Created by Marc Cherry, the comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives aired on the ABC network from October 2004 to May 2012. The series had eight seasons with 180 episodes.
The show was produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions, with John Pardee, Bob Daily, George W. Perkins, David Grossman, Joey Murphy, and Larry Shaw joining as executive producers in season four.
Cast
The series boasts an ensemble cast of Teri Hatcher playing Susan Mayer, Marcia Cross playing Bree Van de Kamp, Felicity Huffman playing Lynette Scavo, and Eva Longoria playing Gabrielle Solis.
The show’s supporting cast had Nicollette Sheridan play Edie Britt, Dana Delany play Katherine Mayfair, and Vanessa Williams plays Renee Perry.
Mary Alice Young, played by Brenda Strong, acts as the story’s narrator who appears in dream sequences and flashbacks.
Premise
Desperate Housewives is from the point of view of Mary Alice Young, who dies in the pilot episode. She narrates the story of a group of women living on Wisteria Lane in the fictional town of Fairview.
During the show’s eight seasons, the story spans fifteen years and covers the events between 2004-2008 and the events of 2013-2019, after a five-year time jump in the storyline. The series also includes occasional flashbacks and flashforwards.
The characters make their way through family life and domestic struggles, facing their perfect neighborhood’s crimes, mysteries, and secrets.
Reception
The series received appreciation from both- the critics and the audience.
The first five seasons of Desperate Housewives were among television’s top ten most-watched series. According to 2007 reports, it was the most popular show in its demographic across the globe. It had a viewership of about 120 million.
According to the ratings, the series was also the third-most-watched in over twenty countries. Based on the data by Eurodata TV Worldwide, Desperate Housewives was the most-watched comedy series across five continents.
It has held the title of the most-watched comedy series from 2006 till its end.
The series was also the third-highest revenue earning series for the ABC network in 2010. It ranked at number 56 on the ‘New TV Classics’ list by Entertainment Weekly.
Desperate Housewives concluded after the end of its eighth season in 2012. Its series finale aired in May 2012. It became a series with most episodes featuring all-female lead actors, surpassing Charmed.
Accolades
Desperate Housewives received multiple awards and award nominations with positive critic reviews and appreciation. The series won 71 awards from its 273 nominations.
It has won seven Primetime Emmy Awards, four Screen Actors Guild Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and two People’s Choice Awards.
Felicity Huffman and Kathryn Joosten won Primetime Emmy Awards for their portrayals of Lynette Scavo and Karen McCluskey, respectively. Teri Hatcher won the Golden Globe for her portrayal of Susan Mayer.
Other actors from the show- Marcia Cross, Eva Longoria, and Brenda Strong- received nominations at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, Primetime Emmys, and the Golden Globes.
Brenda Strong was nominated twice at the Primetime Emmys for her role as narrator, Mary Alice Young.