The second season of Designing Women premiered on CBS on September 14, 1987, and concluded on March 28, 1988. The season consisted of 22 episodes. Created by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, the series was produced by Bloodworth/Thomason Mozark Productions in association with Columbia Pictures Television.
Kendall Dobbs, a friend of the women of Sugarbaker's and fellow decorator, announces to the women that he is dying of AIDS and wants them to design his funeral. The news gets Mary Jo fired up at a PTA debate on birth control.
When Sugarbaker's acquires an eccentric client with bizarre decorating requests, the women play matchmakers by pairing him with their off-beat friend, Bernice Clifton.
A handsome army colonel appears at Sugarbakers and Charlene is convinced her friends have arranged his appearance as a surprise answer to her birthday wish for a soldier. Later that night, Charlene dreams the ladies and Anthony are back in World War II and the USO. Douglas Barr makes his first appearance as Colonel Bill Stillfield.
Out of pity, the women take a nerdy acquaintance of Mary Jo's out on a group date when he proves dateless for their high school reunion. Things take a turn, however, when Howard, formerly the nerd, develops an obnoxious ego as he brags about how he handles his "four women."
Charlene and Anthony portray Santa and one of his Elves, to outsmart Mary Jo's disbelieving son on Christmas Eve. Meanwhile Suzanne hires a department store Santa to surprise them.
Charlene withdraws after being dumped by her boyfriend, Bill, who is still grieving the loss of his first wife. Julia then shares with Bill her own personal experience about losing her husband and tries to convince him that being with Charlene is okay.
Julia and Suzanne disagree on how to handle the arrival of their half-brother Clayton, a recently discharged mental patient with hopes of becoming a stand-up comedian.
Suzanne is broke after her accountant Reggie Mac Dawson absconds with her entire life savings and faces stiff fines for back taxes, so after trying to charm Ray Don at the IRS, she sells off her possessions and considers marriage to wealthy elderly man Wilmont Oliver.
After Charlene unwittingly puts a bug in Suzanne's ear by relating the success story of Fred Smith, founder of Federal Express, Suzanne flits off to Atlantic City with Charlene and Anthony in hopes of winning a bundle to pay off debts by employing Anthony's gambling expertise.
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"The Incredibly Elite Bona Fide Blue-Blood Beaumont Driving Club"
Julia is chosen to sing at a Baptist convention, but she worries about a high note in the arrangement of "How Great Thou Art." Charlene is upset when she discovers her minister is against allowing women to preach.
On the brink of marrying a young woman, Ted begins to appreciate ex-wife Mary Jo's maturity, but his sudden attentiveness makes everyone else suspicious.
