Designing Women with Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, Part 2

80s TV Ladies

Susan and Sharon continue their discussion with the creator of Designing Women, Linda Bloodworth-Thomason (also Evening Shade, Hearts Afire, Filthy Rich, and more!).
In Part Two of their conversation, Linda touches on the challenges of television production, her experiences with Dixie Carter, Delta Burke’s struggles on the show -- and the differences between the north and south.
THE CONVERSATION

• LOVE IS IN THE AIR: We get the inside scoop on the real-life romances between the cast members of Designing Women and their male co-stars.
• When CBS refused to cast Delta Burke as Suzanne Sugarbaker – and only changed their minds three days before the pilot was shot!
• How Julia and Suzanne Sugarbaker’s mother was almost played by Elizabeth Taylor!
• DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH: How Linda and casting director Fran Bascom discovered Jean Smart and Annie Potts -- playing a pair of Arkansas diamond thieves… in Amsterdam?!?
• The president of CBS actually apologized for Designing Women at the network upfronts in New York – and was booed by the press who had seen the pilot and loved it!
• “KILLING ALL THE RIGHT PEOPLE”: How a comment Linda overheard while caring for her mother who was dying of AIDS led her to write one of her most memorable scripts.
• SEND THE MESSENGER! Most of the first season scripts were written by Linda on the weekend before they were shot.
• The telegram Oprah Winfrey sent Linda that she still has to this day.
• “RESERVATIONS FOR EIGHT” – this “Battle of the Sexes” episode is a favorite of Sharon’s – and Linda’s!

So join Susan and Sharon – and Linda – as they talk therapy, Dolly Parton, southern racism -- and Designing Women: The Play!
BONUS EPISODE COMING: Find us THIS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1st --With special guest, television writer/producer Stan Zimmerman (“Gilmore Girls” “Golden Girls”), talking about “The Girls”, working with Rosanne, Betty White, and most recently – writing the new Lifetime Network movie, Ladies of the 80’s: A Diva’s Christmas!
AUDIOGRAPHY
Read Linda's 2018 Hollywood Reporter column: Not All Harassment is Sexual
Read Linda’s 2017 Hollywood Reporter column: Lessons From Witnessing Four Decades of Harassment in Hollywood
Stream Designing Women on Hulu, Amazon Prime, Pluto!
The Facebook page: Facebook.com/DesigningWomenOfficial
Read Designing Women producer/director Harry Thomason’s autobiography:
“Brother Dog: Southern Tales and Hollywood Adventures” on Amazon.
Read Linda Bloodworth Thomason’s romantic Southern novel, “Liberating Paris” - on Amazon.


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