Why didn't Julia Duffy/Allison Sugarbaker work

[TMC]

Originally Posted by Stanwyck16

When I first watched season 6 of Designing Women I was in high school. I hated Allison's character and was upset that Suzanne wasn't on the show anymore. Jan Hooks character filled a big hole that was left from Charlene being gone, as it wasn't until I was older that I actually came to appreciate what she brought to the show. Now watching it, I think she is hilarious, but at the time I just never really appreciated or missed her character when she was replaced by Jan Hooks, and I adored Jam Hooks character immediately. Still do.

So it puzzled me that even though I say and believe Suzanne is my favorite character on DW, the season I have watched more than any other season by far is season 6. It took a lot of re-watchings before I realized I didnt hate Allison's character at all. I actually LOVE her character. In the same way that Suzanne is a one woman show, Allison is too. But instead of being larger than life on the screen and tugging on your heart-strings, mostly fluff with a light mix of politics. Season 6 was when DW found its stride-but no one, not the writers, not the actors, and definitely not the viewers, who were watching in record numbers and liking it more even as they were hating Allison-even recognized or knew why.

The other seasons are great, but very emotionally charged, which can be draining. Season 6 was built for the long run. Julia Duffy played that character to perfection. Firing her was lunacy. I still wonder how amazing season 7 could have been if they had kept her around. DW is my fave show of all time, but I still haven't made it all the way through season 7. I just can't. It got so cringey and everyone's acting fell apart. I feel too sad for them when I watch it, and the show is supposed to be a comedy.

What's interesting is that I just so happened to catch reruns of Reba and there was Julia Duffy as the principal at Van and Cheyenne's high school. And she kind of plays a similar type of character that you could say, she played on Designing Women except from a position of authority. Basically, a very snotty, elitist, almost "Karen-like", mean girl.

[CJMD03]

It wasn’t Duffy’s fault. She just did the scripts as written. Correct, she was one dimensional- there was no substance to Alison. Also, JD received unwarranted backlash just because she wasn’t Depta Burke by both the viewers and producers.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by CJMD03

It wasn’t Duffy’s fault. She just did the scripts as written. Correct, she was one dimensional- there was no substance to Alison. Also, JD received unwarranted backlash just because she wasn’t Depta Burke by both the viewers and producers.

It wasn't just the fact that Julia Duffy's character on Designing Women had no likable, charming, or redeeming qualities, she was still acting as if she was on Newhart. The problem with that is that Designing Women and Newhart were two starkly different shows. Newhart was a much more wry and surreal show with dry humor. Designing Women on the other hand, was a show that had some heart.