A Sad Farwell to a Legend ~ Dixie Carter

I have been meaning to do a post about my love (aka obsession) with Designing Women, especially since I recently discovered that the first three seasons are available on DVD, with seasons four and five on their way. Who knew? I'd been holding on to my "best of" DVD for years thinking that was the only one available.

However, I never wrote that post and now I'm sad to be writing this one. The recent passing of Dixie Carter left me remembering just how much I adored Designing Women and the women (and men) behind the characters. Growing up in the South, these character represented stereotypes for sure but as we all know there are hints of truth in every stereotype.

Each of the women in this series brought a sense of compassion and honesty to their characters. It was a uniquely special group that ably tackled the most controversial topics of the day just as easily as they did the lighthearted comedic ones. From AIDS to malpractice to pornography to women in the priesthood theses ladies handled themselves and the issues with grace, sincerity, humor and in Julia's case a whole lotta Sugarbaker fire!

If you didn't already know both Ms. Dixie and Ms. Delta's real life husbands played their on screen love interest (or ex-husband and occasional love interest) - Reese Watson and Dash Goff. One of my favorite stories was shared by co-creater Linda Bloodworth-Thomason. When discussing with Hal who he thought should play Dixie's on screen love interest he expressed a strong dislike of any male. So Ms. Linda decided to cast Hal instead.

I could go on and on about this show and for those that know me you've likely heard me ramble on aimlessly quoting my favorite episodes. You in particular Mr. G (and you'd quote them right along with me!). Instead here is my "Best Of" List.... okay so I started with my top 10 but this post is already rediculously long so here is my top five instead.


5. Bernice's Sanity Hearing
As a Southern woman myself I couldn't love this clip more. Of course this episode also features Mary Jo lying on the ground in the judges chambers illustrating to a very pregnant Charlene how to put on her panties without bending over. I snort just thinking about how funny it is.  Oh and just so you know, I've got crazies on both sides as well.




4. The Beauty Contest
This episode is quintessential Julia... defending those she loves eloquently and with dramatic flare.




3. How Great Thou Art
I love this episode for so many reasons. For starters hearing Bernice go toe to toe with Charlene's minister about whether or not women should be allowed to be ministers is a riot. But seeing the conviction that Charlene must muster to stand up for her own beliefs is truly moving. And not just because my own mother (yes mamere) is a priest but because don't ya think we all deserve to grow up believing we can do anything we set our hearts and minds on? I do.  Plus, Julia sings an incredible version of How Great Thou Art and even hits the dreaded high note perfectly.

2. Killing All The Right People
This makes the list not only for raising the issue of AIDS at time when hardly anyone was talking about it but because Julia delivers one of my all time favorite lines. "If God was giving out sexually transmitted diseases for sinning you'd be at the free clinic all the time. And so would the rest of us." Amen Sister!



1. Dash Goff, The Writer
With out a doubt this is my all time favorite. Not only does Gerald McRaney's southern accent lull me into a dream like state but he also plays a romantic etheral writer from another era. Hellooooooo?? Does it get any better? At the very end he sends the ladies the note below. We are treated with a fantastic snapshot of his descriptions that is forever burned in my memory.

"Yesterday, in my mind's eye, I saw four women standing on a verandah in white gauzy dresses and straw colored hats. They were having a conversation, and it was hot --- their hankies tucked in cleavages where eternal trickles of perspiration run from the female breast bone to exotic vacation spots that Southern men often dream about. They were sweet smelling, coy, cunning, voluptuous, voracious, delicious, pernicious, vexing and sexing --- these earth sister rebel mothers, these arousers and carousers. And I was filled with a longing to join them. But like a whim of Scarlett's, they turned suddenly and went inside, shutting me out with the bolt of a latch. And I was left only to pick up an abandoned handkerchief and savor the perfumed shadows of these women. These Southern women. This Suzanne, this Julia, this Mary-Jo and Charlene. Thanks for the comfort. " 
---Dash Goff, the Writer

Cheers, to a wonderful elegant honest Southern lady who reminds us that the purpose of etiquette is to make those around you more at ease and not to be used as a tool to exclude or intimidate. (Yes, if that sounded familiar it's from "The Engagement" another fabulous episode from this classic series.)

xoxo,
Ouiser