Designing Women: The Complete Sixth Season

Sugarbakers Gets a Personnel Makeover
During the summer of 1991, "Designing Women" was riding high in the Nielsens with its biggest ratings ever due to all the publicity the show was receiving in the tabloids after the dismissal of Delta Burke. After much speculation about her successor, it was revealed that Julia Duffy (having recently come off a 7-season stint as spoiled Stephanie on "Newhart") would be her replacement. At the time the producers were quoted as saying "There are very few actresses who can play spoiled, stuffy characters without making you hate them...and Julia Duffy is one of those few". That statement was spot-on and viewers had their hopes as high as the Thomasons that the show would continue to enchant audiences. "Saturday Night Live" alumna Jan Hooks would be taking over for Jean Smart, who's departure was so overshadowed by Delta's, it practically slipped under everyone's radar and was hardly mentioned.

The hour-long season-premiere on September 16, 1991 titled "The Big Desk" generated...

Season 6 Outshines both 5 and 7
I'm going to have to strongly disagree with the last reviewer (Wolfgang731). Some fans' dislike of the cast changes really skewed their view of this season, but it actually had far better writing than either Five or Seven. Season Five had great moments and rode high on the coattails of the fabulous Season 4, but because of everything going on behind the scenes, the writing was very off-balance and the ensemble was very fractured. Watch Season 2 again if you really want to see what this show is supposed to feel like. The show was really at its best when it raised the audience to it's intelligent, though-provoking level than when it tried to be traditional and slapstick funny.

Let's face it, nothing compares to Seasons 1-4, but Season 6 had characterization that was spot-on and strong ensemble work that was seriously lacking in Season 5 with Delta written down to barely a walk-on in half the episodes. And as much as B.J. was a very welcome addition (particularly to those...

You will laugh out loud!!! Love these shows!!!
Having just received this last week and viewed only half of the episodes, I am still amazed that, in the 6th Season, the cast could change a bit and still remain as funny as ever! I just watched the "Under The Bed" episode, it's my new favorite. In these days of stress and worry, I can always put in one of these DVDs and forget, for a while, the mess our country and workplace is in. I thought the Sixth Season may not be as funny and entertaining without Delta Burke and Jean Smart, I do love their comedy, but the writing is just as hilarious and crisp as ever and delivered with perfect timing by the whole cast.

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