ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...

Wisteria Lane Wisteria Lane is the name of a fictional street at the center of U.S. television drama series '' Desperate Housewives''. ''Desperate Housewives'' storylines primarily center on the residents of the street. The set for Wisteria Lane is located insi ...

Orson Hodge Orson Hodge is a fictional character on the ABC television series ''Desperate Housewives''. The character is played by Kyle MacLachlan. Orson is introduced in the final episodes of the second season of the series, and becomes the main mystery ...

clip show A clip show is an episode of a television series that consists primarily of excerpts from previous episodes. Most clip shows feature the format of a frame story in which cast members recall past events from past installments of the show, depicte ...

Brenda Strong Brenda Lee Strong (born March 25, 1960) is an American actress. She began her career in television, including guest starring appearances in ''Twin Peaks'', '' Party of Five'', ''Seinfeld'', '' Scandal'', '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'', '' ...

Bang Bang or bangs may refer to: Products * M1922 Bang rifle, a US semi-automatic rifle designed by Søren Hansen Bang * Bang, a model car brand * Bang (beverage), an energy drink Geography * Bang, Lorestan, a village in Iran * Bangs, Ohio, Uni ...

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...

Buena Vista Home Entertainment Buena ( ) is a borough in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough's population was 4,603,

Michael Edelstein Michael Edelstein (born February 20, 1968) began his career in episodic television working CBS Entertainment. There he worked on a number of series on the network’s primetime schedule such as CSI. He then went on to work for NBC Universal To ...

and

Tom Spezialy Tom Spezialy is an American television producer, director and screen writer. In 2007, began serving as executive producer of ''Reaper''. Career Spezialy began his career in 1989 writing for the CBS television series '' Doctor Doctor''. He has al ...

, who served as executive producers for seasons one and two, did not return for the series' third season due to creative differences. They were replaced by Kevin Murphy and George W. Perkins, both of whom had previously served as co-executive producers in earlier seasons.''Desperate Housewives'': Cast & Details
. ''TV Guide''. Retrieved January 19, 2010.

John Pardee John Pardee is an American screenwriter and television producer, and was an executive producer for ''Desperate Housewives''. During the 1990s, Pardee wrote episodes of several television series, including the cartoon ''Doug''; the short-lived si ...

,

Joey Murphy Joey Murphy is an American screenwriter and television producer. Murphy has written episodes of the cartoon, '' Doug'', '' The Crew'', and Cybill Shepherd's sitcom, ''Cybill'', the last two for which he also served as producer. He also collabora ...

, and Chris Black continued to serve as co-executive producers. Larry Shaw and

David Grossman David Grossman ( he, דויד גרוסמן; born January 25, 1954) is an Israeli author. His books have been translated into more than 30 languages. In 2018, he was awarded the Israel Prize for literature. Biography David Grossman was born i ...

, both of whom previously served as producers and directors for the series, were promoted to co-executive producers, with

Bob Daily Bob Daily is an American television producer and screenwriter. Career Beginning as a writer for the 1990s Nickelodeon cartoon ''Rugrats'', Daily joined the crew of the sitcom ''Frasier'' in 1999. In total he wrote or co-wrote fifteen episode ...

rounding out the team. All but Black, Grossman, Perkins, and Shaw also served as writers for the third season.

Alexandra Cunningham Alexandra Cunningham (born 1972/73) is an American playwright, screenwriter, and television producer. Biography From 1998 through 2000, she attended the Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwrights Program at The Juilliard School. Her plays inclu ...

,

Jenna Bans Jenna Bans is an American screenwriter. Bans is a producer and writer on ''Grey's Anatomy'', and is the creator and the co-producer (along with Shonda Rhimes) of '' Off the Map'', a series which premiered on ABC in January 2011, and was cancelled ...

,

Kevin Etten Kevin Etten is an American screenwriter and television producer. He began his career as a writer for ''The Late Show with David Letterman'', and then moved on to be the screenwriter and producer for notable television series including ''Reaper' ...

,

Josh Senter Joshua Ray Senter (born 14 February 1979) is an American screenwriter and novelist known for his work on the television series '' Desperate Housewives'' and his critically-acclaimed novel, ''Still the Night Call.'' Career Senter was born in Pl ...

, and

Dahvi Waller Dahvi Waller is a Canadian screenwriter and television producer. The recipient of a Primetime Emmy Award and three Writers Guild of America Awards, she is best known for her work on the television series ''Mad Men'' and the television miniseries ...

returned to the writing staff and were joined by Susan Nirah Jaffee, Brian A. Alexander,

Christian McLaughlin Christian McLaughlin (born September 29, 1967 in Houlton, Maine) is a television writer, producer, and author. McLaughlin is a graduate of Radio-Television-Film at the University of Texas. He gained notoriety in his early twenties with the publi ...

,

Valerie Ahern Valerie Ahern is an American television screenwriter and producer. She has written episodes for a number of television series since 1995 including ''The Young and the Restless'' (July 27, 2007 – November 29, 2007; April 4, 2008 – July 7, 2008) ...

, and

Jeff Greenstein Jeff Greenstein is an American television writer, producer and director. Greenstein was the showrunner of ''Will & Grace'' and '' Dream On'', as well as on '' Partners'' and ''Getting Personal'', both of which he created. A member of the Write ...

. Bans and Etten also served as story editors. Shaw and Grossman continued to direct episodes, as did

Wendey Stanzler Wendey Stanzler is an American film editor and television director. She was co-editor and associate producer of Michael Moore's documentary '' Roger & Me'', in 1989. She also co-edited Moore's only fiction film, '' Canadian Bacon'' ( 1993). Stan ...

. New directors for the third season included David Warren,

Sanaa Hamri Sanaa Hamri ( ar, سناء حمري; born November 19, 1977) is a Moroccan-American film, television, and music video director. She has directed music videos for musicians including Prince, Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, and Sting. She is k ...

, and

Matthew Diamond Matthew Diamond (born November 26, 1951) is an American film and television director, producer and choreographer best known for directing ''Dancemaker''. Life and career Matthew Diamond was born in New York City, the son of Irwin and Pearl (né ...

. Cherry's decision to advance the storylines by six months for the third-season premiere came as a response to the series' problematic second season. Cherry stated that he regretted most of the second season, as scheduling problems made it difficult to plan the season's storylines. "One of the problems I had with season two was that I had to keep going with the previous year's stuff," he explained that he learned he had to go back to square one to build up the tension again, expressing his own disappointment in the development of the second season. The cast also expressed disappointment in the second season; James Denton considered leaving the show and Marcia Cross confessed "I've been at Marc's door plenty of times with script complaints, going 'You've got to be kidding.'" Cherry stated that the six-month time jump would help the storylines develop quicker, as the second season's storylines lagged. He added: "And I'm going to work much harder to criss-cross all the women's stories so that their lives bump up against each other." To help refresh the show, several new writers were hired, including Greenstein, Joe Keenan, who also served as an executive producer, and

Bob Daily Bob Daily is an American television producer and screenwriter. Career Beginning as a writer for the 1990s Nickelodeon cartoon ''Rugrats'', Daily joined the crew of the sitcom ''Frasier'' in 1999. In total he wrote or co-wrote fifteen episode ...

, who was also a producer. Daily commented, "When we came on in season three, the mandate was to bring the show back to its roots. That meant having plotlines spring from relatable experiences, no matter how operatic or convoluted." For the season's main mystery, Cherry and the writers wanted to incorporate more of the series' regular characters rather than bringing in various new ones, like they had done in the second season with

Betty Applewhite Betty Applewhite is a fictional character played by actress Alfre Woodard on the ABC television series '' Desperate Housewives''. The character is introduced in the last episodes of the series' first season, and becomes the center of the mystery ...

(

Alfre Woodard Alfre Woodard (; born November 8, 1952) is an American actress. She has received various accolades, including four Primetime Emmy Awards (tying the record for the most acting Emmys won by an African-American performer, along with Regina King ...

) and her family. They developed the Orson plot line around the "idea that one of our women marries a guy who has dark secrets and possibly a violent streak." Cherry opined: "I thought there was something exciting about that, but real and relatable."Snierson, Dan (September 8, 2006)
"Third Time's the Charm"
. ''

Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cu ...

''. Retrieved May 29, 2011. Greenstein commented that the writers worked backwards from the second season's cliffhangers to develop the Orson storyline, forsaking the original material that had been developed earlier. The cast responded positively to the new material for the season. The season is the first to feature Kyle MacLachlan as a series regular. He originally appeared as Orson Hodge in a string of episodes at the end of the second season. Ausiello, Michael (March 24, 2006)
"Former Twin Peaks G-Man Kyle MacLachlan..."
. ''

TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program listings information as well as entertainment and television-related news. The company sold its print magazine division, TV Guide Magazine LLC, in 2008. Corpora ...

''. Retrieved May 29, 2011. The Orson character was originally planned as a romantic interest for Susan, according to executive producer

Tom Spezialy Tom Spezialy is an American television producer, director and screen writer. In 2007, began serving as executive producer of ''Reaper''. Career Spezialy began his career in 1989 writing for the CBS television series '' Doctor Doctor''. He has al ...

, until Cherry decided to pair Orson with Bree. Additionally, when Orson was introduced toward the end of the second season, he was originally to be a con artist. A character portrayed by

Julie White Julie K. White (born June 4, 1961) is an American actress. She won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her performance in ''The Little Dog Laughed'' in 2007. She has also received three other Tony Award nominations for her performanc ...

appeared in the second-season finale and would have been Orson's accomplice, but the entire storyline was discarded in favor of the mysterious disappearance of Orson's wife and White's character was not seen or mentioned again. MacLachlan commented that his character is "desperate to make this relationship with Bree work. Anything that tries to knock that apart becomes a threat." Cherry called Orson Bree's perfect match, but added that their similarities "will ultimately prove to be the downfall of the relationship." Kiersten Warren also returned to the series as Nora Huntington after being introduced at the end of the second season. On her storyline, Warren commented, "There's a lot of families who are going through this. Not quite the surprise ooh, boo, child, but children from other marriages and trying to meld these families. I think a lot of people have to deal with it. I think it's fantastic that they're doing this on the show." Dougray Scott made his debut in the season premiere as Ian Hainsworth, Susan's romantic interest. Cherry opined that the character "can legitimately rival Mike for usan'saffections." Daily commented on the storyline, saying: "Talk about dark comedy — we're trying to find the humor in these two people bonding over the fact that they each have a partner in a coma." Scott called his character "bumbling at times," adding, "He kind of blossoms after he rediscovers his romantic juices with Susan."

Cast

The third season had eleven roles receiving star billing, with ten of them returning from the previous season, out of whom nine were part of the first season's main cast. The series is narrated by

Brenda Strong Brenda Lee Strong (born March 25, 1960) is an American actress. She began her career in television, including guest starring appearances in ''Twin Peaks'', '' Party of Five'', ''Seinfeld'', '' Scandal'', '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'', '' ...

, who portrays the deceased

Mary Alice Young Mary Alice Young (previously Angela Forrest) is a fictional character from the ABC television series '' Desperate Housewives''. The character was created by television producer and screenwriter Marc Cherry and is portrayed by Brenda Strong, who ...

, as she observes from beyond the grave, the lives of the

Wisteria Lane Wisteria Lane is the name of a fictional street at the center of U.S. television drama series '' Desperate Housewives''. ''Desperate Housewives'' storylines primarily center on the residents of the street. The set for Wisteria Lane is located insi ...

residents and her former best friends. Susan Mayer, portrayed by

Teri Hatcher Teri Lynn Hatcher (born December 8, 1964) is an American actress best known for her portrayals of Lois Lane on the television series '' Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman'' (1993–1997); Paris Carver in the ''James Bond'' film '' Tom ...

, is a divorcée and single mother, who is in a continuous search for a stable relationship. Felicity Huffman portrayed

Lynette Scavo Lynette Scavo is a fictional character on the series ''Desperate Housewives''. The character is played by actress Felicity Huffman, who won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the role in 2005, and was nominated for ...

, devoted wife and mother of four, in desperate need to get some time for herself.

Marcia Cross Marcia Anne Cross (born March 25, 1962) is an American actress. She acted in daytime soap operas such as ''The Edge of Night'', '' Another World'', and ''One Life to Live'' before moving to primetime television with a recurring role on ''Knots ...

portrayed

Bree Hodge Bree Van de Kamp is a fictional character on the ABC television series ''Desperate Housewives''. She is played by actress Marcia Cross, who has received multiple awards and nominations for her portrayal, including an Emmy Award nomination, t ...

, widow and mother of two, struggling to be perfect in every aspect. Former model Gabrielle Solis, portrayed by

Eva Longoria Eva Jacqueline Longoria Bastón ( Longoria; March 15, 1975) is an American actress, producer, and director. After a number of guest roles on several television series, she was recognized for her portrayal of Isabella Braña on the CBS daytim ...

, has to deal with her upcoming motherhood and an unexpected divorce.

Nicollette Sheridan Nicollette Sheridan (born 21 November 1963) is an English-born American actress. She began her career as a fashion model before landing a role in the short-lived ABC primetime soap opera '' Paper Dolls'' in 1984, as well as starring in the rom ...

portrayed

Edie Britt Edie Britt is a fictional character created by television producer and screenwriter Marc Cherry for the ABC television series ''Desperate Housewives''. Nicollette Sheridan portrayed Edie from her debut in the pilot episode of the series until t ...

, whose numerous short-term relationships have made her an iconic character.

Ricardo Antonio Chavira Ricardo Antonio Chavira (born September 1, 1971) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Carlos Solis in the ABC television series ''Desperate Housewives'' (2004–2012). He also played Abraham Quintanilla in the Netflix original ...

played

Carlos Solis Carlos Solis () is a fictional character portrayed by Ricardo Antonio Chavira on the ABC television series '' Desperate Housewives''. He is, for most of the series, the husband of Gabrielle Solis, portrayed by Eva Longoria. Past Carlos was ...

, a rich businessman and Gabrielle's husband, whose affair with his daughter's surrogate mother eventually led to divorce.

Andrea Bowen Andrea Bowen is an American actress and singer. She began her career appearing on Broadway musicals, including ''Les Misérables'' and ''The Sound of Music''. In 2004, she began playing the role of Julie Mayer on the ABC comedy-drama series ''Des ...

acted as Julie Mayer, the responsible and caring daughter of Susan, whose close relationship to her mother have made her more mature.

Doug Savant Douglas Peter Savant (born June 21, 1964) is an American actor, known for his roles as Matt Fielding in the Fox prime time soap opera '' Melrose Place'' (1992–97), Tom Scavo in ABC comedy-drama '' Desperate Housewives'' (2004–12), and as Sgt. ...

portrayed

Tom Scavo Thomas Scavo is a fictional character on the ABC television series '' Desperate Housewives'', played by actor Doug Savant. Tom was originally credited as a recurring role throughout Season 1, but became credited as a series regular in Season 2 ...

, Lynette's husband, who is trying to welcome his illegitimate daughter among the family he has with his wife.

Mike Delfino Michael Delfino is a fictional character on the ABC television series ''Desperate Housewives''. The character was played by actor James Denton from the show's inception, until the eighth and final season of the show. Storylines Backstory Michae ...

, now suffering from amnesia following a hit and run, was played by

James Denton James Thomas Denton Jr. (born January 20, 1963) is an American actor and musician. He is best known for playing Mike Delfino on ABC's comedy-drama series ''Desperate Housewives'' (2004–2012) and Dr. Sam Radford on Hallmark Channel's come ...

. Previously a recurring character throughout the last episodes of the previous season,

Orson Hodge Orson Hodge is a fictional character on the ABC television series ''Desperate Housewives''. The character is played by Kyle MacLachlan. Orson is introduced in the final episodes of the second season of the series, and becomes the main mystery ...

, portrayed by

Kyle MacLachlan Kyle Merritt MacLachlan (; ' McLachlan, February 22, 1959) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Dale Cooper in '' Twin Peaks'' (1990–1991; 2017) and its film prequel '' Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me'' (1992), as well as roles ...

, was conceived as a new love interest for Bree, whose mysterious arc is the season's main storyline. Receiving "also starring" billing were

Shawn Pyfrom Shawn Caminiti Pyfrom (born August 16, 1986) is an American actor and singer, who has appeared in several television series and films, and is best known for his portrayal of Andrew Van de Kamp on ABC's '' Desperate Housewives'', and as Lionel Gr ...

, portraying Bree's homosexual son

Andrew Van de Kamp Andrew Van de Kamp is a fictional character in the ABC television series '' Desperate Housewives'' played by Shawn Pyfrom, and is the son of one of the title characters, Bree Van de Kamp, and her first husband Rex Van de Kamp. As one of the fe ...

, Joy Lauren in the role of

Danielle Van de Kamp '' Desperate Housewives'' is an American comedy-drama series that aired on ABC (American Broadcasting Company). It focuses on the residents living on the fictional Wisteria Lane as narrated by their deceased neighbor, Mary Alice Young (Brenda St ...

, Bree's irresponsible and rebel daughter,

Josh Henderson Joshua Baret Henderson (born October 25, 1981) is an American actor, model, and singer. Henderson is best known for his lead role as John Ross Ewing III in the TNT revival of ''Dallas'' (2012–2014). He played Austin McCann on the ABC televisi ...

, portraying

Austin McCann Austin McCann (born 21 January 1980) is a Scottish former footballer who played as a defender. During his career, McCann played in the Scottish Premier League for Heart of Midlothian as well as having spells in both the Scottish and English ...

, Edie's nephew who begins a relationship with Julie, and Brent Kinsman, Shane Kinsman and Zane Huett, playing Preston Scavo, Porter Scavo and Parker Scavo, Lynette's troublesome children. Numerous supporting characters have been given expansive and recurring arcs in the progressive storyline.

Kathryn Joosten Kathryn Joosten (born Kathryn Rausch; December 20, 1939 – June 2, 2012) was an American actress. Her best known roles include Dolores Landingham on NBC's ''The West Wing'' from 1999 to 2002 and Karen McCluskey on ABC's '' Desperate Housewives ...

continued her recurring role of neighbor Karen McCluskey, omnipresent in the lives of the Wisteria Lane residents.

Pat Crawford Brown Pat Crawford Brown (June 29, 1929July 2, 2019) was an American actress. Life and career Brown married Calvin B. Brown on January 3, 1961, and they remained married until his death in 1976. They had one daughter, Charlotte Brown Swanson. She beg ...

portrayed neighbor Ida Greenberg, whereas

Jake Cherry Jacob Cherry (born September 15, 1996) is an American actor. He is best known for playing the role of Nick Daley in ''Night at the Museum'' (2006) and in its sequel '' Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian'' (2009). Early life Cherry was ...

appeared in several episodes portraying Travers McLain, Edie's son. Despite having had numerous appearances in the first seasons,

Richard Burgi Richard William Burgi (, born July 30, 1958) is an American film and television actor best known for the roles of Det. Jim Ellison on '' The Sentinel'' and as Karl Mayer on ''Desperate Housewives''. He also portrayed Paul Hornsby in the ABC day ...

only appeared in one episode in this season, portraying

Karl Mayer Karl Mayer is a fictional character portrayed by Richard Burgi and created by television producer and screenwriter Marc Cherry for the ABC television series '' Desperate Housewives''. He is the ex-husband of housewife Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher ...

. Deceased since the first-season finale, Rex Van de Kamp, portrayed by Steven Culp, provided his voice for sixteenth episode, taking over the narration. Part of Lynette's storyline was Nora Huntington, portrayed by

Kiersten Warren Kiersten Nicolla Dale Warren is an American actress. Her best known roles include Alex Tabor on '' Saved by the Bell: The College Years'' and Nora Huntington on ''Desperate Housewives''. Life and career Warren is the mother of actress Misti Tra ...

, portraying the woman Tom had an affair with before meeting Lynette. The affair resulted in Nora getting pregnant with Kayla, now an eleven-year-old, portrayed by Rachel G. Fox.

Jason Gedrick Jason Michael Gedrick (born February 7, 1965) is an American actor best known for his work on the television series '' Murder One'' and '' Boomtown'', and the motion picture '' Iron Eagle'' as Doug Masters. Early life Jason Michael Gedroic was ...

portrayed

Rick Coletti '' Desperate Housewives'' is an American comedy-drama series that aired on ABC (American Broadcasting Company). It focuses on the residents living on the fictional Wisteria Lane as narrated by their deceased neighbor, Mary Alice Young (Brenda St ...

, who would become a potential love interest for Lynette.

Cody Kasch Cody Reed Kasch (born August 21, 1987) is an American actor. He is known for his role of Zach Young on the ABC comedy-drama series '' Desperate Housewives''. Early life Kasch was born in Santa Monica, California. He is of Scottish descent. H ...

reappeared as

Zach Young '' Desperate Housewives'' is an American comedy-drama series that aired on ABC (American Broadcasting Company). It focuses on the residents living on the fictional Wisteria Lane as narrated by their deceased neighbor, Mary Alice Young (Brenda St ...

in a recurring character capacity, following two seasons as a series regular.

Mark Moses Mark W. Moses (born February 24, 1958) is an American actor, best known for his roles as Paul Young in the ABC comedy-drama ''Desperate Housewives'' (2004–2011) and as Herman "Duck" Phillips in the AMC period drama ''Mad Men'' (2007–2014). ...

returned to the series as

Paul Young Paul Antony Young (born 17 January 1956) is an English musician, singer and songwriter. Formerly the frontman of the short-lived bands Kat Kool & the Kool Cats, Streetband and Q-Tips, he became a teen idol with his solo success in the 1980s. ...

, this time a fellow prisoner of Mike Delfino's, who is trying to win his friendship in order to determine him to get money from his son, Zach.

Jesse Metcalfe Jesse Eden Metcalfe (born December 9, 1978) is an American actor and musician. He is known for his portrayal of John Rowland on ''Desperate Housewives''. Metcalfe has also had notable roles on ''Passions'' and played the title role in '' John T ...

returned after a year-long absence, portraying John Rowland, Gabrielle's former lover, who is now preparing for an upcoming marriage.

Victor Lang '' Desperate Housewives'' is an American comedy-drama series that aired on ABC (American Broadcasting Company). It focuses on the residents living on the fictional Wisteria Lane as narrated by their deceased neighbor, Mary Alice Young (Brenda St ...

, portrayed by

John Slattery John M. Slattery Jr. (born August 13, 1962) is an American actor and director widely known for his role as Roger Sterling Jr. in the AMC drama series ''Mad Men'' (2007–15), for which he was nominated four times for the Primetime Emmy Award fo ...

, immediately becomes a love interest for Gabrielle, following his first appearance in the season's sixteenth episode.

Gwendoline Yeo Gwendoline See-Hian Yeo (; born 10 July 1977) is a Singaporean actress, musician and writer best known for her roles as Dr. Kelly Lee on '' General Hospital'', Xiao-Mei on '' Desperate Housewives'' and Sun Fu in ''Broken Trail''. She is also kno ...

acted as Xiao-Mei, the surrogate mother of Gabrielle and Carlos' child, but is never seen or heard of after it is revealed that the baby she was carrying wasn't the Solises'. Ian Hainsworth, portrayed by

Dougray Scott Stephen Dougray Scott (born 25 November 1965) is a Scottish actor. He has appeared in the films ''Ever After'' (1998), '' Mission: Impossible 2'' (2000), ''Enigma'' (2001), ''Hitman'' (2007), and ''My Week with Marilyn'' (2011). Early life Sc ...

was Susan's main love interest this season, creating a love triangle between the two of them and Mike. Matt Roth played Art Shepherd, a pedophile who temporarily moves to Wisteria Lane.

Dakin Matthews Melvin Richard "Dakin" Matthews (born November 7, 1940) is an American actor, playwright, theatre director, and theatrical scholar. Best known as Herb Kelcher in ''My Two Dads'' (1987–1989), Hanlin Charleston in ''Gilmore Girls'' (2000–2007) ...

appeared as Reverend Sykes, reverend at the local Presbyterian church. Part of the main mystery arc, was

Gloria Hodge '' Desperate Housewives'' is an American comedy-drama series that aired on ABC (American Broadcasting Company). It focuses on the residents living on the fictional Wisteria Lane as narrated by their deceased neighbor, Mary Alice Young (Brenda St ...

, played by

Dixie Carter Dixie Virginia Carter (May 25, 1939 – April 10, 2010) was an American actress. She starred as Julia Sugarbaker on the sitcom ''Designing Women'' (1986–1993) and as Randi King on the drama series ''Family Law'' (1999–2002). She was nomin ...

, Orson's mother with an inexplicable repugnance towards her son.

Alma Hodge ''Desperate Housewives'' is an American comedy-drama series that aired on ABC (American Broadcasting Company). It focuses on the residents living on the fictional Wisteria Lane as narrated by their deceased neighbor, Mary Alice Young (Brenda Str ...

, Orson's first wife, who comes on Wisteria Lane seeking reconciliation, was portrayed by

Valerie Mahaffey Valerie Mahaffey (born June 16, 1953) is an American character actress and producer. She began her career starring in the NBC daytime soap opera '' The Doctors'' (1979–81), for which in 1980 she was nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outst ...

, whereas

Carolyn Bigsby '' Desperate Housewives'' is an American comedy-drama series that aired on ABC (American Broadcasting Company). It focuses on the residents living on the fictional Wisteria Lane as narrated by their deceased neighbor, Mary Alice Young (Brenda St ...

, a mysterious woman whose main goal is destroying Orson and Bree's marriage, was portrayed by

Laurie Metcalf Laura Elizabeth Metcalf (born June 16, 1955) is an American actress. Often described as a character actor, she's known for her complex and versitile roles across the stage and screen. She has received various accolades throughout her career sp ...

.

Reception

Critical response

David Kronke of the '' Los Angeles Daily News'' wrote that the show "returns to its wicked wit, dialing back but certainly not eradicating the melodrama."Kronke, David (September 24, 2006)
"Pregnant pause for 'Housewives,' 'Brothers & Sisters' debuts"
. '' Los Angeles Daily News''. Retrieved June 22, 2011. He complimented the four main actresses for their comedic relief and concluded: "Rarely does a show unjump the shark this well; it's back in fine form, calibrating its humor and its menace just right." '' New York Daily News'' writer David Bianculli compared the premiere to the show's second season, noting that the episode showed "an assurance and a knowing playfulness that was missing most of last year." He complimented Cherry and Greenstein's script and approved the storylines for each character. Bianculli opined that the episode returned the quality of the show's first season and concluded: "Pass the word: If you've given up on ''Desperate Housewives'', it's time to return to the neighborhood." ''

Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cu ...

'' Lindsay Soll identified Eva Longoria as the episode's strongest performer, declaring that she "definitely looks like the one to watch this season."Soll, Lindsay (September 25, 2006)
"The Best Year of Our Wives"
. ''

Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cu ...

''. Retrieved May 29, 2011. Soll was glad to see that the Susan character was "a little more toned down and less accident-prone than usual," and called the scenes with Susan and Mike touching. Additionally, she opined that Laurie Metcalf "did a brilliant job of playing the classic television nosy neighbor," but expressed her confusion over the Orson storyline. Dave Anderson of ''

TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program listings information as well as entertainment and television-related news. The company sold its print magazine division, TV Guide Magazine LLC, in 2008. Corpora ...

'' called the season premiere first-rate, while praising the comedic Bree storyline and declaring the set-up for the Orson mystery storyline ingenious. He commended Marcia Cross' performance but opined that Longoria provided the best comedic relief. He also complimented Teri Hatcher's acting, commenting that she "was awesome in the poignant scene where she asks the comatose Mike permission to go on the "almost date" with Ian."Anderson, Dave (September 25, 2006)
"September 24: Listen to the Rain on the Roof"
. ''

TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program listings information as well as entertainment and television-related news. The company sold its print magazine division, TV Guide Magazine LLC, in 2008. Corpora ...

''. Retrieved May 30, 2011. Anderson identified the Scavo storyline as "the weakest link" in the episode and hoped that the Nora and Kayla characters would not remain on the show for too long. ''TV Guide'' writer Matt Roush shared similar sentiments regarding the Scavo storyline, stating that while the premiere overall was good, "Lynette is trapped in a story line so desperately unamusing, one that makes her and everyone around her act so idiotic, that you have to pray that we'll soon see the last of the obnoxious Nora, mother of Tom's surprise daughter."Roush, Matt (September 25, 2006)
"When Bad Things Happen to Good Characters"
. ''

TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program listings information as well as entertainment and television-related news. The company sold its print magazine division, TV Guide Magazine LLC, in 2008. Corpora ...

''. Retrieved May 30, 2011. He described the storyline as "painfully unpleasant and unfunny." However, Roush praised the performances of Metcalf and Valerie Mahaffey, while concluding that ''Desperate Housewives'' "shows encouraging signs of getting its act together." In a separate review, Roush unfavorably compared the Orson character to Bree's former love interest, George Williams (

Roger Bart Roger Bart (born September 29, 1962) is an American actor and singer. He won a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for his performance as Snoopy in the 1999 revival of '' You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown''. Bart received his second Tony Award n ...

), while also admitting to being "a bit weary" of the Gabrielle storyline. ''

USA Today ''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virgi ...

'' Robert Bianco acknowledged that "

Listen to the Rain on the Roof "Listen to the Rain on the Roof" is the third season premiere episode of the American comedy-drama series '' Desperate Housewives'', and the 48th episode overall. The episode premiered on ABC (American Broadcasting Company) on September 24, 2006 ...

" managed to avoid repeating many of the second season's mistakes noting that the four main characters spend more time together and the annual mystery "is hot-wired into the housewives themselves."Bianco, Robert (September 22, 2006)
"Plots quicken on 'Housewives'"
. ''

USA Today ''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virgi ...

''. Retrieved August 3, 2011. Bianco remarked that Cross successfully maintained her position as the series' most prominent lead and was pleased with Susan's storyline, calling it "a conflict that gives Teri Hatcher a genuinely funny, rather than forced, sight gag." He approved of the writers' decision to distance the characters from their second season storylines, but opined: "The harder mistake to overcome is the damage the show did to its main characters — allowing them to behave in ways that made them seem weak, selfish, stupid and, at times, despicable." Bianco concluded: "It will take more than one good episode to win us back after all that. But it's certainly a good place to start." Jen Creer of

TV Squad Weblogs, Inc. was a blog network that published content on a variety of subjects, including tech news, video games, automobiles and pop culture. At one point, the network had as many as 90 blogs, although the vast majority of its traffic could be ...

was mixed in her review. She criticized the lack of originality in the storylines, writing that the episode was similar to ''

Sex and the City ''Sex and the City'' is an American romantic comedy-drama television series created by Darren Star for HBO. An adaptation of Candace Bushnell's newspaper column and 1996 book anthology of the same name, the series premiered in the United Stat ...

''. Nevertheless, Creer complimented the main actresses, concluding, "I'll be tuning in next week -- for all of its camp and unoriginality, the show does continue to have that certain something, those little twists of genius that make it worth watching."

Andy Dehnart Andy Dehnart (born August 26, 1977) is an American journalist and television critic. He may be best known as reality television's "longest-standing critic" for his online journalism, as he is the creator of the genre's first tracking website, rea ...

of

MSNBC MSNBC (originally the Microsoft National Broadcasting Company) is an American news-based pay television cable channel. It is owned by NBCUniversala subsidiary of Comcast. Headquartered in New York City, it provides news coverage and politi ...

was slightly more positive in his review, acknowledging that while "most of the housewives are stuck in their second-season ruts," the show's overall quality has improved, citing the Orson storyline as a welcomed change from the slow-moving Applewhite mystery arc.Dehnart, Andy (October 12, 2006)
"'Housewives' gets back to sudsy business"

MSNBC MSNBC (originally the Microsoft National Broadcasting Company) is an American news-based pay television cable channel. It is owned by NBCUniversala subsidiary of Comcast. Headquartered in New York City, it provides news coverage and politi ...

. Retrieved June 3, 2011. Overall, Dehnart approved of the episode and felt that the show "may be on track to finally pleasuring its audience in new, albeit familiar ways."

Awards and nominations

The season received critical acclaim, resulting in numerous awards and nominations for the cast and crew. The

59th Primetime Emmy Awards The 59th Primetime Emmy Awards were held on Sunday, September 16, 2007, honoring the best in U.S. prime time television programming at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. The ceremony was televised live on Fox at 8:00 p.m. ...

on September 16, 2007, sees Felicity Huffman receiving a nomination for her portrayal of

Lynette Scavo Lynette Scavo is a fictional character on the series ''Desperate Housewives''. The character is played by actress Felicity Huffman, who won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the role in 2005, and was nominated for ...

in "

Bang Bang or bangs may refer to: Products * M1922 Bang rifle, a US semi-automatic rifle designed by Søren Hansen Bang * Bang, a model car brand * Bang (beverage), an energy drink Geography * Bang, Lorestan, a village in Iran * Bangs, Ohio, Uni ...

", in the Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series category. Receiving nominations in the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series were

Dixie Carter Dixie Virginia Carter (May 25, 1939 – April 10, 2010) was an American actress. She starred as Julia Sugarbaker on the sitcom ''Designing Women'' (1986–1993) and as Randi King on the drama series ''Family Law'' (1999–2002). She was nomin ...

, for her portrayal of

Gloria Hodge '' Desperate Housewives'' is an American comedy-drama series that aired on ABC (American Broadcasting Company). It focuses on the residents living on the fictional Wisteria Lane as narrated by their deceased neighbor, Mary Alice Young (Brenda St ...

in " Children and Art", and

Laurie Metcalf Laura Elizabeth Metcalf (born June 16, 1955) is an American actress. Often described as a character actor, she's known for her complex and versitile roles across the stage and screen. She has received various accolades throughout her career sp ...

for her performance in "

Listen to the Rain on the Roof "Listen to the Rain on the Roof" is the third season premiere episode of the American comedy-drama series '' Desperate Housewives'', and the 48th episode overall. The episode premiered on ABC (American Broadcasting Company) on September 24, 2006 ...

", playing

Carolyn Bigsby '' Desperate Housewives'' is an American comedy-drama series that aired on ABC (American Broadcasting Company). It focuses on the residents living on the fictional Wisteria Lane as narrated by their deceased neighbor, Mary Alice Young (Brenda St ...

". The

season finale A season finale (British English: last in the series; Australian English: season final) is the final episode of a season of a television program. This is often the final episode to be produced for a few months or longer, and, as such, will try ...

receives a nomination for Outstanding Costumes, whereas " It Takes Two" was nominated for Outstanding Hairsyling. The production team also received a nomination for Outstanding Casting in a Comedy Series. At the 2007

Bambi Awards The Bambi, often called the Bambi Award and stylised as BAMBI, is a German award presented annually by Hubert Burda Media to recognize excellence in international media and television to personalities in the media, arts, culture, sports, and ot ...

, Eva Longoria was for the Television Series International for her portrayal of Gabrielle Solis. The Casting Society of America nominated Junie Lowry-Johnson and Scott Genkinger for Best Comedy Episodic Casting, whereas the Costume Designer's Guild Awards nominated the series for Excellence for Costume Design for Television. At the 19th Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Media Awards the series is nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series, while the Imagen Foundation Awards sees Eva Longoria nominated for Best Television Actress. Longoria also received a nomination at the 2007 People's Choice Awards, which resulted in her being awarded as Favorite Television Actress. At the 2007

Monte Carlo TV Festival The Monte-Carlo Television Festival is held every year in June in the Principality of Monaco at the Grimaldi Forum, under the Honorary Presidency of H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco. The opening ceremony inaugurates each new edition, introdu ...

, the series wins the award for Best Comedy Series in the International TV Audience Award category, following another successful nomination the previous year.

Marcia Cross Marcia Anne Cross (born March 25, 1962) is an American actress. She acted in daytime soap operas such as ''The Edge of Night'', '' Another World'', and ''One Life to Live'' before moving to primetime television with a recurring role on ''Knots ...

's portrayal of

Bree Van de Kamp Bree Van de Kamp is a fictional character on the ABC television series '' Desperate Housewives''. She is played by actress Marcia Cross, who has received multiple awards and nominations for her portrayal, including an Emmy Award nomination, ...

and

Shawn Pyfrom Shawn Caminiti Pyfrom (born August 16, 1986) is an American actor and singer, who has appeared in several television series and films, and is best known for his portrayal of Andrew Van de Kamp on ABC's '' Desperate Housewives'', and as Lionel Gr ...

's performance in the role of

Andrew Van de Kamp Andrew Van de Kamp is a fictional character in the ABC television series '' Desperate Housewives'' played by Shawn Pyfrom, and is the son of one of the title characters, Bree Van de Kamp, and her first husband Rex Van de Kamp. As one of the fe ...

were nominated for Performance in a Comedy Series at the 2007 Prism Awards. Cross was awarded at the Satellite Awards in 2006 for Best Actress in Musical or Comedy Series, whereas Laurie Metcalf's portrayal of Carolyn Bigsby resulted in her receiving a nomination at the same year's ceremony. At the 2007 Screen Actors Guild Awards, the series was nominated for Outstanding Cast in a Comedy Series, following a Choice Television Comedy Show nomination at the

Teen Choice Awards The Teen Choice Awards is an annual awards show that airs on the Fox television network. The awards honor the year's biggest achievements in music, film, sports, television, fashion, social media, and more, voted by viewers living in the United ...

, and nomination for

Eva Longoria Eva Jacqueline Longoria Bastón ( Longoria; March 15, 1975) is an American actress, producer, and director. After a number of guest roles on several television series, she was recognized for her portrayal of Isabella Braña on the CBS daytim ...

for Choice Television Comedy Actress. The 2006 Young Artist Awards sees both Joy Lauren and Rachel G. Fox for their portrayals of Danielle Van de Kamp and Kayla Huntington Scavo, respectively.

Ratings

In spite of numerous fan complaints regarding the previous season, the

American Broadcasting Company The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) is an American commercial broadcast television network. It is the flagship property of the ABC Entertainment Group division of The Walt Disney Company. The network is headquartered in Burbank, Cali ...

decided to keep ''Desperate Housewives'' in its original Sunday night timeslot. However, after two years of airing as a lead-in to fellow ABC series ''

Grey's Anatomy ''Grey's Anatomy'' is an American medical drama television series that premiered on March 27, 2005, on ABC as a mid-season replacement. The series focuses on the lives of surgical interns, residents, and attendings as they develop into s ...

'', the series would be followed by '' Brothers & Sisters'', then in its first season, but would remain the lead-out to '' Extreme Makeover: Home Edition''. The show maintained its position as a top ten series and became the tenth most-watched program for the 2006-07 American television season, with an average of 17.5 million viewers per episode. Ratings for the series fell considerably during the season, with a 22 percent loss of viewership toward the end of the season. The highest-rated episode of the season was the season premiere, with 24.09 million viewers tuning in and 8.5 rating, ranking second in the week after the third-season premiere of ''Grey's Anatomy'', which was watched by 25.41 million viewers and received a 9.0 rating. The episode showed a decrease in ratings compared to the previous season premiere, which received a 10.1 rating and was watched by 28.36 million viewers, almost five more million viewers than "

Listen to the Rain on the Roof "Listen to the Rain on the Roof" is the third season premiere episode of the American comedy-drama series '' Desperate Housewives'', and the 48th episode overall. The episode premiered on ABC (American Broadcasting Company) on September 24, 2006 ...

". Although the episode attracted less viewers than ''Grey's Anatomy'' "Time Has Come Today", the episode outperformed ''

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'', also referred to as ''CSI'' and ''CSI: Las Vegas'', is an American procedural forensics crime drama television series that ran on CBS from October 6, 2000, to September 27, 2015, spanning 15 seasons. This wa ...

'', which would eventually become one of the most-watched series of the 2006–2007 season. The lowest-rated episode was the nineteenth, watched by 15.91 million viewers, receiving a 5.6 rating. It was the second most watched episode of an ABC series in the certain week, only after ''Grey's Anatomy'' " Time After Time", which was watched by 21.12 million viewers, and ranked fourth in the week with a 7.5 rating. The

season finale A season finale (British English: last in the series; Australian English: season final) is the final episode of a season of a television program. This is often the final episode to be produced for a few months or longer, and, as such, will try ...

was watched by 18.82 million viewers and ranked seventh in the week, scoring a 6.6 rating. There was a significant decrease in the number of viewers, compared to the previous season finale, which attracted almost seven more million viewers, receiving an 8.6 rating.TV Ratings Top 25: American Idol Back On Top With Both Viewers and Adults 18-49
. Weekly Program Rankings. May 23, 2006. Retrieved June 8, 2010.

Episodes

DVD release

References

External links

* {{Desperate Housewives episodes 2006 American television seasons 2007 American television seasons