Steel Magnolias is Just Amazing, Sunday, Sept. 7

STEEL MAGNOLIAS

Friendly Rating: Older elementary, mostly female (maybe you can get the guys involved)

Safety  Rating: Mostly safe, some language and married sex talk

Quality Rating: OMG, I am totally blown away with how fabulous this is!!

Movie special airs on Lifetime tonight at 9 p.m.

There are good shows on TV, which I have noted. There are even great shows on TV, also duly noted. It ain’t too flipping often that I rave about something, because that kind of something is pretty darned rare. This new version of Steel Magnolias is that kind of rare.

Seriously. Stock up on your nose tissues, get the big old bowl of popcorn, gather your daughters close and settle in for one of the best five-hankie specials I have seen since The Joy Luck Club.

You may have seen the 1989 film with Sally Field and Julia Roberts, which was based on the stage play. The play was set in a beauty parlor in a small Southern town and was based on the premise that for all folks think of Southern belles as frothy space cadets, they are, in fact, strong as steel. The story focuses on M’Lynn, whose daughter Shelby is diabetic and still wants to have kids in spite of the fact that her health means she shouldn’t.

Now, add to that an African American cast (and I don’t know anyone who thinks of African American women as frothy space cadets) and you’ve got a whole new dimension to this hymn in honor of women and their connections.

Safety-wise, there isn’t much here that would be worrisome for any kid old enough to appreciate the story, but there ar