Sweet Tea & TV

How??? How are we at season 5? We don’t know, but we do know that Julia goes on her first rant in forever. A Southern one no less. Oh! And Mary Jo is getting hitched! No, she’s not, psyche, made you look. [enter shrug emoji] Speaking of 90s lingo, we’re going all out in this week’s “Extra Sugar” where we’re going to get a little nostalgic about possibly our favorite decade.  But first: we can’t ha...

There’s only one woman who can take us out of “Re-Release” – and that’s the Queen of Country (and the queen of everything for that matter): Dolly Parton.  It’s a deep dive, y’all, so buckle up for our chat about Dolly’s life and nearly-60-year career AND a very special Grits Blitz game.

Alright y’all, if we’re re-releasing episodes, our Steel Magnolias extravaganza has to be on the table. You see, we had some technical difficulties when it launched, and so we’re considering this one our official redo.  Your best listen probably starts with a re-watch of the movie, but it doesn’t have to! We talked about our favorite parts, memories, and some fun behind-the-scenes stuff. AND. Do....

In the next installment of our “re-sugaring” – that is favorite “Extra Sugars” from season 4, we finally found a perfectly adequate excuse to talk about prohibition and its connective tissue right here in the South. We discussed what exactly prohibition was (and what it wasn’t), what it did (and what it didn’t), and the ripple effects we still see to this day.  There’s no “one and done” with this...

We’re technically considering this week’s re-release a remarriage. That’s right: we’re returning to Charlene and Bill’s wedding in season 3. You know, the big day with just you, the love of your life, and your exotic dancer. Heart-eyes emojis. Join us as we break down all the wedding festivities! Stick around for this edition of  “Extra Sugar” where we explored different bachelorette party locals...

We simply couldn’t revisit “Extra Sugars” from this season and not revisit the woman, the myth, the legend: Ms. Annie Potts.  That’s right, in this week’s “re-sugaring,” we talked about all things Annie. From Pretty in Pink to her current beloved role as Meemaw on Young Sheldon, she’s delighted more than a few generations of audiences…including this one.

Welcome to week 2 of “Re-release September.” This one was, and will always be, a gut puncher. In season 2, episode 4, LBT and Designing Women take on the AIDS crisis, homophobia, and contraception in schools all in one episode. This one was all-time, y’all.  In the accompanying “Extra Sugar,” we discussed the real events that inspired this one...right down to the episode title, as well as Designin...

REMINDER: It’s “Re-Release September” where we’ll be sharing some episodes we’ve previously aired. Thursdays are “Extra Sugar” days, but this month, we’re “re-sugaring” some things.  First up: a deep dive into one of LBT’s favorite references: Jim Bakker. But it’s two for the price of one because we’re also talking about Tammy Faye. They were two of the most famous televangelists in the United Sta...

ICYMI: Welcome to “Re-release September” – an opportunity for new listeners to hear some of our earlier episodes. First, up, a season 1 replay, episode 21, that we lovingly renamed, “Saliva Balls and Baseball Groupies” where we finally meet one of Suzanne’s exes, Jack Dent. He’s a famous baseball pitcher with some infamous stories to publish in his new “tell all” book. Suzanne is NOT happy. Stick...

Shall we call the First Wives Club to order one more time? (That’s a rhetorical question - yes, yes we shall.) As is our way, we had MORE. TO. SAY. So, we held back some conversation about casting and controversies to cover in this special part two. We’ll talk about cast members who have gone on to become bonafide Hollywood icons since this movie, potential casting what-ifs, and even a few First W...

And now we call the First Wives Club to order! Ugh…what’s worse than losing your husband in your mid-forties?  Wellllll….we’d argue, getting stuck with a husband who doesn’t appreciate you, do special things for you, or make time for you is wayyyyyy worse!  Fortunately, three beautiful women agreed with that AND they made a movie about it with an amazing cast for us to talk about! PLUS - we get to...

Missed references! Not. On. Our. Watch. For this season’s final (final!) Extra Sugar, we’re doing a mini deep dive on three “deep cut” Atlanta references. Seriously, how did LBT find these places?! We’ll link to some interesting mentions we found, as promised, as well as some deeper dives for those who just can’t get enough. 

Y’all know how we do. We can’t leave season 4 without unpacking a few more things. How did we rate this season of Designing Women? What would *we* do differently? And a new addition: “Senior Superlatives” for our ladies and Anthony. Best hair, team ups and more.  Plus, come back Thursday for a surprise “Extra Sugar” where we dig into some last-minute Atlanta references and something g we promised...

This week’s spa episode and weight loss regimen for Suzanne and Charlene vs. weight gain regimen for Julia and Mary JO inspired this week’s segment.  Join us as we discuss the culture’s obsession with thinness and weight loss. What’s going on here? How is this affecting people? How do we put aside the fad diets for good and find long lasting healthy eating habits?

In one corner, we have Julia and Mary Jo: pampered, well-rested, stuffed on sundaes. In the other corner, Charlene and Suzanne: beaten with vines, exhausted, and hungry. All we can tell you is there’s gonna be hell to pay when the two collide. Come back on Thursday for an “Extra Sugar” where we’ll take a closer look at fad diets and eyebrow-raising weight loss treatments. 

This week, our dearest Anthony graduated college. The episode included some nods to the Civil Rights movement and Black history, which inspired us to discuss some lesser known historical Black figures and some important “firsts” you may haven’t heard about. 

Graduating is stressful, y’all. There are the last-minute exams, family coming into town, your half-cocked boss accidentally shooting you in the leg whilst trying to cheat at a Jeopardy board game…the list goes on and on and on. But if anyone can make it make sense, it’s our Anthony. And if anyone can help us “best the stress” – it’s Nikki. She’ll sidebar us with some much-needed tips Come back on...

This week, building on Mary Jo’s romantic religious rendezvous, we’re going part-mythbusters (is it illegal for people of the cloth to date?!?) and part-advice column (what do you do if you find yourself dating a person of the cloth?!?) And maybe part-business development (but also, maybe not - Nikki isn’t an app developer and maybe that’s a good thing after you hear this nonsense.)

Van Halen may have been “hot for teacher”, but this week – and probably only this week TBH – our Mary Jo is hot for preacher. Is this love that she’s feeling, or was this just an excuse for some fun baseball fan references? Speaking of: we’ll sidebar on some memorable “fan-on-the-field” moments including the ones that inspired this segment.  Come back on Thursday for an Extra Sugar that’s part-myt...

As we talked about - at length - this week, Suzanne hatched a foolproof plan for Anthony to pretend to be Consuela so he could overcome her citizenship hurdles. Consuela - and Anthony - and Suzanne’s - struggle in this episode is so real. For this segment, we’ll first talk process - what is citizenship and how do you get it - I’ll throw a couple numbers at Salina, and then, what the heck - let’s t...

Ruh-roh. Suzanne is plotting again – this time roping Anthony into impersonating Consuela who is on the brink of being deported. What could possibly go wrong?? We’re not sure, but we absolutely know we won’t be putting on a wig, a bra, or hose anytime soon. That. Is. Final. Come back later this week if you want to learn how to achieve the American dream in just…10…simple…steps.

Let’s get ready to rumbbbbble! It’s time y’all, trivia time. In one corner, we have Nikki, calm, cool, collected. In the other, Salina, nervous, sweaty, and all over the place. Much like Highlander, there can be only one (or many if you count the people shouting the answer at their devices).  The winner will grab victory. The not winner will buy both of us brunch. And let’s get real, when bacon is...

Suzanne’s new-old friend, who happens to also be gay, causes quite the stir among the ladies. We’re all learning lessons in this one: 90s style of course. Come back later in the week for a round of Southern trivia with stakes of course. Who will be the victor? Nikki. Who will try but mainly just be nervous? Salina. 

This week’s episode with a fancy dinner atop an Atlanta building (or sound stage in Southern California) was the perfect opportunity to dig into those elusive little stars restaurants all over the world seek: The Michelin Star.  See, a little birdie told us there are none, zero, zip here in the South, so we’ll dig into that claim. Who has them? Who doesn’t? And why does that matter? So, uh, bon ap...

Charlene is having a rough time. We don’t like it. Naturally, the rest of the Sugarbakers gang leap in to help to varying degrees of success.  Come back later in the week to talk about Michelin Star restaurants in the South, or lack thereof, that is, all inspired by Charlene and Bill’s romantic rooftop dinner.