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, executive produced by Cherry and later by others like Bob Daily and John Pardee, blends elements of mystery, comedy, and drama to portray the lives of several women living on Wisteria Lane. It explores themes of suburban life, secrets, and relationships through a mix of humor and suspense.
1995: John Pardee and Joey Murphy Work on The Crew
In 1995, John Pardee and Joey Murphy, who later worked on Desperate Housewives from the beginning, also worked on Marc Cherry's previous show, The Crew.
1996: ABC's Best Pilot Performance Since Spin City
In 2004, the premiere of Desperate Housewives marked ABC's best pilot performance since Spin City in 1996.
April 2002: Marc Cherry's Desperation
In April 2002, Marc Cherry was 'desperate' and struggling with his career before starting to write the first draft of Desperate Housewives.
October 23, 2003: Desperate Housewives Announced by ABC
On October 23, 2003, Desperate Housewives was announced by ABC as a primetime soap opera created by Charles Pratt Jr. and Marc Cherry, described as a mix of Knots Landing and American Beauty.
2003: The O.C. Success
In 2003, the premiere of The O.C. on Fox showed that a soap opera could succeed in prime time, leading ABC executives to greenlight Desperate Housewives.
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 series was produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions.
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: Cultural Phenomenon of 'Desperate Housewives'
Following the initial success of Desperate Housewives in 2004, the term "desperate housewives" became a cultural phenomenon, inspiring features in TV shows and magazines.
2004: Touchstone Television Produced Desperate Housewives
From 2004 to 2007, Desperate Housewives was produced in association with Touchstone Television.
2004: Desperate Housewives Debuts as Top Show
In 2004, Desperate Housewives became the biggest success of the 2004–05 television season, with the pilot episode attracting 21.3 million viewers.
2004: Screen Actors Guild Award
In 2004, the entire cast was awarded the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Cast – Comedy Series.
April 30, 2005: Laura Bush Declares Herself a 'Desperate Housewife'
On April 30, 2005, former First Lady Laura Bush humorously declared, "Ladies and gentlemen, I am a desperate housewife" during a White House Correspondents' Association dinner, referring to 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 to the first season of the series.
September 2005: Release of 'Music from and Inspired by Desperate Housewives' Soundtrack
In September 2005, Hollywood Records released a soundtrack album titled Music from and Inspired by Desperate Housewives, distributed by Universal Music Group, featuring music inspired by the series.
September 25, 2005: Season Two Premiere
On September 25, 2005, the second season of Desperate Housewives premiered. The central mystery involved Betty Applewhite moving to Wisteria Lane and keeping someone prisoner in her basement. Bree coped with widowhood and alcoholism, Susan's love life became more complicated, Lynette returned to her career, and Gabrielle tried to be faithful to Carlos.
2005: Desperate Housewives Held Time Slot Through 2005
In 2005, Desperate Housewives held the Sunday at 9:00–10:00 p.m. ET slot on ABC, maintaining the position it secured in 2004.
2005: Golden Globe and Emmy Awards
In 2005, Desperate Housewives won the Golden Globe Award for Best Series – Musical or Comedy at the 62nd Golden Globe Awards. It also won several Primetime Emmy Awards at the 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, including awards for Kathryn Joosten, Charles McDougall, Danny Elfman, and Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series. The entire cast was also awarded the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Cast – Comedy Series and Nicollette Sheridan was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film.
2005: Music from and Inspired by Desperate Housewives Released
In 2005, Hollywood Records produced the first soundtrack album, Music from and Inspired by Desperate Housewives, distributed by Universal Music Group.
2005: People's Choice and TV Land Awards
In 2005, the show 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: Emmy Awards and Recognition for Theme Music
In 2005, the theme music for Desperate Housewives, composed by Danny Elfman, won both 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 in 2005.
February 26, 2006: Announcement of South American versions
On February 26, 2006, The Walt Disney Company announced that four South American versions of the show were about to begin production.
May 2006: Tom Spezialy Leaves Show
In May 2006, Tom Spezialy left Desperate Housewives, just weeks before the second-season finale, amidst criticisms of declining script quality.
September 24, 2006: Season Three Premiere
On September 24, 2006, the third season of Desperate Housewives premiered. This season's mystery involved Bree's marriage to Orson Hodge and his past. Lynette adjusted to Tom's daughter and the Scavos considered opening a pizzeria. Gabrielle went through a divorce and found new love. Mike fell into a coma and Edie tried to make her move on him. A shooting at a grocery store changed the lives of the residents forever.
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, featuring an original storyline spanning 12 episodes.
October 2006: Publication of 'The Desperate Housewives Cookbook'
In October 2006, Hyperion published The Desperate Housewives Cookbook – Juicy Dishes and Saucy Bits.
December 2006: Auction of Walk-On Part Raises Funds for ChildLine
In December 2006, during a fundraising auction for ChildLine, a walk-on part in Desperate Housewives had the highest bid at £17,000, surpassing Daniel Craig's James Bond tuxedo from Casino Royale.
December 2006: Announcement of Fashion Dolls
In December 2006, it was announced that Susan, Lynette, Bree, Gabrielle, and Edie characters would be made into fashion dolls by Madame Alexander.
2006: Syndication on Lifetime begins
From 2006, Desperate Housewives was syndicated on Lifetime in the United States.
2006: Release of 'Delicious Housewives, A Novel of Erotica'
In 2006, RSVP Press released 'Delicious Housewives, A Novel of Erotica' by Tamarias Tyree, an unauthorized erotic parody of the series.
2006: Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards
In 2006, the show won a Golden Globe Award for Best Series – Musical or Comedy at the 63rd Golden Globe Awards, and all four leading women were nominated. The cast ensemble was awarded a Screen Actors Guild Award, as was Felicity Huffman. The show was also nominated for the Pioneer Award at the BAFTA awards but lost to Doctor Who.
2006: TP de Oro Award
In 2006, the show won the TP de Oro for Best Foreign Series.
September 30, 2007: Season Four Premiere
On September 30, 2007, season four of Desperate Housewives premiered, with the main mystery focusing on Katherine Mayfair and her family's return to Wisteria Lane. The season involved Lynette battling cancer, Gabrielle having an affair, Susan expecting a child, Bree faking a pregnancy, and Edie scheming to hold onto Carlos. A tornado threatened the residents. The season ended with a five-year time jump.
2007: Andrews McMeel Publishing Wall Calendars
In 2007, Andrews McMeel Publishing continued publishing official wall calendars, featuring shots taken from the series.
2007: Series Continues Success
In 2007, Desperate Housewives proved to have staying power with an average of 18.2 million viewers.
2007: Most Popular Show Worldwide
In 2007, Desperate Housewives was reported to be the most popular show in its demographic worldwide, with an audience of approximately 120 million viewers.
2007: Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe Award Nominations
In 2007, Felicity Huffman received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination, as did Laurie Metcalf and Dixie Carter. The show, Marcia Cross, and Felicity Huffman were nominated for Golden Globe Awards. Huffman and the cast were also nominated for Screen Actors Guild Awards. None of these nominations resulted in awards.
2007: Publication of 'Desperate Housewives Dirty Laundry Game'
In 2007, the board game Desperate Housewives Dirty Laundry Game, based on the third season, was published by British company Re:creation.
2007: Release of Fashion Dolls
In 2007, the fashion dolls were released in a limited edition of 300 pieces each.
2007: ABC Studios Produces Desperate Housewives
Since 2007, Desperate Housewives has been produced by ABC Studios, in addition to creator Marc Cherry (Cherry Productions) and Austin Bagley.
September 28, 2008: Season Five Premiere
On September 28, 2008, the fifth season of Desperate Housewives premiered, jumping five years into the future. The season mystery involved Edie's new husband, Dave Williams, seeking revenge on Mike. Susan and Mike divorced, Lynette dealt with her son's affair, Gabrielle struggled with Carlos' blindness and financial issues, and Bree had marriage problems due to her career focus. Edie died after a car crash.
December 2008: Nielsen Releases Online Viewing Figures
In December 2008, Nielsen Media Research released its first public rankings of individual television programs online, reporting that Desperate Housewives had 723,000 unique online viewers.
2008: Andrews McMeel Publishing Wall Calendars
In 2008, Andrews McMeel Publishing continued publishing official wall calendars, featuring shots taken from the series.
2008: Broadcast of Brazilian version
In 2008, Donas de Casa Desesperadas began being broadcast on RedeTV! in Brazil.
2008: Tornado Episode Boosts Ratings
In 2008, the ninth episode of Desperate Housewives, "Something's Coming", which featured a heavily marketed tornado, drew 20.6 million viewers.
2008: Primetime Emmy and Screen Actors Guild Award Nominations and Win
In 2008, the show received the least nominations including at the 65th Golden Globe Awards. The cast was nominated at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. The show was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards. Kathryn Joosten won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.
August 2009: Launch of Fragrance Collection 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.
August 2009: Marc Cherry Comments on Show's Future
In August 2009, Marc Cherry stated that Desperate Housewives still "has a lot of life left in it," suggesting the series would continue for a few more years.
September 27, 2009: Season Six Premiere
On September 27, 2009, the sixth season of Desperate Housewives premiered. The main mystery revolved around new neighbor Angie Bolen and her family. The season included Julie being strangled, conflict between Gabrielle and her niece, Karen McCluskey finding love, Lynette suing Carlos, Katherine's mental breakdown, and Bree's affair with Karl, which ended in his death. The second half of the season focused on Katherine experimenting with her sexuality and the resolution of the Bolen mystery.
October 2009: Cherry Signs Two-Year Deal with ABC
In October 2009, Marc Cherry signed a two-year deal with ABC that potentially would keep Desperate Housewives on the air until 2013.
2009: Beau Bridges Nomination
In 2009, Beau Bridges received a nomination.
2009: Desperate Housewives Ranked Among Most-Pirated Shows
In 2009, Desperate Housewives was the seventh-most-pirated television show.
September 26, 2010: Season Seven Premiere
On September 26, 2010, the seventh season of Desperate Housewives premiered. The main mystery was Paul Young's return to Wisteria Lane with a new wife and plans for revenge. Lynette's college friend Renee Perry moved onto the lane. Gabrielle and Carlos learned about their daughter Juanita being switched at birth. Bree revealed the truth about Carlos' mother's death, ending her friendship with Carlos. Susan and her family moved off the lane, and she resorted to pornography for money. Lynette persuaded Tom to take a new job, causing marriage problems.
2010: Third-Highest Revenue-Earning Series
In 2010, Desperate Housewives was the third-highest revenue-earning series, generating $2.74 million per half an hour.
2010: Kathryn Joosten Nomination
In 2010, Kathryn Joosten received a nomination.
2010: Ratings Affected by Winter Olympics and Other Shows
In 2010, the ratings for the sixth season of Desperate Housewives were down due to heavy competition from events like the 2010 Winter Olympics and new shows like Undercover Boss.
March 2011: Ratings Reached Since Searching Episode
The series finale titled "Finishing the Hat" which aired May 13, 2012, was viewed by 11.12 million viewers and a 3.2 in the demo, this was the highest rated episode since March 2011 with "Searching".
April 2011: Longoria Confirms Eighth Season
In April 2011, Eva Longoria confirmed that there would definitely be an eighth season of Desperate Housewives and expressed hopes for a ninth season.
May 17, 2011: Desperate Housewives Renewed 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: Season Eight Premiere
On September 25, 2011, the eighth and final season of Desperate Housewives premiered. The season's main mystery involved the cover-up of Gabrielle's stepfather's death. Bree received a blackmail letter. A new neighbor, Ben Faulkner, moved onto the lane. Mike was shot dead. Susan struggled with guilt and Julie's pregnancy. Tom moved out, and Lynette tried to win him back. Mrs. McCluskey received bad news about her health.
2011: Brenda Strong Nomination and Vanessa L. Williams wins
In 2011, Brenda Strong received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance. Vanessa L. Williams won an NAACP Image Award and a Satellite Award.
2011: Airing of Turkish version begins
In 2011, the Turkish version titled Umutsuz Ev Kadınları aired on Kanal D in Turkey.
April 26, 2012: Filming for Desperate Housewives Concluded
On April 26, 2012, filming for the television series Desperate Housewives officially ended.
May 13, 2012: Desperate Housewives Series Finale
On May 13, 2012, Desperate Housewives aired its series finale on ABC, concluding its eight-season run with a total of 180 episodes.
2012: Brenda Strong and Kathryn Joosten Nomination
In 2012, Brenda Strong and Kathryn Joosten received Primetime Emmy Award nominations.
2012: Most-Watched Comedy Series Internationally
In 2012, Desperate Housewives remained the most-watched comedy series internationally, based on data from Eurodata TV Worldwide since 2006.
2012: Syndication on Lifetime ends
In 2012, Desperate Housewives stopped being syndicated on Lifetime in the United States.
2012: End of the original series
In 2012, the original Desperate Housewives series concluded.
2013: Vanessa L. Williams wins
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 End Date
In April 2011, Cherry hinted that Desperate Housewives would end in 2013.
2013: Potential End Date of Desperate Housewives
In October 2009, Marc Cherry signed a deal that could keep Desperate Housewives on the air until 2013.
2013: Announcement of African version and air on FOX Turkey
In fall 2013, Disney Media Distribution and EbonyLife TV announced that they were producing an African version of Desperate Housewives. Also, the Turkish version aired on FOX Turkey.
2013: North Korea Executes People for Watching
In fall 2013, North Korea allegedly executed eighty people for watching banned South Korean soap operas, with Desperate Housewives being among the most common ones watched secretly.
2014: Scheduled Premiere of African version
In summer 2014, Desperate Housewives Africa was scheduled to premiere on EbonyLife TV.
September 2015: Desperate Housewives Ranked on Hollywood's 100 Favorite TV Shows
In September 2015, Desperate Housewives ranked at number one hundred on The Hollywood Reporter's "Hollywood's 100 Favorite TV Shows", as determined by television industry professionals.
2015: Airing of African version
In 2015, Desperate Housewives Africa aired its only season.
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.
2017: Opening Sequence Ranked Among Best TV Title Sequences
In 2017, James Charisma of Paste ranked the opening sequence of Desperate Housewives 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
In April 2025, a new television series titled Wisteria Lane was reported to be in development at Onyx Collective. The project is described as a darkly comedic mystery-drama in the vein of Desperate Housewives.
2025: No Blu-ray release as of 2025
As of 2025, there has been no Blu-ray release of the series. The series is available for streaming on Prime Video and Hulu in 1080p HD; for offline viewing, all episodes of the show can be purchased from Prime Video, Google Play or Vudu. It is also available on Disney+ in countries that have the Star brand.
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