Desperate Housewives
| Desperate Housewives | |
|---|---|
| File:DhSeason2.jpg From left to right: Alfre Woodard as Betty Applewhite, Teri Hatcher as Susan Mayer, Brenda Strong as Mary Alice Young, Felicity Huffman as Lynette Scavo, Marcia Cross as Bree Van De Kamp, Eva Longoria as Gabrielle Solis and Nicolette Sheridan as Edie Britt. | |
| Created by | Marc Cherry |
| Starring | Teri Hatcher Felicity Huffman Marcia Cross Eva Longoria |
| Country of origin | USA |
| No. of episodes | 23 (plus one special) |
| Production | |
| Running time | approx. 0:44 (per episode) |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | October 3, 2004 – present |
Desperate Housewives is an American television series, created by Marc Cherry, that began airing on ABC in 2004. Set on Wisteria Lane in the fictional town of Fairview, the series tracks the lives of six housewives, following their domestic struggles while several mysteries unfold in the background. The tone and style of the series combine elements of drama, comedy, mystery, satire, and soap opera.
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 credited with almost single-handedly (along with Lost) reviving the long-dormant fortunes of ABC, whose last major ratings hit had been Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
The show has come under critical fire by religious and conservative groups due to what some consider the seeming lack of morality amongst the characters. Though it is not uncommon for soap opera characters to make melodramatically questionable decisions, in the first season of "Housewives" almost every character (including children) has arguably committed a major crime.
Tagline: Everyone has a little dirty laundry.
Plot and characters
- Main article: List of Desperate Housewives characters
Template:Spoiler The show begins with the suicide of Mary Alice Young (Brenda Strong), who narrates the episodes from beyond the grave. Mary Alice's suicide left behind a mystery involving her husband Paul Young (Mark Moses), her son Zach, and a mysterious toy chest which Paul dug out from underneath the family's pool that ultimately was revealed to have contained the skeletal remains of a dead woman's body.
The story is unraveled through her four friends and neighbors. Each has their own storyline that ties into the theme of being a "desperate" housewife: single mother Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher) tries to find love, perfect housewife Bree Van De Kamp (Marcia Cross), a mother of two teenagers, struggles with the death of her husband, Lynnette Scavo (Felicity Huffman) tries to be super-mother of four while longing to return to her life as a corporate executive, and Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria), an ex-runway model, after cheating on her husband, Carlos (Ricardo Antonio Chavira), with their gardner, is pregnant and doesn't know who the father of the baby is.
In its first season, the show follows the mystery of why Mary Alice took her own life and the quest by a mysterious "plumber" named Mike Delfino (James Denton) to find out the fate of his former lover and fellow drug addict Diedre. By the end of the season, the show resolves the mystery with the revelation that Mary Alice bought the heroin addicted Diedre's only son Dana from her and then fled with her husband Paul to Fairview to keep the child (now named Zach) from being taken away from them. When Diedre found them, Mary Alice refused to give up the child and when she accused Diedre of being back on drugs, Diedre hit Paul and went to get her son, but Mary Alice murdered her and had her horrified husband Paul dismember the body and bury it where the family was building a new pool in their backyard. What Mary Alice didn't count on was that one of her neighbors would find out about Mary Alice's secret from her sister (whom Mary Alice had worked with before fleeing town) and that she would attempt to blackmail Mary Alice for money. Rather than face the consequences of her actions, Mary Alice killed herself. Mike learned of this information from Paul, who was left in the desert by Mike upon realizing that Zach was the child Diedre and Mike had conceived before Mike went away to jail for killing a police officer in order to protect Diedre (Mike had been told that Diedre aborted the child).
In the second season, the show's writers introduce numerous new storylines: Susan dealing with Mike's quest to reclaim his newly found son Zach, Bree dealing with her new status as a widow, the mystery of the new African American residents on Wisteria Lane-,Betty Applewhite (Alfre Woodard) and her son Matthew, and the prisoner they are keeping in their basement, Edie's (Nicollette Sheridan) attempt at a relationship with Susan's ex-husband Karl (Richard Burgi), Lynette's struggling with hew new job, after her husband Tom (Doug Savant) decided to stay home with the kids, and Gabrielle ending her relationship with her gardener, John, and faking a paternity test that says Carlos is the father of her baby in hopes of salvaging her marriage to her husband.
Characters which categorize the families section not only include members of the actual family but also those who have an important relationship with them.
Cast
Main cast
(in order of the opening credits)
- Teri Hatcher - Susan Mayer
- Felicity Huffman - Lynette Scavo
- Marcia Cross - Bree Van De Kamp
- Eva Longoria - Gabrielle Solis
- Nicolette Sheridan - Edie Britt
- Alfre Woodard - Betty Applewhite (Season 2 - ) recurring Season 1
- Ricardo Antonio Chavira - Carlos Solis
- Mark Moses - Paul Young
- Andrea Bowen - Julie Mayer
- Doug Savant - Tom Scavo (Season 2 -) recurring Season 1
- Cody Kasch - Zach Young
- Richard Burgi - Karl Mayer (Season 2 - ) recurring Season 1
- Brenda Strong - Mary Alice Young
- James Denton - Mike Delfino
Other regulars (recurring season 1)
- Shawn Pyfrom - Andrew Van De Kamp (Season 2 - ) (1 Episodes)
- Joy Lauren - Danielle Van De Kamp (Season 2 - ) (1 Episode)
- Mehcad Brooks - Matthew Applewhite (Season 2 - ) (2 Episodes)
- Zane Huett - Parker Scavo (Season 2 - ) (2 Episodes)
- Shane Kinsman - Porter Scavo (Season 2 - ) (2 Episodes)
- Brent Kinsman - Preston Scavo (Season 2 - ) (2 Episodes)
- Roger Bart - George Williams (Season 2 - ) (1 Episode)
Former main cast members
- Steven Culp - Rex Van De Kamp (Season 1) recurring otherwise
- Jesse Metcalfe - John Rowland (Season 1) recurring otherwise
Recurring cast
- Jesse Metcalfe - John Rowland (Season 2 - ) (2 Episodes)
- Harriet Sansom Harris - Felicia Tilman (10 Episodes)
- Christine Estabrook - Martha Huber (9 Episodes)
- Richard Roundtree - Jerry Shaw (7 Episodes)
- Lucille Soong - Yao Lin (7 Episodes)
- Lupe Ontiveros - Juanita Solis (6 Episodes)
- Ryan Carnes - Justin (5 Episodes)
- Bob Gunton - Noah Taylor (5 Episodes)
- Lesley Ann Warren - Sophie Bremmer (4 Episodes)
- Pat Crawford Brown - Ida Greenberg (4 Episodes)
- Sam Lloyd - Dr. Albert Goldfine (4 Episodes)
- Melinda McGraw - Annabel Foster (3 Episodes)
- Emily Christine - Ashley Bukowski (3 Episodes)
- Marla Sokoloff - Claire (3 Episodes)
- Sharon Lawrence - Maisy Gibbons (3 Episodes)
- Terry Bozeman - Dr. Craig (3 Episodes)
- Jolie Jenkins - Dierdre Taylor (3 Episodes)
- Heather Stephens - Kendra Taylor (2 Episodes)
- Bob Newhart - Morty (2 Episodes)
- Shirley Knight - Phyllis Van De Kamp (Season 2 - ) (3 Episodes)
- Kathryn Joosten - Karen McClusky (2 Episodes)
- Joely Fisher - Nina Fletcher (Season 2 - ) (2 Episodes)
- Nike Doukas - Natalie Klein (2 episodes)
- Ryan O'Neal - Rodney Scavo (1 Episode)
Trivia
- In the original pilot, Mary Alice Young was played by Sheryl Lee; Gardener John 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 Adam and Eve by Lucas Cranach the Elder, The Arnolfini Portrait by Jan van Eyck, American Gothic by Grant Wood, and Andy Warhol's Campbell's soup can. Also alluded to are the lesser known Couple Arguing and Romantic Couple by Robert Dale (drawn in a comic book style similar to that of Roy Liechtenstein) and a 1940s "Am I Proud!" poster by Dick Williams (showing a woman holding cans).
- Every episode title in the first season (except Pilot), and now the second season references a song title, many of them by Stephen Sondheim: they include Every Day a Little Death, You Could Drive A Person Crazy and The Ladies Who Lunch.
- Various sources on the Internet and in the press have stated that the likes of Madonna, Britney Spears, Oprah Winfrey and Miranda Richardson (Richardson, in fact was considered, but declined the role of an English nanny) have expressed interest in guest starring on the show, however, it is unlikely they will ever get the opportunity as the producers do not want big names to distract the viewer from the plot.
- Note: Oprah Winfrey did appear in one episode of Desperate Housewives but it has only appeared in a special episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show.
- The show's set is on the Universal Studios backlot and has been used for decades in many TV and movie productions to represent a typical American suburban neighborhood. It includes the houses used in The Munsters and the 1989 film The Burbs. An aerial photograph of the set is available from Microsoft TerraServer. [1]
- Steven Culp confirmed on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, he would not return next season and that his character really is dead. He also said that the cast is expendable and at any time a character can die without the actor knowing.
- Charles Pratt Jr., head writer of ABC's successful daytime soap General Hospital, is a consultant on the series.
- Before the start of season 2, Eva Longoria and Jesse Metcalfe were Punk'd by Ashton Kutcher and his crew members. (NOTE: Metcalfe appeared on Punk'd twice)
Awards and Nominations
American Cinema Editor's Awards
2005 - Nominated - Best Edited One-Hour Series for Television - "Pilot"
Art Director's Guild Awards
2005 - Winner - Single Camera Television Series - "Ah, But Underneath"
BMI Film and TV Awards
2005 - Winner - BMI TV Music Award
2005 - Winner - Best Continuing Series - "Pilot"
Costume Designer's Guild Awards
2005 - Nominated - Excellence for Costume Design for Television (Contemporary) - Episodes 3-12
Directors Guild of America Awards
2005 - Nominated - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series' - "Pilot"
2005 - Nominated - Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series' - "Pretty Little Picture"
2005 - Nominated - Outstanding Comedy Series - "Pilot"; "Who's That Woman"; "Running To Stand Still"; "Anything You Can Do"; "Suspicious Minds"; "Everyday A Little Death"
2005 - Nominated - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Marcia Cross ("Running To Stand Still")
2005 - Nominated - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Teri Hatcher ("Move On")
2005 - Winner - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - Felicity Huffman ("Pilot")
2005 - Nominated - Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series - "Pilot"
2005 - Winner - Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series - "Pilot"
2005 - Winner - Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series - Kathryn Joosten (Mrs. McClusky)
2005 - Nominated - Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series - Lupe Ontiveros (Juanita Solis)
2005 - Winner - Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series
2005 - Nominated - Outstanding Costumes for a Series - "Suspicious Minds"
2005 - Nominated - Outstanding Main Title Design
2005 - Winner - Outstanding Main Title Theme Music
2005 - Winner - Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series - "Pilot"
2005 - Nominated - Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Comedy Series - "Pretty Little Picture"
2005 - Nominated - Outstanding Art Direction for a Single-Camera Series - "Suspicious Minds"
2005 - Winner - Best Television Comedy Series
2005 - Nominated - Best Actress in a Television Comedy Series - Marcia Cross
2005 - Winner - Best Actress in a Television Comedy Series - Teri Hatcher
2005 - Nominated - Best Actress in a Television Comedy Series - Felicity Huffman
2005 - Nominated - Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Made for Television Movie - Nicollette Sheridan
Golden Satellite Awards
2005 - Winner - Best Television Comedy Series
2005 - Nominated - Best Actress in a Comedy Series - Marcia Cross
2005 - Nominated - Best Actress in a Comedy Series - Teri Hatcher
2005 - Nominated - Best Actress in a Comedy Series - Felicity Huffman
Imagen Foundation Awards
2005 - Nominated - Best Television Actress - Eva Longoria
Motion Picture Sound Editor's Awards
2005 - Nominated - Best Sound Editing in Television Episodic - "Running To Stand Still"
2005 - Winner - Favorite New Television Drama
Prism Awards
2005 - Nominated - Performance in a Comedy Series - Felicity Huffman
2005 - Winner - Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series - Main Title Cast Members
2005 - Winner - Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series - Teri Hatcher
2005 - Nominated - Choice TV Comedy Show
2005 - Nominated - Choice TV Comedy Actor - Jesse Metcalfe
2005 - Nominated - Choice TV Comedy Actress - Eva Longoria
2005 - Winner - Choice TV Breakout Show
2005 - Winner - Choice TV Breakout Actor - Jesse Metcalfe
2005 - Winner - Choice TV Breakout Actress - Eva Longoria
2005 - Winner - Choice V-Cast
Television Critics Association Awards
2005 - Winner - Program of the Year
2005 - Nominated - Outstanding Achievement in Comedy
2005 - Nominated - Individual Achievement in Comedy - Marcia Cross
2005 - Nominated - Individual Achievement in Comedy - Teri Hatcher
2005 - Nominated - Outstanding New Program of the Year
2005 - Nominated - Best Leading Young Actress in a Comedy or Drama TV Series - Andrea Bowen
2005 - Nominated - Best Supporting Young Actor in a Comedy or Drama TV Series - Cody Kasch
2005 - Winner - Best Young Actor Age Ten or Younger in a Comedy or Drama TV Series - Zane Huett
Production details
- Producer: Touchstone Television
- Created by: Marc Cherry
- Theme music composer: Danny Elfman
International first broadcasts by order of date
- United States and Canada: October 3, 2004 on ABC (US) and CTV (Canada) Was also presented in French on Radio-Canada during the summer of 2005 (Canada)
- Germany: October 14, 2004 on Premiere (German pay TV, undubbed original version).
- Brazil: November 4, 2004 on Sony Entertainment Television
- Ireland: January 4, 2005 on RTÉ Two.
- United Kingdom: January 5, 2005 on Channel 4 (each episode followed by a première of the next on E4 - which therefore did not initially screen episode 1, but re-ran episodes 1 and 2 later in the first week).
- Norway: January 11, 2005 on TV 2 as Frustrerte fruer (season 1 was concluded on July 5)
- Belgium: January 21, 2005 on één.
- Australia: January 31, 2005 on the Seven Network. This registered 2.5 million viewers, one of the highest for a premiere in Australian history.
- Singapore: January 31, 2005 on MediaCorp TV Channel 5.
- Croatia: February 17, 2005 on Nova TV as Kućanice
- Italy: February 22, 2005 on FOX Life (pay TV); September 12, 2005 on Rai Due.
- Turkey: February 28, 2005 on CNBC-e.
- Netherlands: March 1, 2005 on NET 5.
- Denmark: March 2, 2005 on TV 2
- Spain: March 3, 2005 on FOX as "Mujeres desesperadas".
- Sweden: March 29, 2005 on Kanal 5.
- Switzerland: April 11, 2005 on SF DRS (dubbed in German)
- Germany: April 12, 2005 on Pro 7 (free-to-air, dubbed in German).
- Austria: April 24, 2005 on ORF1 (dubbed in German).
- Mexico: May 3, 2005 on XHIMT (TV Azteca's Canal 7) as "Esposas deseperadas" (free-to-air VHF). However, it was initially carried on Sony Entertainment Television (CATV/DSB) in November 2004
- Israel: May 8, 2005 on YES+ as עקרות בית נואשות (on Hebrew) (Akarot Ba'it Noashot).
- Hong Kong: May 12, 2005 on TVB Pearl.
- Portugal: May 22, 2005 on SIC, as Donas de Casa Desesperadas.
- Philippines: May 26, 2005 on ABS-CBN Studio23.
- India: July, 2005 on Star World.
- Malaysia: July 5, 2005 on 8TV and Star World.
- Indonesia: July 8, 2005 on Indosiar.
- Romania: July 9, 2005 on TVR1 as Neveste disperate
- New Zealand: July 18, 2005 on TV2.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: September 5, 2005 on Mreža Plus as Očajne kućanice
- Estonia: September 5, 2005 on Kanal 2 as Meeleheitel koduperenaised.
- Lithuania: September 5, 2005 on TV3 as Nusivylusios namų šeimininkės.
- Poland: September 8, 2005 on Polsat as Gotowe na wszystko.
- France: September 8, 2005 on Canal Plus as Desperate Housewives.
- Serbia and Montenegro: September 27, 2005 on RTV Pink as Očajne domaćice.
- Finland: October 10, 2005 on Nelonen (channel 4) as Täydelliset naiset.
See also
External links
- ABC: Desperate Housewives
- Desperate Housewives (2004-present) at IMDb
- Desperatefans.org huge fansite with photogallery, downloads, fanfiction and a board
- Get Desperate! The newest news, spoilers and reviews
- Desperate Housewives
- Desperate Housewives (fansite media downloads)
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