Delta Burke
Suzanne Sugarbaker
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Cast
Episode Guide
- 1. Pilot Sep 29, 1986
- Julia and Charlene are horrified to learn Suzanne has fallen for Mary Jo's ex-husband.
- 2. The Beauty Contest Oct 6, 1986
- Charlene agrees to sponsor Mary Jo's daughter in the Miss Pre-Teen Atlanta Contest.
- 3. A Big Affair Oct 20, 1986
- Suzanne arranges a date for Charlene with a very portly gentleman (Walter Olkewicz).
Designing Women is a comedy TV series about four women and their handyman running a design firm in Atlanta. Annie Potts plays Mary Jo, a divorced mother and a feminist, who often clashes with her sister Suzanne and her friend Julia.
- (7K)
- 1986-09-29
- Comedy
- 30
Annie Potts as Mary Jo Shively, Sugarbaker's main designer. Mary Jo is a sarcastic but kind person and a devoted single mother of two. Jean Smart as Charlene Frazier-Stillfield (seasons 1–5; guest star: season 6), Julia's late husband's former secretary and now office manager of Sugarbaker's.
She then appeared as the pragmatic interior designer Mary Jo Shively on the CBS television sitcom Designing Women (1986–1993). She was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1994 for her role as Dana Palladino on Love & War (1993–1995).
YearTitleRoleNotes2021Edmée (voice)A Netflix original animated series2017–2024"Meemaw" or Constance "Connie" TuckerMain cast, 139 episodes2016Mrs. Sacani2 episodes2016Louise BakerEpisode: "Buckle Up"Annie Potts is an Emmy Nominated Actress who has played many iconic roles, such as the wonderful ‘Mary Jo Shively’ from “Designing Women,” Janine Melnitz from “Ghostbusters,” Iona from “Pretty in Pink,” and ‘Meemaw’ from the CBS hit comedy “Young Sheldon.”
- Dixie Carter. Carter starred as Julia Sugarbaker, the president of Sugarbaker & Associates. She ran the company out of her beautiful house and was the epitome of southern class, always up for putting someone in their place if need be.
- Annie Potts. The sarcastic lead designer at the firm, Mary Jo Shively, was played by the incomparable Annie Potts. While the Nashville native has had a solid film career with lots of memorable characters including Janine Melnitz in Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II, Iona in Pretty In Pink, Helen Downing in Who's Harry Crumb?
- Jean Smart. Smart played the sweet but naive and ditzy office manager from Poplar Bluff, Missouri, Charlene Frazier-Stillfield. The TV show was Smart's first big break in the biz and she has gone on to have an incredible career.
- Delta Burke. The self-absorbed Suzanne Sugarbaker was Julia's sister on the show. Burke was able to use her former beauty queen days as Miss Florida to bring her character to life and ended up earning a couple of Emmy nominations.
75. YOUR RATING. Rate. Comedy. Claudia brings home Jack, a 34-year-old man she met in a bar, who soon takes an interest in Mary Jo. Director. David Trainer. Writers. Linda Bloodworth-Thomason. Pamela Norris. Stars. Delta Burke. Dixie Carter. Annie Potts. See production info at IMDbPro. RENT/BUY. search Amazon. Add to Watchlist. 1 User review.
Mary Jo objects to her daughter entering a beauty pageant in this episode of the comedy series Designing Women. Annie Potts plays Charlene, a cosmetics saleswoman and friend of the Sugarbakers.
