Advanced TV Herstory host Cynthia Bemis Abrams is a sucker for a holiday sitcom episode. New Year's Eve storytelling on television is often hit-or-miss, but Designing Women delivered a timeless masterpiece with the January 1, 1990 "The First Day of the Last Decade of the Entire 20th Century."

Written by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason and directed by Harry Thomason, this heartfelt episode features the original cast—Dixie Carter, Delta Burke, Jean Smart, and Annie Potts—gathering in support of Charlene as she welcomes her baby into the world. It also includes Dolly Parton in a dream sequence, delivering a message of hope and wisdom as Charlene’s Guardian Angel. In this episode of Advanced TV Herstory, host Cynthia Bemis Abrams explores the cultural and emotional significance of this classic Designing Women moment, highlighting the late-80s sentimentality, strong female friendships, and enduring legacy of the series.

Cynthia discusses:

• The original cast’s performances, featuring Dixie Carter, Delta Burke, Jean Smart, and Annie Potts.
• Dolly Parton’s iconic role as Charlene’s dream Guardian Angel and the wisdom she imparts.
• The warmth and emotion of the episode’s final moments, as the women reflect on the past decade and the future ahead.

Related Advanced TV Herstory episode

Designing Women v. Body Shaming https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/f3f2d126-490f-4cf0-96c7-fb3d7bab9621.mp3

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