No one has ever accused TV producers of being original, but it's hard to look beyond the many, many sources from which ABC's new picket fences drama derives its tone and plot. American Beauty and The Stepford Wives are the obvious sources, but watching the first episode I was put in mind mostly of the first shot in David Lynch's Blue Velvet, in which the camera tracks along a seemingly idyllic suburban neighborhood, only to plunge suddenly into the insect-infested dirt below. It's not a subtle metaphor, but it was an apt one for the film, and it's just as apt for "Desperate Housewives," which actually manages to rise above its cliched premise to provide viewers with a solid hour of black humor.
The stellar cast is headed up by Teri Hatcher, who is far more likable here as struggling single mom Susan Mayer than she ever was as Lois Lane or as any of her vapid movie vamps. Felicity Huffman is likewise superb as a mother of four whose loving husband is constantly traveling, leaving her to deal with their hyperactive brood. Television veteran Marcia Cross is downright creepy as the picture-perfect Stepford wife who seems to have the perfect family and the perfect life, until her husband decides to leave her. Rounding out the four principals is the sultry newcomer Eva Longoria, who survives her loveless marriage as a trophy wife to a rich husband through an ongoing fling with her teenaged gardener.
The fifth in this circle of friends is Mary Alice Young (Brenda Strong), who starts the show off with a bang--literally. Though she takes her own life in the show's very first scene, Mary Alice sticks around to narrate from beyond the grave.
The women take center stage here, making it clear that "Desperate Housewives" is vying for a good chunk of the now bereft "Sex & The City" audience. Unfortunately, this means that the men in the show, who get far less screen time, are reduced to uninteresting stereotypes. There's the rich, uninteresting, cuckolded husband (Ricardo Chavira), the handsome bachelor (James Denton), and so on. We only see the male characters through the eyes of their wives, which is part of the point of the show, but may be a bit of a turn-off to male viewers.
Article comments
1 - NancyGail
Memories of Twin Peaks abound. What would be really scary is Kyle McLachlan and Lara Flynn Boyle on as guest stars. Could they be who Mike is working for...? Nicely done
2 - Jim Carruthers
In the original pilot, Mary Alice was played and narrated by Sheryl Lee (who played Laura Palmer in Twin Peaks). There were a couple of other casting changes, but nothing which really changed this show from being rather vile and worthless.
Though I do like me some Terri Hatcher and Felicity Huffman. Just not here.
3 - Justene
This review was chosen for Advance.net. You will be able to find it on newspaper sites including Cleveland.com.
4 - VC
I liked it. But I wasn't really analyzing it. Thought it was funny and entertaining.
5 - rvoelker
The first episode of this second season of DH was week, none of the relationships were interesting or generating any reason to tune in again, the writing has flopped or was the first season just slidding along on the unique nature of the series?!?
6 - eriqo
yea, true that comment 5.
But you must agree that DH has a lot of potential. you never know what to expect.
As long as Mary Alice is narrating, something new and juicy has to come up from the past.
7 - DPC
"Memories of Twin Peaks abound. What would be really scary is Kyle McLachlan and Lara Flynn Boyle on as guest stars. Could they be who Mike is working for...? Nicely done"
This is hilarious to read now....
8 - jaco
Report on the series „Desperate Housewives“
The series deals with five women as housewives: Eva Longoria as ”Gabrielle Solis”; Felicity Huffman as “Lynette Scavo” a stressed mother and career woman; Nicollette Sheridon as “Edie Britt”, the bitch; Teri Hatcher as “Susan Mayer”, chaotic, naively but a good mother; and Marcia Cross as “Bree van de Kamp”. Everyone has got her own secret. The series were invented by Marc Cherry and it is set in fictitious city “Fairview”. The five actresses are completely different in their looks, as well as tier hair colour is different. The series are very successful and are broadcasted in more then 40 countries, including e.g. China. So it isn’t surprising, that the five women are often seen on TV and on the red carpet. “Desperate Housewives” is transmitted every Tuesday from 9.15 pm to 10.15 pm on the channel “Pro7”.
The last part was about the shame marriage of Susan because she needed a medical for her operation, but it was off. Gabrielle has now got a young Chinese as a “slave” to cook and clean up her house. Bree has talked to the son of Mrs Applewhite when his mother and brother left the house and Bree got everything she wanted to know.
All in all it was about some strange new friendships.
“Desperate Housewives” is a series four women and girls 15 and older. It’s funny, a bit exaggerated and I like to watch it every Tuesday evening.
9 - KENA
Good Comment JACO=P