Editing Designing Women (section)

==Cast and characters==
===Main===
*[[Dixie Carter]] as Julia Sugarbaker, president and founder of Sugarbaker & Associates interior design firm. Elegant and classy, but outspoken and opinionated, Julia is known for a no-nonsense demeanor; throughout the course of the show, Julia has several monologues and speeches from a feminist and liberal perspective, and is known for telling people off, earning her the nickname of "The Terminator". She is very protective of her sister Suzanne, even though she is usually the first one to criticize her egocentric statements. Julia is notable as a very talented singer, usually performing in her church choir, and, later on, she also pretends to be a [[cabaret]] singer under the pseudonym "Giselle".
*[[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. Originally from a large family in [[Poplar Bluff]], [[Missouri]], Charlene is naïve and sweet-hearted, whose ditziness can be annoying for her co-workers. She's one of [[Elvis Presley|Elvis']] biggest fans and worked with several big names while secretary in [[Arkansas]], including [[Frederick W. Smith|Fred Smith]], [[Sam Walton]] and [[Bill Clinton]]. Eventually, Charlene marries Colonel William Stillfield and they have a baby, Olivia. By 1991, they move to England, leaving her younger sister, Carlene, to fill in for her at Sugarbaker's.
*[[Delta Burke]] as Suzanne Sugarbaker (seasons 1–5), Julia's younger sister and a silent partner at Sugarbaker's. A former [[beauty queen]] and alumna of [[University of Mississippi|Ole Miss]], Suzanne is self-centered and vain, and generally more [[laissez-faire]] and traditional in contrast to her sister's views. Thrice-divorced, Suzanne usually dates wealthy elderly men who are terminally ill. During the series, she deals with weight gain and confronts issues of body image for women. In 1991, Suzanne sells all of her shares and moves to [[Japan]] to live with her mother.
*[[Meshach Taylor]] as Anthony Bouvier (recurring: seasons 1–2, main: seasons 3–7), an ex-convict and a law student, who works as Sugarbaker's delivery man until 1990 and then becomes a full partner. Anthony is very close to his co-workers but develops a special relationship with Suzanne throughout the series. After he is dumped by his girlfriend, Vanessa Chamberlain ([[Jackeé Harry]]), BJ sets up a trip to [[Las Vegas]] where a drunk Anthony marries a [[Folies Bergère]] singer, Etienne ([[Sheryl Lee Ralph]]). He eventually falls in love with her and tries to make the marriage work.
*[[Julia Duffy]] as Allison Sugarbaker (season 6), Julia and Suzanne's conservative cousin who becomes a partner at Sugarbaker & Associates. Allison comes from [[New York City]] for a visit after buying Suzanne's shares and decides to move back to the South, taking possession of Suzanne's house as well, which Anthony had been renting. They eventually became housemates, but are always arguing because of her attempts to throw him out. After one year being a partner at the design firm, Allison decides to invest in a Victoria's Secret franchise, leaving Atlanta and Sugarbaker's behind.
*[[Jan Hooks]] as Carlene Frazier-Dobber (seasons 6–7), Charlene's naïve younger sister from Poplar Bluff, Missouri, who becomes a receptionist at Sugarbaker's after divorcing her car salesman husband, Dwayne Dobber.
*[[Judith Ivey]] as Bonnie Jean "BJ" Poteet (season 7), a lively and sharp-witted Texas millionaire who becomes a Sugarbaker & Associates partner after Allison sells her shares. Her late husband James Poteet, a successful tycoon, had a heart attack during their wedding reception, leaving her the control of his Atlanta-based company, Poteet Industries.

===Recurring===
*[[Scott Bakula]] as Ted Shively (seasons 1–2), Mary Jo's ex-husband and a gynecologist
*[[Douglas Barr]] as William "Bill" Stillfield (seasons 2–5), Charlene's husband, a colonel in the U.S. Air Force
*[[Olivia Brown]] as Vanessa Hargraves (season 4), Anthony's girlfriend
*[[Hal Holbrook]] as Reese Watson (seasons 1–4), Julia's love interest, a widowed and successful Atlanta attorney (the character was killed off in season 5 so Holbrook could appear on ''[[Evening Shade]]'')
*[[Alice Ghostley]] as Bernice Clifton, the Sugarbakers' eccentric family friend; Ghostley was billed as a "Special Guest Star" throughout the series
*[[Richard Gilliland]] as J.D. Shackelford (seasons 1–5), Mary Jo's boyfriend, a talent scout for the [[Atlanta Braves]]
*Michael Goldfinger as Rusty (seasons 4–6), the Sugarbakers' electrician
*Brian Lando as Quinton Shively (seasons 1–6), Mary Jo's son
*[[George Newbern]] as Payne McIlroy (seasons 1–6), Julia's son
*[[Gerald McRaney]] as Dash Goff (season 2), Suzanne's first husband, a novelist and college professor at the [[University of Arkansas]]
*[[Sheryl Lee Ralph]] as Etienne Toussaint Bouvier (season 7), a showgirl Anthony marries after meeting her while she was performing at the [[Tropicana Las Vegas]]
*[[Lexi Randall]] as Randa Oliver (season 5), a young girl left in the care of Julia while her wealthy parents are in Europe
*[[Priscilla Weems]] as Claudia Marie Shively (seasons 1–5), Mary Jo's daughter