”. We’ll poke around in that concept a little bit - what does Bernice’s character show us about mental health and “crazy" in the South? Is there anything in our collective experience that plays out through Bernice’s story? 

And, since we’re a culture in crisis, we’ll end by sharing our own tips for preserving your sanity.

Designing Women S7 E5 - Carlene: Hot Pants & Cock Fights No More

The short version of this episode is: Salina and Nikki are disappointed that the writers/producers/universe short-changed easily one of the high points of the post-shakeup “Designing Women” cast. Poor Carlene is reduced to just a couple storylines and a few pop-in jokes here and there. But, that won’t stop us from giving her her due!

Let’s get into our thoughts (and feels) about Carlene’s portrayal in season 7 - from the funniest parts all the way down to the cringiest (including being nekkid on Anthony’s sheets!)

Come on y’all, let’s get into it!

Designing Women S7 E5 Extra Sugar - Southern Suffragettes

This week’s Carlene episode opened the door to something we just have to talk about: Southern Suffragists (courtesy of Carlene’s boyfriend, Eric, giving Julia a book on the topic in episode 20). 

We’ll talk about the women’s suffragist movement generally, unpack the South’s role and what happened here, and wrap up by looking at some women (and men!) suffragists who helped make it happen. 

Come on y’all, let’s get into it! 

Designing Women S7E6 - Mary Jo Shively: Spontaneity Manual Not Included

Justice for Mary Jo! That’s what we were yelling at the end of season 7. Mary Jo - and, in fact, Annie Potts - deserved so much more than the “Designing Women” writers gave her this season. Of course, there were some funny parts and a couple social commentaries but, for the most part, we veered into funhouse territory - just minus the fun. 

Come on y’all, let’s rip off the Band-aid and get into it!