I know after Season 6, the show really went down hill. I think Julia Duffy's character is what really made the ratings go down hill. However, when Season 7 started, they brought on, Judith Ivey to replace Julia Duffy. Season 7 really had some really great episodes. Judith Ivey was a much better choice for the show. Judith's character was much better and well liked. I really think they should have brought it back on for an eighth season so we could have had one or a few more seasons with Judith Ivey. They could have asked Jean Smart to come back to the show since Annie Potts had plans to leave after Season 7. Would have been cool to see Julia, Carlene, BJ, and Charlene together if they had a Season 8. If Jean Smart did not want to return to the show, then I say just keep Julia, Carlene, and BJ and not get a replacement for Annie Potts. I really think if an eighth season really did happen and Jean Smart came back to the show or if she said no and they just kept Julia, Carlene, and BJ together, the ratings might have gotton better.

I always assumed had the show continued, Sheryl Lee Ralph would have become a regular and the fourth "designing woman", although I did not like the Etienne character. I doubt Jean Smart would have had any interest in returning at this point, and Charlene and Carlene were basically the same personality, and what the show needed was contrast. Since Mary-Jo was really the only "trained" decorator, it wouldn't really have been "Designing Women" anymore since Carlene was a receptionist and B.J. the "personality person" who could drum up business. I guess Julia, Carlene and B.J. could have continued with Etienne showing up and irritating everyone but I can't see it getting any better than it was in S7, unless the writers really upped their game.

I think the spring or summer of 1993, it was rumored that Annie Potts was leaving Designing Women, but I believe I remember seeing on a tabloid at a supermarket, that Annie was on board for season 8, right before DW was officially canceled. So Dixie, Annie, Jan, and Judith would have been together for one more season. Then they probably would have called it quits. Sadly, the show never got a series finale.

I think the spring or summer of 1993, it was rumored that Annie Potts was leaving Designing Women, but I believe I remember seeing on a tabloid at a supermarket, that Annie was on board for season 8, right before DW was officially canceled. So Dixie, Annie, Jan, and Judith would have been together for one more season. Then they probably would have called it quits. Sadly, the show never got a series finale.

It sucks that they canceled Designing Women when it was suppose to come back for an 8th Season. The show deserved to have Dixie, Annie, Jan, and Judith together for one more season. Designing Women deserved to have a series finale.

If the show had a series finale, how do you think Designing Women would had ended with Julia, Mary Jo, Carlene, BJ, Anthony, Bernice?

Wasn't the last show the "Gone With the Wind" episode. Well if they couldn't have a finale, that episode was pretty spectacular, anyway!

Wasn't the last show the "Gone With the Wind" episode. Well if they couldn't have a finale, that episode was pretty spectacular, anyway!

Yes it was. It was pretty cool. Definitely was not a bad episode.