'Desperate Housewives' lures fans
Millions of viewers flock to Sunday night show that is built around Wisteria Lane hijinks
By William Keck / USA TODAY
November 5, 2004
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - Save a few pesky storm clouds,
nothing today is out of the ordinary on Wisteria Lane,
home to ABC's "Desperate Housewives." Outside
Gabrielle Solis' house, the rose bushes have been impeccably
pruned (by a gardener who lost his pants). The lawn has been
mowed (by a housewife in high heels). And a bitter feud is
erupting between two leading ladies.
The raised voices heard from inside Gabrielle's home grow
more audible as Eva Longoria (Gabrielle) takes her fight
with one of the other women outside to the front porch.
Tabloid reports have been pitting the housewives against
each other, and indeed, today's fireworks have been brewing
for weeks. It's remarkable a confrontation hadn't happened
sooner.
In case you're not one of the 22 million Desperate fans who
have helped make the dramedy TV's No. 1 new show (and the No.
1 show in Metro Detroit in October), here's the story behind
the nastiness: Gabrielle has been hiding a naughty secret from
her friends. Underappreciated by her control-freak husband,
Gabrielle has been carrying on with her 17-year-old gardener,
John. In the scene being shot today (to air in December), one
of the other housewives discovers the affair and is none too
pleased.
While we can't tell you which of Gabrielle's neighbors uncovers
the indiscretion (we've been sworn to secrecy), we can report
the hugs exchanged between the actresses after takes. "We
hate fighting with each other," says Longoria. "After
we finish, we're like, 'don't want to yell at you. I'm so sorry.'
It's just awful."
Despite what the supermarket tabs would have you believe, the
only feuding going on between these actresses is on screen. Yes,
like most everything on this mysterious cul-de-sac, from the
silk roses to the faux house fronts, little here is as it seems.
Even Wisteria Lane is a fabrication. The street has existed for
decades on the Universal Studios backlot as Colonial Drive,
previously home to "The Munsters" and the "Leave
It to Beaver" Cleavers.
Set insiders say talk of feuding is complete rubbish. And each
of the women has prepared a clever response to feuding queries.
Says actress Teri Hatcher: "From what I understand, Felicity
(Huffman) says, 'When we're all drunk we get along really well.'"
But as the cast member most victimized and bothered by the rumors,
Hatcher concedes, "It saddens me that that's what the (tabloids)
choose to grab on to."
"It is insulting," agrees Marcia Cross.
The only cast member who seems to be getting a kick out of all
this tongue-wagging is Nicolette Sheridan, who plays Wisteria's
real estate agent seductress and mother to an as-yet-unseen
6-year-old son.
"People love controversy," says Sheridan, batting her
eyelashes. "When you have five women interacting, they love
to think that there's all sorts of jealousy and competitiveness
going on. It isn't ... but I think it helps the show."
© The Detroit News 2004. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.detnews.com/2004/screens/0411/05/a02-326589.htm