Desperate Housewives - NY Daily News Review - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

vashti1999 · 09-30-2004, 10:43 AM

New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com
'Wives' dark and delicious by David Bianculli

Four stars out of four

Desperate Housewives. Sunday night at 9, ABC

The new prime-time soap opera "Desperate Housewives" could be described as a guilty pleasure — but there's no reason for guilt.

This show is an absolute pleasure — and the most entertaining new show of the fall season.

This is one roller-coaster ride you'll want to take, and savor, so don't miss Sunday's premiere (at 9 on ABC).

In one boldly original hour, series creator Marc Cherry introduces five distinct and beautiful suburban women. Before the hour is up, you'll be enchanted and intrigued by each of them.

"Desperate Housewives" is a bitterly funny story about quiet desperations that normally are no laughing matter.

It's actually an hour-long comedy, with lots more laughs than most new sitcoms, but with elements of mystery and drama that also bring to mind the darkness of such David Lynch suburban stories as "Blue Velvet" and, yes, "Twin Peaks."

The way we meet the women of "Desperate Housewives" is brilliantly compact, effective and surprising. Mary Alice Young (Brenda Strong), the narrator of the series, shocks us in the opening minute by putting a gun to her head and pulling the trigger. (This doesn't stop her narration; it provides for a more omniscient point of view.)

The next image establishes the naughty, attention-getting tone of the series. Right after the gunshot, "Desperate Housewives" cuts to a closeup of a small pool of blood-red liquid and a woman's hand as she dips her finger into it and raises the sticky stuff to her mouth.

Then director Charles McDougall pulls back the camera, and we see that it's a neighbor sampling strawberry jam — then hearing the gunshot from her neighbor's house.

That playfulness continues at the wake the next day, when the women of the title are introduced, bearing gifts like suburban Magi and revealing their own characters by what they bring to the bereaved widower.

Single mom Susan Mayer (played by Teri Hatcher of "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman") brings an inedible dish of macaroni and cheese, which even the hunky new neighbor marvels at because of its ghastly texture.

Frazzled Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman from "Sports Night"), mother of four young children, brings store-bought fried chicken.

Stepford wife Bree Van De Kamp (Marcia Cross of "Melrose Place") arrives with ornate gift baskets and instructions on how to distribute the contents and return the containers.

Ex-model Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria of "The Young and the Restless"), the youngest housewife on the block, has a steamy sex life, though not with her rich husband. She brings, fittingly, a hot dish of paella.

And when we first meet Edie Britt (Nicollette Sheridan of "Knots Landing"), the neighborhood predator with a string of conquests and ex-husbands, she, too, is bearing gifts — not for the new widower but for the attractive new neighbor (a plumber). She brings sausage puttanesca, and a request for him to check her pipes.
And the game is on.

The guys of "Desperate Housewives" are going to be competitive players: James Denton as new neighbor Mike; Mark Moses as the widower; and Stephen Culp as Bree's unhappy husband, Rex.

What you'll love most about this show, though, are the women. These actresses seem to recognize just how good Cherry's concept and script are — and each one of them contributes to make it even better.

Each of the leading ladies, in her individual scenes, acts like the star of the show, and deserves to. Each gets at least one all-out, scene-stopping sequence, and performs beautifully in it.

The biggest mystery of all, though, will be if "Desperate Housewives" doesn't provide ABC with its first hour-long instant hit in many years.

Watch it Sunday; talk about it Monday.

spunkygirl · 09-30-2004, 11:28 AM

I'm Def. watching it

Great cast, great writing from what I've seen

The writer for this show also wrote for Melrose Place, he's a good writer

Can't wait

Pavan · 09-30-2004, 03:23 PM

A must see. It should have a huge audience like Lost.

barwars · 09-30-2004, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pavanbadal
A must see. It should have a huge audience like Lost.

Hopefully.
Unlike Lost.... this is a series I can seeing staying around for a long time.
(nothing against Lost.... it justs not something that would be logical for more than 2 or 3 years)

Im definately looking forward to it. Thank god Arrested Development moved to 8:30.... now my TV schedule is free for DH.

snl75 · 10-01-2004, 11:29 PM

im watching i had a big cursh on nicollette back in her knots landing days its gonna be nice to have her back on tv every week

Mr. Television · 10-01-2004, 11:39 PM

I've been a fan of most of these actresses for years so I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully it will be a hit.

Sean Snow · 10-03-2004, 02:49 AM

I'm really looking forward to it. I've read nothing but good reviews, and the promos make it look very, very intriguing. The actresses are also all fantastic. Hopefully it'll be a hit!

TVFactFan · 10-03-2004, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pavanbadal
A must see. It should have a huge audience like Lost.

It may not have a lot of male viewers from ages 18-54 because of Sunday Night Football on ESPN from 8pm-11pm.

JT · 10-03-2004, 10:14 AM

I am EAGERLY anticipating this show!

And like Sean, I've seen nothing but great reviews for DH. It seems that everywhere I turn around, there's an ad for it! There was a full-page color ad in today's issue of Parade (check your newspaper for it).

Just 10 hours and 45 minutes!

barwars · 10-03-2004, 10:12 PM

Holy **** that what was good.

Easily my favorite new drama.
Hell, its my favorite current drama, period.
I liked it all (besides the slut.... kill the slut)

Boston Legal is good too.

spunkygirl · 10-03-2004, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by barwars
Holy **** that what was good.

Easily my favorite new drama.
Hell, its my favorite current drama, period.
I liked it all (besides the slut.... kill the slut)

Boston Legal is good too.

I love it, finally a drama I can get into.

dandelion wine · 10-03-2004, 10:17 PM

I really enjoyed it and I hope it does well.

Susan starting the fire and Bree coming this close to killing her husband.. damn. Yeah, I had fun with it.

barwars · 10-03-2004, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Angela Micelli
I love it, finally a drama I can get into.

if that cliffhanger ending doesnt keep viewers watching.... I dont know what will.

spunkygirl · 10-03-2004, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by little insomniac
I really enjoyed it and I hope it does well.

Susan starting the fire and Bree coming this close to killing her husband.. damn. Yeah, I had fun with it.

Have I said yet that Teri Hatcher kicks ass? All the actresses were great, and Marcia Cross was great, so weird seeing her play someone so opposite of Kimberly from Melrose Place

spunkygirl · 10-03-2004, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by barwars
if that cliffhanger ending doesnt keep viewers watching.... I dont know what will.

Most definitely, I am impatiently waiting for the next episode

Now we just need a DH board here on SO

09-30-2004, 10:43 AM	#1
vashti1999 NY METS - #1 Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 14, 2003 Location: The world's greatest city - New York City Posts: 11,404	Desperate Housewives - NY Daily News Review New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com 'Wives' dark and delicious by David Bianculli Four stars out of four Desperate Housewives. Sunday night at 9, ABC The new prime-time soap opera "Desperate Housewives" could be described as a guilty pleasure — but there's no reason for guilt. This show is an absolute pleasure — and the most entertaining new show of the fall season. This is one roller-coaster ride you'll want to take, and savor, so don't miss Sunday's premiere (at 9 on ABC). In one boldly original hour, series creator Marc Cherry introduces five distinct and beautiful suburban women. Before the hour is up, you'll be enchanted and intrigued by each of them. "Desperate Housewives" is a bitterly funny story about quiet desperations that normally are no laughing matter. It's actually an hour-long comedy, with lots more laughs than most new sitcoms, but with elements of mystery and drama that also bring to mind the darkness of such David Lynch suburban stories as "Blue Velvet" and, yes, "Twin Peaks." The way we meet the women of "Desperate Housewives" is brilliantly compact, effective and surprising. Mary Alice Young (Brenda Strong), the narrator of the series, shocks us in the opening minute by putting a gun to her head and pulling the trigger. (This doesn't stop her narration; it provides for a more omniscient point of view.) The next image establishes the naughty, attention-getting tone of the series. Right after the gunshot, "Desperate Housewives" cuts to a closeup of a small pool of blood-red liquid and a woman's hand as she dips her finger into it and raises the sticky stuff to her mouth. Then director Charles McDougall pulls back the camera, and we see that it's a neighbor sampling strawberry jam — then hearing the gunshot from her neighbor's house. That playfulness continues at the wake the next day, when the women of the title are introduced, bearing gifts like suburban Magi and revealing their own characters by what they bring to the bereaved widower. Single mom Susan Mayer (played by Teri Hatcher of "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman") brings an inedible dish of macaroni and cheese, which even the hunky new neighbor marvels at because of its ghastly texture. Frazzled Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman from "Sports Night"), mother of four young children, brings store-bought fried chicken. Stepford wife Bree Van De Kamp (Marcia Cross of "Melrose Place") arrives with ornate gift baskets and instructions on how to distribute the contents and return the containers. Ex-model Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria of "The Young and the Restless"), the youngest housewife on the block, has a steamy sex life, though not with her rich husband. She brings, fittingly, a hot dish of paella. And when we first meet Edie Britt (Nicollette Sheridan of "Knots Landing"), the neighborhood predator with a string of conquests and ex-husbands, she, too, is bearing gifts — not for the new widower but for the attractive new neighbor (a plumber). She brings sausage puttanesca, and a request for him to check her pipes. And the game is on. The guys of "Desperate Housewives" are going to be competitive players: James Denton as new neighbor Mike; Mark Moses as the widower; and Stephen Culp as Bree's unhappy husband, Rex. What you'll love most about this show, though, are the women. These actresses seem to recognize just how good Cherry's concept and script are — and each one of them contributes to make it even better. Each of the leading ladies, in her individual scenes, acts like the star of the show, and deserves to. Each gets at least one all-out, scene-stopping sequence, and performs beautifully in it. The biggest mystery of all, though, will be if "Desperate Housewives" doesn't provide ABC with its first hour-long instant hit in many years. Watch it Sunday; talk about it Monday.
	__________________ .

09-30-2004, 03:23 PM	#3
Pavan SO News/Reviews Director Administrator Forum Superstar Join Date: Feb 17, 2000 Location: Linden, NJ (Where Hal Linden got his last name from!) Posts: 26,821	A must see. It should have a huge audience like Lost.
	__________________ SitcomsOnline.com News Blog -- The best news out there! SitcomsOnline.com DVD Reviews -- We are #1 in reviews!

10-01-2004, 11:39 PM	#6
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	I've been a fan of most of these actresses for years so I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully it will be a hit.
	__________________ Sonny

10-03-2004, 02:49 AM	#7
Sean Snow moo Forum Fanatic Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,408	I'm really looking forward to it. I've read nothing but good reviews, and the promos make it look very, very intriguing. The actresses are also all fantastic. Hopefully it'll be a hit!
	__________________ If by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people — their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties — someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal," then I'm proud to say I'm a "Liberal." - John F. Kennedy

10-03-2004, 10:14 AM	#9
JT Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 29, 2001 Location: USA Posts: 7,223	I am EAGERLY anticipating this show! And like Sean, I've seen nothing but great reviews for DH. It seems that everywhere I turn around, there's an ad for it! There was a full-page color ad in today's issue of Parade (check your newspaper for it). Just 10 hours and 45 minutes!
	__________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrEbJBFWIPk

09-30-2004, 11:28 AM	#2
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,563	I'm Def. watching it Great cast, great writing from what I've seen The writer for this show also wrote for Melrose Place, he's a good writer Can't wait

10-01-2004, 11:29 PM	#5
snl75 Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 25, 2004 Location: in the formen basement watching snl Posts: 1,377	im watching i had a big cursh on nicollette back in her knots landing days its gonna be nice to have her back on tv every week

10-03-2004, 10:12 PM	#10
barwars .. Forum Star Join Date: May 04, 2002 Posts: 13,273	Holy **** that what was good. Easily my favorite new drama. Hell, its my favorite current drama, period. I liked it all (besides the slut.... kill the slut) Boston Legal is good too.

10-03-2004, 10:17 PM	#12
dandelion wine ~ Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 20, 2003 Location: Behind the Couch Posts: 34,967	I really enjoyed it and I hope it does well. Susan starting the fire and Bree coming this close to killing her husband.. damn. Yeah, I had fun with it.
	__________________ Fans of Jon-Erik Hexum Merry Christmas!