A glorious day has arrived, PopWatchers: Designing Women is finally coming to DVD. Shout! Factory announced yesterday that it’ll release the 21 episodes of the first season — with an extra reunion special featuring stars Delta Burke, Dixie Carter, Annie Potts, Jean Smart, as well as series creator Linda Bloodworth-Thomason — on May 26. Until now you’d only been able to catch the fabulous interior decorating fivesome from the late ’80s/early ’90s in reruns. (Yes, we’re counting Anthony Bouvier as one of the five. Bernice, not so much.) In honor of this amazing news, I’m offering up three reasons you should be excited:
1. Amazing one-liners! Like this withering remark Julia (Carter) lobbed at her sister Suzanne (Burke): "Suzanne, if sex were fast food, there’d be an arch over your bed!"
2. The camaraderie of the ladies (and Anthony). In the tradition of The Golden Girls (which began its long run the year before Designing Women), the Southern-set hit portrayed a tight-knit group of friends/coworkers like no other. Nursing a breakup? Having a pity party? Needing a friend? Your pals at Sugarbaker Designs are like laugh therapy.
3. The classic scene where Julia Sugarbaker defends her sassed-out, former beauty queen sister Suzanne is included! You’ve been able to catch Julia’s genius monologue on YouTube for years, but now you can watch the explosivity and marvel at her amazing "the night the lights went out in Georgia" speech on your TV. It’s in episode two, y’all.
Share your love for Designing Women, PopWatchers: Why are you excited about owning the first season on DVD? What’s your favorite one-liner? Who’s your favorite character? What’s your favorite episode?
More on Designing Women from EW:
PopWatch: Your favorite ‘Designing Women’ episode
Ken Tucker’s 1991 review of ‘Designing Women’
Dressing the ‘Designing Women’
BEST NEWS EVER!!!
Thank you, Jesus! TV Land just stopped showing the reruns. I need my fix! It is such a great show!
YAY!!! i know alot of people really did not like this show, and it was over-the-top sometimes, but i loved it. i’m excited it is finally coming to DVD.
Yeah this is great news seems Columbia/Sony Television is loaning the series out to SHOUT Factory for the release Thank God.. They do such great work. They are also gonna release Season 1 of RHODA in April.
The earlier seasons were the best but as long as they release all of them I will even buy the final season.
http://www.tvshowsonDVD.com for latest release news!
Awesome news! This is one of my all-time favorite shows. Best line: “If I’da wanted to have this much fun, I’da stayed home and let Consuela pistol-whip me!”
Ummmm….hells yeah! I have been waiting for this for years – they stopped airing reruns on any Canadian stations a long, long time ago so I’ve watched bits and pieces on youtube.
Suzanne and Anthony had a very special relationship that I love, and I love Mary Jo and Charlene, but Julia just kicks so much ass. I’m going to go have to watch the Georgia speech again – one of the best monologues ever. Yay Shout Factory!
EEEEEEEE!!!! Now all I have to do is wait for the episode when they go camping and Julia gives (IMO) her best speech about the differences between men and women. Oh, and the Dash Goft episode. Oh, and the episode when Charlene gives birth. Oh, and the episode when Mary Jo takes self defense. Oh, … you know what I mean.
Yay and finally! I hope the DVD is a succcess and that we get the rest of the seasons too.
Had to post this other classic:
Ray Don: Allow me to introduce myself – Ray Don Simpson.
Julia Sugarbaker: There’s no need for introductions, Ray Don, we know who you are.
Ray Don: You do?
Julia Sugarbaker: Of course. You’re the guy who is always wherever women gather or try to be alone. You want to eat with us when we’re dining in hotels. You want to know if the book we’re reading is any good or if you can keep us company on the plane. And I want to thank you, Ray Don, on behalf of all the women in the world, for your unfailing attention and concern. But read my lips and remember, as hard as it is to believe, sometimes we like talking just to each other, and sometimes we like just being alone.
“Excuse me, excuse me!”
Did I read that right..the WHOLE first season of Designing Women?!?!
Not another best of collection!!! Woo Hoo! LOVE this show! It went down hill when Delta left the show. I hope they at least release all of her seasons. I love her high school reunion ep, “They Shoot Fat People, Don’t They?” So great! Of course, also a HUGE Dolly Parton fan, so I want the 2-part ep when Charlene gives birth on DVD!
Oh man, I’m excited. I love them all, but the parts I laughed hardest at usually involved Bernice. Some of my favorites are the Christmas tree skirt and when she sang “Black Man, Black Man”
I’m so glad that its finally coming out on dvd, I don’t know why they waited so long!! My favorite character was always Mary Jo, Annie Potts is such an amazing and funny actress!! My favorite Designing Women episode is the one where they all dress up as the Supremes and sing “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough!” I really hope that they end up releasing all the seasons! I love this show!!
I don’t think I could name a favorite character or ep, but I do have a favorite quote. It the first thing that comes to mind anytime someone mentions this brilliant show.
“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.”
I’m pretty sure my favorite episode is the one in New Orleans (“are you still upset about committing ADULTERY?” – drunk Charlene). A close second is the one at the Governor’s Mansion (“Did you see that woman? Yes, the one the Governor just stepped over? Don’t you think her hose were a little dark for that dress?!” – Julia, with her head stuck in the Abbott Banister).
“And on what side of your family are the crazy people, SerenityBlue?”