“Designing Women” Thursday: Julia Sugarbaker takes up jogging and befriends “Melon Woman”

Since Julia Sugarbaker (the late, great Dixie Carter) is usually so sensible, it’s especially funny when she has a little bout with temporary insanity.

In this episode from season five, Julia and Mary Jo (Annie Potts) decide to get into shape and take up jogging. While Mary Jo soon quits, Julia becomes addicted and makes all kinds of new friends in a running club. Among them is a woman with very large breasts who Mary Jo nicknames “Melon Woman.”

At the running shoe store, they run into Melon Woman who has dropped in to get some ankle weights. This leads to Mary Jo remarking: “I wondered how she kept from falling over.”

Julia, in her silly one-piece running outfit, is not amused.

Says Mary Jo: “I guess it’s hard to retain your sense of humor when you’re dressed like BAT GIRL!”