Desperate Housewives Season 2
Encyclopedia
The second season of Desperate Housewives
, an American television series created by Marc Cherry
, began airing in the United States on September 25, 2005 and concluded on May 21, 2006. The season consisted of a total of 24 episodes, including a two-part season finale. Additionally, two recap specials aired on January 1 and April 23, 2006. The series' narrator, Mary Alice Young
, continues to tell the stories of her former friends and Wisteria Lane
residents Susan Mayer
, Lynette Scavo
, Bree Van de Kamp
and Gabrielle Solis
as they deal with the problems and challenges in their lives. The yearly mystery for the second season focuses on new neighbor Betty Applewhite
and her family.
Desperate Housewives maintained strong ratings in the United States during its second season. The second season was the fourth most watched network television series with an average of 22.2 million viewers per episode. The series was broadcast in Ireland
from January 3 to June 13, 2006 and in the United Kingdom
from January 18 to June 21, 2006.
Season two was released on DVD as the six-disc box set Desperate Housewives: The Complete Second Season - Extra Juicy Edition in Region 1 by Buena Vista Home Entertainment on August 29, 2006, in Region 4 on October 4, 2006, and in Region 2 on November 18, 2006. It is available for purchase on the U.S. iTunes Store
as both the complete season or individual episodes.
, Tom Spezialy
, and Michael Edelstein
returned as executive producers for the second season of Desperate Housewives. Screenwriter
Kevin Murphy
also returned to the series, this season as a co-executive producer alongside George W. Perkins
, Chris Black
, Joey Murphy
and John Pardee
. All but Edelstein and Pardee also served as writers. Season one writers Alexandra Cunningham
, Jenna Bans
, Kevin Etten
, and Josh Senter
were joined by new series writers Bruce Zimmerman
, Dahvi Waller
, Alan Cross
, Ellie Herman
, Jim Lincoln, and Scott Sanford Tobis. Bans and Senter also became story editor
s. Nine directors serviced Desperate Housewives, including season one directors Larry Shaw
, David Grossman
and Arlene Sanford
. Wendey Stanzler
, Robert Duncan McNeill
, Pam Thomas
, Randy Zisk
, Stephen Cragg
, and Tom Cherones
directed episodes of the series for the first time during this season.
Cherry left a majority of the season's writing to other staff members, which many critics faulted as the reason for the decreasing quality of the series. Edelstein left the series after the first thirteen episodes of the season, and Spezialy followed in May 2006.
Colonial Street
, which is the location of Wisteria Lane
set for the series, went through additional changes prior to production on the second season. The cul-de-sac
, known as "Circle Drive" by crew members, was heavily remodeled. Previously unseen in first season, "Circle Drive" contained a church facade, which was replaced by Edie Britt's
second home, and the Colonial Mansion building, which was destroyed and replaced with a park for the series.
Cherry has since said that he regrets most of the second season and that ABC's decision to order an additional episode for the season forced the series to work on an abbreviated schedule. Cast member Teri Hatcher
has also mentioned production problems during filming for the series' second season, including incomplete or delayed scripts. She and fellow cast members Marcia Cross
, James Denton
, and Felicity Huffman
have all expressed concerns of the series' declining quality both with the writing staff and the press.
(ET) (8:00pm Central Time Zone [CT]) with 28.4 million viewers. The episode drew in the second-largest audience for the series in its history and was the most watched fall season premiere on ABC since Home Improvement and Spin City
nine years earlier. For the first half of the season, the series enjoyed larger ratings than those of season one. However, all 24 episodes averaged 22.2 million viewers, 1.5 million less than season one. According to the Nielsen Ratings system, Desperate Housewives ranked as the fourth most watched program of 156 regular primetime network programming during the 2005-06 television season
.
Many critics agreed that Desperate Housewives suffered a sophomore slump
and that the second season failed to live up to the first. Henry Goldblatt of Entertainment Weekly
gave the new season a 'B', blaming the deteriorating quality on the fact that it "morphed into four series," with "the actresses [wandering] through their separate scenes." Robert Bianco
of USA Today
suggested that the series' weakness was due to Marc Cherry leaving the episodic screenwriting to other writing staff members.
nominations for its second season, including Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (Alfre Woodard
for her portrayal of Betty Applewhite
) and Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
(Shirley Knight
as Phyllis Van de Kamp). However, the series did not win any of its nominations. Nevertheless, for the second consecutive year, the series won a Golden Globe Award
for Best Television Series - Music or Comedy. The series' four leading women - Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, and Eva Longoria - each received nominations for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy, though none of them picked up the award. The season also won all of its nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Awards
. Felicity Huffman picked up the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series for her portrayal of Lynette Scavo while the entire cast won Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for the second year in a row.
(Susan Mayer
), Felicity Huffman
(Lynette Scavo
), Marcia Cross
(Bree Van de Kamp
), and Eva Longoria
(Gabrielle Solis
) returned for the series' second season as the core cast members. Season one principal cast members Nicollette Sheridan
(Edie Britt
), Ricardo Antonio Chavira
(Carlos Solis
), Mark Moses
(Paul Young), Andrea Bowen
(Julie Mayer), Cody Kasch
(Zach Young), Brenda Strong
(Mary Alice Young
), and James Denton
(Mike Delfino
) also returned to the series as starring cast members in the second season. Rounding out the season's main cast were Alfre Woodard
(Betty Applewhite), Doug Savant
(Tom Scavo
), and Richard Burgi
(Karl Mayer), all of whom had recurring guest roles in the series' first season.
Steven Culp
and Jesse Metcalfe
, who starred in season one as Rex Van de Kamp and John Rowland, respectively, did not return to the series as starring cast members. Metcalfe appeared in a recurring guest role capacity. Culp's character was killed off in the first season finale, but returned for the two-part finale of the second season in a series of flashbacks.
Season one recurring guest stars Shawn Pyfrom
(Andrew Van de Kamp
), Joy Lauren
(Danielle Van de Kamp), Mehcad Brooks
(Matthew Applewhite), Brent Kinsman (Preston Scavo), Shane Kinsman
(Porter Scavo), Zane Huett
(Parker Scavo), and Roger Bart
(George Williams) received "also starring" credits and were billed separately from the main cast after the opening credits. Bart was killed off in the ninth episode of the season, and was no longer credited as a result. Page Kennedy
starred as Caleb Applewhite until the seventh episode of the season. He was dismissed from the series and replaced by NaShawn Kearse
after reports of Kennedy engaging in inappropriate conduct on set, which were later denied. Both Kennedy and Kearse received an "also starring" credit.
Kyle MacLachlan
, who would later become a series regular in season three, was introduced as Orson Hodge in the final episodes of the second season. Other notable guest stars from the second season include Pat Crawford Brown
as Ida Greenberg, Carol Burnett
as Eleanor Mason, Ryan Carnes
as Justin, Currie Graham
as Ed Ferrara, Bob Gunton
as Noah Taylor, Harriet Sansom Harris
as Felicia Tilman, Kathryn Joosten
as Karen McCluskey
, Shirley Knight
as Phyllis Van de Kamp, Bob Newhart
as Morty Flickman, Kiersten Warren
as Nora Huntington, Lesley Ann Warren
as Sophie Bremmer, and Gwendoline Yeo
as Xiao-Mei.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:99%;"
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! style="background: #FF6262;" |Season
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! style="background: #FF6262;" |Title
! style="background: #FF6262;" |Directed by
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(millions)
|-
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ratings are as follows (BARB ratings are the viewing figures of the Great British
Public)
s, two unaired storylines and other deleted scenes, and behind-the-scenes featurettes. The DVD received released in other countries as well. In Region 2, it was also released as The Complete First & Second Season, The Complete First, Second, & Third Seasons, The Complete Series 1-4, and The Complete Seasons One, Two, Three, Four, & Five boxsets. The DVD received positive reviews on its video quality and its packaging and design. Aubry D'Arminio of Entertainment Weekly
gave the DVD release a 'B minus', citing the poorer quality of the episodes as the main problem. Other reviewers appreciated the decision to house all the bonus features on the last disc, unlike on the season one DVD.
Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. Executive producer Cherry serves as Showrunner. Other executive producers since the fourth season include Marc Cherry, Bob Daily, George W...
, an American television series created by Marc Cherry
Marc Cherry
Marc Cherry is an American writer and producer, best known for creating the show Desperate Housewives.-Early life and career:...
, began airing in the United States on September 25, 2005 and concluded on May 21, 2006. The season consisted of a total of 24 episodes, including a two-part season finale. Additionally, two recap specials aired on January 1 and April 23, 2006. The series' narrator, Mary Alice Young
Mary Alice Young
Mary Alice Young is a fictional character on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. The character is played by actress Brenda Strong and narrates the series from beyond the grave; the character's suicide in the pilot episode served as the catalyst of the series...
, continues to tell the stories of her former friends and Wisteria Lane
Wisteria Lane
Wisteria Lane is the fictional name of a street which the characters of the American drama television series Desperate Housewives live. Desperate Housewives storylines primarily centre around the residents of the street. Wisteria Lane is located inside Universal Studios Hollywood, and is actually...
residents Susan Mayer
Susan Mayer
Susan Delfino is a fictional character played by Teri Hatcher on the American Broadcasting Company television series Desperate Housewives. The character was created by television producer and screenwriter Marc Cherry and first appeared in the pilot episode of the series on October 3, 2004...
, Lynette Scavo
Lynette Scavo
Lynette Scavo is a fictional character on the series Desperate Housewives. The character is playedby actress Felicity Huffman, who won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the role in 2005, and was nominated for Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series...
, Bree Van de Kamp
Bree Van De Kamp
Bree Van de Kamp is a fictional character on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives, played by Marcia Cross. Actress Marcia Cross was nominated from 2005 to 2007 for a Golden Globe Award in the category of Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy...
and Gabrielle Solis
Gabrielle Solis
Gabrielle Solís is one of four main characters on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. She is portrayed by Eva Longoria...
as they deal with the problems and challenges in their lives. The yearly mystery for the second season focuses on new neighbor Betty Applewhite
Betty Applewhite
Betty Applewhite is a fictional character on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. The character is portrayed by actress Alfre Woodard, and is the center of the mystery of the series' second season.-Season 1:...
and her family.
Desperate Housewives maintained strong ratings in the United States during its second season. The second season was the fourth most watched network television series with an average of 22.2 million viewers per episode. The series was broadcast in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
from January 3 to June 13, 2006 and in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
from January 18 to June 21, 2006.
Season two was released on DVD as the six-disc box set Desperate Housewives: The Complete Second Season - Extra Juicy Edition in Region 1 by Buena Vista Home Entertainment on August 29, 2006, in Region 4 on October 4, 2006, and in Region 2 on November 18, 2006. It is available for purchase on the U.S. iTunes Store
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
as both the complete season or individual episodes.
Production
Marc CherryMarc Cherry
Marc Cherry is an American writer and producer, best known for creating the show Desperate Housewives.-Early life and career:...
, Tom Spezialy
Tom Spezialy
Tom Spezialy is an American television producer, director and screen writer. In 2007, began serving as executive producer of Reaper.-Career:Spezialy began his career in 1989 writing for the CBS television series Doctor Doctor...
, and Michael Edelstein
Michael Edelstein
Michael Edelstein, born February 20, 1968 in Los Angeles, California, is an American television producer.Together with Marc Cherry and Tom Spezialy, Edelstein was one of the original executive producers for Desperate Housewives, for which he was awarded an Emmy nomination...
returned as executive producers for the second season of Desperate Housewives. Screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
Kevin Murphy
Kevin Murphy (screenwriter)
Kevin Murphy is an American screenwriter, television producer, lyricist and composer. He wrote the book and lyrics of the musical Reefer Madness, as well as its television adaptation...
also returned to the series, this season as a co-executive producer alongside George W. Perkins
George W. Perkins (television producer)
George W. Perkins is an American producer of films and television series, most known for being one of the producers of the dramedy Desperate Housewives, of which he is one of the executive producers since 2006....
, Chris Black
Chris Black (screenwriter)
Chris Black is a screenwriter and television producer, from Toledo, Ohio, notable for writing and producing mainly science fiction and action series, although he also was a part of the production team of the dramedy Desperate Housewives during its first two seasons.Black has produced and wrote...
, Joey Murphy
Joey Murphy
Joey Murphy is screenwriter and television producer, currently working as executive producer for Desperate Housewives.Murphy has written episodes of the cartoon, Doug, The Crew, and Cybill Shepherd's sitcom, Cybill, the last two for which he also served as producer...
and John Pardee
John Pardee
John Pardee is an American screenwriter and television producer, currently working as executive producer for Desperate Housewives.During the 1990s, Pardee wrote episodes of several television series, including the cartoon Doug, the short lived sitcoms Charlie Hoover, Thunder Alley and The Crew and...
. All but Edelstein and Pardee also served as writers. Season one writers Alexandra Cunningham
Alexandra Cunningham
Alexandra Cunningham is an American screenwriter and television producer, most known as a writer and producer for ABC Studios' dramedy Desperate Housewives, having written more episodes of the show than any other writer besides showrunner Marc Cherry....
, Jenna Bans
Jenna Bans
Jenna Bans is an American Writers Guild of America Award nominated screenwriter.Originally intended as a staff writer for Jerry Bruckheimer's cancelled action series Fearless, Bans became a part of the crew of Desperate Housewives in 2004...
, Kevin Etten
Kevin Etten
Kevin Etten is an American screenwriter and television producer.Beginning as a writer for The Late Show with David Letterman, Etten has since been a part of the crews of the dramedies Ed and Desperate Housewives, the latter for which he also served as a producer.In 2011, Etten began as executive...
, and Josh Senter
Josh Senter
Joshua Ray Senter is an American screenwriter best known for his work on the television series Desperate Housewives.-Career:Senter's first Hollywood ambition was to become a Disney animator...
were joined by new series writers Bruce Zimmerman
Bruce Zimmerman
Bruce Zimmerman in California, is a U.S. novelist, screenwriter, and television producer. Among the television series which Zimmerman has worked on are Desperate Housewives, CSI: NY, K-Ville, The District, Judging Amy, Reunion, So Weird, and Street Time...
, Dahvi Waller
Dahvi Waller
Dahvi Waller is a Canadian screenwriter and television director, and currently writes and produces for the hit AMC series Mad Men.In 2003 and 2004 Waller was one of the directors for the reality TV show Switched Up, and in 2005 she became one of the writers of the short lived drama series Commander...
, Alan Cross
Alan Cross (screenwriter)
Alan Cross is an American television screenwriter, producer and director.Cross is best known for co-creating the television version of Weird Science, for which he co-wrote the pilot and numerous episodes, directed two episodes, and served as co-executive producer...
, Ellie Herman
Ellie Herman
Ellie Herman is an American novelist and screen writer, based in Los Angeles.-Positions held:Melrose Place, My So-Called Life, Desperate Housewives, Jericho, Century City, That Was Then, Significant Others, Relativity, Chicago Hope,Doogie Howser, M.D., Northern Exposure, Gabriel's Fire, Newhart,...
, Jim Lincoln, and Scott Sanford Tobis. Bans and Senter also became story editor
Story editor
Story editor is a job title in motion picture and television production, also sometimes called "supervising producer". A story editor is a member of the screenwriting staff who edits stories for screenplays....
s. Nine directors serviced Desperate Housewives, including season one directors Larry Shaw
Larry Shaw (director)
Larry Shaw is an American film and television director.He is currently a regular director on the ABC television series, Desperate Housewives, where he also serves as a co-executive producer for the show...
, David Grossman
David Grossman (director)
David Grossman is an American film and television director known most notably for his work on the ABC series, Desperate Housewives which he also serves as co-executive producer, his first series as a producer....
and Arlene Sanford
Arlene Sanford
Arlene Sanford is an American film and television director.Sanford has directed for several notable television series and several motion picture and television films which include A Very Brady Sequel , I'll Be Home for Christmas and Twelve Men of Christmas .Sanford has been nominated for two...
. Wendey Stanzler
Wendey Stanzler
Wendey Stanzler is an American television editor, director and producer from Flint, Michigan, where she was co-editor and associate producer of Michael Moore's documentary, Roger & Me in 1990. She also co-edited Moore's only fiction film, Canadian Bacon...
, Robert Duncan McNeill
Robert Duncan McNeill
Robert Duncan McNeill is an American actor, producer, movie director, and television director who is best known for his role as Lieutenant Tom Paris on the television show Star Trek: Voyager.-Acting:...
, Pam Thomas
Pam Thomas
Pamela Thomas is an American television producer, director, and casting director. She served as a co-producer for The Kids in the Hall from 1988 to 1995 and has also served as a producer on I'm With Bugsey and Saturday Night Live, among others. In 2006, she directed an episode of Desperate...
, Randy Zisk
Randall Zisk
Randall "Randy" Zisk is an American television director and producer.As both a director and producer, he has worked most substantially on the television series Monk and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman...
, Stephen Cragg
Stephen Cragg
Stephen Cragg is an American television producer and director. Cragg has directed for several present-day network television series. More recently Cragg has directed episodes of Desperate Housewives, Boston Legal and Third Watch...
, and Tom Cherones
Tom Cherones
Tom Cherones is an American director and producer of several TV series.-Early life:He grew up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where his father operated a radio and TV repair shop. His grandfather was a Greek immigrant. From 1961 to 1965, he was a lieutenant in the United States Navy...
directed episodes of the series for the first time during this season.
Cherry left a majority of the season's writing to other staff members, which many critics faulted as the reason for the decreasing quality of the series. Edelstein left the series after the first thirteen episodes of the season, and Spezialy followed in May 2006.
Colonial Street
Colonial Street
Colonial Street is one of the backlot street sets at Universal Studios Hollywood. The street set has a long history, spanning over 60 years of movies and television...
, which is the location of Wisteria Lane
Wisteria Lane
Wisteria Lane is the fictional name of a street which the characters of the American drama television series Desperate Housewives live. Desperate Housewives storylines primarily centre around the residents of the street. Wisteria Lane is located inside Universal Studios Hollywood, and is actually...
set for the series, went through additional changes prior to production on the second season. The cul-de-sac
Cul-de-sac
A cul-de-sac is a word of French origin referring to a dead end, close, no through road or court meaning dead-end street with only one inlet/outlet...
, known as "Circle Drive" by crew members, was heavily remodeled. Previously unseen in first season, "Circle Drive" contained a church facade, which was replaced by Edie Britt's
Edie Britt
Edie Britt Williams is a fictional character created by television producer and screenwriter Marc Cherry for the ABC television series Desperate Housewives...
second home, and the Colonial Mansion building, which was destroyed and replaced with a park for the series.
Cherry has since said that he regrets most of the second season and that ABC's decision to order an additional episode for the season forced the series to work on an abbreviated schedule. Cast member Teri Hatcher
Teri Hatcher
Teri Lynn Hatcher is an American actress, writer, and presenter. She is known for her television roles as Susan Mayer on the ABC comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives, and Lois Lane on the ABC comedy-drama series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman...
has also mentioned production problems during filming for the series' second season, including incomplete or delayed scripts. She and fellow cast members Marcia Cross
Marcia Cross
Marcia Anne Cross is an American actress. She is known for her television roles as Bree Van de Kamp on the ABC comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives, and as Dr...
, James Denton
James Denton
James "Jamie" Thomas Denton, Jr. is an American film and television actor, best known for playing Mike Delfino in the television series Desperate Housewives.-Early life:...
, and Felicity Huffman
Felicity Huffman
Felicity Kendall Huffman is an American film, stage, and television actress. She is known for her role as executive producer Dana Whitaker on the ABC television show Sports Night , which earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination, and as hectic supermom Lynette Scavo on the ABC show Desperate...
have all expressed concerns of the series' declining quality both with the writing staff and the press.
Viewership and reviews
The seasons premiere aired on September 25, 2005, ranked first in the 9:00pm Eastern Time ZoneEastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
(ET) (8:00pm Central Time Zone [CT]) with 28.4 million viewers. The episode drew in the second-largest audience for the series in its history and was the most watched fall season premiere on ABC since Home Improvement and Spin City
Spin City
Spin City is an American sitcom television series that aired from September 17, 1996 until April 30, 2002 on the ABC network. Created by Gary David Goldberg and Bill Lawrence, the show was based on a fictional local government running New York City, and originally starred Michael J. Fox as Mike...
nine years earlier. For the first half of the season, the series enjoyed larger ratings than those of season one. However, all 24 episodes averaged 22.2 million viewers, 1.5 million less than season one. According to the Nielsen Ratings system, Desperate Housewives ranked as the fourth most watched program of 156 regular primetime network programming during the 2005-06 television season
2005-06 United States network television schedule
This was the United States broadcast television schedule on all six commercial television networks for the fall season beginning in September 2005. All times are Eastern and Pacific.This would be the final season of broadcasting for both UPN and The WB...
.
Many critics agreed that Desperate Housewives suffered a sophomore slump
Sophomore slump
A sophomore slump or sophomore jinx refers to an instance in which a second, or sophomore, effort fails to live up to the standards of the first effort...
and that the second season failed to live up to the first. Henry Goldblatt of Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
gave the new season a 'B', blaming the deteriorating quality on the fact that it "morphed into four series," with "the actresses [wandering] through their separate scenes." Robert Bianco
Robert Bianco
Robert Bianco is an American television critic. He currently works for USA Today and has an online column. He began his career as a restaurant critic in Pittsburgh and eventually became a television critic at the Pittsburgh Press.-References:...
of USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
suggested that the series' weakness was due to Marc Cherry leaving the episodic screenwriting to other writing staff members.
Awards
Desperate Housewives received seven Primetime Emmy AwardPrimetime Emmy Award
The Primetime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American primetime television programming...
nominations for its second season, including Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (Alfre Woodard
Alfre Woodard
Alfre Ette Woodard is an American film, stage, and television actress. She has been nominated once for an Academy Award and Grammy Awards, 17 times for Emmy Awards , and has also won a Golden Globe and three Screen Actors Guild Awards.She is known for her role in films such as Cross Creek, Miss...
for her portrayal of Betty Applewhite
Betty Applewhite
Betty Applewhite is a fictional character on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. The character is portrayed by actress Alfre Woodard, and is the center of the mystery of the series' second season.-Season 1:...
) and Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress - Comedy Series
This is a list of winners of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.-1970s:Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Drama Series...
(Shirley Knight
Shirley Knight
Shirley Enola Knight is an American stage, film and television actress. She has been nominated twice for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, in 1960 for The Dark at the Top of the Stairs and in 1962 for Sweet Bird of Youth....
as Phyllis Van de Kamp). However, the series did not win any of its nominations. Nevertheless, for the second consecutive year, the series won a Golden Globe Award
Golden Globe Award
The Golden Globe Award is an accolade bestowed by the 93 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association recognizing excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign...
for Best Television Series - Music or Comedy. The series' four leading women - Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, and Eva Longoria - each received nominations for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy, though none of them picked up the award. The season also won all of its nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Awards
Screen Actors Guild Awards
A Screen Actors Guild Award is an accolade given by the Screen Actors Guild to recognize outstanding performances by its members. The statuette given, a nude male figure holding both a mask of comedy and a mask of tragedy, is called "The Actor"...
. Felicity Huffman picked up the award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series for her portrayal of Lynette Scavo while the entire cast won Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for the second year in a row.
Casting
Teri HatcherTeri Hatcher
Teri Lynn Hatcher is an American actress, writer, and presenter. She is known for her television roles as Susan Mayer on the ABC comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives, and Lois Lane on the ABC comedy-drama series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman...
(Susan Mayer
Susan Mayer
Susan Delfino is a fictional character played by Teri Hatcher on the American Broadcasting Company television series Desperate Housewives. The character was created by television producer and screenwriter Marc Cherry and first appeared in the pilot episode of the series on October 3, 2004...
), Felicity Huffman
Felicity Huffman
Felicity Kendall Huffman is an American film, stage, and television actress. She is known for her role as executive producer Dana Whitaker on the ABC television show Sports Night , which earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination, and as hectic supermom Lynette Scavo on the ABC show Desperate...
(Lynette Scavo
Lynette Scavo
Lynette Scavo is a fictional character on the series Desperate Housewives. The character is playedby actress Felicity Huffman, who won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the role in 2005, and was nominated for Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series...
), Marcia Cross
Marcia Cross
Marcia Anne Cross is an American actress. She is known for her television roles as Bree Van de Kamp on the ABC comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives, and as Dr...
(Bree Van de Kamp
Bree Van De Kamp
Bree Van de Kamp is a fictional character on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives, played by Marcia Cross. Actress Marcia Cross was nominated from 2005 to 2007 for a Golden Globe Award in the category of Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy...
), and Eva Longoria
Eva Longoria
Eva Jacqueline Longoria is an American actress, best known for portraying Gabrielle Solis on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives...
(Gabrielle Solis
Gabrielle Solis
Gabrielle Solís is one of four main characters on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. She is portrayed by Eva Longoria...
) returned for the series' second season as the core cast members. Season one principal cast members Nicollette Sheridan
Nicollette Sheridan
Nicollette Sheridan is an English film and television actress. She is best known for her roles as Edie Britt on Desperate Housewives and as Paige Matheson on Knots Landing.-Early life:...
(Edie Britt
Edie Britt
Edie Britt Williams is a fictional character created by television producer and screenwriter Marc Cherry for the ABC television series Desperate Housewives...
), Ricardo Antonio Chavira
Ricardo Antonio Chavira
Ricardo Antonio Chavira is an American actor, perhaps best known for his role as Carlos Solis on Desperate Housewives.-Early life:...
(Carlos Solis
Carlos Solis
Carlos Solis is a fictional character on the ABC television series, Desperate Housewives. The character is played by actor Ricardo Antonio Chavira.-Early life:Carlos was born in Guadalajara, Mexico to Juanita and Diego Solis...
), Mark Moses
Mark Moses
Mark W. Moses is an American actor, known for his roles of Paul Young on Desperate Housewives and Herman "Duck" Phillips on the AMC series Mad Men.-Life and career:...
(Paul Young), Andrea Bowen
Andrea Bowen
Andrea Lauren Bowen is an American actress who is best known for playing Julie Mayer on Desperate Housewives . She has won two SAG Awards.-Biography:...
(Julie Mayer), Cody Kasch
Cody Kasch
-Early life:Kasch was born of Scottish heritage in Santa Monica, California and raised in Ojai, California on a working ranch until he was nearly fourteen, when he moved to Camarillo, California.-Movie career:...
(Zach Young), Brenda Strong
Brenda Strong
Brenda Lee Strong is an American actress and yoga instructor, known for her roles as as Capt. Deladier in the 1997 hit movie Starship Troopers and Mary Alice Young on the television show Desperate Housewives....
(Mary Alice Young
Mary Alice Young
Mary Alice Young is a fictional character on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. The character is played by actress Brenda Strong and narrates the series from beyond the grave; the character's suicide in the pilot episode served as the catalyst of the series...
), and James Denton
James Denton
James "Jamie" Thomas Denton, Jr. is an American film and television actor, best known for playing Mike Delfino in the television series Desperate Housewives.-Early life:...
(Mike Delfino
Mike Delfino
Michael "Mike" Delfino is the name of a fictional character on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. The character is played by actor James Denton.- Season 1 :...
) also returned to the series as starring cast members in the second season. Rounding out the season's main cast were Alfre Woodard
Alfre Woodard
Alfre Ette Woodard is an American film, stage, and television actress. She has been nominated once for an Academy Award and Grammy Awards, 17 times for Emmy Awards , and has also won a Golden Globe and three Screen Actors Guild Awards.She is known for her role in films such as Cross Creek, Miss...
(Betty Applewhite), Doug Savant
Doug Savant
Douglas Peter "Doug" Savant is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Matt Fielding on Melrose Place and Tom Scavo on the ABC dramedy series Desperate Housewives.-Career:...
(Tom Scavo
Tom Scavo
Thomas "Tom" Scavo is a fictional character on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives, played by actor Doug Savant.Tom originally was a recurring throughout the first season but became a regular in season two. Early storylines often revolve around Tom's working habits and that he is alway...
), and Richard Burgi
Richard Burgi
Richard William Burgi is an American film and television actor. He's best known for the roles of Det. Jim Ellinson on The Sentinel and as Karl Mayer on Desperate Housewives.-Personal life:...
(Karl Mayer), all of whom had recurring guest roles in the series' first season.
Steven Culp
Steven Culp
Steven Bradford Culp is an American film and television actor, best known for his roles as Rex Van de Kamp in the television series Desperate Housewives and CIA Agent Clayton Webb in JAG.-Early life:...
and Jesse Metcalfe
Jesse Metcalfe
Jesse Eden Metcalfe is an American actor, best known for his role on Desperate Housewives as John Rowland. He is also notable for his portrayal of Miguel Lopez-Fitzgerald on the soap opera Passions and his starring role as the title character in the movie John Tucker Must Die.-Early life:Metcalfe...
, who starred in season one as Rex Van de Kamp and John Rowland, respectively, did not return to the series as starring cast members. Metcalfe appeared in a recurring guest role capacity. Culp's character was killed off in the first season finale, but returned for the two-part finale of the second season in a series of flashbacks.
Season one recurring guest stars Shawn Pyfrom
Shawn Pyfrom
Shawn Caminiti Pyfrom is an American actor who has appeared in several television series and movies, and is best known for his portrayal of Andrew Van de Kamp on ABC's Desperate Housewives-Life and career:...
(Andrew Van de Kamp
Andrew Van De Kamp
Andrew Van de Kamp is a fictional character in the ABC television series Desperate Housewives played by Shawn Pyfrom, and is the son of Bree Van de Kamp and the late Rex Van de Kamp....
), Joy Lauren
Joy Lauren
Joy Lauren is an American actress who is best known for playing Danielle Van de Kamp, on the hit ABC Comedy-drama Desperate Housewives....
(Danielle Van de Kamp), Mehcad Brooks
Mehcad Brooks
Mehcad Jason McKinley Brooks is an American actor and former fashion model.-Early life:Brooks was born and raised in Austin, Texas, where he attended L.C. Anderson High School...
(Matthew Applewhite), Brent Kinsman (Preston Scavo), Shane Kinsman
Shane Kinsman
Shane Kinsman is an American child actor who typically plays a rambunctious twin alongside his identical twin brother Brent. He played Kyle Baker in the 2003 film Cheaper by the Dozen and its 2005 sequel Cheaper by the Dozen 2...
(Porter Scavo), Zane Huett
Zane Huett
Zane Alexander Huett is an American child actor.Zane is most famous for his featured role on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives playing the role of Parker Scavo, the younger son of Lynette and Tom Scavo. He plays the youngest Scavo boy, yet is older by six months than the actors Brent...
(Parker Scavo), and Roger Bart
Roger Bart
Roger Bart is an American actor and singer.-Life and career:Bart was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, the son of a teacher and a chemical engineer, and grew up in Bernardsville, New Jersey. His uncle is journalist Peter Bart. He made his Broadway debut in Big River as Tom Sawyer in 1987...
(George Williams) received "also starring" credits and were billed separately from the main cast after the opening credits. Bart was killed off in the ninth episode of the season, and was no longer credited as a result. Page Kennedy
Page Kennedy
Page Kennedy is an American television and film actor who most recently starred in the second season of the sports comedy series Blue Mountain State on Spike....
starred as Caleb Applewhite until the seventh episode of the season. He was dismissed from the series and replaced by NaShawn Kearse
NaShawn Kearse
NaShawn Kearse is an American television and film actor. Kearse has made television appearances in HBO series Entourage, as rapper Saigon's cousin; and in The Shield....
after reports of Kennedy engaging in inappropriate conduct on set, which were later denied. Both Kennedy and Kearse received an "also starring" credit.
Kyle MacLachlan
Kyle MacLachlan
Kyle Merritt MacLachlan is an American actor. MacLachlan is best known for his roles in cult films Blue Velvet as Jeffrey Beaumont, Showgirls as Zack Carey, as Paul Atreides in Dune, and Ray Manzarek in the Oliver Stone film The Doors...
, who would later become a series regular in season three, was introduced as Orson Hodge in the final episodes of the second season. Other notable guest stars from the second season include Pat Crawford Brown
Pat Crawford Brown
-Personal life:Brown was born in New York City, the daughter of Charlotte and Thomas J. Brown. She is the aunt of folk singer Christine Lavin.She was married to Calvin B...
as Ida Greenberg, Carol Burnett
Carol Burnett
Carol Creighton Burnett is an American actress, comedian, singer, dancer and writer. Burnett started her career in New York. After becoming a hit on Broadway, she made her television debut...
as Eleanor Mason, Ryan Carnes
Ryan Carnes
Ryan Gregg Carnes is an American actor. He attended Duke University where he was a member of DUMB, the Duke University Marching Band. He is currently working on a collaboration with other musicians and is an accomplished drummer of 15 years.In 2003 Carnes was part of a national campaign for...
as Justin, Currie Graham
Currie Graham
Currie Graham is a Canadian stage, film and television actor. He studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City....
as Ed Ferrara, Bob Gunton
Bob Gunton
Robert Patrick "Bob" Gunton, Jr. is an American actor. He is known for playing strict, authoritarian characters, with his best known roles as Warden Samuel Norton in the 1994 prison film The Shawshank Redemption, Chief George Earle in 1993's Demolition Man, and President Juan Peron in the original...
as Noah Taylor, Harriet Sansom Harris
Harriet Sansom Harris
Harriet Sansom Harris , often credited as "Harriet Harris" is an American actress best known for her portrayals of Bebe Glazer on Frasier and Felicia Tilman on Desperate Housewives. She won a Tony Award in 2002 as a Featured Actress in a Musical for playing the evil white slaver Mrs. Meers in...
as Felicia Tilman, Kathryn Joosten
Kathryn Joosten
Kathryn Joosten is an American television actress best known for her regular role as Karen McCluskey in Desperate Housewives and for her recurring role in The West Wing as Dolores Landingham.-Early life:...
as Karen McCluskey
Karen McCluskey
Karen McCluskey Bender is a fictional character on the ABC television series Desperate Housewives. The character is played by Kathryn Joosten, who won the Emmy Award twice for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series in 2005 and 2008.-Overview:Karen McCluskey was born in 1943, quickly wed and...
, Shirley Knight
Shirley Knight
Shirley Enola Knight is an American stage, film and television actress. She has been nominated twice for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, in 1960 for The Dark at the Top of the Stairs and in 1962 for Sweet Bird of Youth....
as Phyllis Van de Kamp, Bob Newhart
Bob Newhart
George Robert Newhart , known professionally as Bob Newhart, is an American stand-up comedian and actor. Noted for his deadpan and slightly stammering delivery, Newhart came to prominence in the 1960s when his album of comedic monologues The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart was a worldwide...
as Morty Flickman, Kiersten Warren
Kiersten Warren
Kiersten Nicolla Dale Warren is an American actress, best known for her role as Alex Tabor on Saved by the Bell: The College Years and as Nora Huntington on season 3 of Desperate Housewives.-Life and career:...
as Nora Huntington, Lesley Ann Warren
Lesley Ann Warren
Lesley Ann Warren is an American actress and singer. She has been nominated once for an Academy Award and Emmy Awards and five times for Golden Globe, winning one....
as Sophie Bremmer, and Gwendoline Yeo
Gwendoline Yeo
-Early life:Born in Singapore, Yeo is the niece of George Yeo, Singapore's Minister for Foreign Affairs. She moved to California as a teenager, graduating from St. Ignatius College Preparatory in 1994...
as Xiao-Mei.
Episodes
|-style="color:black"
! style="background: #FF6262;" |Series
#
! style="background: #FF6262;" |Season
#
! style="background: #FF6262;" |Title
! style="background: #FF6262;" |Directed by
! style="background: #FF6262;" |Written by
! style="background: #FF6262;" |Original air date
! style="background: #FF6262;" |U.S. viewers
(millions)
|-
|}
United States
| Episode number Production number |
Title | Original airing | Rating | Share | Total viewers (in millions) | Rank per week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 2-01 |
Next | September 25, 2005 | TBA | TBA | 28.360 | #2 |
| 25 2-02 |
You Could Drive a Person Crazy | October 2, 2005 | TBA | TBA | 27.110 | #2 |
| 26 2-03 |
You'll Never Get Away from Me | October 9, 2005 | TBA | TBA | 26.060 | #2 |
| 27 2-04 |
My Heart Belongs to Daddy | October 16, 2005 | TBA | TBA | 25.780 | #2 |
| 28 2-05 |
They Asked Me Why I Believe in You | October 23, 2005 | TBA | TBA | 25.220 | #2 |
| 29 2-06 |
I Wish I Could Forget You | November 6, 2005 | TBA | TBA | 23.930 | #2 |
| 30 2-07 |
Color and Light | November 13, 2005 | TBA | TBA | 25.930 | #2 |
| 31 2-08 |
The Sun Won't Set | November 20, 2005 | TBA | TBA | 25.920 | #2 |
| 32 2-09 |
That's Good, That's Bad | November 27, 2005 | TBA | TBA | 25.890 | #1 |
| 33 2-10 |
Coming Home | December 4, 2005 | TBA | TBA | 25.520 | #1 |
| 34 2-11 |
One More Kiss | January 8, 2006 | TBA | TBA | 23.718 | #2 |
| 35 2-12 |
We're Gonna Be All Right | January 15, 2006 | TBA | TBA | 22.520 | #2 |
| 36 2-13 |
There's Something About a War | January 22, 2006 | TBA | TBA | 25.330 | #5 |
| 37 2-14 |
Silly People | February 12, 2006 | TBA | TBA | 23.470 | #5 |
| 38 2-15 |
Thank You So Much | February 19, 2006 | TBA | TBA | 23.410 | #4 |
| 39 2-16 |
There Is No Other Way | March 12, 2006 | TBA | TBA | 22.200 | #6 |
| 40 2-17 |
Could I Leave You? | March 26, 2006 | TBA | TBA | 22.540 | #4 |
| 41 2-18 |
Everybody Says Don't | April 2, 2006 | TBA | TBA | 21.820 | #5 |
| 42 2-19 |
Don't Look at Me | April 16, 2006 | TBA | TBA | 20.020 | #5 |
| 43 2-20 |
It Wasn't Meant to Happen | April 30, 2006 | TBA | TBA | 21.300 | #5 |
| 44 2-21 |
I Know Things Now | May 7, 2006 | TBA | TBA | 21.330 | #6 |
| 45 2-22 |
No One Is Alone | May 14, 2006 | TBA | TBA | 21.030 | #6 |
| 46 2-23 |
Remember: Part 1 | May 21, 2006 | TBA | TBA | 24.230 | #4 |
| 47 2-24 |
Remember: Part 2 | May 21, 2006 | TBA | TBA | 24.230 | #4 |
United Kingdom
BARBBarb
Barb may refer to:* A backward-facing point on a fish hook or similar implement, rendering extraction from the victim's flesh more difficult* Wind barbs for each station on a map of reported weather conditions...
ratings are as follows (BARB ratings are the viewing figures of the Great British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
Public)
| Episode Number Production Number |
Title | Airdate (UK) | WEEKLY RANK (Channel 4 only) |
Total viewers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 2-01 |
Next Next (Desperate Housewives episode) "Next" is the second season premiere episode of the American comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives and the 24th episode overall. It was originally broadcast in the United States on September 25, 2005 on the ABC... |
18 January 2006 | #6 | 4,520,000 |
| 25 2-02 |
You Could Drive a Person Crazy | 25 January 2006 | #7 | 4,480,000 |
| 26 2-03 |
You'll Never Get Away From Me | 1 February 2006 | #5 | 3,700,000 |
| 27 2-04 |
My Heart Belongs to Daddy | 8 February 2006 | #6 | 3,730,000 |
| 28 2-05 |
They Asked Me Why I Believe in You | 15 February 2006 | #9 | 3,220,000 |
| 29 2-06 |
I Wish I Could Forget You | 22 February 2006 | #12 | 2,980,000 |
| 30 2-07 |
Color and Light | 22 February 2006 | #10 | 3,100,000 |
| 31 2-08 |
The Sun Won't Set | 1 March 2006 | #10 | 3,100,000 |
| 32 2-09 |
That's Good, That's Bad | 8 March 2006 | #10 | 3,020,000 |
| 33 2-10 |
Coming Home Coming Home (Desperate Housewives episode) "Coming Home" is the 33rd episode of the ABC television series, Desperate Housewives. The episode was the tenth episode for the show's second season. The episode was written by Chris Black and was directed by Arlene Sanford. It originally aired on Sunday December 4, 2005.The episode was originally... |
15 March 2006 | #11 | 3,070,000 |
| 34 2-11 |
One More Kiss | 22 March 2006 | #11 | 3,070,000 |
| 35 2-12 |
We're Gonna Be All Right | 29 March 2006 | #12 | 2,990,000 |
| 36 2-13 |
There's Something About a War | 5 April 2006 | #13 | 2,730,000 |
| 37 2-14 |
Silly People | 12 April 2006 | #9 | 2,900,000 |
| 38 2-15 |
Thank You So Much | 19 April 2006 | #12 | 2,830,000 |
| 39 2-16 |
There Is No Other Way | 26 April 2006 | #10 | 2,700,000 |
| 40 2-17 |
Could I Leave You? | 3 May 2006 | #11 | 2,920,000 |
| 41 2-18 |
Everybody Says Don't | 10 May 2006 | #11 | 2,630,000 |
| 42 2-19 |
Don't Look at Me | 17 May 2006 | #11 | 2,960,000 |
| 43 2-20 |
It Wasn't Meant to Happen | 24 May 2006 | #16 | 3,030,000 |
| 44 2-21 |
I Know Things Now | 31 May 2006 | #15 | 2,750,000 |
| 45 2-22 |
No One Is Alone | 7 June 2006 | #18 | 2,590,000 |
| 46 2-23 |
Remember, Part I | 14 June 2006 | #13 | 2,750,000 |
| 47 2-24 |
Remember, Part II | 14 June 2006 | #18 | 2,750,000 |
DVD release
The second season of Desperate Housewives was released in the United States on August 29, 2006 by Buena Vista Home Entertainment after it had finished broadcasting on television. The six-disc set contained all the episodes from the season, as well as bonus features, including blooperBlooper
A blooper, also known as an outtake or boner is a short sequence of a film or video production, usually a deleted scene, containing a mistake made by a member of the cast or crew. It also refers to an error made during a live radio or TV broadcast or news report, usually in terms of misspoken words...
s, two unaired storylines and other deleted scenes, and behind-the-scenes featurettes. The DVD received released in other countries as well. In Region 2, it was also released as The Complete First & Second Season, The Complete First, Second, & Third Seasons, The Complete Series 1-4, and The Complete Seasons One, Two, Three, Four, & Five boxsets. The DVD received positive reviews on its video quality and its packaging and design. Aubry D'Arminio of Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
gave the DVD release a 'B minus', citing the poorer quality of the episodes as the main problem. Other reviewers appreciated the decision to house all the bonus features on the last disc, unlike on the season one DVD.
| Desperate Housewives: The Complete Second Season - Extra Juicy Edition | ||||
| Set details | Special features | |||
|
|
|||
| Release dates | ||||
| August 29, 2006 | November 13, 2006 | September 27, 2006 | ||