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{{Infobox television
| show_name = Desperate Housewives
| image = [[File:Desperatehousewivesapplelogo.jpg|250px]]
| caption = ''Desperate Housewives'' Logo
| genre = [[Comedy-drama]]<br />[[Mystery (fiction)|Mystery]]
| picture_format = ([[Standard-definition television|SDTV]]),<br />[[576i]] ([[Standard-definition television|SDTV]]) [[Channel 4]] and [[E4 (channel)|E4]] <br />[[720p]] ([[High-definition television|HDTV]]) [[ABC HD]], <br />[[1080i]] ([[High-definition television|HDTV]]) [[Channel 4 HD]]
| country = United States
| language = English
| network = [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
| audio_format = 5.1-channel [[surround sound]]
| camera = [[Multi-camera]]
| first_aired = {{Start date|2004|10|3}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2010|5|21}}
| creator = [[Marc Cherry]]
| starring = [[Teri Hatcher]]<br />[[Felicity Huffman]]<br />[[Marcia Cross]]<br />[[Eva Longoria Parker]]<br />[[Nicollette Sheridan]]<br />[[Ricardo Antonio Chavira]]<br />[[Doug Savant]]<br />[[Mark Moses]]<br />[[Steven Culp]]<br />[[Alfre Woodard]]<br />[[Andrea Bowen]]<br />[[Jesse Metcalfe]]<br />[[Cody Kasch]]<br />[[Richard Burgi]]<br />[[Kyle MacLachlan]]<br />[[Dana Delany]]<br />[[Neal McDonough]]<br />[[Shawn Pyfrom]]<br />[[Drea de Matteo]]<br />[[Maiara Walsh]]<br />[[James Denton]]
| narrated = [[Brenda Strong]]
| theme_music_composer = [[Danny Elfman]]
| composer = [[Steve Bartek]]<br />[[Stewart Copeland]]<br />[[Steve Jablonsky]]
| story_editor = [[Kevin Etten]] (season 1)<br />[[Jenna Bans]] & [[Josh Senter]] (season 2–3) <br />[[Dahvi Waller]] (season 3)
| num_seasons = 6
| num_episodes = 130 <!-- (as of April 18, 2010) -->
| 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)
| related = ''[[Amas de Casa Desesperadas]]'' (2006–present)<br />''[[Donas de Casa Desesperadas]]'' (2007–2008)
| website = http://abc.go.com/shows/desperate-housewives
}}
'''''Desperate Housewives''''' is an 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 (director)|Larry Shaw]] and Sabrina Wind.

The setting of the show is the street of [[Wisteria Lane]] in the fictional American town of [[Fairview (Desperate Housewives)|Fairview]] in the Eagle State. It follows the lives of a group of women, seen through the eyes of their dead neighbor. They work through domestic struggles and family life, while facing the secrets, crimes and mysteries hidden behind the doors of their—at the surface—beautiful and seemingly perfect suburban neighborhood. The show is inspired, to an extent, by the 1999 film ''[[American Beauty (film)|American Beauty]]''.

The show features an [[ensemble cast]], headed by [[Teri Hatcher]] as [[Susan Mayer]], [[Felicity Huffman]] as [[Lynette Scavo]], [[Marcia Cross]] as [[Bree Van de Kamp]] and [[Eva Longoria Parker]] as [[Gabrielle Solis]]. [[Brenda Strong]] narrates the show as the deceased [[Mary Alice Young]], appearing sporadically in flashbacks or dreams.

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 120 million.<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 conceived 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 5 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 (TV channel)|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 23 October 2003, ''Desperate Housewives'' was announced by ABC, presented as a prime time soap opera created by [[Charles Pratt Jr.]] of ''[[Melrose Place (1992 TV series)|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: 23 October], ''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 name="thefutoncritic.com">[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 were broadcast, 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), Austin Bagley 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 fifth season of the series debuted on Sunday, September 28, 2008.

On April 23, 2009, [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] picked up ''Desperate Housewives'' for a 6th season for the [[2009-2010 United States network television schedule|2009–2010]] television season.<ref>[http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b120249_easy_abc_lost_greys_housewives_renewed.html Easy as ABC: "Lost", "Grey's", "Housewives" Renewed], ''E! Online'', April 23, 2009</ref> The sixth season premiered on Sunday, September 27, 2009.<ref name="ReferenceA">http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=8155</ref>

===Production crew===
In addition to [[Marc Cherry]], [[Tom Spezialy]] and [[Michael Edelstein]] served as [[executive producers]] for the first two seasons on the show. 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 name=autogenerated1>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 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]]''.

In the first four seasons, [[Larry Shaw (director)|Larry Shaw]] and [[David Grossman (director)|David Grossman]] have been the most prolific directors, together directing more than half of the series’ episodes.

===Filming===
{{Main|Wisteria Lane|Colonial Street}}

''Desperate Housewives'' is filmed on [[Panavision]] [[35 mm film|35 mm]] cameras; it is broadcast in [[SDTV|standard]] and [[widescreen television|16:9 widescreen]] [[high-definition television|high definition]], though it is framed for the [[4:3]] [[aspect ratio (image)|aspect ratio]].<ref name="asc">{{cite journal|last=Feld|first=Rob|coauthors=Oppenheimer, Jean; Stasukevich, Ian|month=March | year=2008|title=Tantalizing Television|url=http://www.ascmag.com/magazine_dynamic/March2008/Television/page2.php|journal=American Cinematographer|volume=89|issue=3}}</ref> 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> Notable productions that were filmed here include: ''[[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> Interestingly from the street view of Bree's house the property appears double fronted, with rooms on either side of the front door. However, from the second season on the inside there is only one room off to the right and a set of external doors on the left. However, as of the second half of season 6, this missing room which Bree referred to as the downstairs study, was turned into a bedroom for Orson and is clearly seen. 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 facade 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 best to 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. There is one variation for the opening theme (For DVDs), where Susan is in the Egyptian art. Lynette's in the can of sardines which close, resembling her face. Bree caught an apple, and passes it to Gabrielle. 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 (Desperate Housewives)|Now You Know]]" 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===
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 adds 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 (song)|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 [[child prodigy|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.

==The future==
In August 2009, [[Marc Cherry]] said that ''Desperate Housewives'' will be on television for a few more years. The show's creator said that the series still "has a lot of life left in it", though he will soon take on a limited role behind the scenes. He told ''The Wrap'': {{quotation|Steve McPherson (ABC Entertainment president) and I agree that we shouldn't keep the show going for more than a couple [of] years past my seven-year initial contract. We don't want it to just fade away. We've been in negotiations. I expect to sign my new deal soon to set up a future scenario for the show. Someone else will run the show after season seven and I will serve as executive producer from a distance.}} He went on to explain that the program had been revitalized by the five-year leap forward for season five, saying: "Yes, I think it worked well. It was a way to start fresh and let everyone start from scratch in a way".<ref name=years>[http://www.digitalspy.com/ustv/a173530/cherry-housewives-could-be-on-for-years.html Cherry: "Housewives" Could Be On for Years], ''Digital Spy'', August 24, 2009</ref>

Marc Cherry has signed a new two-year deal with ABC that will keep ''Desperate Housewives'' on the air until the year 2013. But there's no confirmation on whether the show's main characters{{mdash}}played by Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross and Eva Longoria Parker{{mdash}}will want to go that long. They're currently only committed through the 2010–11 season, the show's seventh.<ref>[http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118010525.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 Marc Cherry Signs New Deal with ABC], ''Variety.com'', October 28, 2009</ref>

== Series synopses and episodes ==
{{See also|List of Desperate Housewives episodes}}

The [[Desperate Housewives (season 1)|first season]] premiered on October 3, 2004 and introduces the four central characters of the show: [[Susan Mayer]], [[Lynette Scavo]], [[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 her husband and son's involvement in the events leading up to it. Bree fights to save her marriage, Lynette struggles to cope with her demanding children, Susan fights [[Edie Britt]] for new neighbor [[Mike Delfino]]'s affection, and Gabrielle tries to prevent her husband [[Carlos Solis|Carlos]] from discovering that she is having an affair with their gardener, [[Acquaintances of Gabrielle Solis#John Rowland|John Rowland]]. The end of the first season results in Rex dying while believing Bree has poisoned him, Carlos being informed of Gaby's affair by John himself before being sent to prison, a fired Tom allowing Lynette to take his place as the bread-bringer of the household, and a cliffhanger which puts Mike in danger of being shot by his own son.

The [[Desperate Housewives (season 2)|second season]] premiered on September 25, 2005 and its central mystery is that of new neighbor [[Betty Applewhite]], who moved onto Wisteria Lane 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 she and her son from 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 the closing moment of the season finale, Mike is run over by Susan's dentist friend Orson, who will become Bree's husband in the next season.

The [[Desperate Housewives (season 3)|third season]] premiered on September 24, 2006. In the third season, Bree marries [[Orson Hodge]], whose past and involvement with a recently discovered dead body becomes the main mystery for half of the season. Meanwhile, Lynette has to adjust to having another child around the house, as a previously unknown daughter of her husband arrives. The Scavos also 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 is suffering from amnesia, while Susan moves on to a handsome Englishman whose wife is in a coma. Edie’s family relations are explored throughout the season. A shooting at the local grocery store leaves two characters dead and changes everyone's lives forever.

The [[Desperate Housewives (season 4)|fourth season]] premiered 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. Her 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]]), and Gloria and Alma Hodge. A tornado threatens to destroy everything, and everyone, that the housewives hold dear. The season finale has Katherine's abusive cop ex-husband killing and getting killed, then in the closing minute the characters and their story have flashed forward by five years: Bree is a successful cookbook writer, her son works for her, Gabrielle has had children, Lynette's twins are old enough to drive cars, and Susan has a new lover played by Gale Harold—but what happened to Mike?

The [[Desperate Housewives (season 5)|fifth season]] premiered on September 28, 2008, with the time period jumping 5 years after the previous season, with some flashbacks to events which happened between the two periods. The season mystery revolves around [[Edie Britt]]'s new husband, [[Dave Williams (Desperate Housewives)|Dave Williams]], played by [[Neal McDonough]]. Dave is looking for revenge on someone on Wisteria Lane (later revealed to be Mike Delfino and then, in a shocking twist, Susan). Susan deals with being a single mother and having a new romance with Jackson ([[Gale Harold]]). Lynette and Tom learn that their son is having an affair with a married woman whose husband's nightclub burns down with all of Wisteria Lane's neighbors inside. Carlos and Gabrielle have to struggle with their two daughters, Juanita and Celia, as Carlos's sight returns. Bree and Orson are having marriage problems because she is so focused on her career, and Orson begins to steal from neighbors as a coping mechanism. As a result, Orson is in the street when Edie is racing away from her house after her discovery that Dave is a madman plotting to kill Mike and all those he loves; Edie swerves to avoid hitting him and crashes into an electrical pole, then exits the car, only to die of electrocution before she can tell anyone that Dave moved to Fairview in order to get revenge on the person who killed his wife and daughter. It is later when Susan reveals to Dave that it was she, not Mike, who was driving the car the night that a woman and child ran a Stop sign because the sign had fallen over on a dark stretch of road. Dave's revenge plans suddenly change as he says "Hi" to M.J., Mike and Susan's son. This season featured the show's 100th episode, revolving around Eli Scruggs (played by [[Beau Bridges]]) a handyman who had an important input in all of the ladies' lives. This episode featured flashbacks and returning characters, including [[Mary Alice Young]], [[Martha Huber]] and [[Rex Van de Kamp]]. The episode was broadcast on ABC on Sunday, January 18, 2009.

The [[Desperate Housewives (season 6)|sixth season]] premiered on Sunday, September 27, 2009 at 9pm.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/News/FallTV-ABC-Premieres-1006734.aspx|title=ABC Announces Fall Premiere Dates for 19 Shows|publisher=TVGuide.com|accessdate=2009-06-09}}</ref> Its plot points, as of December 2009, consist of the conflict between Lynette and Gabrielle as Lynette attempts to sue Carlos, Katherine's eventual breakdown at losing Mike to Susan and Bree's affair with Karl, which is set to end tragically when Karl's hired plane comes into contact with the two of them and Orson.

===Mysteries===
Each season has a mystery which focuses on one particular character.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"; border="1"
! Season !! Main Mystery !! Mystery synopsis
|-
| <center>'''[[Desperate Housewives (season 1)|1]]'''</center> || [[Mary Alice Young]] || Committed suicide after being threatened with blackmail; was attempting to cover-up the fact that she murdered her adopted son's biological mother.
|-
| <center>'''[[Desperate Housewives (season 2)|2]]'''</center> || [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Betty Applewhite|Betty Applewhite]] || Kept her mentally disabled son locked up in the basement under the belief that he had murdered a girl; later discovered that her other son was the real murderer and had framed his brother.
|-
| <center>'''[[Desperate Housewives (season 3)|3]]'''</center> || [[Orson Hodge]] || Orson and his mother arrived on Wisteria Lane; reports claimed that he had murdered his first wife and then his mistress; it was later revealed that his first wife was still alive, and that it was actually his mother who had murdered his mistress.
|-
| <center>'''[[Desperate Housewives (season 4)|4]]'''</center> || [[Katherine Mayfair]] || When Katherine arrived on Wisteria Lane, her daughter – Dylan – questioned her paternity; when she believed that her father was murdered by her mother, she researched. Later, it was revealed that he was alive and Katherine had left him following an abusive relationship and the accidental death of the real Dylan.
|-
| <center>'''[[Desperate Housewives (season 5)|5]]'''</center> || [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Dave Williams|Dave Williams]] || Edie Britt returned to Wisteria Lane after five years with her new husband Dave. Unknown to Edie, Dave had an agenda: he wished to take revenge on Mike Delfino, who he believed was responsible for the fatal car accident that killed his wife and young daughter. It was later revealed that Susan caused the car accident.
|-
| <center>'''[[Desperate Housewives (season 6)|6]]'''</center> || [[Angie Bolen]] || Angie unzips her dress, to reveal a horrible scar on her back. She is on the run from a man named Patrick Logan, who is revealed to be Danny's real father. Marc Cherry revealed that the sixth season mystery will pay homage to a classic ''[[Dallas (TV series)|Dallas]]'' storyline.<ref name=years/>
|}

=== Disaster episodes ===
Since the [[Desperate Housewives (season 3)|third season]], there has been a particular disaster or major conflict episode that involves the whole cast in one way or another. These disaster episodes generally occur mid-season and include the death of a major or recurring character. A recurring theme in these episodes is that a character causing grief to one of the Housewives is normally killed.

{|+ class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"; border="1"
! Season !! Episode Number !! Disaster !! Episode synopsis
|-
| <center>'''[[Desperate Housewives (season 3)|3]]'''</center> || <center>7 (54)</center> || <center> Hostage Situation </center> || '''[[Bang (Desperate Housewives)|Bang]]''': Carolyn Bigsby, Orson's former neighbor, confronts her husband in his supermarket questioning him about his affair. When she fails to shoot her husband, Carolyn holds the supermarket hostage. The hostages include Lynette, Nora, Julie, Austin, and new neighbor Art. After Carolyn hears Lynette and Nora argue over [[Tom Scavo|Tom]] and [[Acquaintances of Lynette Scavo#Kayla Huntington|Kayla]], Carolyn fatally shoots Nora in the chest and wounds Lynette in the arm. In a struggle with Austin, Carolyn is shot in the head by one of the hostages and dies.
|-
| <center>'''[[Desperate Housewives (season 4)|4]]'''</center> || <center>9 (79)</center> || <center> Tornado </center> || '''[[Something's Coming (Desperate Housewives)|Something's Coming]]''': A tornado tears through Wisteria Lane putting many of the housewives and their families in danger. In all the chaos, Victor Lang is impaled by a fence post and dies while trying to kill Carlos, who is blinded. Adam Mayfair's stalker, Sylvia Greene, and Al Kaminsky are also killed by the tornado. The Scavos and Ida Greenberg take refuge in Karen McCluskey's basement; Lynette and Karen are forced into Lynette's house after they chase Ida's cat outside. When the tornado clears and they emerge from the house, Lynette screams in horror when she finds that Karen's house has been completely destroyed with her family inside. The rest of the neighborhood is left in mountains of debris.
|-
| <center>'''[[Desperate Housewives (season 5)|5]]'''</center> || <center>8 (95)</center> || <center> Fire </center> || '''[[City on Fire (Desperate Housewives)|City on Fire]]''': The men of Wisteria Lane (Dave Williams, Tom Scavo, Carlos Solis, Orson Hodge, and Mike Delfino) prepare to play at the annual "Battle of the Bands" concert at The White Horse Club. When Dave's psychiatrist, Dr. Heller arrives, Dave strangles him and sets a fire backstage to cover it up. The fire spreads to the whole club and seven people are killed. Dave Williams frames Porter Scavo for starting the fire.
|-
| <center>'''[[Desperate Housewives (season 6)|6]]'''</center> || <center>10 (121)</center> || <center> Plane Crash </center> || '''[[Boom Crunch]]''': It's the holiday season on Wisteria Lane. The episode mainly revolves around a plane crash, stemming from Karl Mayer's attempt to surprise Bree with a banner high above Wisteria Lane proposing marriage. When the pilot goes into cardiac arrest, and the wife attempts to land it, she crash lands onto the street, impacting the lives of everyone on Wisteria Lane – and, in the process, killing Mona Clark (Danny's hospital nurse, who was blackmailing the Bolens) and Karl Mayer. It also causes Lynette to miscarry one of her unborn twins, and paralyzes Orson Hodge.
|}

==Cast and characters==
{{See also|List of Desperate Housewives cast members|List of Desperate Housewives characters}}
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 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]] played [[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 until [[Everybody Says Don't (Season five episode)|Episode 5.23]]. [[Steven Culp]] played [[Acquaintances of Bree Van de Kamp#Rex Van de Kamp|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]] 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 [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Paul Young|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 [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Zach Young|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 [[Acquaintances of Gabrielle Solis#John Rowland|John Rowland]], Gabrielle’s teenage gardener/lover.

For the second season, Culp and Metcalfe left as show regulars, as Rex 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 [[Acquaintances of Lynette Scavo#Preston and Porter Scavo|Preston]], [[Acquaintances of Lynette Scavo#Preston and Porter Scavo|Porter]] and [[Acquaintances of Lynette Scavo#Parker Scavo|Parker Scavo]], Lynette and Tom's rascal boys; [[Shawn Pyfrom]] as Bree’s complicated gay son [[Andrew Van de Kamp]]; and [[Joy Lauren]] as [[Acquaintances of Bree Van de Kamp#Danielle Van de Kamp|Danielle Van de Kamp]], Andrew's hardheaded sister. [[Alfre Woodard]] and [[Mehcad Brooks]] joined the cast as [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Betty Applewhite|Betty Applewhite]] and her son [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#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 [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#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 [[Acquaintances of Susan Mayer#Karl Mayer|Karl Mayer]], Susan's ex-husband who becomes engaged to Edie, and [[Roger Bart]] as [[Acquaintances of Bree Van de Kamp#George Williams|George Williams]], Bree's pharmacist, and later obsessed fiancé, 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 began, 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 [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Austin McCann|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 G. Fox]] was added to the main cast playing [[Acquaintances of Lynette Scavo#Kayla Huntington|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 [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Dylan Mayfair|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 [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#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, [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Lee McDermott|Lee McDermott]] and [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Bob Hunter|Bob Hunter]], who move in next door to Susan. Actor [[Gary Cole]] joined the cast as a recurring character in the eleventh episode and played [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Wayne Davis|Wayne Davis]], 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>

[[Neal McDonough]] joined the cast of ''Desperate Housewives'' as a series regular in season 5. He is [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Dave Williams|Dave Williams]], the new husband of [[Nicollette Sheridan]]'s character, [[Edie Britt]].<ref name=autogenerated4>[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i3a6a726c3dd89a147f64ac96bd9cc771 Neal McDonough Moving to "Housewives"], ''Hollywood Reporter'', June 27, 2008</ref> [[Max Carver|Max]] and [[Charles Carver]] have been cast as Porter and Preston Scavo, Joshua Moore as Parker Scavo and Kendall Applegate as Penny Scavo. [[Gail O'Grady]], [[Peter Onorati]] and [[Gale Harold]] have also been confirmed to join the show as recurring characters.<ref>[http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2008/09/gail-ogrady-joi.html "Desperate Housewives" Welcomes Gail O'Grady!], ''Entertainment Weekly'', September 4, 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.buddytv.com/articles/desperate-housewives/desperate-housewives-more-cast-23214.aspx?cf=1048576 "Desperate Housewives": More Casting Updates for Season 5], ''[[BuddyTV|BuddyTV.com]]'', September 30, 2008</ref><ref>[http://forums.buddytv.com/desperate-housewives/68582-gale-harold-appear-desperate-housewives.html Gale Harold to Appear on 'Desperate Housewives'], ''[[BuddyTV|BuddyTV.com]]'', April 29, 2008</ref> Storylines involving Gale Harold's character needed to be placed on hold after he sustained injuries in a motorcycle accident.<ref>[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=7&entry_id=31581 Harold Suffers Brain Swelling After Crash], ''[[SFGate.com]]'', October 16, 2008</ref> [[Madison De La Garza]] and Daniella Baltodano also joined the cast as Juanita and Celia Solis, respectively, the young daughters of Carlos and Gabrielle Solis.

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 [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Ida Greenberg|Ida Greenberg]]. Others include [[Christine Estabrook]] as [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Martha Huber|Martha Huber]], blackmailer of [[Mary Alice Young]], sister of [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Felicia Tilman|Felicia Tilman]] ([[Harriet Sansom Harris]]) and murder victim of [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Paul Young|Paul Young]] in season one and one episode of season five, [[Dougray Scott]] as [[Acquaintances of Susan Mayer#Ian Hainsworth|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 [[Acquaintances of Bree Van de Kamp#Justin|Justin]], Andrew's boyfriend during season one and two; [[John Slattery]] as [[Acquaintances of Gabrielle Solis#Victor Lang|Victor Lang]], former mayor of Fairview and Gabrielle's husband; [[Bob Gunton]] as [[Acquaintances of Susan Mayer#Noah Taylor|Noah Taylor]], the wealthy father of Mike's deceased fiancée and the biological grandfather of Zach, appearing during the first two seasons; and [[Gail O'Grady]] as [[Acquaintances of Lynette Scavo#Anne Schilling|Anne Schilling]], a real estate agent who is having an affair with an underage Porter.

[[Andrea Bowen]] is returning to ''Desperate Housewives'' as Julie Mayer.<ref>[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i0a5fa05df2f2bdcf45c7d1ed0b7c7d81 Andrea Bowen Returning to "Housewives"], ''Hollywood Reporter'', July 7, 2009</ref><ref>[http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2009/07/housewives-scoop-julies-coming-home.html "Housewives" Scoop: Julie's Coming Home], ''Entertainment Weekly'', July 7, 2009</ref>

[[Shawn Pyfrom]] has quit his regular role as Andrew Van De Kamp and only makes guest appearances in the current season.<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.com/ustv/a168021/pyfrom-quits-desperate-housewives.html Shawn Pyfrom Quits "Desperate Housewives"], ''Digital Spy'', July 29, 2009</ref><ref>[http://tvwatch.people.com/2009/07/28/shawn-pyfrom-leaving-desperate-housewives Shawn Pyfrom Leaving "Desperate Housewives"], ''People.com'', July 28, 2009</ref>

In the show's sixth season, [[Andrea Bowen]] re-joined the series' cast as a regular. After appearing as a guest star in [[If It's Only In Your Head (Desperate Housewives)|the fifth season finale]], [[Maiara Walsh]] was made regular. [[Drea de Matteo]], [[Jeffrey Nordling]], and [[Beau Mirchoff]] joined the cast as [[Angie Bolen|Angie]], [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Nick Bolen|Nick]] and [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Danny Bolen|Danny Bolen]], respectively, being the season's mystery. [[Kathryn Joosten]] was promoted to a series regular, after being a recurring guest star for five years. [[Madison De La Garza]], who plays Gabrielle's eldest daughter, Juanita, and [[Mason Vale Cotton (actor)|Mason Vale Cotton]], who plays Susan and Mike's son, M.J., were also promoted to regulars. [[Max Carver]] wasn't on the show until his character, Preston returned from an extended trip in Europe with a girlfriend, Irina.

[[Dana Delany]] is considering leaving ''Desperate Housewives'' to star in the new ABC pilot ''Body of Evidence''.<ref>[http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/03/03/dana-delany-off-desperate-housewives Dana Delany Off "Desperate Housewives"?], ''Entertainment Weekly'', March 3, 2010</ref><ref>[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ib786618f922dfc1d26e11cec1d7b0078 "Body of Evidence" Seeks Dana Delany], ''Hollywood Reporter'', March 3, 2010</ref>

[[Drea de Matteo]] is officially leaving ''Desperate Housewives''.<ref>[http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/03/04/desperate-housewives-drea-de-matteo-leaving "Desperate Housewives" Exclusive: Drea de Matteo to Make "Explosive" Exit in May], ''Entertainment Weekly'', March 4, 2010</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]] 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 name=autogenerated6>[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 18 May 2004 [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] announced their 2004–2005 lineup, with ''Desperate Housewives'' as one of its new shows, starring an ensemble cast of these twelve names.<ref name="thefutoncritic.com"/>

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 name=autogenerated3>[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>[http://www.airlockalpha.com/node/2028.html Desperate Housewives: The Trek Connection], ''Airlock Alpha'', May 21, 2005</ref>

=== Housewives ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"; border="1"
! Name !! Episodes !! Years
|-
| [[Susan Mayer]] || [[Pilot (Desperate Housewives)|1.01]] – present || 2004 – present
|-
| [[Lynette Scavo]] || [[Pilot (Desperate Housewives)|1.01]] – present || 2004 – present
|-
| [[Bree Van de Kamp]] || [[Pilot (Desperate Housewives)|1.01]] – present || 2004 – present
|-
| [[Gabrielle Solis]] || [[Pilot (Desperate Housewives)|1.01]] – present || 2004 – present
|-
| [[Edie Britt]] || [[Pilot (Desperate Housewives)|1.01]] – [[Everybody Says Don't (Season five episode)|5.23]] || 2004–2009
|-
| [[List of Desperate Housewives characters#Betty Applewhite|Betty Applewhite]]|| [[Goodbye for Now|1.22]] – [[Remember (Desperate Housewives)|2.24]] || 2005–2006
|-
| [[Katherine Mayfair]]|| [[Now You Know (Desperate Housewives)|4.01]] – present || 2007 – present
|-
| [[Angie Bolen]]|| [[Nice is Different Than Good|6.01]] – [[Desperate Housewives (season 6)|6.23]] || 2009–2010<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.com/ustv/s21/desperatehousewives/news/a206759/de-matteo-exits-desperate-housewives.html Drea de Matteo Exits "Desperate Housewives"], ''Digital Spy'', March 4, 2010</ref>
|-
| [[Mary Alice Young]] (Narrator) || [[Pilot (Desperate Housewives)|1.01]] – present || 2004 – present
|}

==Reception==
===Ratings===
{| 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<ref name="season1">{{cite web|publisher=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] Medianet|date=May 24, 2005|url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=052405_05|title= Season Program Rankings from 09/20/04 through 05/22/05|accessdate=2009-07-03}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center" | 24.7<ref name="season1"/>
|-
|- 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<ref name="season2">{{cite web|publisher=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] Medianet|date=May 28, 2006|url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=053106_05|title= Season Program Rankings from 09/19/05 through 05/28/06|accessdate=2009-07-03}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center" | 22.2<ref name="season2"/>
|-
|- 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<ref name="season3">{{cite web|publisher=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] Medianet|date=June 3, 2007|url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=060507_05|title= Season Program Rankings from 09/18/06 through 06/03/07|accessdate=2009-07-03}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center" | 17.5<ref name="season3"/>
|-
|- 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<ref name="season4">{{cite web|publisher=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] Medianet|date=May 28, 2008|url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=052808_06|title= Season Program Rankings from 09/24/07 through 05/25/08|accessdate=2009-07-03}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center" | 18.2<ref name="season4"/>
|-
|- 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.
| September 28, 2008
| May 17, 2009
| style="font-size:11px;text-align:center" |2008–2009
! style="text-align:center" | #9<ref name="season5">{{cite web|publisher=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] Medianet|date=May 19, 2009|url=http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=051909_05|title= Season Program Rankings from 09/22/08 through 05/17/09 |accessdate=2009-07-03}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center" | 15.4<ref name="season5"/>
|-
|- style="background-color:#F9F9F9"
! style="background:#F9F9F9;text-align:center" | '''[[Desperate Housewives (season 6)|6]]'''
! style="background:#F9F9F9;font-size:11px;font-weight:normal;text-align:left;line-height:110%" | Sunday 9:00 P.M.
| September 27, 2009
| May 16, 2010
| style="font-size:11px;text-align:center" |2009–2010
! style="text-align:center" | #14<ref name="zap2it.com">http://www.zap2it.com/tv/ratings/zap-nielsen-season,0,7096762,results.formprofile?SortBy=cdb_01_num+%2Ccdb_05_txt+&PageSize=50&Page=1&Query=*</ref>
| style="text-align:center" | 14.3<ref name="zap2it.com"/>
|}

===The premiere year===
The show was the biggest success of the 2004–2005 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 with 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 were 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 its mysteries were 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 former [[First Lady of the United States]], [[Laura Bush]], who, in a comedic 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> The first season finale was watched by 30.62 million American viewers.<ref>{{cite press release | title = Weekly Program Rankings | publisher = ABC Medianet | date = May 24, 2005 | url = http://www.abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=052405_04 | accessdate = 2008-10-15}}</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 name=autogenerated1 /> After the end of the season, Cherry would agree to the second year’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'', July 26, 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. Due to complications from her pregnancy Marcia Cross was put on permanent bed rest. After filming one episode from her own personal bedroom she was forced to take maternity leave with six episodes of season three still remaining. It was predicted that the ratings would be down by 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 three episodes of the season, 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>
While Cross's departure allowed for the much-underused Edie to have more story, fans noticed a decline in the stories during Cross's departure. Stories such as Lynette's emotional affair with restaurant manager Rick, proved unpopular. Furthermore, Susan's contrived triangle with Ian and Mike seemed tiring to many viewers, particularly in an episode where Susan is lost in the woods. 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 proved to have staying power.<ref>[http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20156391,00.html Desperate Housewives | TV Review | Entertainment Weekly<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The series averaged 18.2 million viewers. Ratings peaked in Episode 9 where 20.6 million viewers tuned in to see the heavily marketed tornado episode. The show once again moved back up into the top 5 highest rated programs 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>The Season 5 Premiere was the highest rated TV Show of the night.[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''.

Although ratings were down for the 5th season, along with every single scripted series on television, ''Desperate Housewives'' was still the most watched scripted series on ABC, consistently beating the other ABC flagship shows, ''Lost'' and ''Grey's Anatomy,'' although the latter is still number one in the 18–49 demo, followed by ''Housewives''.
In 2006, the American cable network [[Bravo (US TV network)|Bravo]] launched their [[reality series]], ''[[The Real Housewives of...]]'', 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> That program has taken place in areas such as [[Orange County, California]], [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]], and two series within the New York-[[Tri-State Region]], within the City itself and the [[New Jersey]] suburbs.

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=July 31, 2006|title=CSI show 'most popular in world'|publisher=BBC}}</ref> During a fund raising auction for the 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}}

[[Image:Desperate Housewives at 2008 GLAAD Awards.jpg|[[Dana Delany]], [[Teri Hatcher]], [[Brenda Strong]] and [[Andrea Bowen]] at the 2009 GLAAD Media Awards|thumb|right]]
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 leading actresses except [[Eva Longoria Parker]] for both Golden Globes and Emmys received some media interest. While Longoria Parker seemingly wasn't bothered, 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 them 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 a Screen Actors Guild award.

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 nominations. The show, along with actresses [[Marcia Cross]] and Felicity Huffman, received Golden Globe nominations, and Huffman and the cast ensemble were also nominated for SAGs. None of the Golden Globe, Emmy or SAG nominations resulted in any actual awards.

2008 yielded the least nominations with none at the Golden Globes and only the cast being nominated at the SAGs. The show was nominated for four Emmys, including acting nods towards [[Polly Bergen]] and [[Kathryn Joosten]] for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress – Comedy Series|Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series]]. Joosten won the show's seventh Emmy and first since its debut year.

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>

===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 being broadcast 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 being broadcast in Ecuador on May 2007, and is broadcast 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 being broadcast 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>

===International broadcasts===
The show is broadcast in many countries worldwide.

*{{flagicon|Australia}} In Australia, the [[Seven Network]] has aired all five seasons, and is currently airing season 6. All seasons have been in primetime slots. Also airs on Foxtel's W channel.

*{{flagicon|Netherlands}} In the Netherlands, [[NET5]] has aired all four seasons, with the fifth season to conclude at the end of 2009. All seasons have been in primetime slots.

*{{flagicon|New Zealand}} In New Zealand, [[TV2]] has aired all five seasons. All episodes have aired at the primetime of 8:30pm on Mondays.

* {{flagicon|UK}}In the United Kingdom it is broadcast on [[Channel 4]] and [[E4 (channel)|E4]], and on [[S4C]] in Wales. The first season was broadcast on January 5, 2005 on Channel 4. Episodes are shown first on [[E4 (channel)|E4]] on a Sunday night at 10pm, followed by its main showing on Wednesdays on Channel 4 at 10:00pm, followed by a repeat at the earlier time of 9p, on E4 the following Sunday. Both Channel 4 and E4 have timeshift services of one hour. Therefore, each episode is shown a total of six times by the company.

*{{flagicon|India}} In India, [[Star World]] has aired all five seasons. Season 6 started airing on February 26, 2010 on Fri-Sun 10 PM slot. From April 4, it will air only on Sundays 10 PM. The season ends on May 23 exactly one week after the US broadcast.

* {{flagicon|Wales}}Times on S4C in Wales are much later and vary due to Welsh language programming being broadcast in prime-time. Episodes generally air between 11pm and 2am. Viewers in Wales who have digital television can watch the Channel 4 and E4 showings, and following digital switchover due to complete in Wales in 2009, episodes will cease to be broadcast on S4C as the whole of Wales will have access to Channel 4.

* {{flagicon|Ireland}} Ireland is the first country outside the US to receive new episodes. Episodes are broadcast at 9:55pm on Tuesdays on [[RTE 2]], 2 days after the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] original US showing. Latest episodes can be watched by viewers in Ireland online on the [[RTE Player]].

* {{flagicon|South Africa}} In South Africa, ''Desperate Housewives'' is broadcast on pay-TV channel [[M-Net]] on Thursdays, from 8:30pm to 9:30pm. [[SABC3]] broadcasts older seasons.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!width=15%| Country / Region
!width=31%| Name
!width=17%| Television Network
!width=18%| Premiere Year
!width=19%| [[Dubbing (filmmaking)|Dubbing]] / [[Subtitle (captioning)|Subtitles]]
|-
| {{flag icon|Albania}} [[Albania]]
| Shtëpiake të dëshpëruara
| <center> [[Top Channel]]
| <center>
| <center> Albanian subtitles
|-
| {{flag icon|Arab League}} [[Arab World]]
| Desperate Housewives
| <center> [[Dubai One]] <br/> [[MBC 4]] <br/> [[Fox Series]] <br/> [[Orbit Showtime|OSN]]
| <center> 2007 <br/> 2008 <br/> 2009 <br/> 2005 (on the original Showtime Arabia)
| <center> Arabic subtitles
|-
| {{flag icon|Algeria}} [[Algeria]]
| Desperate Housewives
| <center> [[Nessma TV|Nessma]]
| <center> 2009
| <center> French dubbing
|-
| {{flag icon|Armenia}} [[Armenia]]
| Հուսահատ տնտեսուհիները (English: ''Desperate Housewives'') (only two seasons)
| <center> Shant
| <center> 2007
| <center> Armenian dubbing
|-
| {{flag icon|Belgium}} Belgium
| Desperate Housewives
| <center> [[Canvas]] (Dutch) <br /> [[RTL-TVI]] (French)
| <center> 2006 <br /> 2005
| <center> Dutch subtitles <br /> French dubbing
|-
| {{flag icon|Austria}} Austria
| Desperate Housewives
| <center> [[ORF1]]
| <center> 2005
| <center> German dubbing and English ([[second audio program]])
|-
| {{flag|Brazil}}
| Desperate Housewives
| <center>[[Sony Entertainment Television (Latin America)|Sony Entertainment Television Brazil]] <br/> [[RedeTV!]]
| <center>2005 <br/> 2006
| <center>Portuguese subtitles <br/> Portuguese dubbing
|-
| {{flag|Bosnia}}
| Očajne Kućanice
| <center> [[OBN]], [[Pink BH]]
| <center> 2004
| <center> Bosnian subtitles
|-
| {{flag|Bulgaria}}
| Отчаяни съпруги (English: Desperate Wives)
| <center>[[bTV (Bulgaria)]]<br>[[Fox Life]]
| <center>2005
| <center>Bulgarian dubbing
|-
| {{flag|Canada}}
| Desperate Housewives <br /> Beautés Désespérées
| <center>[[CTV Television Network|CTV]]/ABC<br />[[Radio-Canada]]
| <center>2004<br />2005
| <center>N/A<br />French dubbing
|-
| {{PRC}}
| 绝望的主妇
| <center>[[CCTV-8]]
| <center>2005
| <center>[[Standard Mandarin]] dubbing
|-
| {{ROC}}
| 慾望師奶
| <center>[[China Television|CTV]]
| <center>2005
| <center>Traditional Chinese subtitles
|-
| {{flag|Croatia}}
| Kućanice
| <center> [[Nova TV]], [[RTL Televizija]]
| <center> 2004
| <center> Croatian subtitles
|-
| {{flagicon|Cyprus}} [[Cyprus]]
| Νοικοκυρές Σε Απόγνωση (English: ''Desperate Housewives'')
| <center> CYBC2 <br/> [[LTV]]
| <center> 2006 <br/> 2005
| <center> Greek subtitles
|-
| {{flag|Czech Republic}}
| Zoufalé Manželky
| <center>[[TV Prima]]
| <center>2005
| <center>Czech dubbing
|-
| {{flag|Denmark}}
| Desperate Housewives
| <center>[[TV2 (Denmark)|TV2]]
| <center>2005
| <center>Danish subtitles
|-
| {{flag|Estonia}}
| Meeleheitel koduperenaised (English: ''Desperate Housewives'')
| <center> [[Kanal 2]], [[Fox Life]]
| <center>2005
| <center>Estonian subtitles
|-
| {{flag|Finland}}
| Täydelliset Naiset (English: ''Perfect Women'')
| <center>[[Nelonen]]
| <center>2005
| <center>Finnish subtitles
|-
| {{flag|France}}
| Desperate Housewives
| <center>[[Canal+]] <br/> [[M6 (TV channel)|M6]]
| <center>September 2005 <br/> June 2006
| <center>French dubbing, English with French subtitles on digital networks
|-
| {{flag icon|Germany}} Germany
| Desperate Housewives
| <center> [[ProSieben]]
| <center> 2005
| <center> German dubbing
|-
| {{flag|Greece}}
| Νοικοκυρές σε απόγνωση (English: Desperate Housewives)
| <center>[[New Hellenic Television|ET1]] <br/>[[Fox Life]] <br/>[[ANT1]]
| <center>2007 <br/> 2008<br/> 2009
| <center>Greek subtitles
|-
| {{flag|Hong Kong}}
| 靚太唔易做 (English: ''Desperate Housewives'')
| <center>[[Pearl]] <br/><br/> [[Star World]]
| <center>2005 <br/>
| <center>Traditional Chinese subtitles
|-
| {{flag|Hungary}}
| Született feleségek (English: ''Natural Born Wives'')
| <center>[[TV2 (Hungary)|TV2]] <br/> [[Cool TV]] <br/> Sorozat+
| <center>2005 <br/> 2008
| <center>Hungarian dubbing
|-
| {{flag|Iceland}}
| Aðþrengdar eiginkonur
| <center>[[RÚV]]
| <center>2005
| <center>[[Icelandic language|Icelandic]] subtitles
|-
| {{flag|India}}
| Desperate Housewives
| <center>[[Star World]]
| <center>2005
| <center>English subtitles
|-
| |{{flag|Indonesia}}
| Desperate Housewives
| <center>[[Indosiar]] <br/> [[Star World]]
| <center>2005
| <center>Indonesian subtitles
|-
| {{flag|Italy}}
| Desperate Housewives – I segreti di Wisteria Lane
| <center>[[FOX Life]] <br/> [[Raidue]]
| <center>2004
| <center>Italian dubbing
|-
| {{flag|Israel}}
| עקרות בית נואשות
| <center>[[Yes (Israel)|yes]] <br/> [[Hot (Israel)|HOT]]
| <center>2005<ref>http://www.tve.co.il/story/2500</ref> <br/> 2009<ref>http://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART1/871/224.html</ref>
| <center>[[Hebrew]] subtitles
|-
| {{flag|Latvia}}
| Bīstamās mājsaimnieces(English: ''Dangerous Housewives'')
| <center>[[TV3 Latvia|TV3]]
| <center>2007
| <center>[[Latvian language|Latvian]] dubbing
|-
| {{flag|Lithuania}}
| Nusivylusios namų šeimininkės( English: ''Desperate Housewives'')
| <center>[[TV3 Lithuania|TV3]]
| <center>2007
| <center>[[Lithuanian language|Lithuanian]] dubbing
|-
| {{flag|Macau}}
| 靚太唔易做 (English: ''It's not easy to be a beautiful housewife'')
| <center>[[Teledifusão de Macau|TDM]]
| <center>2007
| <center>Traditional Chinese subtitles
|-
| {{flag|Macedonia}}
| Очајни домаќинки
| <center>[[A1 TV channel (Macedonia)|A1]]
| <center>2004
| <center>Macedonian subtitles
|-
| {{flag|Malaysia}}
| Desperate Housewives
| <center>[[8tv]]
| <center>2005
| <center>Malay subtitles
|-
| {{flag icon|Mauritania}} [[Mauritania]]
| Desperate Housewives
| <center> [[Nessma TV|Nessma]]
| <center> 2009
| <center> French dubbing
|-
| {{flag|Mexico}}
| Esposas Desesperadas (English: ''Desperate Housewives'')
| <center>[[Sony Entertainment Television (Latin America)|Sony Entertainment Television]] <ref>http://mx.canalsony.com/shows/desperate-housewives</ref> <br/> [[XHIMT-TV|Azteca 7]] <ref>http://www.tvazteca.com/esposasdesesperadas/index</ref>
| <center>2005 <br/> 2005
| <center>Spanish subtitles <br/> Spanish dubbing
|-
| {{flag|Morocco}}
| Desperate Housewives
| <center>[[2M TV]] <br/> [[Nessma TV|Nessma]]
| <center>2005 <br/> 2009
| <center>French dubbing
|-
| {{flag|Netherlands}}
| Desperate Housewives
| <center>[[NET5]]
| <center>2005
| <center>Dutch subtitles
|-
| {{flag|Norway}}
| Frustrerte Fruer
| <center>[[TV2]]
| <center> 2005
| <center>Norwegian subtitles
|-
| {{flag|Philippines}}
| Desperate Housewives
| <center>[[Studio 23]]
| <center>2005
| <center>None
|-
| {{flag|Poland}}
| Gotowe na wszystko (English: ''Women Ready for Anything'')
| <center>[[Polsat]] <br/> [[Fox Life]] <br/> [[Comedy Central Polska|Comedy Central]] <br/> VOD n
| <center>2005 <br/> 2007 <br/> 2007
| <center>Polish voice-over
|-
| {{flag|Portugal}}
| Donas de casa desesperadas (English: ''Desperate Housewives'')
| <center>[[SIC]] <br/> [[Fox Life]] <br/>
| <center>2005 <br/> 2007 <br/>
| <center>Portuguese subtitles
|-
|{{flag|Puerto Rico}}
| Esposas Desesperadas
| <center>[[WAPA-TV]] <br/> [[WNJX-TV]]
| <center>2009
| <center>Spanish dubbing
|-
| {{flag|Romania}}
| Neveste Disperate
| <center>[[Prima TV]] <br/> [[Pro TV]] <br/> [[TVR 1]]
| <center>2008 <br/> 2006 <br/> 2006
| <center>Romanian subtitles
|-
| {{flag|Russia}}
| Отчаянные домохозяйки
| <center>[[STS (Russian television network)|STS]] <br/> [[Domashniy]]
| <center>2005–2007 <br/> 2009
| <center>Russian dubbing
|-
| {{flag|Serbia}}
| Očajne domaćice
| <center>[[RTV Pink]] <br/> [[Radio Television of Serbia|RTS]] <br/> [[FOX Life]]
| <center>2005–2007 <br/> 2008–2009
| <center>[[Serbian language|Serbian]] subtitles
|-
| {{flag|Slovakia}}
| Zúfalé manželky
| <center>[[STV 1]]
| <center>2005
| <center>Slovak dubbing
|-
| {{flag|Slovenia}}
| Razočarane gospodinje
| <center>[[POP TV]]
| <center>2005
| <center>[[Slovene language|Slovene]] subtitles
|-
| {{flag|Spain}}
| Mujeres Desesperadas (English: "Desperate Women")
| <center>[[TVE1|La 1]] <br/> Sony Entertainment Television<br/> [[Fox Broadcasting Company|FOX España]]
| <center>2005
| <center>Spanish dubbing
|-
|{{flag|Sweden}}
| Desperate Housewives
| <center> [[Kanal 5]]
| <center> 2005
| <center> Swedish subtitles
|-
| {{flag|Switzerland}}
| Desperate Housewives
| <center>[[La 1 (Switzerland)|TSI1]]
[[TSR1]]

[[SF zwei]]
| <center>2005
| <center>Italian dubbing and English (second audio program)
French dubbing and English (second audio program)
German dubbing and English (second audio program)
|-
| {{flag icon|Tunisia}} [[Tunisia]]
| Desperate Housewives
| <center> [[Nessma TV|Nessma]]
| <center> 2009
| <center> French dubbing
|-
| {{flag|Turkey}}
| Desperate Housewives (Turkish: ''Umutsuz Evkadınları'')
| <center>[[CNBC-e]], [[e2]]
| <center>2005
| <center>Turkish subtitles and Turkish dubbing
|-
| {{flag|UK}}
| Desperate Housewives
| <center>[[Channel 4]], [[E4 (channel)|E4]]
| <center>2005
| <center>None
|-
|{{flag|Ukraine}}
| Відчайдушні Домогосподарки
| <center>[[ICTV]] <br/> Noviy Kanal
| <center>2007<br/> 2008
| <center>Ukrainian dubbing
|-
| {{flag|Vietnam}}
| Những bà nội trợ kiểu Mỹ (English: ''American housewives'')
| <center>[[Vietnam Television|VTV3]]
| <center>2008
| <center>[[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]] dubbing
|-
|}

===Internet Ratings===
In its first public release of online individual TV program rankings, [[Nielsen Media Research|The Nielsen Company]] announced that the series had 723,000 unique viewers in December 2008.

== Other media and merchandise==
=== DVD releases ===
{{Main|List of Desperate Housewives DVD releases}}

{| class="wikitable"
!DVD Name
!Region 1
!Region 2
!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 – The Extra Juicy Edition
| August 30, 2006
| November 13, 2006
| October 4, 2006
| June 28, 2007
| 7 (Reg. 2 and 4)<br /> 6 (Reg. 1 and 5)
| 23/24
|-
| The Complete Seasons 1–2
|
| November 13, 2006
| October 24, 2006
|
| 13
| 47
|-
|The Complete Third Season – The Dirty Laundry Edition
| September 4, 2007
| November 5, 2007
| October 31, 2007
| December 13, 2007<br />''(the release was cancelled)''
| 6
| 23
|-
|The Complete Seasons 1–3
|
| November 19, 2007
|
|
| 19
| 70
|-
|The Complete Fourth Season – Sizzling Secrets Edition
| September 2, 2008
| November 3, 2008 <ref>[http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001D7W8TU Desperate Housewives Season 4 (Region 2)] See Product Details</ref>
| October 29, 2008
|
| 5
| 17
|-
| The Complete Seasons 1–4
|
| November 3, 2008
|
|
| 24
| 87
|-
| The Complete Fifth Season – The Red Hot Edition
| September 1, 2009
| November 9, 2009<ref>[http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0022NH9IE Desperate Housewives Season 5 (Region 2)] See Product Details</ref>
| October 21, 2009
|
| 7
| 24
|-
| The Complete Seasons 1–5
|
| November 9, 2009
|
|
| 31
| 111
|-
| The Complete Sixth Season
| September 21, 2010<ref>[http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Desperate-Housewives-Season-6/13558 Desperate Housewives - The Complete 6th Season Announced...More Desperate DVDs Are On the Way!], ''TVShowsonDVD.com'', April 2, 2010</ref>
| TBA
| TBA
|
| 5 (Reg. 1)
| 23
|-
| The Complete Seasons 1–6
|
|
|
|
| 36
| 134
|}

===Games===
In 2005, UK company Re:creation published ''Desperate Housewives Dirty Laundry Game'', a [[board game]] based on season three 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 have been 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 Allmusic: Desperate Housewives], Retrieved August 3, 2007</ref> Controversially, no originally composed music from the show is included on the CD.

Two books have been officially released within the Desperate Housewives franchise. In September 2005 ABC’s sister company [[Hyperion Books]] released ''Desperate Housewives: Behind Closed Doors'' (ISBN 978-1-4013-0826-1), 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 978-1-4013-0277-1).<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 978-0-930865-79-5), 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 978-1-84511-220-2), 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 978-1-932100-79-2), 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|cm}} 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.<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]]''.

===Another Desperate Housewife===
In conjunction with season six Marc Cherry was commissioned to write eight "mini-episodes" entitled "Another Desperate Housewife". The episodes were written after the previous season's extensive product placement proved unpopular with the fans. The mini-episodes were written to advertise the mobile phone company "Sprint" and involved just three characters. The two main characters were Stephanie (played by [[Rebecca Staab]]) and Lance (played by [[David Chisum]]) who have moved into the former house of Edie Britt after her death. The third character, Elsa, was Stephanie's friend. As the episodes go on it is revealed that Lance and Elsa have been having an affair. Stephanie finds out and tells Lance to break it off. Elsa suggests killing Stephanie, but Lance gets a text message on his phone indicating he's seeing another woman and a furious Elsa shoots him. In truth, Stephanie sent the message herself. The final mini-episode has Elsa being arrested and Stephanie attracted to a handsome policeman at the scene. Each episode ended with a Mary Alice-like narration saying things such as "This is suspicion on the Now Network" or "This is betrayal on the Now Network".

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
* {{official|http://abc.go.com/shows/desperate-housewives}}
* {{imdb title|0410975|Desperate Housewives}}
* {{tv.com show|24641|Desperate Housewives}}

{{Desperate Housewives}}
{{GoldenGlobeTVComedy 1990-2009}}
{{ScreenActorsGuildAwardsTVEnsembleComedy 1994-2009}}

[[Category:2004 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:2010s American television series]]
[[Category:2000s American television series]]
[[Category:American Broadcasting Company network shows]]
[[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:American comedy-drama television series]]

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Revision as of 19:29, 21 April 2010

Britney Spears.

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