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Desperate Housewives

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Desperate Housewives
File:Desperate Housewives.jpg
Created byMarc Cherry
StarringTeri Hatcher
Felicity Huffman
Marcia Cross
Eva Longoria
Nicolette Sheridan
Country of originUSA
No. of episodes18 (as of April 3)
Production
Running timeapprox. 0:42
Original release
NetworkABC, CTV
ReleaseOctober 3, 2004 –
present

'Desperate Housewives is an American television dramedy set on Wisteria Lane in the fictional town of Fairview and written by Marc Cherry. The series tracks the lives of four housewives, following their domestic struggles while several mysteries unfold in the background. Cherry initially pitched the series to HBO, CBS, NBC, Fox, Showtime, and Lifetime; but all turned it down for one reason or another. The series was unique in that it rocketed to the top of the ratings from the premiere episode, and immediately the term "desperate housewives" became a cultural phenomenon, warranting "the real desperate housewives" features in magazines and such TV shows as Dr. Phil and Oprah. The show has been almost singlehandedly credited with reviving the long-dormant fortunes of its parent network, ABC, whose last major (ratings) hit had been Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

Its first season out, Desperate Housewives was nominated for five Golden Globe Awards, including the Golden Globe for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy. On January 16, 2005, it won that top honor, and star Teri Hatcher won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy (Felicity Huffman and Marcia Cross were nominated as well). Nicolette Sheridan was also nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy.

Plot and characters

Template:Spoiler

Tagline: Everyone has a little dirty laundry.

The show begins with the suicide of Mary Alice Young, who narrates the episodes from beyond the grave. Mary Alice's suicide left behind a puzzle involving her husband Paul, son Zack, and a mysterious toy chest.

The story is unraveled through her four friends and neighbors:

  • Susan Mayer: an attractive single mother, interested in Mike Delfino, the handsome, widowed plumber who has just moved in across the street and is not quite what he seems
  • Lynette Scavo: an ex-career woman who is now saddled with three rampaging children, a baby, and a husband who is always out of town and secretly cheated on her
  • Bree Van De Kamp: an everything-in-its-place ice queen who's trapped in a sterile marriage with Rex, her fed up husband and her selfish children.
  • Gabrielle Solis: a woman who married her husband Carlos for money, but finds satisfaction with her teenage gardener John

Other characters include:

  • Edie Britt: a man-hungry real estate agent who tries to steal Mike away when not having sex with someone else
  • Mrs. Huber: a nosy neighbor who sent Mary Alice Young the blackmail notes which led to her suicide and was killed by Paul Young in the first season
  • Mike Delfino: a man who poses as the friendly neighborhood plumber, but has a secret occupation unknown to the main characters of the show.
  • Carlos Solis: the husband of Gabrielle who has some trouble with the law and a very meddling mother

The show also follows the mystery of why Mary Alice took her own life and precisely who Mike Delfino really is.

Main cast

Recurring cast

Episodes

Season 1

  1. Pilot
  2. Ah, But Underneath
  3. Pretty Little Picture
  4. Who's that Woman?
  5. Come in, Stranger
  6. Running to Stand Still
  7. Anything You Can Do
  8. Guilty
  9. Suspicious Minds
  10. Come Back to Me
  11. Move On
  12. Every Day a Little Death
  13. Your Fault
  14. Love Is in the Air (a.k.a. What I Did for Love)
  15. Impossible
  16. The Ladies Who Lunch
  17. There Won't Be Trumpets
  18. Children Will Listen
  19. An Unexpected Song
  20. "TBA"
  21. "TBA"
  22. "TBA"
  23. "TBA"

Trivia

In the original pilot, Mary Alice Young was played by Sheryl Lee; Gardener John Rowland by Kyle Searles; and Rex Van De Kamp by Michael Reilly Burke.

Lee was replaced, of course, by Brenda Strong for the series; both had played regular roles as dead people before, Strong on Everwood and Lee on Twin Peaks.

Opening credits contain references to famous pieces of art, including American Gothic and The Arnolfini Portrait

Production details

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