Ep 11. New Year's Daze

New Year's Daze is the eleventh episode in the first season of Designing Women. Set in Atlanta, Georgia, the show revolves around four women who run an interior design firm. New Year's Daze opens with the Sugarbakers women enjoying New Year's Eve, but things quickly take a turn when they wake up on New Year's Day with no memory of the previous night's events. The episode follows the ladies' attempts to piece together the events of their wild night out.

Julia Sugarbaker, the firm's founder and the show's lead character, wakes up in bed with a handsome stranger and immediately begins to panic. Meanwhile, her sister Suzanne Sugarbaker, an egotistical former beauty queen, wakes up in a hotel room with a man she doesn't remember meeting. Their friends and colleagues, Mary Jo Shively and Charlene Frazier, are also dealing with their own mysterious hangovers.

As the ladies try to figure out what happened, they grow increasingly worried that they did something embarrassing or even illegal. They struggle to remember the details of their night out, relying on clues like receipts and an empty bottle of champagne. As they piece together the events of their wild night, they begin to realize that they may have inadvertently disrupted a wedding at a local hotel.

The episode is full of comedic misunderstandings and mistaken identities, as the women try to unravel the night's events while avoiding the wrath of the bride and groom. Along the way, they encounter a cast of colorful characters, including a handsome French waiter and a group of rowdy revelers who may have witnessed their antics.

Despite the chaos and confusion, the women ultimately discover that their wild night out was actually a turning point in their lives. Julia, who has been struggling with her divorce, realizes that she's ready to move on and start dating again. Suzanne, normally self-absorbed and shallow, has a moment of vulnerability and opens up to her friends about her insecurities. Mary Jo and Charlene, who have been dealing with their own personal struggles, find comfort and support in each other.

New Year's Daze is a classic sitcom episode, full of laughs, hijinks, and heartwarming moments. It's a perfect showcase for the show's talented cast, who bring their unique personalities and comedic timing to the forefront. The episode is a reminder of why Designing Women was such a beloved show in its time and why it continues to resonate with audiences today.