A Look Back at WOMEN OF THE HOUSE - 1995

Did you know there was life after DESIGNING WOMEN, for Suzanne Sugarbaker? Most people don't, as this spin-off series only lasted 12 weeks on CBS.What makes this spin-off even more odd is it is also from Bloodworth-Thomas, whom Delta Burke had been feuding with for years.

WOMEN OF THE HOUSE premiered on Wednesday, January 4, 1995, in the 8:00 p.m. Tim slot. In march, the series was moved to Mondays at 8:30 p.m. It ran 9 episodes over a 12 week period before being pulled after its March 20th episode.

CBS aspired one burn off episode in the summer, then Lifetime aired the remaining four original episodes.

There series had plenty of controversy within the production. Julie Hagerty (AIRPLANE) was to play Jennifer from the start, but after two episodes, she walked off the set. CBS had issues with some of the controversial topics, like abuse to women. Between well this and low ratings, CBS killed the series.

About WOMEN OF THE HOUSE:
After her 76 year old husband passes away, Suzanne Sugarbaker moves to Washington DC to fill out his term in the House of Representatives. Not expecting to be around long, nobody gave her chance an did not want to work with her.

Surrounding her in her new troll were her adopted daughter, Desiree and her mentally challenged brother, Jim. Her staff consisted of Natalie, her chief of staff, who had  fling with a congressman now in priss on. Her press secretary Sissy, who is a former Washington Post reporter who was fired for excessive drinking. Then finally there was Jennifer, her receptionist, who's husband left her for a Redskins cheerleader, and now she is alone to raise her two sons.

Most of the comedy came from the "Southern Miss Sugarbaker" trying to fit in, yet make changes, in her new environment of DC politics.

CAST:

• Delta Burke as Suzanne Sugarbaker
• Terri Hard as Sissy (Press Secretary)
• Patricia Heat as Natalie (Chief of Staff)
• Valerie Mahaffey as Jennifer (Receptionist), 6 episodes
• Julie Hagerty as Jennifer (Receptionist), 2 episodes
• Jonathan Banks as Jim (Brother)
• Brittany Parkyn as Desiree (Daughter)