A Designing Women Reunion (2006) - The Fearless Women Series
- 4 years ago
THE FEARLESS WOMEN: DESIGNING WOMEN: A REUNION
Held at the Museum of Television and Radio in Los Angeles on October 25, 2006, this session honors “Designing Women,” a comedy series about four Southern women who run an interior decorating business, Sugarbakers, in Atlanta, Georgia. Host and moderator Barbara Dixon (director of television and radio) offers opening remarks before introducing the pilot episode, which is screened in its entirety.
The discussion touches on such topics as: Bloodworth-Thomason’s creation of the show, and her desire to write a show about the friendship of “bold” women; how the cast members were “good sports” every week about unusual or surprising plotlines; Bloodworth-Thomason’s past work with Carter and Burke on the show “Filthy Rich”; the studio’s doubts about Burke’s Southern accent and how another actress originally had the role of Suzanne; the influence of casting director Fran Bascom, acknowledged in the audience by Bloodworth-Thomason; how several of the actresses met their husbands through the show; the cast’s friendship and how they “couldn’t confront” one another about problems because of their fondness for one another, leading to a feud that caused Burke to depart the show in 1991; the show’s handling of tough social issues, such as AIDS; how the last-minute writing style made it “close to live television”; the “humanity” of the women and the actresses’ influence on their characters; Bloodworth-Thomason’s solo writing of the first three seasons and the addition of a second writer, Pamela Norris, later on; Burke’s experience with the Miss America pageant; Smart’s similarities and differences from her “gullible, innocent” character and how she was cast against type; Carter’s experience as a real-life Republican playing an outspoken liberal; memories of the show’s beginnings and hearing that the pilot had sold; the show’s cancellation in its first season and subsequent revival due to fan support; the cast’s favorite episodes, including shows featuring guest stars Dolly Parton and Gerald McRaney; the danger of overwhelming the show with too many guest stars; the talent of supporting actors Meshach Taylor and Alice Ghostley; the cast’s difficulty keeping a straight face during funny scenes; memorable on-set moments and episodes; the show’s interest in confronting sexism in show business; the episode about Suzanne’s weight and Burke’s desire not “to be a punchline”; and the show’s eighteen Emmy nominations and single win for hairstyling in 1988.
Held at the Museum of Television and Radio in Los Angeles on October 25, 2006, this session honors “Designing Women,” a comedy series about four Southern women who run an interior decorating business, Sugarbakers, in Atlanta, Georgia. Host and moderator Barbara Dixon (director of television and radio) offers opening remarks before introducing the pilot episode, which is screened in its entirety.
The discussion touches on such topics as: Bloodworth-Thomason’s creation of the show, and her desire to write a show about the friendship of “bold” women; how the cast members were “good sports” every week about unusual or surprising plotlines; Bloodworth-Thomason’s past work with Carter and Burke on the show “Filthy Rich”; the studio’s doubts about Burke’s Southern accent and how another actress originally had the role of Suzanne; the influence of casting director Fran Bascom, acknowledged in the audience by Bloodworth-Thomason; how several of the actresses met their husbands through the show; the cast’s friendship and how they “couldn’t confront” one another about problems because of their fondness for one another, leading to a feud that caused Burke to depart the show in 1991; the show’s handling of tough social issues, such as AIDS; how the last-minute writing style made it “close to live television”; the “humanity” of the women and the actresses’ influence on their characters; Bloodworth-Thomason’s solo writing of the first three seasons and the addition of a second writer, Pamela Norris, later on; Burke’s experience with the Miss America pageant; Smart’s similarities and differences from her “gullible, innocent” character and how she was cast against type; Carter’s experience as a real-life Republican playing an outspoken liberal; memories of the show’s beginnings and hearing that the pilot had sold; the show’s cancellation in its first season and subsequent revival due to fan support; the cast’s favorite episodes, including shows featuring guest stars Dolly Parton and Gerald McRaney; the danger of overwhelming the show with too many guest stars; the talent of supporting actors Meshach Taylor and Alice Ghostley; the cast’s difficulty keeping a straight face during funny scenes; memorable on-set moments and episodes; the show’s interest in confronting sexism in show business; the episode about Suzanne’s weight and Burke’s desire not “to be a punchline”; and the show’s eighteen Emmy nominations and single win for hairstyling in 1988.