"Designing Women" (1986) TV series 1986-1993

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Release Date:

29 September 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Outspoken feminist Julia Sugarbaker runs a design firm out of her Atlanta home, along with her shallow ex-beauty queen sister...

Plot Keywords:

Atlanta Georgia | Friendship Between Women | American South | Small Business | Sister Sister Relationship

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 14 wins & 23 nominations

Cast

Dixie Carter	...	Julia Sugarbaker (163 episodes, 1986-1993)
Annie Potts	...	Mary Jo Shively (163 episodes, 1986-1993)
Meshach Taylor	...	Anthony Bouvier (144 episodes, 1986-1993)
Delta Burke	...	Suzanne Sugarbaker (120 episodes, 1986-1991)
Jean Smart	...	Charlene Frazier Stillfield (120 episodes, 1986-1991)

Series Directed by
David Trainer		(63 episodes, 1987-1991)
David Steinberg		(37 episodes, 1987-1993)
Harry Thomason		(19 episodes, 1987-1991)
Jack Shea		(14 episodes, 1986-1988)
Iris Dugow		(5 episodes, 1989-1991)
Barnet Kellman		(4 episodes, 1987)
Hal Holbrook		(4 episodes, 1988-1990)
Matthew Diamond		(3 episodes, 1987-1988)
Dwayne Hickman		(3 episodes, 1989-1990)
Ellen Falcon		(2 episodes, 1986-1990)
Charles Frank		(2 episodes, 1991-1992)
Roberta Sherry Scelza		(2 episodes, 1991-1992)

Series Writing credits
Linda Bloodworth-Thomason		(73 episodes, 1986-1992)
Pamela Norris		(29 episodes, 1989-1991)
Mark Alton Brown		(17 episodes, 1990-1993)
Dee LaDuke		(17 episodes, 1990-1993)
Cassandra Clark		(7 episodes, 1989-1991)
Debbie Pearl		(7 episodes, 1989-1991)
Paul Clay		(6 episodes, 1990-1992)
Thom Bray		(5 episodes, 1990-1991)
Michael A. Ross		(5 episodes, 1990-1991)
Robert Horn		(5 episodes, 1992-1993)
Daniel Margosis		(5 episodes, 1992-1993)
Norma Safford Vela		(4 episodes, 1992)
Emily Levine		(4 episodes, 1993)
Emily Marshall		(2 episodes, 1986)
Trish Vrandenburg		(2 episodes, 1987)
Cathryn Michon		(2 episodes, 1991-1993)
David Steinberg		(2 episodes, 1993)

Series Produced by
Pamela Norris	....	supervising producer / co-executive producer / ... (97 episodes, 1988-1992)
David Steinberg	....	executive producer (22 episodes, 1992-1993)
Norma Safford Vela	....	executive producer (unknown episodes, 1992-1993)
Linda Bloodworth-Thomason	....	executive producer / producer (unknown episodes)
William Cosentino	....	co-producer (unknown episodes)
Douglas Jackson	....	producer (unknown episodes)
E. Jack Kaplan	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Harry Thomason	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Tommy Thompson	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Bruce Miller		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Eddie Rio Rotunno		(unknown episodes)
Leonard J. South		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Daniel Cahn		(1 episode, 1986)
Robert Bramwell		(unknown episodes)
Judith Burke		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Fran Bascom		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
John Beckman		(unknown episodes)
Ross Bellah		(unknown episodes)
William L. Camden		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Rusty Lipscomb		(unknown episodes)
Deborah Siegel		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Cliff Chally		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Judy Crown	....	key hair stylist (unknown episodes, 1986-1993)

Series Production Management
William Cosentino	....	unit production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William Cosentino	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Nick Els	....	sound mixer (150 episodes, 1986-1993)
Bob Costanza	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Ross Deane	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)
G. Michael Graham	....	supervising sound editor (unknown episodes)
Jeff Johnson	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)
Larry Lasota	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Gregory J. Barnett	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Kevin McGill	....	assistant camera (69 episodes, 1990-1993)
Adam Glick	....	set lighting technician (unknown episodes)
Michael Hofstein	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Guy Polzel	....	key grip (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Bruce Miller	....	conductor / music arranger (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Marc Cherry	....	assistant to actor (unknown episodes, 1986-1988)
J Graigory	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Roger Lundblade	....	audience warm-up (unknown episodes)
J.T. Steele	....	audience coordinator (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Bloodworth-Thomason
• Columbia Pictures Television
• Mozark Productions

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1986-1993) (USA) (TV)
• Columbia Pictures Television
• Lifetime Television (199?-20??) (USA) (TV)
• Shout! Factory (2009) (USA) (DVD) (season 1)
• Shout! Factory (2009) (USA) (DVD) (season two)

Runtime:

30 min | Germany:25 min (164 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Little Rock, Arkansas, USA

Company:

Bloodworth-Thomason

Trivia:

Both Delta Burke and Jean Smart met their husbands while working on the show.

Quotes:

Vanessa Hargraves: I am going to work. It is great working at the library. If any of y'all want, I can get you free books!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "I Love the '80s Strikes Back" (2003)

Soundtrack:

Georgia on My Mind

As A True Southern Belle, I Adore This Show!!

I know most episodes word for glorious word, and hope that Designing Women stays in syndication for a long time. It would be wonderful to see a reunion between the main characters, Dixie Carter, Delta Burke, Jean Smart and Annie Potts. The recurring themes to the show are the strong-willed Julia's many social campaigns and commentaries, and the ultra-feminine Suzanne as her manipulative yet sexy counterpart. I rather see myself in both characters, and feel that Southern women are portrayed pretty accurately in the show. We are very feminine, yet strong as Steel Magnolias. I live in Atlanta, and wish that I knew 4 wonderful friends as spunky and interesting as these main characters.