Season Two

In an attempt to increase business, Sugarbakers holds a drawing for a free room makeover in conjunction with a sale. The winner turns out to be a derelict named Eldon Ashcroft who lives in an old gas station --- devastating Charlene, whose psychic has told her that her future husband is a man with the initials E. A. whom she will find initially repulsive. As Julia struggles to save Sugarbakers reputation and make the publicity project a success --- despite the difficult client, Charlene tries to figure a way to find out if the bum has a telling mole on his butt cheek.

Guest cast: Jonathan Banks (Eldon Ashcroft IV), Terry Burns (Kyle Wellborn)

Mary Jo is afraid that she is losing her kids to the new woman in her ex-husband's life. Meanwhile, Anthony learns a lesson about spending "plastic" money when he goes a little overboard with his new credit card.

Guest cast: Scott Bakula (Ted Shively), Eileen Seeley (Tammy), Priscilla Weems (Claudia Shively), Brian Lando (Quinton Shively), Peter W. Haas (delivery man)

Thinking that her recent brush with death is a sign that she is living her life too frivolously, Suzanne sets upon doing charity work for the less fortunate --- her first good deed to throw a big dinner party for Anthony's new girlfriend and her snooty parents. But Anthony's attempt to make it appear as though he's from a pedigree family is shattered when a young girl shows up claiming to be the mother of his child.

Guest cast: David Downing (Sam Simonton), Kim Hamilton (Annabelle Simonton), Bever-Leigh Banfield (Denise Alston), Dayna Winston (Savannah Simonton), Joe Barone (patrolman)

The ladies are devastated with the news that a young friend is dying of AIDS when he asks them to decorate his funeral. All of this has a profound affect on Mary Jo, who has just become involved in a PTA debate over condoms for teenagers.

Guest cast: Tony Goldwyn (Kendall Dobbs), Alice Ghostley (Bernice Clifton), Camilla Carr (Imogene Salinger), Joan Roberts (Carolyn), Peggy Walton-Walker (Mrs. Jarvis), Hugh Karraker (man), Susie Scherer (woman)

Just as Sugarbakers is dealing with an extremely bizarre client, feisty Bernice Clifton announces that she has been nominated to represent her complex in the Mrs. Senior Citizen beauty contest, and that she would like Suzanne to coach her.

Guest cast: Alice Ghostley (Bernice Clifton), Elliott Reid (Lamar Tyson)

One of Suzanne's ex-husbands, author Dash Goff, shows up in town as his latest novel has been rejected by film and paperback --- leading Suzanne to think that he is contemplating suicide.

Guest cast: Gerald McRaney (Dash Goff)

Always in competition with his visiting friend and rival, Reese gets himself into an arm wrestling match that results in a heart attack. As Julia deals with the fact that she may lose Reese and wards off advances by his friend, Suzanne turns into "Scarlet O'Hara" -- picking up the pieces and taking care of details for her distraught sister.

Guest cast: Hal Holbrook (Reese Watson), Jack Bannon (Sheffield Carter), Robert Balderson (Dr. Harrison), Hugh Benson (guard), Erwin Fuller (minister)

The Sugarbakers ladies take a business trip to redecorate a cruise ship, and Mary Jo --- tired of Suzanne's superior attitude --- bets her that she can get a better looking date onboard. But the two renew their friendship bonds when they discover they are both being pursued by the same man.

Guest cast: Charles Pierce (Claude), Carmen Arganziano (Mel), Randi Brooks (Jhana), John Furey (Trevor), Marc Silver (Howard), Christine Jansen (Terry)

When handsome Colonel Bill Stillfield shows up at Sugarbakers, Charlene is sure the ladies have arranged his appearance as a surprise answer to her birthday wish for a soldier right out of WWII. After a wonderful evening with Bill, Charlene dreams that he never came back from the war and travels to the army base where is told that Colonel Bill Stillfield was shot down in WWII. Meanwhile, Anthony learns more about what it was like to be a Negro soldier during the war. This episode features a dream sequence with all of the cast set in WWII.

Guest cast: Douglas Barr (Colonel Bill Stillfield), Davis Roberts (Mr. Woods), Nick DeMauro (officer), Bill Shick (solder #1), Brad Zerbst (soldier #2), David Allyn (band leader), Monty Ash (John "Mac" MacDonald), Dermott Downs (telegram man), Hal Holbrook (Reese Watson, uncredited)

Everyone is headed to St. Louis for a design show --- the ladies by air while Anthony brings their exhibit by van. Unfortunately, a major snow storm causes Suzanne's flight to be grounded, and she must travel with Anthony in the van. As a stranded Suzanne and Anthony are forced to share the only available motel room for miles, the rest of the ladies come down with a devastating flu and are too sick to leave their hotel --- missing the design show.

Guest cast: Sandy Martin (motel manager), Christopher Ginnaven (bellman), Joe Ivy (reverend)

An acquaintance from the cruise ship shows up at Sugarbakers and tries to guilt Mary Jo into being his date for his class reunion by threatening to kill himself. After a weak moment feeling sorry for the nerdy nosebleeder, all four of the Sugarbakers women agree to accompany Howard on a group date, regretting it afterwards.

Guest cast: Marc Silver (Howard Head), Harry Moses (Doug Latrill), Martin Grey (guy #1), Terence Marinan (guy #3)

Everyone covertly gives up their plans for the holidays, not wanting to leave each other all alone, while Suzanne receives an unusual gift from her maid Consuela's family --- a pet pig. Meanwhile, Mary Jo has Charlene and Anthony dress as Santa and his helper to fool Quint, but Suzanne sends a store Santa to Mary Jo's house as a prank --- never guessing that he would steal all their presents.

Guest cast: George Newbern (Payne), Priscilla Weems (Claudia Shively), Brian Lando (Quinton Shively), John Apicella (Santa Claus)

Mary Jo and J.D. get their kids together for a "getting-to-know-you" weekend. Meanwhile, a bully from Anthony's prison days shows up at Sugarbakers hoping to make Anthony his new business partner.

Guest cast: Richard Gilliland (J.D. Shackleford), M.C. Gainey (T. Tommy Reed), Priscilla Weems (Claudia Shively), Olivia Burnette (Hannah Shackleford), Victor DiMattia (Bert Shackleford), Brian Landa (Quinton Shively), Jason Gourson (Rex Shackleford)

Charlene is destroyed when Bill --- the man of her dreams --- tells her that he can no longer see her, unaware of the guilt he is feeling over betraying his deceased wife.

Guest cast: Douglas Barr (Colonel Bill Stillfield)

Julia and Suzanne's half brother Clayton is released from the mental hospital, and the ladies argue over what he should do with his life. Unbeknownst to both of them, Clayton has plans of his own to become a stand-up comic.

Guest cast: Lewis Grizzard (Clayton Sugarbaker)

When Mary Jo's daughter is asked to her school dance by a young black boy, Mary Jo is forced to deal with the boy's father --- who won't let his son date a white girl, but has no problem asking Mary Jo to dinner.

Guest cast: John Dewey-Carter (Matthew Jarvis), Priscilla Weems (Claudia Shively), Keith Williams (Kyle Jarvis)

Suzanne prepares herself to marry 80-year old Wilmont Oliver to solve her financial crisis after her accountant absconds with all her money and the IRS impounds her home. Julia decides the ladies should visit the IRS on Suzanne's behalf, playing on the mistaken impression that she has an "in" with Ray Don Simpson --- the man who threw out Sugarbakers' audit despite having been humiliated by Julia in a sushi bar.

Guest cast: Arlen Dean Snyder (Ray Don Simpson), Ivan Bonar (Wilmont Oliver), Dalton Cathey (Roland)

Financially ruined, Suzanne moves in with Charlene and gets a job selling lingerie at parties. Charlene unwittingly puts a bug in Suzanne's ear, causing her to risk it all in Atlantic City casinos --- employing Anthony's gambling expertise.

Guest cast: William Otay (croupier), John Tyson (man #1), Daryle Ann Lindley (woman #1)

Desperate to join the exclusive Beaumont Driving Club, Suzanne is devastated to find out that Julia lost her temper and ruined their chances of being accepted --- not knowing that the membership committee had actually rejected her application.

Guest cast: Gracie Harrison (Bitty Stonecipher), Mary Anne Dorward (Delphine Barr), Tom Fitzpatrick (Billy Baldwin), Julie Bryan Moran (Cissy Davis), Joann B. Martin (Muffin Fahrenholt)

While attending a religious conference with Julia, Charlene's faith is put into question when her minister of nine years leads a rally to keep women from entering the ministry. Julia is asked to perform a solo of "How Great Thou Art" at the closing ceremonies, but she backs out from fear of being unable to hit the ending high note.

Guest cast: Alice Ghostley (Bernice Clifton), Patrick Tovatt (Reverend Nunn), Hal Holbrook (Reese Watson, uncredited)

Mary Jo begins to think that the recent attention from her ex-husband is a sign that he is looking to reconcile.

Guest cast: Scott Bakula (Ted Shively), Richard Gilliland (J.D. Shackleford), Brian Lando (Quinton Shively), Charles Robert Smithe (waiter), Pamela Hayden (waitress)

A romantic ski weekend turns into a war of the sexes when an avalanche traps the ladies and their beaus indoors.

Guest cast: Douglas Barr (Bill Stillfield), Richard Gilliland (J.D. Shackleford), Hal Holbrook (Reese Watson), Gerald McRaney (Dash Goff)

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