Ep 9. Tyrone

Tyrone is the ninth episode of season three of the American television sitcom Designing Women. The episode originally aired on November 23, 1988, on CBS, with a running time of approximately 23 minutes.

The episode revolves around the Sugarbaker women, who are a group of interior designers, and their associates at the Sugarbaker Design firm. The episode begins with the women receiving a request from an old friend of Suzanne, the eldest Sugarbaker sister. The friend is a music producer named Tyrone Jackson, who is heading to Atlanta to sign a new client.

Tyrone is a self-made African American man from Harlem who has made a name for himself in the music industry. Upon arriving in Atlanta, Tyrone meets with the Sugarbaker women to discuss his need for a home office. Tyrone's current living conditions are unsuitable for his work, and his new client requires him to have an office in Atlanta.

The Sugarbaker women are excited to help a friend of Suzanne's and set out to design the perfect home office for Tyrone. However, things quickly take a turn when they discover the limited budget that Tyrone has set for the project. Despite this, the women agree to work within his budget and get to work on designing an office that will meet his unique needs.

As the women work on designing Tyrone's office, they begin to uncover some of his personal struggles. Tyrone shares that he has faced a great deal of discrimination in the music industry as an African American man. He opens up about the challenges he has faced and how much his success means to him.

The episode also features a subplot involving Julia, the head of the Sugarbaker firm, and her struggle with her weight. Julia is unhappy with her current body shape and decides to start a weight loss program. The subplot explores issues around body image and societal pressures on women to look a certain way.

As the episode comes to a close, Tyrone's office is complete, and he is overjoyed with the final result. He thanks the Sugarbaker women for their hard work and help. The episode ends with a touching moment between Tyrone and Suzanne, reflecting on the importance of friendship and support.

Overall, Tyrone is a heartwarming episode that explores important issues around diversity, body image, and friendship. With its focus on the Sugarbaker women as strong, independent women in the world of interior design, the episode continues to resonate with audiences today.