Designing Women (TV Series) I'll Be Home for Christmas (1987) User Reviews

If Suzanne's pig had been the first Noel, there wouldn't have been a second.

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 15 February 2021]

For those who dread the beginning of the Christmas shopping season, check out Julia's reaction to the women walking around spraying customers without their permission. Also check out her and the other women's reaction to Suzanne's entrance into Sugarbaker's with a new pet. Unfortunately, Noel was only a quick site gag, mentioned several times over the series, even though the memory makes fans think that it was on more often.

The main plot, what little there is, surrounds Mary Jo's concerns at her young son Quinton doesn't believe in Santa Claus anymore. Charlene and Anthony dress up as Santa Claus and her elf and unbeknownst to them, the Santa Claus that Suzanne has hired to takes presents over to Mary Jo's ends up robbing them. The episode more surrounds the meaning of the Christmas spirit which has a special gift for Julia from Charlene.

Several of the cast members get to sing a few Christmas carols, with a deep voice Anthony singing "The Christmas Song" and a high voiced Mary Jo singing "I Saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus". This is one of the great TV sitcom Christmas classics of all time, moving and funny and not turning Noel into Christmas dinner. The episodes ends with Julia singing "I'll Be Home for Christmas" as pictures of the cast celebrating their own Christmases as children take over the screen, an appropriate way to end a very well written episode

Classic TV Xmas Countdown Episode #64

[kgraovac · 6/10 · 21 December 2023]

Mary Jo is sad because Quint no longer believes in Santa, so Charlene and Anthony agree to show up on Xmas to convince him otherwise. Then, their gifts are stolen by a mall Santa that Suzanne hired to also show up at Mary Jo's.

This episode is from Season 2 - my least favorite season - when the writing was just too dry and humorless, so I prefer the two DW Xmas episodes from Season 6 where the comedy is more spirited.

This is a pivotal episode though, because it is the first time Suzanne makes an entrance introducing us to her pet pig Noel, although the reaction would have been much more enthusiastic had this happened in one of the later seasons. The show is just too low-key still at this point and the use of a laugh track is evident (and sorely needed).

"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" is the perfect Xmas song for Mary-Jo to sing and after that the episode ends with the cast performing "I'll Be Home For Xmas" accompanied by childhood pics of them appearing onscreen. 6/10.