Desperate Housewives was packed with all sorts of cheating scandals, shocking deaths, fake smiles, and neighborhood secrets. But as it turns out, Wisteria Lane was just as messy when the cameras weren’t rolling.
Here are 10 of the craziest facts and stories behind the making of Desperate Housewives.
1. The show almost never made it to TV
It’s crazy to think about now, but Desperate Housewives was reportedly rejected by six different networks before ABC finally saw the potential. That means CBS, NBC, Fox, HBO, Showtime, and Lifetime all passed on a series that would go on to become one of the biggest TV hits of the 2000s. ABC ended up getting the last laugh because the show helped completely turn the network’s fortunes around.
2. It started out as a much lighter idea
The series, as we know it, wasn’t originally a murder-filled suburban soap with a dollop of dark humor. Early on, the idea was much closer to a half-hour sitcom, with a lighter tone and less overarching drama. Somewhere along the way, that concept turned into an hour-long dramedy with a nice, sharp edge and quite a few mysteries.
3. The casting process had its own mini soap opera
Felicity Huffman really wanted to play Lynette Scavo, but didn’t think she should have to audition like the rest of the peasants and wanted the role handed to her outright. She did eventually audition, and, of course, the producers were so impressed that she got the part immediately. Could have used a bit less attitude, but it is what it is. Eva Longoria, meanwhile, was the first actress officially cast, which makes sense in hindsight because Gabrielle Solis became one of the show’s most memorable characters. And in one of the great TV what-ifs, Julia Louis-Dreyfus was eyeing the role of Susan Mayer, but ABC didn’t think she was right for the role. Worst. Decision. Ever.
4. Wisteria Lane was already a TV veteran
Did you know that the iconic street wasn’t created just for Desperate Housewives? This set is quite old by movie-making standards and has been around since 1946. If you look closely enough, you can tell that it appeared in shows like Leave It to Beaver and The Munsters. So while Wisteria Lane looked like all brand-spanking new, it already had plenty of Hollywood mileage on it before our desperate housewives moved in.
5. The show was an instant hit
When it comes to strong starts, Desperate Housewives must have absolutely set some kind of record. The pilot reportedly pulled in 21.3 million viewers, and the Season 1 finale bumped that number all the way to 30 million! That kind of momentum made it clear pretty fast that this wasn’t just an OK new series but a cult classic in the making.
6. The “one stable marriage” rule changed Tom and Lynette’s story
Given how much betrayal, scheming, and chaos we saw in the series, Tom and Lynette Scavo could easily have been written into one more cheating storyline. And guess what? Apparently, that was the original plan. Tom was initially supposed to be fooling around since Season 1, but the producers wanted at least one family to feel somewhat grounded. That decision ended up giving the show one of its most believable long-term relationships.
7. The photo shoot that changed it all
Contrary to popular belief, the cast was not a close-knit group. During a Vanity Fair cover shoot in 2005, the girls got so tense and heated that ABC had to intervene. There were claims about wardrobe issues, photo placement, and frustrations over who stood where. At one point, Marcia Cross stormed off in anger, while Teri Hatcher cried. Not the best promo story for the actresses, but the tea sippers were ecstatic.
8. Teri Hatcher’s relationship with the cast was a bit iffy
One of the biggest eyebrow-raising moments came when the series wrapped and the cast gave the crew a farewell gift, but Hatcher’s name was reportedly left off the card. Vanessa Williams, who had only joined in the final two seasons, was included instead. There were rumors that Hatcher made her own deal with the studio, instead of joining others as a group. The actress kept things calm in public, but she also made it clear there was more to the story than anyone outside the show probably knew, suggesting that her departure was linked to the ongoing tensions and legal disputes surrounding the production.
9. Nicollette Sheridan’s exit and the show’s biggest legal mess
The most serious off-screen drama involved Nicollette Sheridan, who played Edie Britt. After Edie was killed off, Sheridan sued Marc Cherry and ABC, alleging that Cherry had struck her on the head during a rehearsal and that she was laid off in retaliation after reporting it. Although the court eventually dismissed the case, the lawsuit brought numerous ugly behind-the-scenes allegations to light.
10. Felicity Huffman had to become the peacemaker
Eva Longoria claimed she had been bullied by a co-worker, and the only person who stepped in was Felicity Huffman. That’s the narrative, at least. Longoria never publicly named the person, but her comments added even more fuel to the long-running rumors that the set was divided and difficult. So while there has been plenty of ego and friction, it sounds like Huffman was one of the few people keeping things from imploding.
