• Ep. 501 - You're Going to Love Tomorrow RecapDesperate Housewives Ep. 501 - You're Gonna Love Tomorrow
So, five years after the Season 4 Finale we learn not only the fate of many of the residents of Wisteria Lane, but why these women are as desperate as ever.
Edie is desperate to show the women who froze her out five years ago that she is a happy, well adjusted woman, with a great new husband. Having Edie comment on her appearance makes Gabrielle desperate to change her appearance and that of her daughters. Bree is stealing Kathryn's restaurants for her first cookbook and we learn she is desperate because of Danielle's actions. Susan's guilt over a fatal accident that wasn't her fault has led to a separation from Mike. Lynette's wild twins have grown to be juvenile delinquents who have not yet been caught. And there's one desperate man - Dave, Edie's new husband, whose rage issues have him released from police custody only if he's in a doctor's care and on medication...
The season opener for Desperate Housewives seemed stronger than the past three seasons, not quite as intriguing as Season One, but interesting enough. It is, after all, a soap opera, which means one must toss away disbelief at times. This time, the season opener didn't seem to have anything particularly unrealistic, such as somebody locked in a basement room.
One of the best moments was Edie meeting Mrs. McCluskey at her welcome home/we forgive you party, greeting the senior lady with, "Mrs. McCluskey! You're still alive!" I was almost as happy to see one of my favorite characters on Desperate Housewives. Remember in Season One when she was kind of mean and lonely. Her character development has been one of the best on the series' five years.
Another great moment was Gaby's retort to Edie's comment about her frumpy appearance by telling her, "I have two children - for breakfast." Gabrielle has not lost her sassiness, nor her daring mean streak, which she demonstrated by making her overweight daughter run beside the car to burn off all the cake she ate at a birthday party. Gabrielle is different, though. Still determined, still demanding, still selfish, she has a new softness and a new vulnerability. A perfect mother? No. A loving mother? Yes. And, it seems, a stronger relationship with Carlos, who is still blind. He is still the man of the house.
Bree eating humble pie when Kathryn uses her tactics to show a local television crew that Bree is a fraud were humorous. She fakes a strained wrist. Bree's clumsiness making Kathryn's spun sugar topping causes it to splash and burn the reporter. When Kathryn was satisfied everyone knew, she steps up to complete the recipe. Victorious.
Also funny was Gabrielle's daughter, Juanita, demonstrating some of her mother's feistiness by rebeling from the "game" of running alongside the car, by getting on a bus when her mother wouldn't let her in the car.
One definite flaw was the dialogue and actions of Juanita, who at age 4 1/2 years old, seemed more mature than her age and a little too familiar with the bus system for a preschooler.
Some sad moments included Bree working in her kitchen remembers the day Danielle, recently married to a lawyer, arrives at the house and takes back her son. As Bree begs her to let her continue raising her grandson because he's all she has left, Danielle angrily tells her she'll have to find something else to do. Orson interrupts her memory and asks her to come to bed. She has work to do. He tells her he can't tell her how to run her own business. "It's your baby." Softly, Bree whispers, "Yes, it is." This was more heartbreaking than Susan's anger at Mike over not having a mechanic check the brakes, instead of himself. Apparently, Susan believes that had the brakes been working properly, she could have stopped the car in time and prevented the fatal accident. It seems it wasn't her fault, but the other driver's as she crashed into the Delfinos' car. This is lost on Susan, though, and it ultimately leads to one too many fights for Mike, who walks out on her.
The most romantic moment was when Carlos comforting Gabrielle, sincerely told her how in five years or fifty, she'll always be beautiful.
Kathryn appeared to be just jealous of Bree's approaching fame, until we learn that not only did Bree steal some of her partner's recipes, she hadn't even bothered to learn how to do some of Kathryn's cooking techniques. Do we see a plagerism law suit on the horizon? Or, will Bree do what the honest woman she believes herself to be do and share in the success?
The Scavos' are their same seles, although it's clear their restaurant is successful. Unfortunately, Porter and Preston have been hosting Monday night poker nights without their knowledge. This becomes Lynette's wakeup call - She is running out of time to transform her youngest sons into productive adults. In typical Tom fashion, he agrees to back her discipline descions, but actually finds Porter's and Preston's actions fun and cool. In the end, because he loves her, loves his sons, and knows his wife is right, he comes through with a firm hand. Marc Cherry said earlier this year that he knows many fans like this family and want things to work out for them. He has said he'll honor the fans wishes. Does that include the twins?
The season premiere set up the storylines through May. Bree's new national career and how it effects her family and Kathryn will be one. Susan and Mike's relationship will be another. Will they reconcile, or will she find her happiness with Jackson, the house painter? Will Lynette and Tom tame their wild brood - and stay married? Will Mrs. McCluskey figure out what Dave is up to?
Which brings us to Edie's new husband. Will Mrs. McCluskey figure out what he's up to? Will he break Edie's heart? What are his rage issues and what did he do that required he be place on medication and in the care of a doctor, with whom he must check in every week? It has something to do with the residents of Wisteria Lane, one in particular. As the mystery begins, I'll venture a guess that somebody on that street did something to his family to hurt him badly. Perhaps when he was younger, so older residents don't recognize him? Perhaps it was to a family member who lived there while he resided somewhere else? Does it have something to do with Bob and Lee. It's rumored they'll be back and there will be a reveal about them later this season.
The theme was the passage of time and how at some point in our lives, we ask ourselves what happened to our lives, whether we're pleased with how things are turning out or whether we're unhappy with our lives.
Time will tell how these stories will be resolved and if the fifth season can continue as strongly as it started.
• Ep. 502 - We're So Happy You're So Happy
• Desperate Housewives Season 5 Episode Guide & Rumors
Sunday, September 28, 2008
The Desperation of Desperate Housewives
Friday, September 26, 2008
Newsletter 09-26-08
Screen Scene Newsletter In This Issue: Kids TV Elections for Kids TV Highlights Sunday, Sept. 28th is a big premiere night. The Amazing Racing returns for its 13th installment, one week after winning its sixth consecutive Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality-Competition Program. The season premiere is 8:00pm e/p on CBS. The action starts in Los Angeles, where the teams begin the first leg of their global journey. They travel to Salvador, Brazil, but must face a frightening Detour. "Glory Days" is the season premiere of Cold Case, 9:00pm e/p on CBS and, in Canada, "A." The 1937 murder of a football player is re-examined when evidence surfaces that he was actually killed later than believed. Bobby Cannavale returns as Narcotics Cop Eddie Saccardo. The season premiere of The Unit follows Cold Case on CBS at 10:00pm e/p. The military team tries to unravel an assassination plot as the women are relocated from the base to safety. ABC broadcasts a two-hour season premiere of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, 7:00-9:00pm e/p. Then, it's the return of Edie Britt on Desperate Housewives at 9:00pm e/p. All the main adult characters are back as the series moves forward five years. The Scavo children are older, so new actors have been cast for their roles. At 10:01pm e/p, the Walkers embark on a dramatic weekend getaway together on the season premiere of Brothers and Sisters. With a full-season order from NBC, things are looking up for Chuck - that is if he can survive Ep. 201! In the season premiere on NBC, Monday, Sept. 29, 8:00pm e/p, "Chuck and the First Date," Academy Award nominee Michael Clarke Duncan guest-stars as Colt, a menacing operative. Chuck prevents Colt from obtaining the Cipher -- a device that would ultimately lead to a new Intersect. With his assignment completed, Chuck asks Sarah out for a date. What he doesn't know is that Casey has other plans for him. Happy Birthday, Barney! Since 1988, the loveable purple dinosaur has entertaining children with songs and dance. But, each episode stresses positive behavior and friendship, as well as learning how to count, recite ABC's, and reading. Because Barney is a stuffed toy that comes to life through a child's imagination to embark on a new adventure, the show also promotes creativity. Many of Barney's first fans are now parents whose own children are drawn to the comforting character. HIT Entertainment, the producers of Barney & Friends, has released a DVD of favorite moments from the twenty years the show has been on video and television, including the very first one - a home movie! The Best of Barney - 20th Anniversary Collectors' Edition >>
Vol. I, Issue No. 5
September 26, 2008
Kids TV - Bindi: The Jungle Girl Season Premiere
Elections for Kids
TV Highlights
Barney: 20th Anniversary Collection DVD Review
Emmy-winning Bindi Irwin returns for a second season of Bindi: The Jungle Girl beginning Sept. 27 at 5:00pm e/p on Discovery Kids Channel. The new episodes begin with "American Road Trip" across U.S. desert states. The colorful video postcard is both funny and informative.
We've updated our guide for the 2008 Presidential race. Find resources that explain the branches of our government, as well as classroom and online activities that encourage children to learn about the candidates and how issues effect campaigns. Both PBS KIDS GO! and Nickelodeon's Nick News with Linda Ellerbee have special episodes or events that demonstrate the electoral process, while encouraging children to participate in discussions. Most of these resources are geared for K-8 students, although some are for secondary school students. Elections for Kids Guide >>
Catch a repeat of The Mentalist Friday, Sept. 26, on CBS at 8:00pm ET, before the Presidential Debate on foreign policy.
Peggy
Family Screen Scene
http://familyscreenscene.com
Monday, May 19, 2008
Friendship and Honor
The Fourth Season Finale was way over the top, but still pretty good. The creative team concluded this year's theme of friendship in a bizarre way. They had already sent Edie Britt packing because she had been told by the ladies that she knew nothing about real friendship and they no longer wanted anything to do with her. Katherine Mayfair's mystery resolved. Her daughter, Dylan, died in a tragic home accident that she and her now deceased aunt conspired to conceal. They buried the five-year-old in the woods. Then, Katherine moved, went to Romania and adopted an orphan that looked like her deceased daughter. The Dylan we saw all year was not the same Dylan who was living on Wisteria Lane 14 years ago. In the end, Katherine killed her abusive ex-husband and was released because the murder was self-defense. This was one of the most unrealistic moments of all. Of course, in real life, it would gone through the courts, even if the charges were dismissed before going to trial. Nevertheless, the problem was resolved in a soap-operaish way. Wayne Davis, Katherine's ex-husband did kill Gabrielle and Carlos's drug-dealing roomer. But not before Gabrielle had found the drug money and lied to Ellie that the police had confiscated it when they raided the house. Thus, the Solis's financial problems are solved. Lynette was accused of child abuse, then arrested and thrown into jail. Tom had trouble facing the reality of the situation, but finally, after Lynette's chastisement, did what had to do. He tricked his tricky daughter into confessing what she had done. Kayla was sent packing to live with her grandparents 4 1/2 hours away from the Scavos family. Marc Cherry resolved one of the problems of the large family he wished he hadn't made so big. Mike and Susan battled over a name for their son. Finally, Mike settled it by insisting the infant be named Maynard for his honorable grandfather, who had started the first integrated school in Tennessee and helped Mike and his mother when Mike's father was sent to prison. Julie is heading to college, with a special internship in the summer. This causes Susan much angst and she lies in a feeble attempt to keep her daughter for three more months. After Katherine's confession that she had lied to Dylan all of her life, she fesses up and let's her daughter go. But not before Julie tells her that she, herself, is ready to spread her wings and fly. Julie tells Susan she's no longer needed there. Bree and Orson had not yet reconciled, in spite of Orson's persistant stalking. She won't until he goes to the police about what he did to Mike. He says he can't. The season finale was also filled with moments about honor. Orson publicly defends the honor of Bree when a spurned suitor who happens to be a respected minister decides to sermonize about the "temptress." Julie was honored for her intelligence when she was accepted at the school of her choice and invited to come early for a summer internship. Adam Mayfair honored his estranged wife by coming to her rescue and saving her and Bree muderous Wayne. Tom honored his wife by sending his deeply disturbed daughter to live with her grandparents. We also saw that some friendships are based on convenience. Ellie sold drugs out of Gabrielle and Carlos's house, feigned love for them, then threatened to throw acid on Gabrielle's face when she realized Gaby had found the drug money and was lying to her about it. Gaby, of course, showed her real concern was for herself and her husband by keeping the money, a kind of theft (although a lawyer might tell you that possession is 9/10 of the law and therefore, it might rightfully be considered Gabrielle's.) What are their fates? Marc Cherry had promised a twist that would change the show. That was a flash forward, a story telling device that proved successful for ABC's other cult favorite, Lost. Mary Alice zooms to the year 2013. We see the ladies playing cards. Bree's there, Lynette with her hair back, Susan, a plumper looking Gabrielle, and Katherine. The twist wasn't as dramatic as rumors had it. Marc Cherry had told reporters that he thought it might be fun to see how things out for this eclectic group in five years. The twist was really letting fans know that Dana Delaney has joined the cast on a permanent basis. She had rejected the part of Bree Van de Kamp when Marc Cherry was first casting the show. Now, we have two Brees... Tom and LYnette are still together, having trouble with preteen sons. Gabrielle is having trouble with two young daughters who love to play dress-up just like mommy. No Carlos (doesn't mean he's gone, just not in that scene, anyway.) Bree is about to get a book published and seems to be the new Marth Stewart. Orson and she are still married, and Andrew seems to be her agent or assistant. Katherine is alone in a bedroom, talking to Dylan, who is in Paris and called to tell her that her boyfriend proposed. Susan, though, was a shocker. She has a new husband and they kiss like a cover of a romance novel. It was symbolized the creative team's understanding of women's fantasies. Edie was not in the picture. Rumors had circulated since the first year that Edie may be written out of the story. Friendship, real friendship, and honor won in a strange and strangely satisfying conclusion to Desperate Housewives' fourth season.
Desperate Housewives. A friend of mine loves watching it because it was so unrealistic. I loved watching it because it was so realistic. The first season, that is. Now I watch it because it still is one of the best satires of soap operas and the upper middle class. You have to remember that when you're watching the show. It's basically a soap opera and ocassionally uses soap opera methods for resolving plots that are going no where or to rid a show of a character who has outlived their usefulness, or to allow an actor to move on to another project.