PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: PALEYFEST 2009: 26TH ANNUAL WILLIAM S. PALEY TELEVISION FESTIVAL: DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented as part of The Paley Center for Media’s 26th William S. Paley Television Festival in Los Angeles. Held this year at the Cinerama Dome at the Arclight, Los Angeles, the festival celebrates the excellence and diversity of American television and is dedicated to television’s creative community. This evening honors "Desperate Housewives,” a darkly comedic soap opera about the denizens of Wisteria Lane, a suburban neighborhood with a seedy underbelly that is thrust to the forefront after the suicide of one titular housewife. Executive director at The Paley Center for Media in L.A. Craig Hitchcock offers opening remarks before introducing TV Guide senior editor Will Keck, who serves as the evening's moderator. Keck provides background about the history of night-time soap operas before introducing the show's creator, Marc Cherry. Upon taking the stage, Cherry introduces the 100th episode of the series, "The Best Thing That Ever Could Have Happened," which is screened in its entirety. (For synopsis and credits, see ACCNUM 100363.)
Following the screening, Keck introduces the panelists: executive producers Cherry and Bob Daily; cast members Kathryn Joosten (Karen McCluskey); Kyle MacLachlan (Orson Hodge); Brenda Strong (Mary Alice Young); Dana Delany (Katherine Mayfair); Teri Hatcher (Susan Mayer); Eva Longoria Parker (Gabrielle Solis); James Denton (Mike Delfino); Doug Savant (Tom Scavo); and Neal McDonough (Dave Williams). Marcia Cross (Bree Hodge) and Felicity Huffman (Lynette Salvo) were scheduled to appear but were unable to attend.
Panelists touch on such topics as: how the scripts incorporate so many different storylines; the actors who have left the show that are missed the most by current cast members; the one character on the show who will never be killed off; if Savant would consider returning to the retooled "Melrose Place"; why Cherry started the fifth season five years after the third season ended; if the actors would remain on the show if Cherry was no longer its executive producer; the drop in the show's quality from season one to season two; similarities between the actors and their characters; the cast's reaction to nudity on the show; the manner in which dramatic subjects, such as Lynette's cancer, are given a comedic spin; if core couple Susan and Mike will get back together; Delany's reaction to the fifth-season shifts in her character; what MacLachlan learned from working on "Twin Peaks," and how that show's fate inspired Cherry; and Parker's reaction to playing an overweight Gaby at the the beginning of the fifth season.
Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics: why Cherry consistently makes his characters suffer consequences for their actions; the tackling of "taboo" subjects like childhood obesity; Cherry and Denton's appearances on the Starz show "Head Case"; why Cherry recently killed off Nicollette Sheridan's character, Edie; if actor Gale Harold will be returning to the show after his real-life motorcycle accident; how far in advance the show is plotted; and one development that will shock viewers in the fifth season finale.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: April 18, 2009 2:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:59:23
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 100015
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Craig Hitchcock … Host
- Will Keck … Moderator
- Marc Cherry … Panelist
- Bob Daily … Panelist
- Kathryn Joosten … Panelist
- Kyle MacLachlan … Panelist
- Brenda Strong … Panelist
- Dana Delany … Panelist
- Teri Hatcher … Panelist
- Eva Longoria Parker … Panelist
- James Denton … Panelist
- Doug Savant … Panelist
- Neal McDonough … Panelist
- Marcia Cross
- Felicity Huffman
- Nicollette Sheridan
- Gale Harold