In this episode, we're testing Salina's Southern movie knowledge in a game we like to call, Grits Blitz. Can she guess these twisted up Southern classics?

In this episode, we're testing Salina's Southern movie knowledge in a game we like to call, Grits Blitz. Can she guess these twisted up Southern classics?

Grits Blitz 1.0

Hey y'all! Are we Southern enough to explore the better parts of Southern culture on TV and in entertainment? Join us for this prologue to learn more about us and our podcast - Sweet Tea &amp; TV - before we dive into Designing Women, episode 1. 

Hey y'all! Are we Southern enough to explore the better parts of Southern culture on TV and in entertainment? Join us for this prologue to learn more about us and our podcast - Sweet Tea &amp; TV - before we dive into Designing Women, episode 1.

The Prologue

In 1986, four brazen women shared Southern culture with the nation, through quick wit and real-life issues. 30 years later, two Southern women are revisiting the series to see what they got right, what they got wrong, and how the show holds in 2021. Let's explore episode 1 - the pilot. 

In 1986, four brazen women shared Southern culture with the nation, through quick wit and real-life issues. 30 years later, two Southern women are revisiting the series to see what they got right, what they got wrong, and how the show holds in 2021. Let's explore episode 1 - the pilot.

Episode 1 - The Pilot

Buckle up, folks, we’re picking all the nits of this epic Designing Women episode, which dives into Suzanne’s identity as beauty pageant contestant. This episode is chock full: a homemade jingle, an epic Julia takedown, and a sidebar into the history of beauty pageants. NOT TO MENTION, a little extra sugar - where we revisit some “unfinished business” from episode 1.

Episode 2 - Hot Dogs and a Pageant

The episode that reminded us sitcoms are not like fine wines - the jokes don't always age well. But, we had some fun and maybe learned that Salina plays the oboe...?

The episode that reminded us sitcoms are not like fine wines - the jokes don't always age well. But, we had some fun and maybe learned that Salina plays the oboe...?

Episode 3 - 1986 Called and It Wants Its Jokes Back

Julia has a son (and he’s a very familiar face for many of us!) And he has a lady friend who does NOT impress Julia. A mother-son dynamic + a significant age gap + two very strong women —&gt; as Salina always says, “WHAT could go wrong?” Turns out, a lot. 

Julia has a son (and he’s a very familiar face for many of us!) And he has a lady friend who does NOT impress Julia. A mother-son dynamic + a significant age gap + two very strong women —&gt; as Salina always says, “WHAT could go wrong?” Turns out, a lot.

Episode 4 - Julia Doesn't Like Her Son's Lady Friend

Let's get into the “madcap mayhem” that ensues after Suzanne sets Charlene up on a blind date, which doesn’t go quite the way Mary Jo wants it to. And a familiar face reappears. Stick around to the end for a little extra sugar where Salina takes us deep into the real-life Newsweek article the women discuss as the episode opens. 

Let's get into the “madcap mayhem” that ensues after Suzanne sets Charlene up on a blind date, which doesn’t go quite the way Mary Jo wants it to. And a familiar face reappears. Stick around to the end for a little extra sugar where Salina takes us deep into the real-life Newsweek article the women discuss as the episode opens.

Episode 5 - Let's Take a Ride in JD's DeLorean

We find out how you can work a job on a “trial basis,” we meet ANTHONY!!! In fact, Salina’s Sidebar explores Meshach Taylor’s recollection of his character and what the show meant to him.) Oh! And a house burns down. As usual, hang around till the bitter end for some extra sugar - a fun game about a well-known character actor. 

We find out how you can work a job on a “trial basis,” we meet ANTHONY!!! In fact, Salina’s Sidebar explores Meshach Taylor’s recollection of his character and what the show meant to him.) Oh! And a house burns down. As usual, hang around till the bitter end for some extra sugar - a fun game about a well-known character actor.

Episode 6 - The Roof, the Roof, the Roof is on Fire

Thanksgiving is gonna get awkward. We meet Julia and Suzanne’s mother, Perky, who comes into town along with her eccentric friend, Bernice. Julia and Mary Jo take a stroll through the bank’s drive thru, Anthony gets accused of murder, and we learn the dangers of a post-Thanksgiving sofa snooze. And stick around for Nikki’s Nibbles during this week’s Extra Sugar segment where Nikki fills us in on the history of pie. The kicker: Salina blind taste tests two pies -- can she figure out which is homemade and which is store-bought?

Thanksgiving is gonna get awkward. We meet Julia and Suzanne’s mother, Perky, who comes into town along with her eccentric friend, Bernice. Julia and Mary Jo take a stroll through the bank’s drive thru, Anthony gets accused of murder, and we learn the dangers of a post-Thanksgiving sofa snooze. And stick around for Nikki’s Nibbles during this week’s Extra Sugar segment where Nikki fills us in on the history of pie. The kicker: Salina blind taste tests two pies -- can she figure out which is homemade and which is store-bought?

Episode 7 - A Perky Prison Party

In this episode, Julia and her boyfriend - played by real-life husband, Hal Holbrook, take us on the 22-minute “will they, won’t they” roller coaster ride that no one - even them - wanted. We share our feelings about the onscreen pair and get a glimpse at the couple’s off-screen romance and marriage.

Episode 8 - Love and...Annulment

A podcast by two Southerners exploring and celebrating the better parts of Southern culture on TV and in entertainment. Seasons 1 and 2 - Designing Women.

Mai Tais

Charlene finds herself in love with two men. Suzanne DOES NOT have PMS. And Julia doesn’t want to hear pet names or about who or what gets people all "hot and bothered." Meanwhile Mary Jo sucks down one too many Mai Tais, and inquiring minds need to know: why would one want a voice- activated brassiere? And stick around for another installment of Grits Blitz in this week's Extra Sugar.

Charlene finds herself in love with two men. Suzanne DOES NOT have PMS. And Julia doesn’t want to hear pet names or about who or what gets people all "hot and bothered." Meanwhile Mary Jo sucks down one too many Mai Tais, and inquiring minds need to know: why would one want a voice- activated brassiere? And stick around for another installment of Grits Blitz in this week's Extra Sugar.

Episode 9 - PMS, Mai Tais, and a Voice-Activated Brassiere

What does it take for Designing Women to acknowledge Suzanne’s relationship with Mary Jo’s ex-husband? One voodoo curse, a grown up slumber party, and approximately nine rum balls. Plus, stick around for "Extra Sugar", where we reminisce about our favorite sleepover memories; and Salina breaks up some Voodoo stereotypes.

What does it take for Designing Women to acknowledge Suzanne’s relationship with Mary Jo’s ex-husband? One voodoo curse, a grown up slumber party, and approximately nine rum balls. Plus, stick around for "Extra Sugar", where we reminisce about our favorite sleepover memories; and Salina breaks up some Voodoo stereotypes.

Episode 10: The Curse of the Slumber Party

We rang in 1987 with all of our fave ‘design ladies’...and a few gentlemen. New Year’s Eve was pretty much a bust until it turns out Charlene’s mysterious date is the prison escapee all of Atlanta is trying to find. Our Googles are tired from all the references we had to look up - and ‘Extra Sugar’ is all about New Year’s traditions...or lack there of.

We rang in 1987 with all of our fave ‘design ladies’...and a few gentlemen. New Year’s Eve was pretty much a bust until it turns out Charlene’s mysterious date is the prison escapee all of Atlanta is trying to find. Our Googles are tired from all the references we had to look up - and ‘Extra Sugar’ is all about New Year’s traditions...or lack there of.

Episode 11 - So, New Year's Kinda Sucked in 1987, Too?

Jerry Lee Lewis

This week, we're covering episodes 12 and 13, which debuted on the same night as a two-parter in 1987, in Designing Women's grand re-entry to network TV after it was unceremoniously put on hiatus. Stick around for our ‘Extra Sugar’ where we break down the answers to everything Charlene was “wonderin about”. But before all that, we’ve got big problems to solve: the “slacks king of the South '' is threatening to break every bone in Anthony’s body, Mary Jo and JD can’t seem to shake their exes, and Charlene has a health scare. Spoiler alert: it all works out in the end because it’s the 80s, and you know what? We’re OK with that. 

This week, we're covering episodes 12 and 13, which debuted on the same night as a two-parter in 1987, in Designing Women's grand re-entry to network TV after it was unceremoniously put on hiatus. Stick around for our ‘Extra Sugar’ where we break down the answers to everything Charlene was “wonderin about”. But before all that, we’ve got big problems to solve: the “slacks king of the South '' is threatening to break every bone in Anthony’s body, Mary Jo and JD can’t seem to shake their exes, and Charlene has a health scare. Spoiler alert: it all works out in the end because it’s the 80s, and you know what? We’re OK with that.

Episode 12/13: A Battle of the Exes, 400 Pairs of Pants, and a Jerry Lee Lewis Concert in Macon

Now, stop me if you’ve heard this one before: three interior designers and an office manager walk into a brothel… This week, the Designing Women are thrown for a loop when an old friend of Charlene’s rolls into town with a big budget and a big secret. (And it’s not that she’s a carpenter.) If that’s not enough for ya, stick around for a little “Extra Sugar”, where Salina highlights a true, national treasure, Ms. Jean Smart. 

Now, stop me if you’ve heard this one before: three interior designers and an office manager walk into a brothel… This week, the Designing Women are thrown for a loop when an old friend of Charlene’s rolls into town with a big budget and a big secret. (And it’s not that she’s a carpenter.) If that’s not enough for ya, stick around for a little “Extra Sugar”, where Salina highlights a true, national treasure, Ms. Jean Smart.

Episode 14: The Princess of Whoopie

As it turns out, Charlene’s not doing too good on her New Year’s resolution. That’s right, she trusted the wrong person again and this time it’s turned the tables: now, the Designing Women have found themselves behind bars and Anthony is their legal representation. Like Salina always says, what could go wrong? Stick around for some “Extra Sugar” where Salina takes a closer look at a well known political figure referenced in the episode (or are they??)

As it turns out, Charlene’s not doing too good on her <a href="https://www.sweetteatv.com/post/episode-11-so-new-year-s-kinda-sucked-in-1987-too" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">New Year’s resolution</a>. That’s right, she trusted the wrong person again and this time it’s turned the tables: now, the Designing Women have found themselves behind bars and Anthony is their legal representation. Like Salina always says, what could go wrong? Stick around for some “Extra Sugar” where Salina takes a closer look at a well known political figure referenced in the episode (or are they??)

Episode 15: More Unjustly Accused

On this week's "Designing Women," Reese returns, and this time he and Julia are in a full-out war over a new, very attractive lawyer at his firm (though we hear she has big feet). So naturally, they do what any two mature adults would do -- break up in the most dramatic fashion possible and then rub each other’s noses in it. Perhaps the most interesting thing: Anthony is deftly skilled at folding napkins in a tulip pattern. Stick around for this week’s ‘Extra Sugar’ where we take a closer look at Southern etiquette.

On this week's "Designing Women," Reese returns, and this time he and Julia are in a full-out war over a new, very attractive lawyer at his firm (though we hear she has big feet). So naturally, they do what any two mature adults would do -- break up in the most dramatic fashion possible and then rub each other’s noses in it. Perhaps the most interesting thing: Anthony is deftly skilled at folding napkins in a <a href="https://www.animatednapkins.com/tulip/index.php#ScrollPoint" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">tulip pattern</a>. Stick around for this week’s ‘Extra Sugar’ where we take a closer look at Southern etiquette.

Episode 16: What's the Difference Between Compost and a Lawyer?

On the 17th episode of "Designing Women", Charlene trusts the wrong person again -- this time a hot shot Nashville producer promising to make her the next country music star. Anthony gets caught up in a love triangle gone wrong -- and we all meet Charlene’s next of kin...all 27 of them. Don’t miss out on this week’s ‘Extra Sugar’ where Nikki teaches all of us a little something about country music. 

On the 17th episode of "Designing Women", Charlene trusts the wrong person again -- this time a hot shot Nashville producer promising to make her the next country music star. Anthony gets caught up in a love triangle gone wrong -- and we all meet Charlene’s next of kin...all 27 of them. Don’t miss out on this week’s ‘Extra Sugar’ where Nikki teaches all of us a little something about country music.

Episode 17: Cheat Us, Rob Us, Kill Us - Just Get it Over With

Let's have a cleansing cry together, shall we?? In this week's "Designing Women", two big things happen: Suzanne falls in love with the little girl she temporarily adopts, and then we try and scrape ourselves off the floor...but we’re sobbing too hard. But, hey! We stopped crying long enough to talk about the weird history of one of the most popular toys from the 1980s in this week’s ‘Extra Sugar’.

Episode 18 - How Do We Title This One...All Crying Emojis?

Uh-oh...on this week's "Designing Women", we find out two things: 1.) Mary Jo has a complicated relationship with her dad, and 2.) he has the hots for Charlene. Stick around for this week’s ‘Extra Sugar’ to see how Salina handles a rapid fire game all about sororities -- and Nikki shares some memories along the way.

Uh-oh...on this week's "Designing Women", we find out two things: 1.) Mary Jo has a complicated relationship with her dad, and 2.) he has the hots for Charlene. Stick around for this week’s ‘Extra Sugar’ to see how Salina handles a rapid fire game all about sororities -- and Nikki shares some memories along the way.

Episode 19: The One Where Charlene Dates Mary Jo‘s Dad

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