In 2004, ABC announced a new show called Desperate Housewives. The show became an instant smash hit for the network, turning in ratings they hadn’t enjoyed in years.
The show revolves around a group of women living on Wisteria Lane. One of them, Mary Alice Young, commits suicide in the first episode, leaving her friends, her husband, and her teenage son reeling from the shock. The women soon learn that there are skeletons in Mary Alice’s closet when they find a note she had received the day of her death, saying simply, “I know what you did. It makes me sick. I’m going to tell.”
The drama on the show is sprinkled with humor, sometimes dark and sometimes silly. What draws viewers back to Desperate Housewives week after week is the colorful cast of characters.
Susan Mayer, played by Teri Hatcher, is a recently-divorced single mom who is very emotional and a bit of a klutz. She has fallen in love with a handsome man who lives across the street named Mike Delfino (played by James Denton). Mike claims to be a plumber, but is really residing on Wisteria Lane to investigate the murder of his ex, who was a drug user and mysteriously disappeared years ago. Time after time Susan discovers little things about Mike that make her question who he is and what his intentions are, but she continues to go back to him hoping for a true relationship to develop. Mike does love her, but his past constantly haunts him.
Bree Van De Kamp is perfectly played by Marcia Cross. Bree is the Martha Stewart of the neighborhood – she cooks, cleans, gardens, sews, and arrives at every gathering with a perfect basket of baked goods. Bree’s husband Rex is somewhat stifled in their relationship and strays from the bounds of marriage when he decides that he wants to indulge in the rougher side of sex. Sparks fly when Bree discovers Rex’s infidelity. Bree and Rex’s son becomes difficult to handle and is sent away to a military-like school, where he reveals that he is gay.
Lynette Scavo, played by Felicity Huffman, is a former executive turned stay-at-home mom with three young sons. Her husband Tom (played by Doug Savant) is away often on business, and as it turns out has skeletons in his own closet. When Tom’s father arrives for a visit, Lynette is shocked to find out about his infidelity, leading Tom to worry about his own errant past. Lynette struggles with the hectic daily lifestyle of a homemaker with small kids, and often feels alone.
Gabrielle Solis, played by the lovely Eva Longoria, is a high-maintenance former model, who is currently living in wealthy domestic bliss with her husband Carlos (played by Ricardo Antonia Chavira). Gabrielle becomes bored with her life and enters into an affair with her barely-legal gardener John (played by Jesse Metcalfe). Carlos wants to have a baby but Gabrielle won’t even hear of it. When Carlos tampers with Gabby’s birth control, she becomes pregnant but doesn’t know for certain who the father of her baby is. Add Carlos’ mother into the mix, and the scene is set for explosive results.
The cast also includes Nicollette Sheridan as Edie Britt, the neighborhood floozy who is always going after the single attractive men, including Mike Delfino. Edie’s house is burned to the ground one night when Susan breaks in to see if Edie is with Mike, and knocks over a candle in her haste to get out.
Mary Alice’s family includes husband Paul (played by Mark Moses) and son Zach (played by Cody Kasch). Zach is a troubled teen who lashes out at his father after his mother’s death. Paul has many secrets to cover, and spends an evening digging an old and well-worn toy box out from under the family swimming pool and dumping it into a nearby river. When the police find the box and discover human remains, Paul instantly goes from mysterious to downright creepy. As it turns out, Mary Alice bought Zach from his drug-addicted mother. The family changed their names and moved to Wisteria Lane, but the mother tracked them down and tried to get her son back. Reading between the lines, it’s obvious that Mike is Zach’s real father and the woman in the toy box is who he’s been searching for.
New to the neighborhood this season are Betty Applewhite (played by Alfre Woodard) and her son. They also have secrets, as we see in the season premiere. Apparently there is someone locked up and chained in their basement. One can only imagine who it is and why he’s there.
Last season ended with Rex’s death, Tom losing his job and suggesting that Lynette become the family breadwinner, John informing Carlos in open court that he may be the father of Gabrielle’s baby, and Susan being held hostage in Mike’s home by an enraged Zach. Where will the plot take our favorite housewives this season? I can hardly wait to find out!
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