The recent Questar Entertainment DVD release of the 1995 CBS sitcom "Women of the House" provides a PERFECT example of a primary purpose of DVDs. This format is ideal for series such as this spin-off of the better-known CBS sitcom "Designing Women," which is about four sassy Southern women (and their long-suffering male associate) running an Atlanta interior design firm.
The perfect marriage between content and technology relates to DVDs providing a second bite of the apple regarding programs with little or no syndication history. On a related note, this release helps validate the Unreal TV belief that most sitcoms from every era have ongoing merit. The plethora of cable networks that air lesser-known series further support this conclusion.
"House" centers around one-percenter, oft-married former beauty queen Suzanne Sugarbaker (Delta Burke) of "Women." This outspoken (but not especially bright) woman revels in speaking her mind even when knowing that she surely will offend one and all. Her delusional senses of attractiveness and wealth prompt this lack of a verbal filter.
The pilot of the spin-off finds Suzanne newly appointed to complete the term of her recently deceased fifth husband in the House of Representatives. CBS golden couple of the '90s (and Friends of Bill) Linda Bloodworth-Thomason and Harry Thomason provide former-bane-of-their-existence Burke a staff that will seem familiar to her.
Receptionist Jennifer Malone (Valerie Mahaffey and then Julie Hagerty) is the naive and gullible "Charlene" of the group until a flighty intern assumes that role. Although mother-of-two Malone being recently divorced from her high school sweetheart and dealing with dating for the first time in 20 years after having only dated one man in her life outwardly makes her a "Mary Jo," her rambling and her trusting nature are pure Charlene.
Outwardly cynical but vulnerable recovering alcoholic former Washington Post reporter/current press secretary Sissy Emerson fills the shoes of Mary Jo.
Administrative assistant who is much more legislative aide then coffee gofer Natalie Hollingsworth (Patricia Heaton) clearly is the Julia (i.e., Suzanne sibling) Sugarbaker of the group. She is equal parts strict mother and teacher who constantly struggles to get the "children" to focus on work. Her backstory is that she is the former staffer of a married disgraced former Congressman with whom she has a long-term affair that not even an unfortunate incarceration can end.
The plots combine typical sitcom elements with the politics of both that day and ours in which an outspoken one-percenter who loves the spotlight but lacks political experience occupies the White House. The pilot finds Suzanne making rookie mistakes that bring her to the brink of resigning and returning to Georgia before deciding to keep up the good fight.
The Thomasons follow up this one with a twofer that involves both the president coming for dinner and Suzanne causing chaos during a coveted night in the Lincoln bedroom. Having Jamie Farr of "M*A*S*H" appear adds the element of a "very special guest star."
We additionally get the women moving the action to the actual house of Suzanne to monitor television broadcasts for their jobs; the "com" related to this "sit" is that recent events make them moderately annoyed with each other at the time. A similar feminist "Designing" style outing has the women study the high incidence of violence against women in films.
"House" also channels "Women" in having the group go on vacation only to get involved in amusing misadventures with the local men with whom each of them are paired. The twist thus time is that the girls may be the bad guys.
"House" stands nicely on its own and passes the test of time. The one hoped-for element is a stronger connection with the (by then off-the-air) "Women." One can understand the desire to separate "House" from Women" and two friends from that universe do visit Suzanne, but the potential for more seems likely. Minimally one would expect a "House" scandal related to Suzanne accidentally burning down a design house and/or accepting a job to redecorate a brothel during her "Women" days.
Anyone with questions or comments regarding "Women" is encouraged to email me; you alternatively can connect on Twitter via @tvdvdguy.
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