Desperate for Desperate Housewives:
Television Academy Hosts TV’s Hottest Show
By Libby Slate
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| Nicolette Sheridan |
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| Teri Hatcher |
Wisteria Lane came to Lankershim Boulevard for “An Evening with
Desperate Housewives”, held Tuesday, February 22, at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre.
Not even torrential rain could dampen the spirits of the near-capacity crowd, many of whom shivered beneath umbrellas waiting to enter the theatre to see the cast and creator of this TV season’s breakout hit, which airs Sunday nights at 9:00 on ABC.
Representing
Desperate Housewives were its creator and executive producer Marc Cherry, as well as cast members Teri Hatcher (Susan Mayer), Felicity Huffman (Lynette Scavo), Marcia Cross (Bree Van De Kamp), Eva Longoria (Gabrielle Solis), Nicollette Sheridan (Edie Britt), James Denton (Mike Delfino), Doug Savant (Tom Scavo), Brenda Strong (Mary Alice Young), Steven Culp (Rex Van De Kamp),
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| Marcia Cross, Felicity Huffman, Eva Longoria |
Ricardo Antonio Chavira (Carlos Solis), Mark Moses (Paul Young), Andrea Bowen (Julie Mayer), Jesse Metcalfe (John, the gardener) and Cody Kasch (Zach Young). The event was moderated by noted journalist, television and radio personality Leeza Gibbons.
"We are thrilled that ABC and the cast of
Desperate Housewives agreed to be the first panel to kick off the Television Academy's Activities calendar,” Karen Miller, Television Activities Committee Co-Chair, said prior to the event. “This will be the first time, for a public audience, that the cast and the show’s creator will be together to talk about the inner workings of this season’s hottest television program. Not only are Television Academy members going to be treated to a special evening, but fans from all over the country can view the event via the live webcast.”
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| James Denton | Doug Savant |
The recipient of two SAG Awards for Best Ensemble TV Comedy Series and for Best Actress in TV Comedy Series (Hatcher) and two Golden Globe Awards for Best Television Series (Musical or Comedy) and for Best Performance by an Actress (Hatcher) in a Television Series (Musical or Comedy), as well as an Art Directors Guild award and a publicists’ award,
Desperate Housewives is a darkly comedic look at suburbia, where the secret lives of housewives aren't always what they seem. One day, in her perfect house, seemingly happy wife and mother Mary Alice (Strong) commits suicide. Now, from her “elevated” point-of-view, she takes television audiences into the lives of her family, friends and neighbors, commenting on and exposing all the delicious secrets that hide behind every neighbors' closed door in the this deceptively ideal American suburb.
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| Jesse Metcalf |
The panel discussion featured lively conversation, several startlingly candid remarks, lots of laughs and even a few tears. An archived webcast and transcript of the event are available at www.emmys.tv. More than 5,500 people watched the webcast live.
“An Evening with
Desperate Housewives” was produced by Rocci Chatfield, and could not have happened without the efforts of the Television Academy’s Director of Activities Robert O ’Donnell and Activities Coordinator Melissa Brown. Karen Miller’s Co-Chair of the Activities Committee is Barbara Wellner.
Brenda Strong and Ricardo Antonio Chavira are all smiles. Since the show premiered, his life has “done a complete 180,” he said.
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Felicity Huffman kiddingly muzzles
Desperate Housewives creator (and
hilarious quipster) Marc Cherry
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Wisteria Lane meets Lankershim Boulevard on the Goldenson Theatre stage.
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