Desperate Housewives 884607 226124672 2008-07-16T22:41:36Z Notscott 362110 /* External links */ {{Infobox Television | show_name = Desperate Housewives | image = [[Image:Desperate titlethem.jpg|250px]] | genre = [[Comedy-drama]] | picture_format = [[480i]] ([[Standard-definition television|SDTV]]),<br />[[576i]] ([[Standard-definition television|SDTV]]),<br />[[720p]] ([[High-definition television|HDTV]]) ABC HD, <br />[[1080i]] ([[High-definition television|HDTV]]) Channel 4 HD | runtime = 42 minutes (excluding commercials) | creator = [[Marc Cherry]] | starring = [[Teri Hatcher]]<br />[[Felicity Huffman]]<br />[[Marcia Cross]]<br />[[Eva Longoria Parker]]<br />[[Nicollette Sheridan]]<br />[[Ricardo Antonio Chavira]]<br />[[Andrea Bowen]]<br>(2004-2008)<br />[[Doug Savant]]<br />[[Kyle MacLachlan]]<br/>[[Dana Delany]]<br />[[James Denton (actor)|James Denton]] | narrated = [[Brenda Strong]] | theme_music_composer = [[Danny Elfman]] | composer = [[Steve Bartek]]<ref>[http://www.stevebartek.com/html/works/scores/desperatehousewives.html Stevebartek.com – Desperate Housewives], Retrieved August 5, 2007</ref><br />[[Stewart Copeland]]<ref>Micallef, Ken: [http://www.moderndrummer.com/updatefull/200001484 Stewart Copeland – Staring Down The Future], Retrieved August 5, 2007</ref><br />[[Steve Jablonsky]]<ref>Schweiger, Daniel: [http://www.ifmagazine.com/feature.asp?article=2208 E-Notes: Steve Jablonsky Morphs his Music to Score Transformers], ''iF Magazine'', July 10, 2007</ref> | opentheme = Desperate Housewives Theme | country = [[United States]] | language = [[English language|English]] | network = [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] | audio_format = 5.1-channel [[surround sound]] | camera = [[Multi-camera]] | first_aired = [[October 3]] [[2004]] | last_aired = present | director = [[Larry Shaw (director)|Larry Shaw]]<br />[[David Grossman (director)|David Grossman]]<br />and others | story_editor = [[Kevin Etten]] (Season 1)<br />[[Jenna Bans]] & [[Josh Senter]] (Season 2-3) <br />[[Dahvi Waller]] (Season 3) | num_seasons = 4 <!-- (in production) --> | num_episodes = 86 <!-- (as of May 18, 2008) --> | list_episodes = [[List of Desperate Housewives episodes]] | executive_producer = [[Marc Cherry]]<br />[[Tom Spezialy]] (Seasons 1-2)<br />[[Michael Edelstein]] (Seasons 1-2)<br />[[Joe Keenan (writer)|Joe Keenan]] (Season 3)<br />[[George W. Perkins (television producer)|George W. Perkins]] (Seasons 3-4)<br />[[Bob Daily]] (Season 4) <br />[[John Pardee]] & [[Joey Murphy]] (Season 4)<br />[[Kevin Murphy (screenwriter)|Kevin Murphy]] (co-exec)<br />[[Chris Black (screenwriter)|Chris Black]] (co-exec, Season 2)<br />[[Larry Shaw (director)|Larry Shaw]] (co-exec, Season 3)<br />[[David Grossman (director)|David Grossman]] (co-exec, Season 3) | list_episodes = List of Desperate Housewives episodes | related =[[Amas de Casa Desesperadas]] ([[2006]]&ndash;)<br />[[Donas de Casa Desesperadas]] ([[2007]]&ndash;[[2008]]) | website = http://abc.go.com/primetime/desperate/index | tv_com_id = 24641 | imdb_id = 0410975 }} '''''Desperate Housewives''''' is an [[United States|American]] [[television]] [[comedy-drama]] series, created by [[Marc Cherry]], who also serves as [[show runner]], and produced by [[ABC Studios]] and [[Marc Cherry|Cherry Productions]]. Executive producers, as of the fourth season, are [[Marc Cherry]], [[Bob Daily]], [[George W. Perkins (television producer)|George W. Perkins]], [[John Pardee]] and [[Joey Murphy]], [[David Grossman (director)|David Grossman]], [[Larry Shaw]] and Sabrina Wind. The setting of the show is the street of [[Wisteria Lane]] in the fictional [[United States|American]] town of Fairview, Eagle State. It follows the lives of a group of women, seen through the eyes of their dead neighbor, as they work through domestic struggles and family life, while facing the secrets, crimes and mysteries hidden behind the doors of their &ndash; at the surface &ndash; beautiful suburban neighborhood. The show features an [[ensemble cast]], headed by [[Teri Hatcher]] as [[Susan Mayer|Susan Delfino]], [[Felicity Huffman]] as [[Lynette Scavo]], [[Marcia Cross]] as [[Bree Van de Kamp|Bree Hodge]], [[Eva Longoria Parker]] as [[Gabrielle Solis]], [[Nicollette Sheridan]] as [[Edie Britt]] and [[Dana Delany]] as [[Katherine Mayfair]]. [[Brenda Strong]] narrates the show as the deceased [[Mary Alice Young]]. Since its premiere on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] on [[October 3]] [[2004]], the show has been well received by the critics as well as the audience. The show is a multiple [[Emmy Award|Emmy]], [[Golden Globe Award|Golden Globe]] and [[Screen Actors Guild Awards|Screen Actors Guild]] award winner, and in [[April]] [[2007]] it was reported to be the most popular show in its demographic worldwide, with an audience of approximately 115 to 119 million viewers.<ref>[http://www.tvsa.co.za/default.asp?blogname=news&articleID=4566 Desperate Housewives On SABC3 Confirmed], ''TVSA News Desk'', [[April 3]], [[2007]]</ref> ==Production== The idea for the series was thought up as Marc Cherry and his mother were watching a news report on [[Andrea Yates]]. Prior to ''Desperate Housewives'', Cherry was best known for producing and writing episodes of [[ABC Studios|Touchstone Television]]’s hit comedy series ''[[The Golden Girls]]'' and its successor ''[[The Golden Palace]]''. In addition he had created or co-created three sitcoms: ''[[The Five Mrs. Buchanans]]'', ''[[The Crew (TV series)|The Crew]]'' and ''[[Some of My Best Friends]]'', none of which lasted longer than a year. Initially Cherry had a hard time getting any [[television network]] interested in his new series – [[HBO]], [[CBS]], [[NBC]], [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]], [[Showtime]], and [[Lifetime Television|Lifetime]] all turned his offer down.<ref>[[Charles McDougall|McDougall, Charles]]: [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2005/01/05/bvdesp05.xml Desperately seeking a ratings hit], ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', [[January 5]], [[2005]]</ref> Finally, two new executives at ABC, [[Lloyd Braun (media executive)|Lloyd Braun]] and Susan Lyne, chose to greenlight it.<ref>O'Hare, Kate: [http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271%7C94058%7C1%7C,00.html ‘Desperate Housewives’ Has a Cherry on Top], ''Zap2it'', [[March 19]], [[2005]]</ref> Shortly thereafter, Disney had both Braun and Lyne fired, following their approval of another new drama series: ''[[Lost (TV series)|Lost]]''.<ref>Craig, Olga: [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/08/14/wlost14.xml The man who discovered 'Lost' – and found himself out of a job], ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', [[August 13]], [[2005]]</ref> The ABC executives weren’t initially satisfied with the name of the new show, suggesting ''Wisteria Lane'' and ''The Secret Lives of Housewives'' instead,<ref>"Desperate Housewives – The Complete First Season” DVD</ref> but on [[October 23]], [[2003]], ''Desperate Housewives'' was announced by ABC, presented as a [[prime time]] [[soap opera]] created by [[Charles Pratt Jr.]] of ''[[Melrose Place]]'' fame, and Marc Cherry, who declared the new show to be a mix of ''[[Knots Landing]]'' and ''[[American Beauty (film)|American Beauty]]''.<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=6211 Development Update: October 23], ''The Futon Critic'', [[October 23]], [[2003]]</ref> While Cherry continued his work on the show, Pratt was credited as executive producer for the pilot episode only, remaining linked to the show as a consulting producer during the first two seasons. On [[May 18]] [[2004]] [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] announced their 2004–2005 lineup, with ''Desperate Housewives'' in the Sunday, 9:00-10:00 p.m., ET slot,<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=6591 2004 Broadcast Upfront Presentations: ABC, Part 1]''The Futon Critic'', [[May 18]], [[2004]]</ref> which it still holds. After only three episodes aired, on [[October 20]], ABC announced that ''Desperate Housewives'', along with ''Lost'', had been picked up for a full season.<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20041020abc03 ABC Orders Back Nine of Top-10 Series; ‘Desperate Housewives’ and ‘Lost’ Get Full Season Pick-Ups], ''The Futon Critic'', [[October 20]], [[2004]]</ref> ''Desperate Housewives'' is produced by creator Marc Cherry (Cherry Productions) and Touchstone Television (Fall 2004-Spring 2007), which is now ABC Studios (Fall 2007-present). On [[February 11]], [[2008]], [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] picked up ''Desperate Housewives'' for the [[2008-09 United States network television schedule|2008-09]] television season. <ref>[http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003709560 ABC Announces Scripted Show Renewals<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The series is also available in [[Malaysia]] which currently airing on [[8TV]] Tuesdays 10:30pm. And the season finale of the fourth season was schedule on July 22nd which later will be replaced with the latest season 3 of Ghost Whisperer premiering July 29th onwards. ===Production crew=== [[Executive producer]]s for the first two seasons were – in addition to Marc Cherry – [[Tom Spezialy]] and [[Michael Edelstein]]. Spezialy, who also served as a staff writer for the show, left his previous position as writer and executive producer for ''[[Dead Like Me]]'' to join the ''Desperate Housewives'' crew. He had also worked as writer and co-executive producer on several shows, among them ''[[Ed (TV series)|Ed]]'', ''[[Jack & Jill (TV series)|Jack and Jill]]'', and ''[[Parker Lewis Can't Lose]]'', while Edelstein had been the executive producer of ''[[Threat Matrix]]'' and ''[[Hope & Faith]]''. Second season conflicts arose among the executive producers. As a result, Edelstein left the show mid-season, and at the end of the season, so did Spezialy.<ref>Keck, William: [http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-05-18-housewives-main_x.htm Wisteria Lane’s new landscape], ''[[USA Today]]'', [[May 19]], [[2006]]</ref> For the third year, Cherry was joined by award winning writer and producer [[Joe Keenan (writer)|Joe Keenan]], of ''[[Frasier]]'' fame, and [[telefilm]] producer [[George W. Perkins (television producer)|George W. Perkins]], who had been on the ''Desperate Housewives'' crew since the show’s conception. Although receiving praise for his work on the show, Keenan chose to leave ''Desperate Housewives'' after one season to pursue other projects.<ref>[http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117962170.html?categoryid=1236&cs=1 Keenan not ‘Desperate’ any more], ''[[Variety Magazine]]'', [[March 29]], [[2007]]</ref> Replacing him as second-in-command to Cherry and executive producer for the fourth season of the show was [[Bob Daily]], who had joined the crew as a writer and co-executive producer during the third season. Daily’s previous work include writing for the [[cartoon]] series ''[[Rugrats]]'' as well as for ''Frasier''. Also joining Cherry, Perkins and Daily for the fourth season were [[John Pardee]] and [[Joey Murphy]], who had been with the series since the beginning.<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=7408 Development Update: Week of June 11-15], ''The Futon Critic'', [[June 15]], [[2007]]</ref> Both had also worked on Cherry’s previous show ''The Crew'' in 1995, as well as on the sitcom ''[[Cybill]]''. [[Larry Shaw (director)|Larry Shaw]] and [[David Grossman (director)|David Grossman]] have, as of the first four seasons, been the most prominent directors, together directing more than half of the series’ episodes. ===Filming locations=== {{main|Wisteria Lane|Colonial Street}} The set for [[Wisteria Lane]], consisting mainly of facades but also of some proper houses, is located on the [[Universal Studios Hollywood]] back lot. It is referred to by film crews as ''[[Colonial Street]]'', and has been used for several motion pictures and television shows since the mid 1940s.<ref>[http://www.thestudiotour.com/ush/backlot/street_colonial_history.shtml TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street – History], Retrieved [[August 3]], [[2007]]</ref> Productions to have been filmed here includes, among others, ''[[So Goes My Love]]'', ''[[Leave It to Beaver (film)|Leave it to Beaver]]'', ''[[The 'Burbs]]'', ''[[Providence (TV series)|Providence]]'', ''[[Deep Impact (film)|Deep Impact]]'', ''[[Bedtime for Bonzo]]'', ''[[The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas]]'', ''[[Gremlins]]'', ''[[The Munsters]]'', ''[[Psycho (1998 film)|Psycho]]'', ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'', ''[[The Ladykillers (2004 film)|The Ladykillers]]'' and ''[[Ghost Whisperer]]''.<ref>[http://www.thestudiotour.com/ush/backlot/colonialstreet1989.shtml TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street – 1989–1996], Retrieved [[August 3]], [[2007]]</ref> For the second season of ''Desperate Housewives'' the street went through some heavy changes. Among the most noticeable of these changes was the removal of a church façade and a mansion in order to make room for Edie’s house and a park.<ref>[http://www.thestudiotour.com/ush/backlot/street_colonial_church.html TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Street/Circle Drive – The Church], Retrieved [[August 3]], [[2007]]</ref><ref>[http://www.thestudiotour.com/ush/backlot/colonial_mansion.shtml TheStudioTour.com: Colonial Mansion], Retrieved [[August 16]], [[2007]]</ref> ===Opening sequence=== The initial idea for the show opening sequence was Cherry’s own, and after having asked sixteen companies to come up with suggestions how to best realize it, the producers finally hired [[Hollywood]]-based yU+co to provide the final version.<ref>[http://digitalproducer.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=29118 yU + co Opens ABC’s “Desperate Housewives”], ''Digital Producer Magazine'', [[November 12]], [[2004]]</ref> According to the yU+co’s official website, the idea behind the sequence is ''“to evoke the show's quirky spirit and playful flaunting of women’s traditional role in society”''.<ref>[http://69.26.172.147/main.html yU+co Official Website], Retrieved [[August 5]], [[2007]]</ref> The images featured are taken from eight pieces of art, portraying domesticity and male-female relations through the ages.<ref>Phelan, Joseph: [http://www.artcyclopedia.com/feature-2005-05.html Missing the Picture: Desperate Housewives Do Art History], [[ArtCyclopedia]], Retrieved [[August 5]], [[2007]]</ref> The first image shows [[Lucas Cranach the Elder]]’s painting ''[[Adam and Eve]]''. A snake passes an apple to Eve before another, larger, apple, with the words ‘Desperate Housewives’ written on it, falls on Adam. Then follows the [[QV66|tomb paintings]] of [[Nefertari|Queen Nefertari]] of [[Egypt]], the [[Great Royal Wife]] of [[Ramesses II|Ramesses the Great]]. An animation of Queen Nefertari is seen standing within her tomb being overwhelmed by what appear to be countless children surrounding her. Next appearing is ''[[The Arnolfini Portrait]]'' by [[Jan van Eyck]] painted in 1434 – [[Giovanni Arnolfini]] is seen eating a [[banana]] and throwing the skin on the floor, leaving it for his wife to sweep it away. The painting ''[[American Gothic]]'' by [[Grant Wood]] from 1930 then follows, and the farmer is shown smiling as he is touched on the chin by a [[pin up]] as his apparently disapproving wife frowns in front of a tin of canned sardines. The can appears on a kitchen work surface when the [[World War II]] poster ''Am I Proud!'' is shown, depicting a woman holding cans and jars including [[Andy Warhol]]’s [[Campbell's Soup Cans]]. The soup can then falls into the hand of a man featured in [[pop art]] work by [[Robert Dale]], ''Couple Arguing'' and ''Romantic Couple''. After the woman in this pictures is seen crying and giving her male companion a black eye, the image folds away, and the tree from Cranach’s painting reappears with the snake wrapped around it and the four main characters Bree, Lynette, Susan and Gabrielle appearing under the tree, each catching an apple. The music for the openings is composed by [[Danny Elfman]], and has been awarded both an [[Emmy Award]] and the [[Broadcast Music Incorporated|BMI TV Music Award]].<ref>[http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/534992 2007 BMI Film/TV Awards List], ''[[Broadcast Music Incorporated|BMI.com]]'', [[May 17]], [[2007]]</ref> In 2005 it was included on the album [[Music from and Inspired by Desperate Housewives]]. When an episode is running too long, only the first sequence (the falling apple) is kept. From "[[Now You Know]]" and onwards, only the main chorus of the theme is heard, which is the falling apple scene, and the photograph of the four lead actresses, crediting [[Marc Cherry]] as creator. ===Music=== {{main|List of music featured on Desperate Housewives}} In addition to the theme composed by [[Danny Elfman]], the series [[Underscore (music)|underscore]] music composed by [[Steve Jablonsky]] defines the overall sound of the show. The much imitated music creates a musical counterpoint to the writing style and co-exists with the scenes as one of the most identifiable musical styles in television today. The score is electronic based, but every [[Sound recording|scoring session]] incorporates a live string ensemble that add a certain intangible warmth to the score. Jablonsky incorporates recurring themes for events and characters into the score. He has been shaping the musical palette for the show since the 2nd episode of the first season.<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0558699/ "Desperate Housewives" Ah, But Underneath (2004)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> [[Hollywood Records]] produced the first soundtrack album, [[Music from and Inspired by Desperate Housewives]] distributed by [[Universal Records]], featuring music inspired by the series. Several of those songs have since been used in subsequent seasons. Housewives's unique style combined with the heavy dialogue and quick-fire writing style limit the amount of [[popular music]] used in the series. The series' [[music supervisor]], [[David Sibley (music supervisor)|David Sibley]] works closely with the producers to seamlessly integrate these musical needs into the show. In addition to featured performances by central characters such as Susan Mayer singing along with [[Rose Royce]]'s "[[Car Wash]]" to jog Mike's memory and Lynette's memorable rendition of "[[Boogie Shoes]]" atop a bar, several characters have been accomplished musicians, such as Betty Applewhite (a [[concert pianist]]) and Dylan Mayfair (a [[prodigy]] [[cellist]]), all requiring carefully planned training of the actors and preparation of the music. The often eclectic approach to music has created many [[water cooler]] moments in the show, among them, Orson's ex-wife Alma singing along with [[Cole Porter]]'s period recording of "[[Let's Misbehave]]" as she drugs him in order to conceive his child and George, the town pharmacist singing "[[Don't Give Up On Us]]" on Bree's front lawn as she takes pot shots at him with a shotgun. ===Promotion videos=== The first season actually featured two promotional videos, one featuring the song "Que Sera" by Pink Martini, was a Channel 4 promo showing the women on each of their lawns going about their unusual lives. The second featuring the song "Come on Closer" by Jem showing the housewives in a department store with the tag "Everyone has a little dirty laundry." <ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QKxMjWyTTw YouTube - Desperate Housewives - Channel 4 Promo<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The second season promotion took on the theme of “''Temptations''”, and the video featured the song [[Juicy (Better Than Ezra song)|"Juicy"]] by [[Better than Ezra]]. The housewives were all shown in separate scenes, all of which featured red apples.<ref>Schwindaman, Darren: [http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/comments.php?id=13472_0_9_0_C Critical Mass: An Interview With Better Than Ezra’s Tom Drummond], ''[[Jackson Free Press]]'', [[May 2]] [[2007]]</ref><ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBRkgnbtb8E&mode=related&search= Desperate Housewives – Juicy Promo Season 2], [[YouTube]], Retrieved [[August 3]] [[2007]]</ref> [[Métropole 6|M6]] which broadcasts the show in France and [[TV Azteca]] which broadcasts the show in México used this promo in a different editing.<ref>[http://www.m6.fr/html/corporate/desperate.html Desperate housewives saison 2<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> [[Channel 4]] in the [[UK]] had a very limited promotion in the 7 days leading up to the [[January 18]] [[2006]] start which featured new footage. The promotion video for the third season, which had the theme of ''“Right now”'', featured the leading characters in a computer generated garden, surrounded by white sheets. The song was a [[cover version|cover]] of "[[You Really Got Me]]", with no artist credited.<ref>Catlin, Roger: [http://blogs.courant.com/roger_catlin_tv_eye/2006/08/desperate_kinks.html Desperate Kinks], ''courant.com'', [[August 26]], [[2006]]</ref><ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzq3sMN6Tn8 Desperate Housewives – Official Music Video – Season 03], [[You Tube]], Retrieved [[August 3]], [[2007]]</ref> The promotion video for the [[UK]] which had began airing on [[December 15]] [[2006]] for a [[January 3]] [[2007]] start, featured 45 seconds of clips which featured some cliffhangers from season 2 and some new material from season 3. The music in the background music was classical. As of this season the promotions became weekly and unlike in other countries, for the first 10 episodes each episode had a little 30 second preview of what was to come the next week. This returned at the end of the season 4 premiere ''[[Now You Know (Desperate Housewives)|Now You Know]]''. The video for season four was released in late August 2007 and had the women in different 50s-era setups, all shocked at the arrival of a black car on Wisteria Lane. The tag line was “It’s a hell of a day in the neighborhood”, and it featured the [[Jennifer Lopez]] song "[[Mile in these Shoes]]", taken from her 2007 album ''[[Brave (Jennifer Lopez album)|Brave]]''.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAAfJpxtw80# Desperate Housewives Season 4 Promo (New Jennifer Lopez Trk)], [[You Tube]], Retrieved [[August 25]], [[2007]]</ref> A cutdown version of this promo aired on [[RTE Two]] in Ireland. In the [[UK]] the theme was again was a 45 second long clip that featured the season 3 cliffhanger and unlike last time, most of the footage was new, and the majority of the new footage was taken from "[[Now You Know]]". The music again was classical. The advertisements had began on [[March 13]] [[2008]] and the show returned on [[26 March]] [[2008]]- a total of almost 11 weeks later than normal for starting. Like Season Three the 30 second sneak preview returned, and is likely to remain for the first 15 episodes as a result of being months behind the [[USA]] instead of weeks. The reason as to why episode 16 is not giving a preview of episode 17 is because they are serving in the [[UK]] as a 2 part season finale on [[November 25]] [[2008]] also. ===The future=== On [[February 20]] [[2007]], [[Variety Magazine]] revealed that Marc Cherry and the ABC Studios had signed “an eight-figure overall pact”, ensuring Cherry’s commitment to the show until May 2011, the end of the series’ projected seventh season. In addition, the studio has negotiated deals with “all key members of the cast” to stay on the show until then. While Cherry said that he would like the show to come to an end at that point, ABC Studio’s Mark Pedowitz stated that ''“We'll cross that bridge when we come to it”''.<ref>Adalian, Josef: [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117959858.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 ABC keeps ‘Housewives’ honcho], ''[[Variety Magazine]]'', [[February 20]] [[2007]]</ref> The series was renewed for a fifth season on [[February 11]] [[2008]].<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/a89131/new-seasons-for-greys-daisies-more.html US TV - News - New seasons for 'Grey's', 'Daisies', more - Digital Spy<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Being a big fan of Broadway musicals himself, and following the success of musical episodes on television series such as ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV series)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'', Cherry has expressed an interest in writing a musical episode of ''Desperate Housewives''.<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/a64357/housewives-musical-episode-on-the-cards.html “Housewives” Musical Episode On the Cards?], ''[[Digital Spy]]'', [[July 5]] [[2007]]</ref> As shown in the second half of the two-hour season four finale, season five will take place five years into the future. Due to the time jump, several actors won't be returning to the show. The child actors will not be back (i.e. the Scavo children), and the teen actors, [[Joy Lauren]] (Danielle), [[Lyndsy Fonseca]] (Dylan) and [[Andrea Bowen]] (Julie), will also not be returning to Wisteria Lane. [[Shawn Pyfrom]] (Andrew), however, will be staying on the show, and as shown in the time jump, Andrew is now Bree's assistant.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2008-05-18-desperate-housewives_N.htm?csp=34 Time's Really Flying for the "Housewives"], ''USA Today'', [[May 18]] [[2008]]</ref> There has also been considerable speculation whether Mike Delfino will return, hence the final scene in season four, set five years into the future, which shows Susan in another man's arms (played by [[Queer as Folk]]'s [[Gale Harold]]). The fate of Mike Delfino has been revealed, [[James Denton (actor)|James Denton]], who plays Mike, told [[People (magazine)|People]] magazine that he will definitely be returning in season 5. However, "Mike and Susan have definitely split up," Denton tells [[People (magazine)|People]].<ref>[http://tvwatch.people.com/2008/07/05/james-denton-returning-to-desperate-housewives-%e2%80%94-but-single/ James Denton Returning to "Desperate Housewives"--But Single], ''People.com'', [[July 5]] [[2008]]</ref> Also, there were lots of speculation whether the character Edie Britt will ever return, hence the end of the episode ''[[Mother Said]]'', when Edie suddenly packed up and left Wisteria Lane to spend more time with her son Travers. Edie Britt's fate was finally revealed. [[Nicolette Sheridan]], who plays Edie, has been confirmed to return next season, and will also be bringing with her a new husband, played by [[Neal McDonough]], who is joining the cast of ''Desperate Housewives'' as a series regular.<ref>[http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/sheridan%20set%20for%20housewives%20comeback_1072898 Sheridan Set for "Housewives" Comeback], ''ContactMusic.com'', [[June 30]] [[2008]]</ref><ref>[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i3a6a726c3dd89a147f64ac96bd9cc771 Neal McDonough Moving to "Housewives"], ''Hollywood Reporter'', [[June 27]] [[2008]]</ref> McDonough is the second new addition to the cast of ''Desperate Housewives'' for season 5, along with [[Gale Harold]], who will recur as Ken, the mysterious man kissing Susan Meyer (Teri Hatcher) in the flash-forward scene of the season 4 finale. === Writers' strike === ''Desperate Housewives'' was affected by the [[2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike|Writers Guild of America strike]]. The week of [[November 9]][[2007]], the cast and crew suspended filming due to the writers’ strikes. On [[November 30]][[2007]], what was believed to be the fourth season’s fate was announced. The December 2 episode would be the last until the writers’ strike was resolved.<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22044125/ Tornado to Bring Death to "Housewives" Sunday--Marc Cherry interview]</ref> When both parts of the two-parter were already filmed, part one was to be a [[cliffhanger]] until the writers strike was resolved and production began again. ABC was looking to have part two be the mid-season première once the strike was over and additional episodes were filmed. Marc Cherry called this his cruellest act to date to both viewers and to ''Desperate Housewives''.<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22044125/ Tornado to Bring Death to "Housewives" Sunday--Marc Cherry interview]</ref> That position was changed when ABC announced that part two would not be held until the writers strike ended and production resumed. ABC reversed the decision fearing a loss of viewers. As a result of the reversal, part two aired on Sunday, [[January 6]], [[2008]].<ref>[http://www.nypost.com/seven/121907/tv/twisted_sisters_418927.htm "Housewives" Back Next Month], ''New York Post'', [[December 19]], [[2007]]</ref> Writers went back to work Tuesday, [[February 12]], [[2008]]. The show resumed production on Monday, [[February 25]], [[2008]] with a return airdate of April 13.<ref> [http://televisionista.blogspot.com/2008/02/desperate-housewives-creator-promises-7.html], ''Televisionista'', [[February 12]], [[2008]]</ref> ABC said 7 additional episodes to season 4 would be produced (starting with episode 11). [[Brenda Strong]] also stated in an interview that the season would have 7 additional episodes; some storylines were cut altogether and they will take place some time after the storm.<ref>[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3iea16e1ac946e523575ab4bb5ea67af18?imw=Y Nets Prepare to Go Back to Work], ''Hollywood Reporter'', [[February 5]], [[2008]]</ref> === Screen Actors' strike === There is a possibility that the production of Season 5 of ''Desperate Housewives'' will be affected by the upcoming [[2008 Screen Actors Guild strike|Screen Actors Guild strike]].<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080619/tv_nm/actors_television_dc_3 TV Networks Brace for Potential Actors Strike], ''Yahoo!'', [[June 19]] [[2008]]</ref> == Series synopses == {{seealso|List of Desperate Housewives episodes}} [[Desperate Housewives Season 1|Season one]] began its original airing on [[October 3]], [[2004]] and introduces the four central characters of the show: [[Susan Mayer]], [[Lynette Scavo]], [[Bree Hodge|Bree Van de Kamp]] and [[Gabrielle Solis]], and their families and neighbors on [[Wisteria Lane]]. The main mystery of the season is the unexpected suicide of [[Mary Alice Young]], and the involvement of her husband and teenage son in the events leading up to it. Meanwhile Bree tries to save her marriage, Lynette struggles to find time and energy to cope with her children, Susan fights with [[Edie Britt]] for new neighbor [[Mike Delfino]]’s affection, and Gabrielle tries to prevent her husband [[Carlos Solis|Carlos]] from discovering her affair with their underage gardener. [[Desperate Housewives Season 2|The second season]] began airing on [[September 25]], [[2005]] and its central mystery is that of new neighbor [[Betty Applewhite]], who moved in in the middle of the night. Throughout the season, Bree tries to cope with being a widow, unknowingly begins dating the man who poisoned her husband, fights alcoholism, and is unable to prevent the gap between her and her son to keep growing to extremes. Susan’s love life gets even more complicated as her ex-husband gets engaged to Edie, who has been promoted to the role of fifth lead, Lynette goes back to her career in advertising and eventually becomes her husband’s boss, and Gabrielle decides to be faithful to her husband, and begins preparations to have a child. In [[Desperate Housewives Season 3|season three]], which began airing on [[September 24]], [[2006]], Bree marries [[Orson Hodge]], whose past and involvement with a recently discovered dead body becomes the main mystery for most of the season. Meanwhile, Lynette has to adjust to having another child around the house as a previously unknown daughter of her husband arrives, and the Scavos experience tension as Tom, Lynette's husband, wants to start a pizzeria. Gabrielle goes through a rough divorce, but finally finds new love in Fairview’s new mayor. Edie sees her chance to make her move on Mike, who’s suffering from amnesia, and Susan moves onto a handsome Englishman whose wife is in a coma. Edie’s family relations are explored throughout the season. [[Desperate Housewives Season 4|The fourth season]] began airing on [[September 30]], [[2007]],<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?date=07/25/2007&id=20070725abc01 ABC Announces Fall Première Dates], ''[[The Futon Critic]]'', [[July 25]], [[2007]]</ref> and its main mystery revolves around new neighbor [[Katherine Mayfair]] and her family, who returns to Wisteria Lane after twelve years away, whose daughter remembers nothing about living on Wisteria Lane. Also, Lynette battles cancer; the newlywed – but unhappy – Gabrielle starts an affair with her ex-husband Carlos; Susan and Mike enjoy life as a married couple and learn that they are expecting a child; Bree fakes a pregnancy and plans to raise her teenage daughter’s illegitimate child as her own; and Edie schemes to hold on to her new love, Carlos. A gay couple from Chicago – Lee ([[Kevin Rahm]]) and Bob ([[Tuc Watkins]]) – become residents of Wisteria Lane when they move into the house formerly occupied by [[Betty Applewhite]] ([[Alfre Woodard]]). [[Desperate Housewives Season 5|The fifth season]] should begin airing sometime in [[Fall]] [[2008]], if the [[2008 Screen Actors Guild strike|Screen Actors' strike]] doesn't start first.<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1816772,00.html Another Strike in Hollywood?], ''TIME.com'', [[June 20]] [[2008]]</ref> ==Cast and characters== {{seealso|List of Desperate Housewives cast members|List of Desperate Housewives characters}} {| class="infobox" style="width:auto;" |- bgcolor="#CCCCCC" ! Actor || Cast character || First<br>appearance ||Last<br>appearance |- | [[Teri Hatcher]] || [[Susan Delfino]] || 2004 |- | [[Felicity Huffman]] || [[Lynette Scavo]] || 2004 |- | [[Marcia Cross]] || [[Bree Hodge]] || 2004 |- | [[Eva Longoria Parker]] || [[Gabrielle Solis]] || 2004 |- | [[Nicollette Sheridan]] || [[Edie Britt]] || 2004 |- | [[Alfre Woodard]] || [[Betty Applewhite]] || 2005 || 2006 |- | [[Dana Delany]] || [[Katherine Mayfair]] || 2007 |- | [[Brenda Strong]] || [[Mary Alice Young]] || 2004 |- | [[James Denton (actor)|James Denton]] || [[Mike Delfino]] || 2004 |- | [[Steven Culp]] || [[Rex Van de Kamp]] || 2004 || 2007 |- | [[Ricardo Antonio Chavira]] || [[Carlos Solis]] || 2004 |- | [[Mark Moses]] || [[Paul Young (Desperate Housewives)|Paul Young]] || 2004 || 2007 |- | [[Doug Savant]] || [[Tom Scavo]] || 2004 |- | [[Roger Bart]] || George Williams || 2005 || 2006 |- | [[Richard Burgi]] || [[Karl Mayer]] || 2004 || 2008 |- | [[Kyle MacLachlan]] || [[Orson Hodge]] || 2006 |- | [[Neal McDonough]] || [[John Doe]] || 2008 |- | [[Jesse Metcalfe]] || [[John Rowland (Desperate Housewives)|John Rowland]] || 2004 || 2007 |- | [[Cody Kasch]] || [[Zach Young]] || 2004 || 2007 |- | [[Andrea Bowen]] || [[Julie Mayer]] || 2004 || 2008 |- | [[Shawn Pyfrom]] || [[Andrew Van de Kamp]] || 2004 |- | [[Joy Lauren]] || [[Danielle Van de Kamp]] || 2004 || 2007 |- | [[Mehcad Brooks]] || [[Matthew Applewhite]] || 2005 || 2006 |- | [[Page Kennedy]]/[[NaShawn Kearse]] || [[Caleb Applewhite]] || 2005 || 2006 |- | [[Josh Henderson]] || [[Austin McCann (Desperate Housewives)|Austin McCann]] || 2006 || 2007 |- | [[Lyndsy Fonseca]] || [[Dylan Mayfair]] || 2007 || 2008 |- | [[Rachel Fox]] || [[Kayla Scavo]] || 2006 || 2008 |- | [[Brent Kinsman]] || [[Preston Scavo]] || 2004 || 2008 |- | [[Shane Kinsman]] || [[Porter Scavo]] || 2004 || 2008 |- | [[Zane Huett]] || [[Parker Scavo]] || 2004 || 2008 |- | [[Neal McDonough]] || [[John Doe]] || 2008 |- | Max Carver || [[Porter Scavo]] || 2008 |- | Charlie Carver || [[Preston Scavo]] || 2008 |- | Joshua Moore || [[Parker Scavo]] || 2008 |- | Kendall Applegate || Penny Scavo || 2008 |} During its premiere season the show featured thirteen starring actors, all credited in the [[opening sequence]]. For the show’s second year, several actors, mainly [[child actor|child]] and teenage ones, who had guest starred during the first season, were promoted to series regulars without having their names included in the opening sequence. Instead they were billed as “also starring” during the first minutes of each episode, together with episode guest stars. This practice continued for season three and four. The thirteen starring actors for season one included four leading actresses: [[Teri Hatcher]] as [[Susan Mayer]], a divorced mother with a sense for humor for drama and in search of love, [[Felicity Huffman]] as [[Lynette Scavo]] a former businesswoman turned stressed out stay-at-home mother of four, [[Marcia Cross]] as [[Bree Hodge|Bree Van de Kamp]] the seemingly perfect mother struggling to save her marriage, and [[Eva Longoria Parker]] as [[Gabrielle Solis]], an ex-model whose unhappy marriage has had her beginning an affair with her 17-year-old gardener. Furthermore, [[Nicollette Sheridan]] plays [[Edie Britt]], Susan’s arch rival, described by her as “the neighborhood slut”, who since then slowly had grown to become somewhat of a fifth lead. [[Steven Culp]] played [[Rex Van de Kamp]], Bree’s frustrated husband with secret sexual desires, while [[Ricardo Antonio Chavira]] portrayed Gabrielle’s spouse [[Carlos Solis]], a rough business man who regarded his wife mainly as a trophy, and [[James Denton (actor)|James Denton]] acted as [[Mike Delfino]], the mysterious new neighbor who becomes Susan’s love interest. [[Brenda Strong]] portrayed the show’s narrator [[Mary Alice Young]], who generally doesn’t appear in front of the camera, and whose unexpected suicide in the first episode remained a mystery throughout season one. [[Mark Moses]] played [[Paul Young (Desperate Housewives)|Paul Young]], Mary Alice’s widower, who went to extremes not to have the reason for his wife’s suicide revealed, and [[Cody Kasch]] acted as [[Zach Young]], the troubled teenage son of Paul and Mary Alice, who eventually turned out to be Mike’s biological son. Finally, [[Andrea Bowen]] took the part of Susan’s caring and kind-hearted teenage daughter [[Julie Mayer]], and [[Jesse Metcalfe]] played [[John Rowland (Desperate Housewives)|John Rowland]], Gabrielle’s teenage gardener/lover. For the second season, Culp and Metcalfe left as show regulars, as Rex had died from a heart attack and Gabrielle had ended her relationship with John. Several actors who had appeared as guest stars during the entire run of the first season were promoted to regulars for the second year, including [[Doug Savant]] as [[Tom Scavo]], Lynette’s husband who for the second season quit his job determined to become a stay-at-home dad, [[Brent Kinsman]], [[Shane Kinsman]] and [[Zane Huett]] as [[Preston Scavo|Preston]], [[Porter Scavo|Porter]] and [[Parker Scavo]], Lynette’s and Tom’s rascal boys, [[Shawn Pyfrom]] as Bree’s complicated gay son [[Andrew Van de Kamp]], and [[Joy Lauren]] as [[Danielle Van de Kamp]], Andrew’s hardheaded sister. [[Alfre Woodard]] and [[Mehcad Brooks]] joined the cast as [[Betty Applewhite]] and her son [[Matthew Applewhite|Matthew]], who moved to the street in the middle of the night in order for the neighbors not to discover that they had Betty’s other son [[Caleb Applewhite|Caleb]] – originally played by [[Page Kennedy]] but soon replaced by [[NaShawn Kearse]] – locked up in the basement. Also joining the main cast for the second season, after guest starring in a few season one episodes, were [[Richard Burgi]] as [[Karl Mayer]], Susan's ex-husband who becomes engaged to Edie, and [[Roger Bart]] as George Williams, Bree's pharmacist, and later obsessed fiancée, who had caused Rex's death. Bart, however left the show mid- season, due to the suicide of George. As the Applewhite mystery was solved in the second season finale, Woodard, Brooks and Kearse all had left the show when the third season begun. As had Mark Moses, as Paul was framed for murder and incarcerated, Cody Kasch, due to Zach's becoming a millionaire after causing his ill biological grandfather to die and thereby inheriting his entire fortune, and Richard Burgi, following Karl being dumped by both Susan and Edie. Two additions were made to the main cast for season three: [[Kyle MacLachlan]] as [[Orson Hodge]], who marries Bree and whose dark family history serves as the main mystery for most of the season, and [[Josh Henderson]], playing Edie's bad boy nephew Austin McCann, who starts a relationship with Julie, but ends up getting Danielle pregnant and left the series mid-season. For the fourth season, after having appeared as a guest star during season three, [[Rachel Fox]] was added to the main cast playing [[Kayla Huntington]], Tom's daughter from a previous "one night stand". Also joining the main cast were [[Dana Delany]] and [[Lyndsy Fonseca]] as [[Katherine Mayfair|Katherine]] and [[Dylan Mayfair]], a mother and teenage daughter who lived on Wisteria Lane twelve years earlier but had left the street. [[Dana Delany]]'s character is married to [[Adam Mayfair|Dr. Adam Mayfair]] played by [[Nathan Fillion]]. Joining the cast in the fourth episode were [[Kevin Rahm]] and [[Tuc Watkins]] as a gay couple, [[Lee (Desperate Housewives)|Lee McDermott]] and [[Bob Hunter (Desperate Housewives)|Bob Hunter]], who move in next door to Susan. The show also features a large number of recurring guest stars, the most prominent being [[Kathryn Joosten]] and [[Pat Crawford Brown]] as elderly neighbors [[Karen McCluskey]] and [[Ida Greenberg]]. Others include [[Dougray Scott]] as Ian Hainsworth, Susan's season three love interest; [[Harriet Sansom Harris]] as Felicia Tilman, in search for her sister’s murderer during the first two seasons; [[Ryan Carnes]] as [[Justin (Desperate Housewives)|Justin]], Andrew's boyfriend during season one and two; [[John Slattery]] as [[Victor Lang]], former mayor of Fairview and Gabrielle's husband; and [[Bob Gunton]] as [[Noah Taylor (Desperate Housewives)|Noah Taylor]], the wealthy father of Mike's deceased fiancé and the biological grandfather of Zach, appearing during the first two seasons. [[James Denton (actor)|James Denton]] is returning to ''Desperate Housewives'' for the fifth season as Mike Delfino. However, he and Susan Mayer aren't married anymore.<ref>[http://tvwatch.people.com/2008/07/05/james-denton-returning-to-desperate-housewives-%e2%80%94-but-single/ James Denton Returning to "Desperate Housewives"--But Single], ''People.com'', [[July 5]] [[2008]]</ref> Max and Charlie Carver have been cast as Porter and Preston Scavo. Joshua Moore has been cast as Parker Scavo and Kendall Applegate has been cast as Penny Scavo.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080716/tv_nm/housewives_dc_1 "Housewives" Kids Grow Up and Get Recast], ''Yahoo!'', [[July 16]] [[2008]]</ref> === Casting === [[Eva Longoria Parker]] was the first reported to have landed a starring role, on [[February 9]], [[2004]],<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=6412 Development Update: February 9], ''[[The Futon Critic]]'', [[February 9]], [[2004]]</ref> followed by [[Felicity Huffman]] ([[February 10]]),<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=6414 Development Update: February 10], ''[[The Futon Critic]]'', [[February 10]], [[2004]]</ref> [[Teri Hatcher]] ([[February 18]]),<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=6421 Development Update: February 18], ''[[The Futon Critic]]'', [[February 18]], [[2004]]</ref> [[James Denton (actor)|James Denton]] and [[Ricardo Antonio Chavira]] ([[February 26]]),<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=6431 Development Update: February 26], ''[[The Futon Critic]]'', [[February 26]], [[2004]]</ref> [[Marcia Cross]] ([[March 1]]),<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=6437 Development Update: March 1], ''[[The Futon Critic]]'', [[March 1]], [[2004]]</ref> [[Sheryl Lee]], [[Mark Moses]], and [[Cody Kasch]] ([[March 3]]),<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=6445 Development Update: March 3], ''[[The Futon Critic]]'', [[March 3]], [[2004]]</ref> [[Andrea Bowen]] and [[Kyle Searles]] ([[March 4]]),<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=6447 Development Update: March 4], ''[[The Futon Critic]]'', [[March 4]], [[2004]]</ref> and [[Michael Reilly Burke]] ([[March 8]]).<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=6450 Development Update: March 8], ''[[The Futon Critic]]'', [[March 8]], [[2004]]</ref> On [[May 18]] [[2004]] [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] announced their 2004&ndash;2005 lineup, with ''Desperate Housewives'' as one of its new shows, starring an ensemble cast of these twelve names.<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=6591 2004 Broadcast Upfront Presentations: ABC, Part 1]''[[The Futon Critic]]'', [[May 18]], [[2004]]</ref> On [[July 2]], after having shot the first pilot, ABC announced that Lee, Searles and Burke were to be replaced by [[Brenda Strong]], [[Jesse Metcalfe]] and [[Steven Culp]], respectively.<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=6640 Development Update: July 1–2], ''[[The Futon Critic]]'', [[July 2]], [[2004]]</ref> While Lee was turned down after producers rethought the character of Mary Alice,<ref>Porter, Rick: [http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,271%7C89359%7C1%7C,00.html Lee May Return from Dead on 'Desperate Housewives'], ''Zap2it'', [[July 13]], [[2004]]</ref> Searles was replaced because of the lack of chemistry between him and his onscreen lover, Eva Longoria.<ref>Keck, William: [http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2004-11-18-desperate-metcalfe_x.htm Desperately seeking Metcalfe], ''[[USA Today]], [[November 18]], [[2004]]</ref> Steven Culp had been the producer's first choice for the part as Rex Van De Kamp, but as he had missed a meeting with the ABC executive to complete shooting for another television show, ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'', the part had been offered to Burke instead. After the original pilot was filmed, Culp was off the ''Enterprise'' cast, and when asked again Culp accepted the part, and Burke was let go.<ref>Hall, Wayne: [http://syfyportal.com/news422028.html Desperate Housewives – The Trek Connection], ''[[SyFy Portal]]'', [[May 21]], [[2005]]</ref> Early reports also had different names for some of the characters: Andrea Bowen’s character, who was originally said to be named Jenna,<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=6447 Development Update: March 4], ''[[The Futon Critic]]'', [[March 4]], [[2004]]</ref> ended up being named Julie when the show begun to air, and Mary Alice’s last name, which had originally been reported to be Scott,<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=6640 Development Update: July 1–2], ''[[The Futon Critic]]'', [[July 2]], [[2004]]</ref> had been changed to Young. On [[August 11]], with less than two months left until the series’ premiere, a thirteenth name was announced to have been added to the list of contracted stars: [[Nicollette Sheridan]], who would portray Edie Britt in a role originally conceived to be recurring. Nicollette originally auditioned for the part of Bree Van de Kamp.<ref>[http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=6710 'Housewives,' 'Legal' Bows Bumped to October 3], ''[[The Futon Critic]]'', [[August 11]] [[2004]]</ref> Regarding Nicollette Sheridan's departure during season 4, Marc Cherry replied that she is "gone and won’t be back for a few years."<ref>[http://www.celebcrust.com/nicollette-sheridans-desperate-housewives-departure-confirmed-685.html Nicollette Sheridan’s Desperate Housewives Departure Confirmed], ''Celebcrust.com'' [[May 15]] [[2008]]</ref> However, this was clearly a hint at the time leap as Dana Delany has confirmed she will be back.<ref>[http://www.buddytv.com/articles/desperate-housewives/desperate-housewives-whats-nex-20505.aspx Desperate Housewives: What's Next for Katherine Mayfair?], ''BuddyTV.com'', [[June 15]] [[2008]]</ref><ref>[http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/sheridan%20set%20for%20housewives%20comeback_1072898 Sheridan Set for "Housewives" Comeback], ''ContactMusic.com'', [[June 30]] [[2008]]</ref> During the second year of the show the recasting of the new character [[Caleb Applewhite]] caused some media interest. Original actor [[Page Kennedy]] was taken off the cast after only five episodes aired. According to ABC, this was due to Kennedy’s “improper conduct”, with ''[[National Enquirer]]'' claiming that he had flashed some of his female co-stars. Kennedy was quickly replaced by [[NaShawn Kearse]], but denied any improper actions from his part, even releasing a [[rap]] song, “Hold On”, telling his version of the story.<ref>Serpe, Gina: [http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=f85552e0-e683-49c0-8171-aba5471f1e2c “Desperate” Dismissee’s Bad Rap], ''[[E! Online]]'', [[December 20]], [[2005]]</ref> Actor [[Gary Cole]] joined the cast of ''Desperate Housewives'' as a recurring character and played the ex-husband of [[Katherine Mayfair]], [[Dana Delany]]'s character.<ref>[http://www.comingsoon.net/news/tvnews.php?id=42442 Gary Cole Joins "Desperate Housewives"], ''ComingSoon.net'', [[February 28]], [[2008]]</ref> Recent rumors suggest that English playwrights, Hannah Crosby and Charles Clark, may be guest stars on the show during season five, but these rumors have not yet been confirmed. [[Beyoncé Knowles]] is in talks to join the cast of ''Desperate Housewives''.<ref>[http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23707653-5001026,00.html Beyoncé to Join "Desperate Housewives"], ''The Daily Telegraph'', [[May 16]] [[2008]]</ref> [[Kaili Say]], a girl from [[Hawaii]], has a recurring role in the upcoming season of ''Desperate Housewives''.<ref>[http://www.kitv.com/entertainment/16565201/detail.html Island Girl Scores Role on "Desperate Housewives"], ''KITV.com'', [[June 10]] [[2008]]</ref> [[Neal McDonough]], from ''[[Star Trek: First Contact]]'', is joining the cast of ''Desperate Housewives'' as a series regular. He will be the new husband for [[Nicollette Sheridan]]'s character, [[Edie Britt]].<ref>[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i3a6a726c3dd89a147f64ac96bd9cc771 Neal McDonough Moving to "Housewives"], ''Hollywood Reporter'', [[June 27]] [[2008]]</ref> McDonough is the second new addition to the cast of ''Desperate Housewives'' for season 5, along with [[Gale Harold]], who will recur as Ken, the mysterious man kissing Susan Meyer (Teri Hatcher) in the flash-forward scene of the season 4 finale. ==Reception and cultural influences== ===Seasonal ratings in the United States=== {| class="wikitable" |- style="background-color:#E0E0E0" ! | Season ! | Timeslot (EDT) ! | Season Premiere ! | Season Finale ! | TV Season ! | Rank ! | Viewers<br />(in millions) |- style="background-color:#E0E0E0" |- style="background-color:#F9F9F9" ! style="background:#F9F9F9;text-align:center" | '''[[Desperate Housewives Season 1|1]]''' ! style="background:#F9F9F9;font-size:11px;font-weight:normal;text-align:left;line-height:110%" | Sunday 9.00 P.M. | [[October 3]] [[2004]] | [[May 22]] [[2005]] | style="font-size:11px;text-align:center" |2004-2005 ! style="text-align:center" | '''#4''' | style="text-align:center" | 23.7<ref>[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000937471 Primetime series<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>''' |- |- style="background-color:#F9F9F9" ! style="background:#F9F9F9;text-align:center" | '''[[Desperate Housewives Season 2|2]]''' ! style="background:#F9F9F9;font-size:11px;font-weight:normal;text-align:left;line-height:110%" | Sunday 9.00 P.M. | [[September 25]] [[2005]] | [[May 21]] [[2006]] | style="font-size:11px;text-align:center" |2005-2006 ! style="text-align:center" | '''#4''' | style="text-align:center" | 22.2<ref>[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002576393 Series<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |- |- style="background-color:#F9F9F9" ! style="background:#F9F9F9;text-align:center" | '''[[Desperate Housewives Season 3|3]]''' ! style="background:#F9F9F9;font-size:11px;font-weight:normal;text-align:left;line-height:110%" | Sunday 9.00 P.M. | [[September 24]] [[2006]] | [[May 20]] [[2007]] | style="font-size:11px;text-align:center" |2006-2007 ! style="text-align:center" | '''#10''' | style="text-align:center" | 17.5<ref>[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/features/e3ifbfdd1bcb53266ad8d9a71cad261604f 2006-07 primetime wrap<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |- |- style="background-color:#F9F9F9" ! style="background:#F9F9F9;text-align:center" | '''[[Desperate Housewives Season 4|4]]''' ! style="background:#F9F9F9;font-size:11px;font-weight:normal;text-align:left;line-height:110%" | Sunday 9.00 P.M. | [[September 30]] [[2007]] | [[May 18]] [[2008]] | style="font-size:11px;text-align:center" |2007-2008 ! style="text-align:center" | '''#6''' | style="text-align:center" | 18.2<ref>http://www.abcmedianet.com/web/progcal/dispDNR.aspx?id=052008_06</ref> |- |- style="background-color:#F9F9F9" ! style="background:#F9F9F9;text-align:center" | '''[[Desperate Housewives Season 5|5]]''' ! style="background:#F9F9F9;font-size:11px;font-weight:normal;text-align:left;line-height:110%" | Sunday 9.00 P.M. | [[Fall]] [[2008]] | [[Spring]] [[2009]] | style="font-size:11px;text-align:center" |2008-2009 ! style="text-align:center" | '''-''' | style="text-align:center" | - |} ===The premiere year=== The show was the biggest success of the 2004&ndash;2005 television season, being well-received by both critics and viewers. The pilot episode had 21.3 million viewers making it the best new drama for the year, the highest rated show of the week, and the best performance by a pilot for [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], since ''[[Spin City]]'' in 1996.<ref>Jaffer, Murtz: [http://primetimepulse.insidepulse.com/articles/21768/2004/10/04/housewives-premiere-cleans-up-for-abc.html ‘Housewives’ Premiere Cleans Up for ABC], ''Prime Time Pulse'', [[April 10]], [[2004]]</ref> Along with ''[[Lost (TV series)|Lost]]'', ''Desperate Housewives'' was credited to have turned around ABC’s declining fortunes.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bianco|first=Robert|title=A good season, with reason|url =http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2005-04-26-tv-lookback_x.htm| publisher=[[USA Today]]|date=[[April 26]], [[2005]]}}</ref> Many critics agreed to Cherry’s initial comparison to the popular [[black comedy]] film [[American Beauty (film)|American Beauty]],<ref>Scott Pepper, Scott: [http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/10/04/223204.php TV Review: “Desperate Housewives”], ''[[Blogcritics]]'', [[October 4]], [[2004]]</ref> while its themes and appeal to female viewers was compared to those of the award winning TV show ''[[Sex and the City]]'',<ref>McFarland, Melanie: [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/tv/193207_tv01.html Timely ‘Desperate Housewives’ is life after ‘Sex and the City’], ''[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]'' [[October 1]], [[2004]]</ref> and the mysteries was said to resemble those of [[David Lynch]]’s classic TV series ''[[Twin Peaks]]''.<ref>Schmeiser, Lisa: [http://www.teevee.org/archive/2004/10/05/index.html Fall '04: “Desperate Housewives”], ''TeeVee.org'', [[October 5]], [[2004]]</ref> In its first review, ''[[USA Today]]'' proclaimed the show to be ''“refreshingly original, bracingly adult and thoroughly delightful”'' and naming it to be ''“sort of ''Knots Landing'' meets ''The Golden Girls'' by way of ''Twin Peaks''”''.<ref>Bianco, Robert: [http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/reviews/2004-09-30-desperate-housewives_x.htm 'Housewives' has the recipe for a bubbly evening soap], ''[[USA Today]]'', [[September 30]], [[2004]]</ref> Following the initial success of the show, the term “desperate housewives” became a cultural phenomenon. This warranted “real life desperate housewives” features in TV shows, including ''[[The Dr. Phil Show]]'',<ref>[http://www.drphil.com/shows/show/425 Dr. Phil – The Real Lives of Desperate Housewives], Retrieved [[August 5]], [[2007]]</ref> and in magazines.<ref>McKeever, Katrina & Britton, Paul: [http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/159/159293_the_real_desperate_housewives.html The Real Desperate Housewives], ''[[Manchester Evening News]]'', [[May 19]], [[2005]]</ref><ref>Blackwell, Elizabeth: [http://www.lhj.com/lhj/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/lhj/story/data/Desperatehousewives_12092004.xml&catref=lcat38 Confessions of Real-Life Desperate Housewives], ''[[Ladies Home Journal]]'', Retrieved [[August 3]], [[2007]]</ref> Among the more prominent names to declare themselves fans of the show were [[Oprah Winfrey]],<ref>Brioux, Bill: [http://jam.canoe.ca/Television/TV_Shows/D/Desperate_Housewives/2005/02/02/917437.html Oprah pays a visit to 'Housewives'], ''Jam Showbiz'', [[February 2]], [[2005]]</ref> who also dedicated an episode of ''[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]'' to her visit at the film set; and the [[First Lady of the United States]], [[Laura Bush]], who, in a speech during a dinner with [[White House Correspondents' Association]] on [[April 30]] [[2005]], stated ''“Ladies and gentlemen, I am a desperate housewife”'', referring to the show.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-05-01-laura-bush-comments_x.htm Laura Bush: First lady of comedy?], ''[[USA Today]]'', [[May 1]], [[2005]]</ref> The show ended up being the fourth most watched in the [[United States]] during the 2004-2005 season, with 23.7 million viewers each week.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/television/feature_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000937471|source=Hollywood Reporter|date=[[May 27]], [[2005]]|title=Final audience and ratings figures|publisher=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> ===Later years=== For its second year, the show still maintained its ratings – with 22.2 million viewers, it reclaimed its position as the number four most watched show.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/television/feature_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002576393|source=Hollywood Reporter|date=[[May 26]], [[2006]]|title=2005-06 primetime wrap|publisher=''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]''}}</ref> However, several critics started to notice a declining quality of the show’s script,<ref>Guthrie, Marisa: [http://media.www.fsunews.com/media/storage/paper920/news/2006/04/03/ArtsAndEntertainment/In.Its.Second.Season.desperate.Housewives.Is.At.A.Dead.End-2353987.shtml In its second season, 'Desperate Housewives' is at a dead end], ''[[FSView & Florida Flambeau]]'', [[April 3]], [[2006]]</ref><ref>Goldblatt, Henry: [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1120827,00.html TV Review – Desperate Housewives], ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', [[October 21]], [[2005]]</ref> and ''USA Today''’s Robert Bianco suggested that the part of the show getting “less good” was that showrunner Cherry had left much of the series writing in the hands of others.<ref>Biango, Robert: [http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/reviews/2005-10-09-housewives_x.htm Housewives' is dragging desperately], ''[[USA Today]]'', [[September 9]], [[2005]]</ref> Mid through the season executive producer Michael Edenstein left the show due to conflicts with Cherry and in May 2006, just a couple of weeks prior to the second season finale, so did Tom Spezialy.<ref>Keck, William: [http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-05-18-housewives-main_x.htm Wisteria Lane’s new landscape], ''[[USA Today]]'', [[May 19]], [[2006]]</ref> After the end of the season Cherry would agree to the second years’s weaker script and also agreed that it had been a mistake to let go too much of the show. He now stated that he was back full time, claiming that both he and the writing staff had learned from their mistakes.<ref>Martin, Ed: [http://www.mediavillage.com/jmentr/2007/01/25/jmer-01-25-07/#continue Exclusive Interview! Desperate Housewives Creator Marc Cherry], ''Jack Myers Media Village'', [[January 25]], [[2007]]</ref><ref>[http://www.tvshows.nu/ABC-vows-stronger-third-season-for.html ABC vows stronger third season for its ’Desperate Housewives’], ''Wilmington Star'', [[26 July]], [[2006]]</ref><ref>[http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060718/desp_housewives_060718?s_name=&no_ads= Network exec promises better 'Housewives' season], ''CTVA.ca'', [[July 18]], [[2006]]</ref> The critics generally agreed on the improved quality for the third year,<ref>[http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/report-abc-desperate-housewives-back-on-track-for-third-season-1009802.php ABC’s 'Desperate Housewives' back on track for third season], ''Reality TV World'', [[September 12]], [[2006]]</ref><ref>Martin, Ed: [http://www.mediavillage.com/jmentr/2006/09/14/jmer-09-14-06/ Sizzling Preview of Desperate Housewives], ''Jack Myers Media Village'', [[September 14]], [[2006]]</ref><ref>Taroli, Justin: [http://departments.kings.edu/crown/articles/071116/tvshows.html The Third Time Isn’t Always the Charm for TV Hits], ''The Crown Online'', Retrieved [[August 3]], [[2007]]</ref> but the overall ratings fell notably from previous seasons. But due to Marcia Cross’ pregnancy, the actress had to leave the show on maternity leave, but with six episodes left of season three, it looked like the show ratings would be down with over 25% since the premiere year.<ref>Ryan, Joal: [http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=917674c1-97fc-4696-9b82-18bd0d9e2e03 Housewives’ Most Desperate Hour], ''[[E! Online]]'', [[April 10]], [[2007]]</ref> However, for the last season three episodes, the rating turned somewhat, and the season ended up with 17.5 million viewers, falling from number four to number ten on the list of most watched shows.<ref name="HRwrap2006-07">{{cite news|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/features/e3ifbfdd1bcb53266ad8d9a71cad261604f|publisher=''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]''|date=[[May 25]], [[2007]]|title=2006-07 prime time wrap}}</ref> Notable, however, was that the show’s rating among viewers age 18–24 increased from the previous season.<ref>Vasquez, Diego [http://www.medialifemagazine.com/artman2/publish/Research_25/Fact__College_kids_now_watch_more_TV.asp Fact: College kids now watch more TV], ''Media Life Magazine'', [[July 26]], [[2007]]</ref> For its fourth season, the series has proved to have staying power<ref>http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20156391,00.html</ref>. The series has thus far averaged 18.9 million viewers for its first 10 episodes aired before the writers strike put the show on halt. Ratings peaked in Episode 9 where 20.6 million viewers tuned in to see the heavily marketed tornado episode hit Wisteria Lane. The show has once again moved back up into the top 5 highest rated programs so far in the 2007-2008 season, being the #1 ABC drama and beating popular medical drama ''Grey's Anatomy'' for the first time in 2 years<ref>[http://tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial/tve_main/1,1002,272|||season2,00.html Zap2it - TV ratings<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. It also became for the first time the #1 scripted show, beating ''CSI''<ref>http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b138260_csi_offed_by_housewives.html</ref>. In 2006, the American cable network [[Bravo (television network)|Bravo]] launched a [[reality show]], ''[[The Real Housewives of Orange County]]'', in the footsteps of the “real life desperate housewives” phenomenon.<ref>Chang, Richard: [http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/entertainment/atoz/article_1041399.php TV: “The Real Housewives of Orange County”], ''The Orange County Register'', [[March 13]], [[2006]]</ref> According to a survey of twenty countries conducted in 2006 by ''Informa Telecoms and Media'', ''Desperate Housewives'' was the third most viewed TV show in the world, after fellow American series ''[[CSI: Miami]]'' and ''[[Lost (TV series)|Lost]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5231334.stm|date=[[31 July]] [[2006]]|title=CSI show 'most popular in world'|publisher=BBC}}</ref> During a fund raising auction for the [[United Kingdom|British]] child charity [[ChildLine]] in December 2006, a walk-on part in ''Desperate Housewives'' had the highest bid, £17.000, beating [[Daniel Craig]]’s [[James Bond]] [[Tuxedo (clothing)|tuxedo]] from ''[[Casino Royale (2006 film)|Casino Royale]]''.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6168389.stm James Bond tuxedo raises £12,000], ''[[BBC News]]'', [[December 11]], [[2006]]</ref><ref>[http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2006/12/11/james_bond_desperate_housewives_raise_mo James Bond, 'Desperate Housewives' Raise Money for UK Charity], ''StarPulse'', [[December 11]], [[2006]]</ref> ===Awards and nominations=== {{main|List of Desperate Housewives awards and nominations}} For its premiere season, the show was awarded six [[Emmy Awards]], two [[Golden Globe Award]]s and two [[Screen Actors Guild Awards]]. The nominations of all of the four leading actresses except [[Eva Longoria]] for both Golden Globes and Emmys received some media interest. While Longoria seemingly didn’t bother, stating for the press that ''“I'm new. I just arrived. I didn’t expect at all to be in the minds of the Academy.”'', Marc Cherry regarded her being left out as a ''“horrendous error”''.<ref>[http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/longoria%20i%20never%20expected%20an%20emmy Longoria: “I Never Expected an Emmy”], ''ContactMusic.com'', [[July 24]], [[2005]]</ref> In the end, the Emmy went to [[Felicity Huffman]], while [[Teri Hatcher]] received the Golden Globe, as well as an SAG. The show’s second Golden Globe Award for its first year was for Best Musical or Comedy TV Series, while the other Emmys went to [[Kathryn Joosten]] for her guest role as Karen McCluskey (beating, among others, fellow cast member [[Lupe Ontiveros]]), [[Charles McDougall]] for his direction of the pilot episode, [[Danny Elfman]]’s theme music, the picture editing of the pilot, and the casting of the series. The entire cast was awarded a Screen Actors Guild Award, and [[Nicollette Sheridan]] was nominated for a Supporting Actress Golden Globe. In 2006 the show continued to receive several nominations. It was awarded with yet another Golden Globe for Best TV Musical or Comedy Series, and all the four leading women received Golden Globe nominations, although none of them won. The cast ensemble was awarded with another SAG Award, as was Felicity Huffman. Emmys nominations included, among others, guest actress [[Shirley Knight]] and supporting actress [[Alfre Woodard]], although none of the resulted in an actual award. The show did continue to be nominated in 2007 – Felicity Huffman was granted an Emmy nomination for the second time, and guest actresses [[Laurie Metcalf]] and [[Dixie Carter]] also received Emmy nomination. The show, just as actresses [[Marcia Cross]] and Felicity Huffman, received Golden Globe nominations, and Huffman and the cast ensemble was also nominated for SAGs. None of the Golden Globe, Emmy or SAG nominations resulted in any actual awards. Other notable awards include the 2005 [[People's Choice Award]] for Favorite New Television Drama, the Future Classic Award at the 2005 [[TV Land Awards]], the 2006 TP de Oro for Best Foreign Series, and the Golden Nymph at the 2007 Monte-Carlo TV Festival, among others.<ref>[http://imdb.com/title/tt0410975/awards The IMDb.com list of awards for Desperate Housewives], Retrieved [[August 3]], [[2007]]</ref> ===Controversy=== ====Nicollette Sheridan promotional video==== On [[November 15]], [[2004]], Sheridan was cited by the [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]] for her appearance in a sketch that opened the evening’s ''[[Monday Night Football]]'' broadcast. The ''Desperate Housewives''-inspired sketch showed Sheridan dropping a towel to attract football player [[Terrell Owens]]’ attention who then said “ah hell” was widely condemned as being sexually suggestive.{{Fact|date=January 2008}} ABC was forced to apologize for airing it but the citation against Sheridan was dropped on [[March 14]], [[2005]]. On [[November 22]], [[2004]], [[World Wrestling Entertainment]] (WWE) aired an also controversial parody showing WWE Women's Champion [[Trish Stratus]] dropping her towel to attract WWE Superstar [[Shelton Benjamin]], but being caught in the act by the company’s chairman, [[Vince McMahon]]. The promo for the WWE was used to gain higher ratings and promote [[Trish Stratus]] defending the Women's Championship against the number 1 contender, [[Amy Dumas|Lita]] for the main event of RAW in December. {{Fact|date=January 2008}} ====Traditional family values==== Following criticism from the [[American Family Association]] about the show’s disregard for traditional family values, the show lost several major sponsors.<ref>[http://money.cnn.com/2004/10/19/news/fortune500/desperate/], ''CNNmoney.com''</ref> ====Negative gay representation==== [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] came under criticism from [[LGBT]] critics<ref> Moylan, Brian, ([[May 8]], [[2006]]), [http://www.expressgaynews.com/blog/index.cfm?type=blog&start=5/3/06&end=5/10/06 A 'Desperate' drama queen], gayexpressnews.com. Retrieved January 9, 2008.</ref> for making the then-sole main gay character, [[Andrew Van de Kamp]], an apparent [[sociopath]], although the character has since turned over a new leaf to some extent. However the show's creator Marc Cherry is himself openly gay and several gay characters have been given featured roles over the years. It should also be noted that many non gay characters were sociopaths on the show, as the show relies on its protagonists' shady pasts. ===Screen adaptations=== On [[February 26]], [[2007]], [[The Walt Disney Company]] announced that four [[South American]] versions of the show were about to begin production: one for [[Argentina]], one for [[Colombia]], one for [[Brazil]] and one for [[Ecuador]].<ref>[http://www.variety.com/vstory/VR1117939263.html?categoryid=38&cs=1&query=Desperate+Housewives 'Housewives' going global], ''[[Variety Magazine]]'', [[March 5]], [[2007]]</ref> Later on, the Colombian and Ecuadorean productions merged, leaving three [[Latin American]] shows: The Argentine version, called ''[[Amas de Casa Desesperadas (Argentine TV series)|Amas de Casa Desesperadas]]'', began airing in 2006. The first year proved successful enough for a second season to begin production.<ref>[http://www.canal13.com.ar/micrositios/amas.resena.html Amas de casa desesperadas Official Canal 13 Website], Retrieved [[August 3]], [[2007]]</ref> The first season of the version for Colombia ([[RCN TV]]) and Ecuador ([[Teleamazonas]]), also entitled ''[[Amas de Casa Desesperadas (Colombian-Ecuadorean TV Series)|Amas de Casa Desesperadas]]'', began airing in Ecuador on May 2007, and airs five days a week.<ref>[http://www.teleamazonas.com/amasdecasa.htm Amas de casa desesperadas Official Teleamazonas Website], Retrieved [[August 3]], [[2007]]</ref> The Brazilian version, ''[[Donas de Casa Desesperadas]]'' began airing on [[RedeTV!]] in August 2007.<ref>[http://www.redetv.com.br/siteredetv/grupos/series/donasdecasadesesperadas/ Donas de Casa Desesperadas Official RedeTV Website], Retrieved [[August 3]], [[2007]]</ref> In addition, a second US version is being developed for the [[Spanish-language|Spanish]] television network [[Univision]]. Just as the two previous Spanish versions, it is to be named ''Amas de Casa Desesperadas'', and the production began in July 2007.<ref>De La Fuente, Anna Marie: [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117964896.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 Univision gets Spanish 'Housewives'], ''[[Variety Magazine]]'', [[May 14]], [[2007]]</ref> Also, a feature film inspired by the series, entitled ''[[Desperadas (Philippine film)|Desperadas]],'' which stars [[Ruffa Gutierrez]], [[Iza Calzado]], [[Marian Rivera]] and [[Rufa Mae Quinto]], was released in New Year's Day 2008 in the [[Philippines]] with the script written for film by [[Polytechnic University of the Philippines|PUP]] graduate [[Paul Wilson Gardon]].<ref>Erece, Dinno: [http://pep.ph/guide/832/Desperadas-included-in-final-three-MMFF-chosen-entries "Desperadas" included in final three MMFF chosen entries], ''Philippine Entertainment Portal'', [[July 2]], [[2007]]</ref> == Other media and merchandise== === DVD releases === {{main|List of Desperate Housewives DVD releases}} {| class="wikitable" !DVD Name ! [[Region 1]] ! [[Region 2]] (UK and Ireland release) ![[Region 4]] ![[Region 5]] ! No of discs ! No of episodes |- |The Complete First Season | [[September 20]] [[2005]] | [[October 10]] [[2005]] | [[November 28]] [[2005]] | [[July 18]] [[2006]] | 6 (Reg. 1,2 and 4) <br> 5 (Reg. 5) | 23 |- |The Complete Second Season | [[August 30]] [[2006]] | [[November 13]] [[2006]] | [[October 4]] [[2006]] | [[June 28]] [[2007]] | 7 (Reg. 2 and 4)<br> 6 (Reg. 1 and 5) | 23 (US)<br> 24 (UK) |- | The Complete Seasons One and Two | | [[November 13]] [[2006]] | [[October 24]] [[2006]] | | 13 | 46 |- |The Complete Third Season | [[September 4]] [[2007]] | [[November 5]] [[2007]] | [[October 31]] [[2007]] | [[December 13]] [[2007]] ''(the release was cancelled)'' | 6 | 23 |- |The Complete Seasons 1-3 | | [[November 19]] [[2007]] | | | 19 | 70 |- |The Complete Fourth Season | [[September 2]] [[2008]] <ref name="one hundred thirty">[http://news.tvonmedia.com/tvom_news_by_show/Ugly-Betty-Brothers-Sisters-Season-2-Desperate-Housewives-4.shtml Joint Press Release for 2nd Seasons of Ugly Betty & Brothers & Sisters, 4th Season of Desperate Housewives] TVOnMedia.com - Jeff Hodges (04/28/2008)</ref> | [[November 26]] [[2008]] <ref>[http://www.dvdinfo.be/nieuws.php?id=3133 Release Bulletin for 2008] DVDinfo.be</ref> | [[October 29]] [[2008]] | | 5 | 17 |- |} ===Games=== In 2005, UK company Re:creation published ''Desperate Housewives Dirty Laundry Game'', a [[board game]] based on season one of ''Desperate Housewives''.<ref>[http://www.recreationplc.com/Tradecat_2006/Trade%20Catalogue.pdf Re:Creation 2007 Product Catalogue, page 15], Retrieved [[August 3]], [[2007]]</ref> Players attempt to guess their opponents’ secrets by answering [[trivia]] questions, while keeping clues to their own secrets concealed. 2006 saw the release of two [[video game]]s: [[Buena Vista Games]] released the [[life simulation game|sim computer game]] ''[[Desperate Housewives: The Game]]'', featuring an original storyline spanning 12 episodes.<ref>[http://buenavistagames.go.com/desperatehousewives/ Desperate Housewives: The Game Official Website], Retrieved [[August 3]], [[2007]]</ref> The game is set on Wisteria Lane, but the player does not play as any of the housewives, although they frequently appear. A couple of months later, [[Gameloft]] released a [[mobile game]] based on the series.<ref>[http://www.gameloft.com/product.php?product=187&product_name=Desperate+Housewives%99 Desperate Housewives Mobile Game Official Website], Retrieved [[August 3]], [[2007]]</ref> “The inspirado for Gameloft’s take on Desperate Housewives comes from the most unlikely place, too – the original Mario Party on the Nintendo 64.”<ref>[http://wireless.ign.com/articles/759/759465p1.html IGN: Desperate Housewives Review<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ===Soundtrack and literature=== In September 2005, [[Hollywood Records]] released a [[CD]] (distributed by [[Universal Music]]), [[Music from and Inspired by Desperate Housewives]], featuring music inspired by the series, as well as sound clips taken from the first season of the show. The songs included could all be described as promoting “[[girl power]]”, and among the artists appearing – all being female – were [[LeAnn Rimes]], [[Gloria Estefan]] and [[Shania Twain]].<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:gnfixqysldke All Music Guide: Desperate Housewives], Retrieved [[August 3]], [[2007]]</ref> Two books has been officially released within the Desperate Housewives franchise. In September 2005 ABC’s sister company [[Hyperion Books]] released ''Desperate Housewives: Behind Closed Doors'' (ISBN 978-1401-3082-61), a companion to the first season of the show, written by the production team behind the series.<ref>[http://www.hyperionbooks.com/titlepage.asp?ISBN=1401308260&SUBJECT=Entertainment Hyperion Books: ''Desperate Housewives – Behind Closed Doors''], Retrieved [[August 3]], [[2007]]</ref> One year later, in October 2006, Hyperion published ''The Desperate Housewives Cookbook – Juicy Dishes and Saucy Bits'' (ISBN 978-1401-3027-71).<ref>[http://www.hyperionbooks.com/titlepage.asp?ISBN=1401302777&SUBJECT=Cookbook Hyperion Books: ''The Desperate Housewives Cookbook – Juicy Dishes and Saucy Bits''], Retrieved [[August 3]], [[2007]]</ref> In addition, official [[wall calendar]]s, featuring shots taken from the series, were published by [[Andrews McMeel Publishing]] for 2006, 2007 and 2008.<ref>[http://www.andrewsmcmeel.com/products/?isbn=0740765884 Andrews McMeel Publishing: Desperate Housewives 2008 Wall Calendar], Retrieved [[August 5]], [[2007]]</ref> Four unauthorized books written from different points of view were released in 2006. ''Delicious Housewives'', A Novel of Erotica, by International best-selling author Tamarias Tyree (ISBN 978-0930865795), from [[RSVP Press]], is an erotic parody of the popular TV series featuring the housewives' sexual misadventures which eventually lead them to an appearance on the Jerry Springer Show... ''Reading ‘Desperate Housewives’: Beyond the White Picket Fence'' (ISBN 978-1845-1122-02), from [[I.B. Tauris]], is an academic look at the show by [[film studies]] lecturers Janet McCabe and Kim Akassm,<ref>[http://www.ibtauris.com/ibtauris/display.asp?K=9781845112202&sf_01=CAUTHOR&st_01=Janet+McCabe&sf_02=CTITLE&sf_03=KEYWORD&sf_04=identifier&m=2&dc=4 I.B. Tauris: Reading “Desperate Housewives” – Beyond the White Picket Fence], Retrieved [[August 5]], [[2007]]</ref> ''Welcome to Wisteria Lane: On America’s Favorite Desperate Housewives'' (ISBN 978-1932-1007-92), published by [[BenBella Books]], consists of seventeen essays written from a [[feminist]] perspective,<ref>[http://66.84.52.211/cgi-bin/plugins/MivaEmpresas/miva?plugins/MivaMerchants/merchant.mvc+Screen=PROD&Store_Code=BB&Product_Code=WTWL&Category_Code=DHW BenBella Books: Welcome to Wisteria Lane: On America’s Favorite Desperate Housewives], Retrieved [[August 5]], [[2007]]</ref> and in Chalice Press’ ''Not-so-desperate: Fantasy, Fact And Faith on Wisteria Lane'' (ISBN 0-8272-2513-X) author Shawnthea Monroe is giving a [[Christian]] interpretation of the show.<ref>[http://www.cbp21.com/ProductDetail.asp?ProductID=2706 Chalice Press: Not-so-desperate – Fantasy, Fact And Faith on Wisteria Lane], Retrieved [[August 5]], [[2007]]</ref> Also, following the “real life desperate housewives” phenomenon, several books have been released dealing with life strategies for contemporary women. ===Fashion dolls=== In December 2006 it was announced that the characters of Bree, Gabrielle, Edie, Susan and Lynette were to be made into {{convert|16|in|mm}} tall [[fashion doll]]s, produced by [[Madame Alexander]].<ref>Finn, Natalie: [http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=1727979b-5a30-44a8-ab4f-fc8d0868433e Desperate Housewives Play Around], ''[[E! Online]]'', [[January 2]] [[2007]]</ref> In 2007 they were released in a limited edition of 300 pieces each.</s> <ref>[http://www.madamealexander.com/fall_2007/product_cat.php/subid=7/index.html Madame Alexander Fall 2007 collection: Couture – Desperate Housewives], Retrieved [[August 5]] [[2007]]</ref> A perfume was also released, named ''Forbidden Fruit''. ==References== <ref name="one hundred thirty">[http://news.tvonmedia.com/tvom_news_by_show/Ugly-Betty-Brothers-Sisters-Season-2-Desperate-Housewives-4.shtml Joint Press Release for 2nd Seasons of ''Ugly Betty'' and ''Brothers & Sisters'', 4th Season of ''Desperate Housewives''], ''TVONMedia.com'' - Jeff Hodges (04/28/2008)</ref> {{reflist|2}} ==External links== *[http://abc.go.com/primetime/desperate/index Official Website] *{{imdb title|id=0410975|title=Desperate Housewives}} *{{tv.com show|id=24641|title=Desperate Housewives}} *[http://desperate.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page Desperate Wiki] *[http://dh-central.for-fan.net/ First French FanSite] *[http://www.desperatehousewivesonline.co.uk Fan Site] *[http://www.desperatefans.org/forum/ Desperate Housewives Forum] *[http://desperateedition.890m.com Desperate Edition] *[http://watch.ctv.ca/desperate-housewives/season-4 Watch full episodes of Desperate Housewives online now (Canada)] *[http://photos.dh-central.for-fan.net A Big Pictures Gallery] {{wikiquote}} {{Desperate Housewives}} [[Category:2004 television series debuts]] [[Category:2000s American television series]] [[Category:American Broadcasting Company network shows]] [[Category:Comedy-drama television series]] [[Category:Desperate Housewives| ]] [[Category:Television series by Buena Vista Television]] [[Category:Serial drama television series]] [[Category:Best Musical or Comedy Series Golden Globe winners]] [[Category:Fiction narrated by a dead person]] [[Category:American television soap operas]] [[Category:TV series with an ensemble cast]] {{Link FA|fi}} [[ar:ربات بيوت يائسات]] [[bn:ডেস্পারেট্‌ হাউজওয়াইভ্‌স]] [[bs:Očajne kućanice]] [[bg:Отчаяни съпруги]] [[ca:Desperate Housewives]] [[cs:Zoufalé manželky]] [[cy:Desperate Housewives]] [[da:Desperate Housewives]] [[de:Desperate Housewives]] [[et:Meeleheitel koduperenaised]] [[el:Νοικοκυρές Σε Απόγνωση]] [[es:Desperate Housewives]] [[fa:همسران ناامید]] [[fr:Desperate Housewives]] [[hr:Kućanice]] [[id:Desperate Housewives]] [[it:Desperate Housewives]] [[he:עקרות בית נואשות]] [[ka:სასოწარკვეთილი დიასახლისები]] [[lt:Nusivylusios namų šeimininkės]] [[hu:Született feleségek]] [[mk:Очајни домаќинки]] [[ms:Desperate Housewives]] [[nl:Desperate Housewives]] [[ja:デスパレートな妻たち]] [[no:Frustrerte fruer]] [[nn:Desperate Housewives]] [[pl:Gotowe na wszystko]] [[pt:Desperate Housewives]] [[ro:Neveste disperate]] [[ru:Отчаянные домохозяйки (телесериал)]] [[sq:Desperate Housewives]] [[simple:Desperate Housewives]] [[sk:Zúfalé manželky]] [[sh:Desperate Housewives]] [[fi:Täydelliset naiset]] [[sv:Desperate Housewives]] [[tr:Desperate Housewives]] [[wuu:疯狂个主妇]] [[zh:瘋狂的主婦]]