As a kid who grew up on afternoon sitcom reruns, I was a huge fan of Designing Women, and so was sad to hear of Dixie Carter’s passing yesterday. She was 70. Though a Republican in real life, she was known for her fiery liberal speeches as Julia Sugarbaker, and was reputedly nonetheless a big supporter of women’s and gay rights.
Via Prof. Susurro of Like a Whisper, here are two videos of Julia telling it like it is.
Preach, Miss Julia! I loved that show. And those ladies were living proof of the Southern saying “The higher the hair, the closer to God.”
RIP Dixie. You were a helluva lady.
Julia Sugarbaker was one of my childhood heros. Whatever Dixie Carter’s real life beliefs were, as an actress she infused Julia with such strength, poise, and fire and made her a woman worthy of adulation.
What the hell has happened to women on television? Where are our current day Designing Women, Golden Girls, and Murphy Browns? Granted I don’ watch much mainstream TV so maybe I’m just missing them?
Tall, I was wondering the same thing this morning. Designing Women was such a gem. It passed the bechdel test every single episode. Like Murphy Brown, and Golden Girls, and Roseanne, it celebrated women of all ages, who had interests outside snagging a man and shopping. Those were good times for women on television.
I’m starting to suspect that everyone at the networks has become so afraid of appearing to take a side (and potentially showing a fictional character that–gasp!–someone might disagree with politically) that those women don’t get to exist anymore. The shows for teens are more controversial than the ones for full-grown adults.
@DangerMouse: I think you’re on to something there. Except the networks have already taken a side by refusing to create feminist character roles for women because they’re afraid of angering viewers who might object.
A few years ago I might not have said this, but I do think we’re living in a time of heightened hostility to women. Like most things connected to capitalism and globalization, that dynamic is just getting worse, not better. I blame the American Taliban.
R.I.P. Dixie Carter.
Wow, I have such a girl crush on that character. And to think, an hour ago I didn’t know she existed. May the actress rest in peace.
I will always personally love her for teaching me what it takes to be a strong southern and a GOOD Christian to boot.
My own favorite speeches were these:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVl4bmGcn3c
(an unapologetic feminist here as ever.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCR-5XnHyyE
(Defending people with AIDS FTW. I think this show was one of the few that did, I believe.)