Perhaps the most famous episode, and a rare instance of a situation comedy making direct political comment on a current issue. The Sugarbakers women take sides on the controversial confirmation hearings of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas and Anita Hill's accusation of sexual harassment: Mary Jo and Julia side with Hill and Allison with Thomas. Conflict spills over into Allison's birthday party, where Mary Jo and Julia turn up in costume just in time to hear a television interview about the hearings with Allison.
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Cast of Designing Women
Dixie CarterJulia Sugarbaker
Annie PottsMary Jo Shively
Meshach TaylorAnthony Bouvier
Jean SmartCharlene Frazier Stillfield
Delta BurkeSuzanne Sugarbaker
Jan HooksCarlene Frazier Dobber
Alice GhostleyBernice Clifton
Julia DuffyAllison Sugarbaker
Judith IveyBonnie Jean "B.J." Poteet
Richard GillilandJ.D. Shackleford
Douglas BarrColonel Bill Stillfield
Priscilla WeemsClaudia Shively
Sheryl Lee RalphEtienne Toussant Bouvier
Hal HolbrookReese Watson
Michael GoldfingerRusty
Scott BakulaTed Shively
Olivia BrownVanessa Hargraves
Lexi RandallRanda Oliver
George NewbernPayne McIlroy
Arlen Dean SnyderRay Don Simpson
M.C. GaineyT. Tommy Reed
Patrick WarburtonCraig Coleman
Ronnie Claire EdwardsIone Frazier
Julie CobbJanet Shackleford
Bobbie FergusonMonette Marlin
Gerald McRaneyDash Goff
Ray McKinnonDwayne Dobber
Connie LewLi Sing
Lewis GrizzardClayton Sugarbaker
Jordan BradleyDonnie
Geoffrey LewisDr. Davis Jackson
Gregg HenryJack Dent
Louise LathamPerky Sugarbaker