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Bloodworth-Thomason doubts 'Designing Women' (on DVD Tuesday) possible on TV today
By Rich Heldenfels
Beacon Journal popular culture writer
Published on Sunday, May 24, 2009
Linda Bloodworth-Thomason wishes TV had more Tina Feys.
After all, as a writer and as star of NBC's 30 Rock, Fey provides TV with a smart, sometimes tough woman who is outspoken and full of opinions while navigating a male-dominated world.
''There's such a lack of strong women in comedy,'' Bloodworth-Thomason lamented. ''I think the television culture has changed. The role models just aren't out there.''
Instead, she sees an entertainment world where the focus is on the likes of Paris Hilton and the Kardashian sisters, where attention goes to ''attractive young girls who are . . . vapid and empty.''
This especially troubles Bloodworth-Thomason because she was one of the great presenters of smart, beautiful, no-nonsense women in prime time through a series she created, Designing Women.
Premiering in 1986, the series focused on four women working at an Atlanta interior-decorating firm: Julia Sugarbaker (Dixie Carter), her sister Suzanne (Delta Burke) and their staffers Mary Jo Shively (Annie Potts) and Charlene Frazier (Jean Smart). The first season comes to DVD on Tuesday (Shout! Factory, 21 episodes, four discs, $44.99), with a 2006 reunion of Bloodworth-Thomason and the four stars as a DVD bonus.
Though not a ratings hit at first, Designing Women nonetheless managed to set its tone quickly — adult women, not girls, who were great to listen to, whether discussing issues with each other or with Julia giving what came to be known as ''Terminator speeches'' deflating some misguided or pompous target. The comments could stick long after the plot of an episode was forgotten.
It was all by design, said Bloodworth-Thomason, who went on to shows like Evening Shade and to working in politics for a couple of Arkansas friends named Bill and Hillary Clinton. She wanted feminist views coming from women who also knew how to dress, and loved men.
''I knew that feminism had gotten a black eye,'' she said. ''I wanted to have really good-looking, smart, sophisticated women.'' Although they had their flaws and quirks (especially Suzanne and Charlene), any one could make a sharp point. Any one could make you laugh.
Bloodworth-Thomason remembers that first season as a difficult one at times. She was writing it as her mother was dying of AIDS. And, like many new shows, it took some time to get its sea legs. ''When you look at the pilot . . . Delta in particular was a little tentative. . . .
''But in some ways, it was the best year of the show,'' Bloodworth-Thomason added. ''It was new territory, and we were allowed to be bold. There was something wild and new about it.''
It is also something that is hard to match, including today. Bloodworth-Thomason is not sure that Designing Women could make it on the air now.
It's not just a matter of finding a voice, although that's important. Bloodworth-Thomason speaks gratefully of writer Pam Norris, who came to Designing Women later and understood the show; she took some of the creative weight off Bloodworth-Thomason.
There's also the fragile chemistry of a show, both with the cast (where Burke later made headlines with her unhappiness) and the network. Bloodworth-Thomason has often praised two CBS executives for keeping the show alive. Indeed, she said the show's survival ''was possible because of three men — Harry Thomason [her husband] and [CBS's] Jeff Sagansky and Howard Stringer. They said, 'Just go do it.' They didn't ask [about flak over the characters' comments]. They never questioned what we were doing. I don't think that's possible today.''
Bloodworth-Thomason got a rough lesson in that not long ago. She made a deal with HBO for a series called 12 Miles of Bad Road, set among the Texas rich. Six episodes were made. It had a great cast, including Lily Tomlin, Mary Kay Place, Gary Cole and Kim Dickens; it had a lot of snap, and moments that felt like Designing Women at its best. But there was a regime change at HBO, and the show never aired.
Which makes Designing Women look like even more of a miracle.
Elsewhere on DVD
The movie Revolution felt like a misfire when it premiered in 1985. It starred Al Pacino, an actor who seemed made for modern roles, as an illiterate trapper who gets involved in the American Revolution. His accent in particular was judged wildly inappropriate to the material.
While Pacino's accent remains (and he defends it), the movie has gotten a retooling for DVD release as Revolution Revisited: Director's Cut ($19.97).
This version adds narration by Pacino, which clarifies some of the story; a narration was discussed for the original version but not included when one of the production companies wanted to rush the film into theaters. Director Hugh Hudson (Chariots of Fire) has also re-edited the film, and cut the old ending, which another studio had wanted.
That information and more is in a 20-minute bonus on the DVD, which has Hudson and Pacino talking about the making of the film, Pacino's accent, the difficult experience (both say they went years before making another movie) and lingering affection for it. Pacino also notes that the film has some high-profile fans, including Martin Scorsese. In fact, there are early scenes in Revolution that will make you think of Scorsese's later Gangs of New York.
The film is being included in Warner's Director's Showcase series, which on Tuesday also includes Beyond Rangoon, M. Butterfly and Zabriskie Point, each for $19.97.
One of the more interesting results of the success of Hugh Laurie in House has been the release of his earlier comedy work in British television, especially his collaborations with actor-writer Stephen Fry.
Tuesday brings Jeeves & Wooster: The Complete Series (A&E Home Video, 23 episodes, eight discs, $59.95), a reissue of the comedy at a lower price than a previous, pre-House collection of the entire series. (The four seasons have also been released individually.)
Originally made in the early '90s, the shows are based on P.G. Wodehouse stories about the idler Bertie Wooster (played by Laurie) and his wise valet Jeeves (Fry). They are very funny in spots, as well as showcasing Laurie's musical side. (More than one episode has Wooster at the piano, essaying the likes of Minnie the Moocher and Puttin' on the Ritz.) But they also show Laurie developing as an actor; compare the economy of his work in House with those times in Jeeves and Wooster when he cannot resist making one too many funny faces. A biography of Wodehouse is included as a DVD extra.
While many people long for complete sets of TV series, distributors still see an appetite for samplers, as four DVD titles will illustrate on Tuesday.
Warner is issuing Saturday Morning Cartoons: 1960s Volume 1 and 1970s Volume 1, each a two-disc set for $26.99. The '60s set has 14 episodes from 12 shows, including Top Cat, The Flint-stones, The Jetsons, Quick Draw McGraw, Magilla Gorilla and less-known shows like Herculoids, Marine Boy and Frankenstein Jr., plus extras.
The '70s set features Hong Kong Phooey, Speed Buggy, Wheelie, Josie and the Pussycats, Yogi's Gang, The New Scooby-Doo Movies, The Batman/Tarzan Adventure Hour and other items among 12 episodes on 12 shows, as well as extras.
Paramount, meanwhile, offers two collections in a T.V. Sets line, each for $14.98. Forever Funny has the first episodes of I Love Lucy, The Odd Couple, The Honeymooners, Taxi, The Brady Bunch, Frasier and Cheers. Action Packed show-cases the first episodes of NCIS, MacGyver, Mission: Impossible and Walker, Texas Ranger.
Rich Heldenfels writes about popular culture for the Beacon Journal, in the HeldenFiles Online blog at http://heldenfels.ohio.com and now on Twitter. He can be reached at 330-996-3582 and rheldenfels@thebeaconjournal.com.
Linda Bloodworth-Thomason wishes TV had more Tina Feys.
Get the full article here.
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