TVSquad Talks To New Wisteria Lane Resident Vanessa Williams on Season 7 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 09-24-2010, 07:37 PM

"Desperate Housewives" Season 7 Preview: Vanessa Williams Talks About Her New Wisteria Lane Diva
by Kim Potts
posted Sept 24th 2010

There's no major time jump for the seventh season of "Desperate Housewives", but when Vanessa Williams' new diva, Renee Perry, sashays into town in the Sept. 26 season premiere (9PM ET, ABC), the Wisteria Lane women may wish they could travel back to a pre-Renee time.

Because, not totally unlike her famous "Ugly Betty" character, Wilhelmina Slater, Renee is a major diva. And she comes to town to reconnect with old college pal Lynette (Felicity Huffman) -- or so she says.

The two are probably better described as frenemies and their relationship is a contentious one that includes lots of clever little jabs at each other.

But Lynette soon learns that Renee has actually come to Wisteria Lane to start over, because her perfect, glamorous life as the wife of a professional baseball player isn't so perfect after all.

And Renee is going to tangle with some other Wisteria Lane residents, namely Bree (Marcia Cross), when they both have their eye on a rather handsome, prone-to-being-shirtless handyman played by "Beverly Hills, 90210" alum Brian Austin Green.

Williams, who wrapped a run in 'Sondheim on Sondheim' on Broadway earlier this year, has already filmed several episodes as the newest Wisteria Lane resident, and she talked to AOL's TV Squad earlier this week about what can expect to see as she becomes the newest kid on the block.

I read something that referred to Renee as the fifth housewife, which I thought was really funny after watching the premiere ... she's anything but the "fifth" anything.

She really makes her presence felt right away, no?

Oh good! I mean, honestly, I haven't gotten the screener for the first episode yet, so I haven't seen it all cut together, but I'm happy to hear it's strong and makes an impact ... that's great!

Particularly Renee's entrance, in the limo.
It tells you a lot about what you need to know about the character ...

(Laughing) I know that they wanted to make the entrance of Renee special and unique, and you know, starting with the shoes coming out of the limo door opening ...

I'm glad that you got that from the scene, because they worked hard on making sure that she makes an impact right away.

How would you describe Renee, if you had to give a one or two-sentence description of her, to someone who hadn't seen her at all yet?

She's a passive-aggressive, nouveau riche sports celebrity's wife, who has a lot of aspirations and is an outsider trying to settle in the suburban environment where she's chosen to start her new life.

And why is she starting over on Wisteria Lane?

I think she, now that she's reconnected with Lynette ... I think it's about) starting a new life. She's never done the suburban thing.

Even though she doesn't have children, and really has no desire at all to have children, it's an opportunity for her to kind of reinvent herself in a suburban environment.

Will we see flashbacks eventually in the season to Renee and Lynette when they were in college, and first became friends?

Oooh, I don't know. (Laughing) I'll have to ask Marc (Cherry) that.

There's nothing that's been written so far. We're just starting episode seven. We start on that today, and, so far, no flashbacks.

But that would be very funny! I might have to suggest that.

There are rumors that Renee will have some romantic aspirations towards Brian Austin Green's character, Keith ... true?

Yes, yes, we really delve into that around episode two or three. It really establishes the character, and it's a wonderful opportunity for me to work with Marcia. We've had a ball.

It's been wonderful to come in with humor, and the other women love it, too, because we all get a chance to be funny a lot, which is great.

How did the role on "DH" come about?

I was on Broadway doing 'Sondheim on Sondheim,' and my agents tell me that I have a meeting with Marc Cherry. I thought it was for a future project.

He was in town, and he basically said that he had gotten a phone call from (former ABC exec) Stephen McPherson, and Steve wanted me on the show. (Marc) asked whether I'd seen the show, and what I thought about it. And I said, 'Yes, I've seen the show, and sure, let's think about something.'

And then Marc said, "OK, we'll come up with something that you like, a character that you like." And the offer came in that afternoon, and the deal was done ...

I think, we finished the deal maybe three, four days later. So it came in lightning speed, and it was done in the blink of an eye.

Wow, if only all deals worked out that quickly and easily ...

Yeah, right! (Laughing)

Did you know at that point the kind of character, or the exact character, that you would play?

Well, I mean I knew that ... you know, obviously, Wilhelmina Slater had given me four tremendous years, and they didn't want it to be another Wilhelmina Slater, which of course, we couldn't do.

But I think they knew they definitely wanted her to be a personality that was large and one to be reckoned with. So Renee is a lot more passive-aggressive. She tries to be friendly, but sometimes just says inappropriate things.

And she's quite competitive with Lynette, because of the nature of them being college roommates and having a history. Wilhelmina just invoked fear and in nearly everyone that she worked with, and she was an expert at so many things, and she was ... her personality was so big.

I think Renee is more of an outsider trying to fit into a different type of life, and a different group of girls.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/09/24/de...illiams-talks/

isiahthomas · 10-16-2010, 02:45 PM

I didn't realize Vanessa was on here until i saw a commercial for Desperate Housewives. She still looks good and she got big breasts LOL. I saw last week's episode and it was good. How long has Desperate Housewives been on this season? This is my first time seeing this season's episode last week. Did it come back on in September?

JamesG · 10-16-2010, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isiahthomas

I didn't realize Vanessa was on here until i saw a commercial for Desperate Housewives. She still looks good and she got big breasts LOL. I saw last week's episode and it was good. How long has Desperate Housewives been on this season? This is my first time seeing this season's episode last week. Did it come back on in September?

The 7th Season started on Sept. 26th.

Tomorrow (Sunday - Oct. 17th) will be the 4th episode of the new season.

isiahthomas · 10-23-2010, 11:00 AM

JamesG, who is that ugly man in your avatar? LOL. I saw Desperate Housewives last week and it was funny. LOL@Vanessa Williams being afraid of midgets hahahahahahahahahahahaha. Bree was told by Lynette that Vanessa is afraid of midgets and Bree got a midget from her church to walk up to her at a restaurant Vanessa was at with Brian Austin Green when they were on a date. When Vanessa saw the midget, she screamed and jumped up on the table LOL. Bree wants to get with Brian and Vanessa wants him too. So that's why Bree did what she did so she could get Brian. Vanessa told her she can have him if she really thinks he can make her happy.

JamesG · 10-23-2010, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isiahthomas

JamesG, who is that ugly man in your avatar? LOL.

That's taken from the movie Dead Snow.

09-24-2010, 07:37 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,136	TVSquad Talks To New Wisteria Lane Resident Vanessa Williams on Season 7 *"Desperate Housewives" Season 7 Preview: Vanessa Williams Talks About Her New Wisteria Lane Diva* by Kim Potts posted Sept 24th 2010 There's no major time jump for the seventh season of "Desperate Housewives", but when Vanessa Williams' new diva, Renee Perry, sashays into town in the Sept. 26 season premiere (9PM ET, ABC), the Wisteria Lane women may wish they could travel back to a pre-Renee time. Because, not totally unlike her famous "Ugly Betty" character, Wilhelmina Slater, Renee is a major diva. And she comes to town to reconnect with old college pal Lynette (Felicity Huffman) -- or so she says. The two are probably better described as frenemies and their relationship is a contentious one that includes lots of clever little jabs at each other. But Lynette soon learns that Renee has actually come to Wisteria Lane to start over, because her perfect, glamorous life as the wife of a professional baseball player isn't so perfect after all. And Renee is going to tangle with some other Wisteria Lane residents, namely Bree (Marcia Cross), when they both have their eye on a rather handsome, prone-to-being-shirtless handyman played by "Beverly Hills, 90210" alum Brian Austin Green. Williams, who wrapped a run in 'Sondheim on Sondheim' on Broadway earlier this year, has already filmed several episodes as the newest Wisteria Lane resident, and she talked to AOL's TV Squad earlier this week about what can expect to see as she becomes the newest kid on the block. I read something that referred to Renee as the fifth housewife, which I thought was really funny after watching the premiere ... she's anything but the "fifth" anything. She really makes her presence felt right away, no? Oh good! I mean, honestly, I haven't gotten the screener for the first episode yet, so I haven't seen it all cut together, but I'm happy to hear it's strong and makes an impact ... that's great! Particularly Renee's entrance, in the limo. It tells you a lot about what you need to know about the character ... (Laughing) I know that they wanted to make the entrance of Renee special and unique, and you know, starting with the shoes coming out of the limo door opening ... I'm glad that you got that from the scene, because they worked hard on making sure that she makes an impact right away. How would you describe Renee, if you had to give a one or two-sentence description of her, to someone who hadn't seen her at all yet? She's a passive-aggressive, nouveau riche sports celebrity's wife, who has a lot of aspirations and is an outsider trying to settle in the suburban environment where she's chosen to start her new life. And why is she starting over on Wisteria Lane? I think she, now that she's reconnected with Lynette ... I think it's about) starting a new life. She's never done the suburban thing. Even though she doesn't have children, and really has no desire at all to have children, it's an opportunity for her to kind of reinvent herself in a suburban environment. Will we see flashbacks eventually in the season to Renee and Lynette when they were in college, and first became friends? Oooh, I don't know. (Laughing) I'll have to ask Marc (Cherry) that. There's nothing that's been written so far. We're just starting episode seven. We start on that today, and, so far, no flashbacks. But that would be very funny! I might have to suggest that. There are rumors that Renee will have some romantic aspirations towards Brian Austin Green's character, Keith ... true? Yes, yes, we really delve into that around episode two or three. It really establishes the character, and it's a wonderful opportunity for me to work with Marcia. We've had a ball. It's been wonderful to come in with humor, and the other women love it, too, because we all get a chance to be funny a lot, which is great. How did the role on "DH" come about? I was on Broadway doing 'Sondheim on Sondheim,' and my agents tell me that I have a meeting with Marc Cherry. I thought it was for a future project. He was in town, and he basically said that he had gotten a phone call from (former ABC exec) Stephen McPherson, and Steve wanted me on the show. (Marc) asked whether I'd seen the show, and what I thought about it. And I said, 'Yes, I've seen the show, and sure, let's think about something.' And then Marc said, "OK, we'll come up with something that you like, a character that you like." And the offer came in that afternoon, and the deal was done ... I think, we finished the deal maybe three, four days later. So it came in lightning speed, and it was done in the blink of an eye. Wow, if only all deals worked out that quickly and easily ... Yeah, right! (Laughing) Did you know at that point the kind of character, or the exact character, that you would play? Well, I mean I knew that ... you know, obviously, Wilhelmina Slater had given me four tremendous years, and they didn't want it to be another Wilhelmina Slater, which of course, we couldn't do. But I think they knew they definitely wanted her to be a personality that was large and one to be reckoned with. So Renee is a lot more passive-aggressive. She tries to be friendly, but sometimes just says inappropriate things. And she's quite competitive with Lynette, because of the nature of them being college roommates and having a history. Wilhelmina just invoked fear and in nearly everyone that she worked with, and she was an expert at so many things, and she was ... her personality was so big. I think Renee is more of an outsider trying to fit into a different type of life, and a different group of girls. http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/09/24/de...illiams-talks/ Attached Images

10-16-2010, 02:45 PM	#2
isiahthomas Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Aug 20, 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 10,704	I didn't realize Vanessa was on here until i saw a commercial for Desperate Housewives. She still looks good and she got big breasts LOL. I saw last week's episode and it was good. How long has Desperate Housewives been on this season? This is my first time seeing this season's episode last week. Did it come back on in September?

10-23-2010, 11:00 AM	#4
isiahthomas Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Aug 20, 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 10,704	JamesG, who is that ugly man in your avatar? LOL. I saw Desperate Housewives last week and it was funny. LOL@Vanessa Williams being afraid of midgets hahahahahahahahahahahaha. Bree was told by Lynette that Vanessa is afraid of midgets and Bree got a midget from her church to walk up to her at a restaurant Vanessa was at with Brian Austin Green when they were on a date. When Vanessa saw the midget, she screamed and jumped up on the table LOL. Bree wants to get with Brian and Vanessa wants him too. So that's why Bree did what she did so she could get Brian. Vanessa told her she can have him if she really thinks he can make her happy.