History of Desperate Housewives in Timeline
Desperate Housewives, created by Marc Cherry, is an American mystery comedy-drama that aired on ABC for eight seasons (2004-2012), totaling 180 episodes. The show, produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions, had Marc Cherry as showrunner and featured executive producers like Bob Daily and others from the fourth season onwards. The series blends elements of mystery, comedy, and drama within a suburban setting.
1995: John Pardee and Joey Murphy Work on 'The Crew'
In 1995, John Pardee and Joey Murphy, who later joined the Desperate Housewives team, also worked on Marc Cherry's previous show, 'The Crew'.
1996: Pilot Episode Success
In 1996, Desperate Housewives pilot episode success was the best performance by a pilot for ABC, since Spin City
1999: Reference to American Beauty
In 2003, when Desperate Housewives was officially announced by ABC, it was described as a mix of Knots Landing and American Beauty (released in 1999) with a little bit of Twin Peaks.
April 2002: Marc Cherry's "Desperate" Moment and the Genesis of Desperate Housewives
In April 2002, Marc Cherry conceived the idea for Desperate Housewives after watching a news report on Andrea Yates. Facing career struggles and financial difficulties, Cherry wrote the first draft of Desperate Housewives, hoping to turn his life around.
October 23, 2003: Desperate Housewives Announced by ABC
On October 23, 2003, Desperate Housewives was officially announced by ABC. It was presented as a primetime soap opera created by Charles Pratt Jr. and Marc Cherry, described as a mix of Knots Landing and American Beauty with elements of Twin Peaks.
2003: ABC Greenlights Desperate Housewives
In 2003, after multiple rejections from other networks, ABC executives Lloyd Braun and Susan Lyne greenlit Desperate Housewives. This decision was reportedly influenced by the success of The O.C. on Fox, which demonstrated that a soap opera could succeed in prime time.
May 18, 2004: ABC Announces 2004-2005 Lineup
On May 18, 2004, ABC announced its 2004–2005 television lineup, placing Desperate Housewives in the Sunday at 9:00–10:00 p.m. ET slot.
October 3, 2004: Desperate Housewives Series Premiere
On October 3, 2004, Desperate Housewives, created by Marc Cherry, premiered on ABC. The mystery comedy-drama aired for eight seasons, totaling 180 episodes.
October 20, 2004: Desperate Housewives Picked Up for Full Season
On October 20, 2004, after airing only three episodes, ABC announced that Desperate Housewives, along with Lost, had been picked up for a full season.
2004: "Desperate Housewives" becomes a Cultural Phenomenon
Following the initial success of the show in 2004, the term "desperate housewives" became a cultural phenomenon, which warranted "real-life desperate housewives" features in TV shows and magazines.
2004: Desperate Housewives Becomes TV Success
In 2004, Desperate Housewives became a significant television success, well-received by critics and viewers, with the pilot episode drawing 21.3 million viewers.
2004: Production of Desperate Housewives Begins
In 2004, Desperate Housewives began production in association with Touchstone Television.
2004: Awards for Desperate Housewives
In 2004, the entire cast of Desperate Housewives was awarded the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Cast – Comedy Series.
2004: Early Critical and Viewer Reception
Starting in 2004, Desperate Housewives was well received by viewers and critics, receiving many accolades.
April 30, 2005: Laura Bush Declares Herself a "Desperate Housewife"
On April 30, 2005, former First Lady Laura Bush humorously declared herself a 'desperate housewife' during a dinner with the White House Correspondents' Association, referencing the show.
September 2005: Release of 'Desperate Housewives: Behind Closed Doors'
In September 2005, ABC's sister company, Hyperion Books, released 'Desperate Housewives: Behind Closed Doors', a companion book to the series' first season, written by the production team.
September 2005: Release of Music from and Inspired by Desperate Housewives Soundtrack Album
In September 2005, Hollywood Records released a soundtrack album titled Music from and Inspired by Desperate Housewives, distributed by Universal Music Group. The album featured music inspired by the series, as well as sound clips from the first season, performed by female artists like LeAnn Rimes, Gloria Estefan and Shania Twain. However, no music composed for the series was included, causing some controversy.
September 25, 2005: Second Season Premiere
On September 25, 2005, the second season of Desperate Housewives premiered, introducing the mystery of new neighbor Betty Applewhite and her family. The season also explores Bree's struggles as a widow, Susan's complicated love life, Lynette's return to her career, and Gabrielle's decision to be faithful to Carlos.
2005: People's Choice Award and TV Land Awards
In 2005, Desperate Housewives won the People's Choice Award for Favorite New Television Drama at the 31st People's Choice Awards and the Future Classic Award at the 2005 TV Land Awards.
2005: Soundtrack Album Release
In 2005, Hollywood Records, distributed by Universal Music Group, produced the first soundtrack album, Music from and Inspired by Desperate Housewives.
2005: NBC Expresses Interest in Desperate Housewives
In 2005, after Desperate Housewives premiered and achieved high ratings, the owners of NBC contacted those who had passed on the series to inquire about their decision.
2005: Continued Awards Success
In 2005, the entire cast of Desperate Housewives was awarded the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Cast – Comedy Series again.
2005: Awards for Desperate Housewives Opening Music
In 2005, the opening music for Desperate Housewives, composed by Danny Elfman, won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music and the BMI TV Music Award. It was also included on the album Music from and Inspired by Desperate Housewives.
February 26, 2006: Announcement of South American Versions
On February 26, 2006, The Walt Disney Company announced that four South American versions of Desperate Housewives were about to begin production for Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, and Brazil.
May 2006: Spezialy Leaves Show
In May 2006, Tom Spezialy left Desperate Housewives, shortly before the second-season finale, due to creative conflicts and declining script quality.
September 24, 2006: Third Season Premiere
On September 24, 2006, the third season of Desperate Housewives premiered. The main mystery revolves around Bree's new husband, Orson Hodge, and his past. Lynette deals with Tom's previously unknown daughter, Gabrielle navigates a divorce, and Susan copes with Mike's amnesia. A shooting at a local grocery store also impacts the lives of the characters.
October 5, 2006: Release of Desperate Housewives: The Game
On October 5, 2006, Buena Vista Games released the life simulation computer video game, Desperate Housewives: The Game, in North America. The game features an original story line spanning 12 episodes and is set on Wisteria Lane.
October 2006: Publication of 'The Desperate Housewives Cookbook – Juicy Dishes and Saucy Bits'
In October 2006, Hyperion published 'The Desperate Housewives Cookbook – Juicy Dishes and Saucy Bits'.
December 2006: Auction of Walk-on Part
In December 2006, during a fundraising auction for ChildLine, a walk-on part in Desperate Housewives had the highest bid at £17,000.
December 2006: Announcement of Madame Alexander Fashion Dolls
In December 2006, it was announced that Madame Alexander would produce 16-inch fashion dolls based on the characters of Susan, Lynette, Bree, Gabrielle, and Edie.
2006: Syndication on Lifetime Begins
In 2006, Desperate Housewives began being syndicated on Lifetime in the United States.
2006: Awards and Nominations for Desperate Housewives
In 2006, Desperate Housewives won a Golden Globe Award for Best Series – Musical or Comedy at the 63rd Golden Globe Awards. All four leading women received Golden Globe nominations, though none won. The cast ensemble received a Screen Actors Guild Award, as did Felicity Huffman. At the 58th Primetime Emmy Awards, Shirley Knight and Alfre Woodard received nominations, but did not win. The show was also nominated for the Pioneer Award at the BAFTA awards but lost to Doctor Who.
2006: TP de Oro for Best Foreign Series
In 2006, Desperate Housewives won the TP de Oro for Best Foreign Series.
2006: Release of 'Delicious Housewives, A Novel of Erotica'
In 2006, RSVP Press released 'Delicious Housewives, A Novel of Erotica', an erotic parody of Desperate Housewives, written by Tamarias Tyree. The novel features the housewives' sexual misadventures leading to an appearance on the Jerry Springer Show.
2006: Continued International Success
Since 2006, Desperate Housewives was the most-watched comedy series internationally based on data from Eurodata TV Worldwide.
May 2007: Broadcast of Colombian and Ecuadorean Versions
In May 2007, the first season of the Colombian (RCN TV) and Ecuadorean (Teleamazonas) versions of Desperate Housewives, both titled Amas de Casa Desesperadas, began being broadcast in Ecuador.
September 30, 2007: Fourth Season Premiere
On September 30, 2007, the fourth season of Desperate Housewives premiered, introducing Katherine Mayfair and her family. The season includes Lynette battling cancer, Gabrielle having an affair, Susan and Mike expecting a child, Bree faking a pregnancy, and Edie scheming to hold onto Carlos. A tornado threatens Wisteria Lane, and the season concludes with a five-year time jump.
2007: Series Maintains Staying Power
For its fourth season in 2007, the series proved to have staying power.
2007: ABC Studios Joins Production
In 2007, ABC Studios joined Marc Cherry (Cherry Productions) and Austin Bagley in the production of Desperate Housewives.
2007: Global Popularity Peak
In 2007, Desperate Housewives was reported to be the most popular show in its demographic worldwide, with an audience of approximately 120 million, and was also reported as the third-most-watched television series in a study of ratings in twenty countries.
2007: Desperate Housewives Award Nominations
In 2007, Felicity Huffman received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for the second time, and Laurie Metcalf and Dixie Carter also received nominations at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards. Desperate Housewives, Marcia Cross, and Felicity Huffman received Golden Globe Award nominations at the 64th Golden Globe Awards. Huffman and the cast ensemble were also nominated for the Screen Actors Guild Awards. However, none of the nominations resulted in any awards.
2007: Release of Madame Alexander Fashion Dolls
In 2007, Madame Alexander released the Desperate Housewives fashion dolls in a limited edition of 300 pieces each.
2007: Publication of Official Wall Calendars
In 2007, official wall calendars featuring shots from the series, continued to be published by Andrews McMeel Publishing.
2007: Release of Desperate Housewives Dirty Laundry Game
In 2007, the British company Re:creation published the board game Desperate Housewives Dirty Laundry Game, based on the show's third season. Players attempt to guess opponents' secrets by answering trivia questions.
September 28, 2008: Fifth Season Premiere
On September 28, 2008, the fifth season of Desperate Housewives premiered, with a five-year time jump. The main mystery involves Edie's new husband, Dave Williams, seeking revenge. Susan and Mike are divorced, Lynette deals with her son's affair, Gabrielle struggles with Carlos' blindness and financial issues, and Bree's marriage faces problems. Edie dies after discovering Dave's secret.
December 2008: Unique Online Viewers Statistics
In December 2008, Nielsen Media Research reported that Desperate Housewives had 723,000 unique online viewers.
2008: Desperate Housewives Regains Top Ratings
In 2008, Desperate Housewives moved back into the top five highest-rated programs, becoming the number-one ABC drama and the number-one scripted series, beating Grey's Anatomy and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
2008: Kathryn Joosten Wins Primetime Emmy Award
In 2008, Desperate Housewives received the least nominations to date, with none at the 65th Golden Globe Awards and only the cast nominated at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. The show was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards, and Kathryn Joosten won the show's seventh Primetime Emmy Award and first since its debut year for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.
2008: Broadcast of Brazilian Version
In 2008, Donas de Casa Desesperadas began being broadcast on RedeTV! in Brazil.
2008: Publication of Official Wall Calendars
In 2008, official wall calendars featuring shots from the series, continued to be published by Andrews McMeel Publishing.
2008: Continued Top Ten Rating
Through the 2008-09 television season, Desperate Housewives remained among the top ten most-watched series.
August 2009: Presentation of Four Fragrances by LR Health & Beauty Systems
In August 2009, LR Health & Beauty Systems presented a collection of four fragrances, each based on and titled after a Desperate Housewives lead character: Susan, Lynette, Bree and Gabrielle.
August 2009: Marc Cherry Discusses Desperate Housewives' Future
In August 2009, Marc Cherry stated that Desperate Housewives still had 'a lot of life left in it,' suggesting the series would continue for a few more years.
September 27, 2009: Sixth Season Premiere
On September 27, 2009, the sixth season of Desperate Housewives premiered. The main mystery revolves around new neighbor Angie Bolen and her family. Other storylines include Julie being strangled, conflict between Gabrielle and her niece, Karen McCluskey finding love, Lynette suing her boss, Katherine's mental breakdown, and Bree's affair. The second half focuses on Katherine's sexuality, the Fairview strangler, conflict between Bree and Rex's son, and solving the Bolen mystery.
October 2009: Cherry Signs Deal with ABC
In October 2009, Marc Cherry signed a two-year deal with ABC that had the potential to keep Desperate Housewives on the air until 2013.
2009: Beau Bridges Receives Nomination
In 2009, Beau Bridges received a nomination for his work on Desperate Housewives.
2009: Desperate Housewives is Among Most-Pirated Shows
In 2009, Desperate Housewives was the seventh-most-pirated television show.
2009: Continued Top Ten Rating in Key Demographic
In 2009-10 television season, Desperate Housewives remained in the top 10 for the key 18–49 demographic.
September 26, 2010: Seventh Season Premiere
On September 26, 2010, the seventh season of Desperate Housewives premiered, focusing on Paul Young's return with a new wife and revenge plans. Lynette's friend Renee moves to the lane, Gabrielle learns about Juanita's birth, Bree dates her contractor, Susan resorts to pornography, and Lynette persuades Tom to take a new job, leading to marital problems.
2010: High Revenue Earnings
In 2010, Desperate Housewives was the third-highest revenue-earning series, with $2.74 million per half an hour.
2010: Ratings Affected by Competition
In 2010, Desperate Housewives' sixth-season ratings were affected by heavy competition from events such as the 67th Golden Globe Awards, 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, 2010 Winter Olympics, and the new CBS reality television series Undercover Boss.
2010: Kathryn Joosten Receives Nomination
In 2010, Kathryn Joosten received a nomination for her work on Desperate Housewives.
March 2011: Ratings Slightly Recovered
In March 2011, Desperate Housewives saw a slight recovery in ratings after hitting a series low opposite the 54th Annual Grammy Awards and The Walking Dead.
April 2011: Longoria Confirms Eighth Season
In April 2011, Eva Longoria confirmed the existence of an eighth season of Desperate Housewives and expressed hopes for a ninth season.
May 17, 2011: Renewal for Eighth Season
On May 17, 2011, Desperate Housewives was officially renewed by ABC for an eighth season.
August 2011: Eighth Season Confirmed as Final Season
In August 2011, it was confirmed that the eighth season of Desperate Housewives would be the final season.
September 25, 2011: Eighth and Final Season Premiere
On September 25, 2011, the eighth and final season of Desperate Housewives premiered. The main mystery centers on the cover-up of Gabrielle's stepfather's death. Bree receives a blackmail letter and faces accusations. A new neighbor, Ben, arrives, and Mike is shot dead. Susan deals with Julie's pregnancy and Mike's death, while Gabrielle and Carlos switch house roles. Lynette tries to win Tom back, and Mrs. McCluskey receives bad news about her health.
2011: Brenda Strong Receives Emmy Nomination and Vanessa L. Williams Wins NAACP Image Award
In 2011, Brenda Strong received her first Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance at the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards. Also in 2011, Vanessa L. Williams won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series at the 41st NAACP Image Awards and a Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television.
2011: Airing of Turkish Version Begins
In 2011, the Turkish version of Desperate Housewives, titled Umutsuz Ev Kadınları, began airing on Kanal D in Turkey.
April 26, 2012: Filming Ends for Desperate Housewives
On April 26, 2012, filming for the series Desperate Housewives officially concluded.
May 13, 2012: Desperate Housewives Series Finale
On May 13, 2012, Desperate Housewives aired its series finale on ABC, concluding its eight-season run of 180 episodes.
2012: Desperate Housewives Concludes
In 2012, Desperate Housewives concluded its original run, marking the first time the franchise has been officially expanded since the end of the show.
2012: End of Syndication on Lifetime
In 2012, Desperate Housewives ended its syndication run on Lifetime in the United States.
2012: Most-Watched Comedy Series Internationally
In 2012, Desperate Housewives remained the most-watched comedy series internationally based on data from Eurodata TV Worldwide, which measured ratings across five continents, a position held since 2006.
2012: Strong and Joosten Receive Primetime Emmy Award Nominations
In 2012, Strong and Joosten received Primetime Emmy Award nominations again at the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards.
2013: North Korea Executes People for Watching Banned Shows
In 2013, North Korea allegedly executed eighty people for watching banned South Korean soap operas and Desperate Housewives, which were being secretly watched using mp3 players, hard drives, and DVDs.
2013: Vanessa L. Williams Wins NAACP Image Award
In 2013, Vanessa L. Williams won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for the series' eighth and final season.
2013: Cherry hints at Desperate Housewives ending
In April 2011, Cherry hinted that Desperate Housewives would end in 2013.
2013: Potential End of Desperate Housewives
In October 2009, Marc Cherry signed a two-year deal with ABC that could keep Desperate Housewives on the air until 2013.
2014: Scheduled Premiere of Desperate Housewives Africa
In 2014, Desperate Housewives Africa was scheduled to premiere in summer on EbonyLife TV.
September 2015: Desperate Housewives Ranks on Hollywood Reporter's List
In September 2015, Desperate Housewives ranked at number one hundred on The Hollywood Reporter's 'Hollywood's 100 Favorite TV Shows', determined by television industry professionals.
2015: Airing of Only Season of Desperate Housewives Africa
In 2015, the only season of Desperate Housewives Africa aired.
June 2017: Release of Desperate Housewives: The Game on App Store and Google Play
In June 2017, Megazebra released Desperate Housewives: The Game on the App Store and Google Play, allowing players to play as a new neighbor on Wisteria Lane.
2017: Desperate Housewives Opening Sequence Ranked
In 2017, James Charisma of Paste ranked the Desperate Housewives opening sequence at the 29th position on a list of The 75 Best TV Title Sequences of All Time.
April 2025: Development of 'Wisteria Lane' TV Series Announced
In April 2025, it was reported that a new television series titled 'Wisteria Lane' was in development at Onyx Collective. Described as a darkly comedic mystery-drama, it is considered a spiritual successor to Desperate Housewives.
2026: No Blu-ray Release
As of 2026, there has been no Blu-ray release of Desperate Housewives.
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