Desperate Housewives

[xita]

Ok, I watched this because of the big EW cover this week. I caught by mistake tonight and I liked it.



It's a soap essentially but I remember that soaps can be fun and this one was well written. The first episode at least was written well. It made me laugh and it intrigued me. A few mysteries around. I'll watch it.

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"Trust is a risk masquerading as a promise."

[xita]

Oh, lookie who is posting here again? I can't believe I watched another episode of this. And it was good. I appreciate the humor in this show more and more. The narration bit is interesting too. I must say I like Felicity Huffman a lot ever since she played a lesbian in that Showtime show, Bedtime.

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"Trust is a risk masquerading as a promise."

[DaffyQDuck]

It's a fun show...haven't had a fun soap in a while. Mike the plumber drove me nuts til I looked him up...Mr Lyle on "The Pretender." There's an interview w/ him on TVGuidedotcom w/ some info on what his character is really up to. It's good to see Teri & Felicity again.

[LunaMuses]

I've been watching this too. I like the humor 'cause it's sarcastic or satirical or what have you.



Plus, having a dead woman narrate is a fun spin too

"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics!" - Benjamin Disraeli

[xita]

Yes, I agree, it's the humor that keeps me watching. You have some really laugh out loud moments and it's a soap.. so it's odd but yet it works.

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"Trust is a risk masquerading as a promise."

[WebWarlock]

My wife wanted to watch this, so I have been taping it.



Yeah the humor is good, but there is also some good drama and a mystery. It could have gone over so much worse, but it works.



I am glad to see Terri Hatcher in something again. I liked her in "Lois and Clark" and so far she is the stand out here as well.



Warlock

-----

Web Warlock

Coming Soon to The Other Side, The Netbook of Shadows: A Book of Spells for d20 Witches

"Joel: Hi, I'm Satan, enjoy the film!" - MST3k "Jungle Goddess", Season 2, Episode 3

[tyche]

I'm enjoying this so far too. It's nice to see Teri Hatcher on screen again - she disappeared for a while after she was in 'Lois & Clark'. imo Felicity Huffman is the best actress in the cast, though they're all pretty good.

Just before the first ep aired, the New York Times ran a stupid review of this show - the writer took the p.o.v. that the women were being satirised, whereas I think it's pretty obvious that the show is poking fun at the whole ideal of suburban perfection. Plus, it's not as if the men in the show get off easily, either. I do hope Felicity Huffman's character kicks her husband's butt for essentially leaving her to be a single mother. Maybe she should threaten to give her kids up for adoption if he doesn't help her get a new babysitter.

Oh, is George W. Bush a Republican? - my mother, demonstrating her intimate knowledge of American politics.

[urnofosiris]

I just watched the first two episodes and I really enjoyed it. Very nice, that makes three new show this season that I am really into. I had a crush on Teri Hatcher when she was on Lois and Clarke and I really like her in this show as well. Her relationship with her daughter is very sweet, the daughter is very witty. This show reminds me of the movies The Burbs and Serial Mom. That Stepford housewife vividly reminds me of Beverly Sutphin. I am curious what is in that chest that the bereaved husband tried to get rid of so clumsily. A body would be too obvious, so I wonder what this dark secret is.

[WebWarlock]

RE: Terri Hatcher disapearing.



Actually after Lois and Clark Terri Hacher went on tour doing "Cabret". She was in Chicago with it for forever it seems. Got a lot of great reviews.



New episode tonight.



I agree G, a body is too obvious.



Warlock

Web Warlock, web.warlock@comcast.net

The Other Side, www.xtreme-gaming.com/theotherside/

"If you see me getting mighty, if you see me getting high

Knock me down. I'm not bigger than life." Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Knock Me Down".

[urnofosiris]

Well apparently they went with the obvious as far as the contents of that chest are concerned. The whole skeleton in a closet thing, or rather skeleton under a swimming pool thing does not sound original on paper, but the way it has been handled so far makes me very curious about the who what why where and when. That husband is creepy.

Teri Hatcher´s character (I need to start learning their names) cracks me up, her running around the house naked with that plant was just too silly a sight to not make me laugh. That little girl was amusing, not at all as innocent and dopey as she looks. I´m looking forward to the next episode, I am curious to learn what is on that tape.

[Gatito Grande]

Felicity Huffman's Overworked Mom: "Lynnette"



Teri Hatcher's Bitter Divorced Single Mom, Desiring New Neighborhood Hunk: "Susan" (How can Susan afford to be a "housewife," if divorced and not getting child support? )



Eva Langoria's Hot-to-Trot Ex-Model (love the description of her clothing---was it USA Today?---as muy caliente! ): "Gabriella" (or just Gabby)*



[Melrose Place-chick's (forget her name)] Stepford Wife: "Bree"



(And don't forget our all-seeing deceased narrator, "Mary Alice"---sort of the "Laura Palmer"-type mystery at the center of the story?)



I'm still not completely sold on this show (too many cliche's) . . . but it is a mindless way to spend a Sunday night.



GG Love to see some of these "wives" turn, romantically, to each other . . . but that's never gonna happen, right? Out



*Many pleasant associations w/ that name, if you get my drift?

[DaffyQDuck]

Susan is an illustrator of kid's books. Tho we don't see her do it often (once i think), she works at home. But she'd still need child support.



I enjoyed last nite's epi, but got tired of 'blackmailing girl.' So much for Susan treating Mike as a friend only because of his late wife... Did she fix the front door so it will never lock after getting locked out w/o even touching the lock, cause when coming home from dinner it wasn't locked. Some great lines...Gabby quickly gave up on not having sex w/ gardner at her home...uh oh...

It wasn't our world anymore, they made it theirs and they had fun - Willow

[Webberific]

GG it's interesting you bring up Laura Palmer and Twin Peaks, because originally, Sheryl Lee (Laura Palmer herself) was cast as Mary Alice!



I didn't know that until I got all suspicious reading the local TV listings on Yahoo for Desperate Housewives. In all of the listings, the cast is headed by Sheryl Lee, and I was all "Huh?" so I did a little digging and found that although she played Mary Alice in the original (unaired) pilot, her role was recast with Brenda Strong. (Brenda is one of those ever-present guest stars who's been on so many shows. She was Sally (Felicity Huffman's rival) on Sports Night. And kittens who watch Gilmore Girls might remember her from the Chilton benefit fashion show that Lorelai organized and held at Stars Hollow Inn. Brenda played the Chilton parent who was checking out Luke. Brenda is also Treat Williams' dead wife on Everwood, so she's played the 'dead wife' before.)



So after the series was picked up by ABC, another pilot was reshot with Brenda (as well as other cast changes). Anyway, being a fan of Sheryl Lee and Twin Peaks, I was bummed that they replaced her. That must have hurt. But read this article from zap2it for a photo of her as Mary Alice and more on why her character was recast. According to the article, there's a chance Sheryl will appear on the show as another character. I hope so.



Oh and Bree/Melrose Place evil Kimberly/sad doc on Everwood is played by Marcia Cross.

Edited by: Webberific at: 10/18/04 4:50 pm

[xita]

I love twin peaks and sheryl lee but in away I am kinda glad she didn't play the dead girl again. I hope they give her something else to do on the show. I also read that Sela Ward turned down the show because she's not interested in doing a series right now



I love this mindless show. I don't have to worry or anything. I love Teri, I never got into that other show with her in it. I am can finally see her charm. Dude, I loved that little girl, she's going to milk it!

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"Trust is a risk masquerading as a promise."

[LunaMuses]

Despite her incessant Stepford-ness, Bree's actually growing on me ^^'



I dunno, brainless it may be, but it's actually quite refreshing if you ask me--it's about damn time the tv producers are having writers WRITE a show, rather than have editors PUT TOGETHER a reality show.



I like the "unreality" of a good fiction story, thank you!

"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics!" - Benjamin Disraeli

[Gatito Grande]

I caught the end of Oprah: After the Show this morning (Hmmm: I wonder what show it's directly before, on Oxygen? ), and she had on the cast of DH (along w/ the principal writer, I think).



Anyway, in the closing moments you just know that Oprah had to ask "Great that there's a Latina, but why no Negroes on Wisteria Lane?"



To which Nicolette Sheridan replied (Slutty "Edie"), w/ a twinkle in her eye, that Richard Roundtree is about to move in! (And the slut's interested? Well slap my *ss and call me Mary Alice! )



GG And speaking of which: I hate to sound all bitchy (or is it catty? ), but did Nicolette Sheridan get an awful eye-job, or what? And she's younger than me! (GG said, truly being a *bitch* ) Out

[tyche]

Quote:

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tv.zap2it.com/tveditorial...1|,00.html

'Housewives,' 'Lost' Earn Full Seasons

(Wednesday, October 20 01:25 PM)



LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) In one of its easiest calls in several years, ABC has given full-season orders to its two first-year hits, "Desperate Housewives" and "Lost."

Given the out-of-the-box success of both shows, it's almost a little surprising the network waited this long to make the announcement. "Desperate Housewives" is the most-watched new series of the season -- and third overall -- while "Lost" is No. 3 among first-year shows (CBS' "CSI: NY" is second).

"'Desperate Housewives' and 'Lost' each bring something unique to the table, and we're thrilled that audiences responded from day one," says Stephen McPherson, president of ABC Entertainment. "Creatively, these two shows only continue to get better."



The two shows have also provided a boost for McPherson, who helped develop them as head of Touchstone TV and put them on the air when he moved to the network in the spring. They've helped reverse the slide the network has been in for the past few seasons, during which several top executives have been shown the door.

The darkly comic soap "Desperate Housewives," which stars Teri Hatcher, Marcia Cross, Felicity Huffman and Eva Longoria, has drawn more than 20.8 million viewers per week through its first three episodes. It's the most-watched show on Sunday night, and just as important, draws a stellar 9.0 rating in the ad-friendly demographic of adults 18-49.

"Lost," meanwhile, has emerged as the dominant program in its 8 p.m. Wednesday spot. The drama about plane-crash survivors from J.J. Abrams ("Alias" and Damon Lindelof ("Crossing Jordan" averages about 17.6 million viewers a week and has improved the network's 18-49 ratings for the hour by 40 percent over the comparable period last season.

Fueled by the two new shows, along with "Monday Night Football" and "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," ABC is one of only two broadcast networks, along with CBS, to improve its ratings over last year in the early part of the season. ABC's total-viewer numbers and adults 18-49 ratings are both up about 5 percent.

The two ABC shows join NBC's "Joey" and The WB's "Jack & Bobby" in earning full-season orders.

The "Desperate Housewives" pickup also creates a dilemma -- albeit one ABC executives are probably happy to have: what to do with "Alias" when it returns in January.

The network said at its May upfront presentation that "Alias" would return to its old 9 p.m. Sunday spot at midseason. But while the show has an intensely loyal fan base, its ratings have never approached those that "Housewives" is now drawing in the time period. The network may have to do some schedule juggling to find it a home.

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Pro bono, which I think means,'Sucker Who Doesn't Get Paid' in Latin.

- Veronica Mars

[Gatito Grande]

Kinda nice to see the stronger side of Bree . . . and the smarter side of Gabby.* Susan's daughter (name?) is waaay too mature for her age (who's the parent figure here? And she's perfectly capable of deciding which parent to live w/, as *any* decent family judge would know). Why is Mrs. Huber "Mrs. Huber" (when everyone else on Wisteria Lane is on a first-name basis?)



GG I'd give the brats Ritalin. Come to think of it, I might give it to *older* brat, Andrew, too! Out



I wish there had been a little more Mary Alice (aka "Angela" ) narration this week: she's fun!



*Gabby may soon have more of a blackmail problem w/ the maid, however, than Susan had w/ Mrs. Huber!



ETA: Oh, forgot to mention, the twist w/ the Cable Guy: very clever! (If a bit stereotypical of the "Hot-Headed Jealous Latino" ) At the end, though: wouldn't Gabby now "have something" on Carlos? (She didn't act like it . . . but maybe she was just playing dumb for Carlos' sake?)



She knows that he bashed the gay guy (even if she suspects it wasn't, strictly speaking, a "gay-bashing" ): she could confirm for the cops their composite-sketch at any time. She also knows that, in suspecting the Cable Guy, Carlos knows he was wrong (and may be a little more cowed if he were to go suspecting "Another Man" again).

Edited by: Gatito Grande at: 10/24/04 10:03 pm

[WebWarlock]

Good ep.



I am glad she didn't give her kids the medication. But I am very anti medicating kids for "unexceptable" (and who really is it unexceptable to?) behavior. I had to laugh though, the scene where they are jumping off the couch on to cushions reminded me of my boys a lot. Course my boys have not painted anyone except each other either.



Bree is getting on my nerves though.



Warlock

Web Warlock, web.warlock@comcast.net, The Other Side.

Liber Mysterium: The D20 Netbook of Witches & The Dragon and the Phoenix: New Adventures of Willow and Tara

"Are you kidding me? 'Trainspotting' is the 'Citizen Kane' of Scottish heroin movies!" - My friend Al.

[urnofosiris]

This episode was fun. The opening scene with those little devils cracked me up.

Mrs Huber was probably a Mrs when she was still in kidergarten. I can´t imagine anyone being on a first name basis with her. Christine Estabrook does a great job. I bet Mrs Huber wrote that note, though maybe the hint in the end makes that too obvious. I also think that the dead woman took the identity of whoever was in that chest. If I am right I told you so, if I am wrong I should have been right.



Edited to add:

This show just keeps getting better. I absolutely loved this episode. Susan cracks me up, Teri Hatcher is fantastic. It was all good. The plot thickens with young Zachary turning psycho. It did not come as a total surprise to me, but I am very curious what the real story is here.

Edited by: DrG at: 11/1/04 3:27 pm

[xita]

I had missed last week's episode but now I am all caught up. I have to say that I think Bree is my favorite character. There is a lot of complexity and heck, i'd be willing to take on all here weird compulsions cause I think she's hot. I can't help cheering for for Gabriella to get away with it. I like Zachary too, I don't think he's just a psycho, I think something is up. Finally, I am kinda soured on Susan's little romance with the neighbor. I want to know what he's hiding before she falls all over him.

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"Trust is a risk masquerading as a promise."

[urnofosiris]

Oh I don´t really believe Zachary is a psycho. I think this Dana he mentioned must have been a younger sister who died. Somehow he is involved or he ended up being blamed for it, whether he had anything to do with it or not. I am not sure whether his father is the killer or whether he is just trying to protect his son because he thinks his son is to blame and that it might ruin him. A dubious thought if true, whatever he might have done when he was just a child, drugging him now and trying to bury the truth seems more harmful than anything else.



I really like Bree too, she has a bit of mean streak that I like, the fact that she could not stand that disgusting goo dripping onto the carpet I can actually understand. If anything, her ex is a bit compulsive too, he is determined to be pissed off by anything having to do with her compulsive need to keep things clean and he uses it as an excuse to keep her at a distance and not deal with whatever else is bothering him. I loved her reaction to hearing his idea of a surrogate. Oh my, she can be dangerous.



I have enjoyed every episode so far, the humor is just great. The pissing contest between the lawyer mom and that nasty woman was priceless. A little less Susan this time, but the little scene with her daughter in the kitchen cracked me up. I think Gabriella will lose her battle with mommie dearest.

Edited by: DrG at: 11/8/04 11:35 pm

[LunaMuses]

I agree about Dana being a younger sibling, DrG.



The fun thing about Bree is she's supposed to be a plain, boring type of character, but she's actually full of suprises. Like the fur coat Rex is getting on my nerves. What kind of guy in his right mind would send a come-hither Bree away? She was ready to get right back to things after moving the burrito, lol. No biggie. Get over it man!



Since the mother-in-law already told Carlos not to worry, we know she won't go back on that (too proud). But, I think she will start blackmailing Gabrielle....



"You go boink your lawn boy, and I'll stop by the casino in the meantime..."



hmmmm......

"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics!" - Benjamin Disraeli

[tyche]

Oh, I should mention that one of the tacky weekly celeb mags (US or something) has a Desperate Housewives feature. They went on set when they were filming an ep where the ladies stage a fashion show, so there are photos of the cast members in various lovely gowns.

I really didn't like Bree that much to start with, but now I find her the most entertaining of the lead characters, because you never know what she's going to do next. My theory is that Zach's dad bumped off Dana and Zach feels guilty that he couldn't do anything to stop it - or to prevent it from being found out by whoever was blackmailing Mary Alice. So now I'm wondering, are the human remains in the box those of Dana? Hmm.

Pro bono, which I think means,'Sucker Who Doesn't Get Paid' in Latin.

- Veronica Mars

[Gatito Grande]

Agree w/ everybody: Bree has definitely shown the most growth (and improvement) as a character. Re what's under the coat? (And if Marcia plays on our team {gossip-rumor-gossip } so much the better! )



"Dana" as kid (in the smallish chest): makes sense. But maybe a little too obvious? (Of course, some of us thought that about a body being in the chest to begin with). Wouldn't Paul know, by now, if the body he sank in the water was the one found?



I really like Susan and her daughter (name?) together, but I do think that Susan imposes on her in ways that just aren't right ("Pretend to be bulimic in the kiddie psych-ward, honey!": a way to get one or both of them put into psych-wards For Real! )



Agree w/ Gabrielle, that the "Women Stab You in the Back" theory is a (sexist) cliche: blame Riding Hood bitch all you want, but don't pin that on all women. And, instead of fighting over "which version of LRRH," why not just dump the moldy-oldy for something altogether more entertaining---geez! (Will Lynnette now become a Ritalin-fiend?)



Can't blame Gabby for spitting her coffee at hearing John was "in the Abstinence Club": I'd have had the same reaction! (But how naive is Bree for thinking that means diddly? I bet the only thing predictive about an "Abstinence Club," is that members have a higher-than-normal pregnancy rate! )



GG Visions of a Dream Date w/ Bree: clean my apartment, then do me! Out



Two bad we gotta wait another 8 days for a new ep . . .

[xita]

Yay, I had missed the show. I hope Marcia plays for our team, she just glows in this show. Sigh, I love her.



Anyway, what is going on? I think I kinda was... not like 100% on the show, I am always doing homework or something. I love Bree! She takes care of shit, don't she? Loved the way she took care of them kids, though covering up for sonny boy, well what would you do? That's tough.



It seems like the more we learn about mysteries, more are uncovered. And the detective guy and nicolette sheridan... hmmm....



I actually didn't like the way Gabrielle didn't seem affected by the woman getting hit at all. I understand she's not best friends with her but geez... It worked out for her though.



I am starting thing that mr. Lynette is the one that needs to stay home. He's not as competent in the business world as she seems to be.

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"Trust is a risk masquerading as a promise."

Edited by: xita  at: 11/21/04 11:11 pm

[Gatito Grande]

I think that Gabrielle was coming from a panic perspective---maybe even shock. She did ask the bystander to call 911 though . . . before she went and got that camera! (I have a feeling Mama Solis will pull through: what will she remember? FWIW, I'm very fond of Lupe Ontiveros, so I hope she survives!)



It's interesting to see the relationship of our Principal Four: it's my guess that Susan and Lynette have the closest relationship within the group, and Bree the least (they're all competive w/ her, the Uber, um, soon-to-be Ex- Wife!). However, the Four are close enough, collectively, to shoo the other Book Clubbers out of the room, when it's time to "talk Mary Alice." (And I think the collective closeness adds to Bree's genuine hurt at Gabrielle's actions vis-a-vis her daughter and the modeling school. I don't think that Gabrielle meant to hurt Bree . . . it's just that Gabby is basically self-centered---which I guess relates back to the subject, re Mama S., at the top. And also why it's OK for her to be married, but not OK for John to date. Can you say Diva? )



I'm worried about Lynette's Ritalin abuse. I mean, good god woman, go to the doc and talk about your own ADD, if you have it! But don't self-medicate, as a crutch. Agreed that it's well past time for Lynette's hubby (what's Doug Savant's character's name?) to play Mr. Mom, and Lynette go back to doing what she both loves, and does best! (better than he does, apparently. Did they work in the exact same industry before? But not w/ the same company, I take it.)*



I hate to disagree, xita, but I really wasn't pleased w/ Bree's "I'm locking you out" schtick: Bad Parenting, if you ask me. Thing is, both Bree and Rex displayed Total Crap Parenting Skills tonight: and we should wonder why they raised a Hit-n-Running son? Look in the mirror! (The idea that the Van De Kamp's represent Wisteria Lane's "Perfect Family" should be long, long, long shot to hell by now ) Which doesn't mean, by the way, that I don't think Bree is hot, in her neurotic way! (There's was a shot tonight of Bree walking away, and . . . )



Can I say again how much I love Susan's daughter (what is her name???) That young actress (and what is her name?) is gonna be a heartbreaker in couple: you heard it here first (No, I am not "counting down to 18": what kind of pervert do you think I am? )



So, is anyone really gonna die? Certainly not the Principal Four . . . and I really don't think Edie, either (from the hints Nicolette Sheridan dropped on Oprah recently, I think she's more likely to get laid by Richard Roundtree, than get laid out by him But having a certain kind of notepaper, proves she's blackmailing Paul? Pretty big leap, IMO). It's possible Mrs. Huber might bite it (though she's pretty fun, too. She's was a lot colder to the collapsed runner, I thought, than Gabby was w/ Mama S . . . and she didn't even have cause against the guy! )



Damn fun show.



GG Glory be: James Denton actually bothered to shave this week! Maybe he'll get a personality next? Out



*Was thinking of making a comparison between Lynette, and Helen "DynaGirl" of The Incredibles: her being a housewife bothered me, too. But at least she had a baby at home, while Lynette's youngest (younger than the twins by a year or two?) is older.

[urnofosiris]

Well by now Susan is the only one without a skeleton in the closet (edited: unless you count the accidently burning Edie´s house to the ground as one, but it is not as serious as the other ones I think. Edie seems to be doing mighty fine. For now). Interesting episode, adding more mystery to the mix. Is Dana the missing sister? A babysitter/mistress gone MIA perhaps? Nice morals that guy is talking about, hiring killers in between going to church. Sweet. If that stationary was available so abundantly aren´t they jumping to conclusions a bit in regards to Edie? makes no sense.

I really like Bree, but her husband is a sleazy slimey selfish pig. If Bree has any genuine desire left to fix her marriage to that fucker I´d be seriously disappointed in her. I can understand her first instinct to cover up for her son, his teary faced "mommy" would be hard to resist. He will have to come clean eventually though or it will eat him up. I hope Mrs Solice will be ok, if she is, she should not be able to remember ever taking that pic. I think Gabrielle was acting in a very calculating manner, quite chillingly so.

The lawyer husband is a loser, he can´t stand the idea of his wife being better at his job than he is. Wake up and smell the 21st century moron. I love Susan, she is a walking disaster area, her daughter is absolutely brilliant. She seems to be the only one of the kids that has her head screwed on properly.

Kudos to the writers and actors, this show is my favorite show by far, not since ST DS9 have I loved a show so well. Oh and the first scene with Mrs Huber carrying that guy in her wheelbarrow to dump him in Bree´s flowerbed cracked me up. Too effing funny.

Edited by: DrG at: 11/22/04 3:03 pm

[Gatito Grande]

Just to ask: anyone notice, in choosing to watch Desperate Housewives---which a whole effing lot of us in the USA are---we're responsible for flushing "moral values" down the toilet? That we're "coarsening the culture"?



GG That we're "dropping our towels" in the face of Red State America? Out



Excellent!

[Thespia]

GG, Fox News amuses me to no end when they choose to express their disapproval of the commercial by showing it again and again and again...



I think people at Fox News are a little loony...



But, on to the Wives. I believe Mary Alice was not the one being blackmailed. I think it's the husband. I read something about the possibility that she didn't kill herself. Maybe she was going to tell and the husband killed her. Even if she did it it could be because of the pressure of knowing something horrible about her husband.