✕
Your account
Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions
Already have an account?
Get back to the
Subscribe to the Magazine & Save

Get First For Women Magazine

SAVE
UP TO 74%

Magazine cover

First For Women

 Accessibility statement link
Cookie setting button
Entertainment

12 Things You Didn’t Know About Desperate Housewives

By Linda Rodgers

Tags:

The nighttime soap wowed and scandalized audiences for eight years, from 2004 and 2008. Get some of the behind-the-scenes facts about this beloved TV show.

BOGO Never Felt So Good
Whether you're looking to sleep better, have less anxiety, get pain relief or simply unwind the mind, these award-winning CBD Gummies from Sky Wellness do just the trick! Available in a variety of flavors, don't miss this special BOGO offer. Learn more at SkyWellness.com.

SHOP NOW

  1. Marc Cherry

    Getty images
    Marc Cherry, the show's creator, was inspired by his mom's tales of feeling "desperate" when she lived in the suburbs. Its success meant he could pay off a $100K debt to her.

  3. James Denton

    Getty images
    James Denton told VH1: "Mike [Delfinio] was a real blue-collar guy with a dog and a pick-up truck and that’s me exactly. I’m always working on something around the house."

  5. Eva Longoria

    Getty images
    Eva Longoria (Gabrielle Solis) nailed her audition when show's creator asked how she liked the rest of the script. Longoria replied: "I only read my part." (Typical Gaby!)

  6. Huffmans-parties

    Getty images
    Felicity Huffman (Lynette Scavo) loved to play charades at the cast parties she hosted, Dana Delaney (Katherine Mayfair) told VH1: "She really is a killer charades person."

  7. Bree

    Getty images
    The housewife based most on Cherry's mother? Bree Van De Kamp (Marcia Cross).

  9. Oprah Winfrey

    Getty images
    One of the show's biggest fans was Oprah, who came to the set for a visit and filmed a 15-minute segment for HER show in which she played a new neighbor.

  10. Pilot

    Getty images
    Two other titles being considered were "The Secrets of Wisteria Lane" and "The Secret Lives of Housewives." But "Desperate Housewives" stuck, and the pilot attracted 21.3 million viewers.

  11. Gaby's dress

    Getty images
    The pink dress that Gaby wears to mow the lawn was loaned to a high-school senior to wear to her prom, after the teen asked for photos so she could find a knock-off.

  13. Wedding

    In one episode Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher) stumbles into a wedding cake. Hatcher broke two ribs but kept filming. via Pinterest

  14. Wisteria Lane

    Getty images
    The set for Wisteria Lane was built in 1946, and was used for other shows, including "Leave it to Beaver," and "The Munsters."

  15. Teri Hatcher

    Getty images
    Teri Hatcher brought baked goods to her audition!

  17. Josh Henderson

    Getty images
    The biggest on-set flirt was Josh Henderson (Austin McCann), according to James Denton.
Keep scrolling, there's more!
245259

More in Entertainment

All Stories
Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items. Use right arrow key to move into submenus. Use escape to exit the menu. Use up and down arrow keys to explore. Use left arrow key to move back to the parent list.