The Best of Designing Women- I can still remember the day I saw it in the local Wal-Mart. I blinked and quickly grabbed it and read over the back- and then hightailed it to the checkout counter.

First off this show is funny. I am a Southern woman, and also felt that the women gave Southern women something to be proud of. I remember watching this show with my mom and laughing and loving it. I loved Suzanne- who my dad has said that I am the most like (which i take as a compliment) and could not wait to watch the show every day (in re-runs).

This show still strikes me as one of the most funny shows= and it needs to be released in full seasons- not just a sampling.
I'm not trying to be picky, but these are not the best of DW- although they are all good in their own ways- I wanted where Julia had her head stuck in the fence, Stranded- where anthony and suzzane become friends, the Atlantic City episode, and who could forget the ones where Julia's son made an appearance- the one where he was dating the older woman and then the one where he gets married- Now those 2 were great! Or Dash Golf the Writer, or the one where Jack, Suzannes Ex, writes a book and the ensuing antics that happen from there. But, obviously, there are too many to release just a best of- we need and deserve the full seasons.

It just sickens me to see all the DVD's being released and people saying that we waited forever for something and it was only a few months- The Loyal DW fans have waited- and some of us have been very patient.

As most others have said, this is only a Designing Women appetizer; we are still waiting for the full meal, and the kitchen is taking its sweet time. But we've been here before (and sometimes get stranded in the middle, as with the Bob Newhart Show and Taxi), and there doesn't seem to be a lot that we the people can do. So, in this case, we at least have a chance to watch a few episodes, and, while there were many that could have made the cut, these will do just fine. While there is more bittersweet humor and pathos in episodes 2 and 5, I am especially glad that "Big Haas and Little Falsie" was included--- I can watch that one over and over and keep falling off the couch every time--- it is absolutely the funniest episode ever. So if you need a quick fix while we continue to wait (and wait... and wait) for the full sets, this will do.

BUT WE STILL WANT THE FULL SEASONS of Designing Women! (if anyone's listening in TV-land...)

I love the show, however, only 4 stars for this DVD - not the best selection of episodes and the quality is so-so, not digitally re-mastered, for sure. Either way, I enjoyed this DVD and really hope the entire show comes out on DVD soon.

The Episodes: 1) Pilot 2) Killing all the right people 3) Reservations for eight 4) Big Haas and little falsie 5) They shoot fat people, don't they?

"The Best of Designing Women"

To Tide Us Over

Amos Lassen

So many of us want the wonderful TV sitcom to be released on DVD but there is no new news about a possible release anytime soon. We, for the time being, have to make do with this one disc compilation. It's better than nothing but to me it is like having just an appetizer and not a full meal. The four Atlanta women became our friends during the 80's and had some great adventures. "The Best of Designing Women" has one episode from each of the five seasons that the show ran and even though they may not be the best episodes, at least we have something.
The disc opens with the show's pilot in which Suzanne Sugarbaker states to fate her gynecologist who happens to be the ex-husband of Mary Jo Shively.
"Killing All the Right People" centers on an AIDS funeral that the women have been asked to design. Here the humor is bittersweet and wonderful.
"Reservations for Eight" takes us to a group vacation when the girls and their boyfriends go n a skiing holiday and get snowed in. The vacation turns into a battleground when Suzanne has a confrontation with her ex-husband and what should have been fun becomes a battle of the sexes.
Mary Jo discovers that she has inherited $3000 in "Big Haas and Little Falsie. There is a stipulation to the money and that is that it must be spent quickly.
When Suzanne is frightened to attend her high school reunion because she is fat, things get very funny. Julia and Mary Jo decided to take part in charity fasting in "They Shoot Fat Women, Don't They?".
"Designing Women" is classic TV at its best. It is articulate and relevant, sassy and endearing. The women are not cardboard characters like we see on so many shows--they have depth and are truly three dimensional. Linda Bloodsworth-Thompson brought these women to life in an absolutely wonderful series and she gave us an amazing cast. The humor and warmth of the show but we just do not have enough of it with this disc.

My experience with Amazon was great and it always is. I received my order within a week and in time for Christmas. I am very happy with my purchase.