Pilot

Season 1, Episode 1, Aired

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EPISODE RATING: Great
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One day, in the loveliest of suburbs, housewife and mother Mary Alice Young (Brenda Strong) decides to take her own life. Now, from her elevated state of P.O.V., Mary Alice introduces us to the lives of her friends, neighbors and family members living in the idyllic Wisteria Lane, a street where the lawns are green, the houses are pretty, the people are nice and the secrets are deadly. Her circle of girlfriends, who are taken by surprise by her mysterious suicide, includes: Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher), a known klutz and hopeless romantic who's gone through a bitter divorce, and is now playing the part of single mom to her precocious daughter Julie (Andrea Bowen) and also happens to be looking for love, finding it in the heart of the hunky new plumber neighbor, Mike Delfino (James Denton) - but in order to win him over, she'll have to rival the street's notorious slut, Edie Britt (Nicollette Sheridan); Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman), formerly a successful businesswoman in the marketing world, now a stay-at-home mom taking care of four rebellious kids, while her husband, Tom (Doug Savant), is out working all the time; Bree Van de Kamp, often deemed "Martha Stewart-on-steroids", a perfectionist home fairy whose immaculate lifestyle drives her children Andrew (Shawn Pyfrom) and Danielle (Joy Lauren) to treat her with disdain, and her husband Rex (Steven Culp) to want a divorce; and Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria), a former top model turned trophy wife who becomes tired of life in the suburbs after marrying a businessman, Carlos (Ricardo Antonio Chavira), and thus engages in an affair with her 17-year-old gardener John Rowland (Jesse Metcalfe). Then there's Mary Alice's family: her peculiar son Zach (Cody Kasch), who tries to figure out why his mom would abandon him the way she did, and her husband Paul (Mark Moses), who tries to keep the truth under wraps. In death, Mary Alice knows more than she ever could in life, and she is willing to share with us, week after week, the juicy details of the lives of people she holds dear, and the secrets they try to hide behind closed doors. And we welcome them all with watery mouths.moreless
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  • A great start to a great show!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By mmvd, Jan 02, 2012
    We're in the middle of Mary-Alice's life and then she kills herself, no one knows why. Her life seems perfect, with her husband, their son, their perfect house..et cetera. A really good start.
    Then we meet her friends, the other housewives:
    The clumsy one: Susan, she can't cook, she's divorced, she's a single parent and her life is totally normal. She meets Mike Delfino on the funeral service and it seems, they like each other. She'd like to have a nice dinner with Mike, but Edie was faster. Then Susan went to Edie's house and heard sex-noise. She thought Edie's in bed with Mike and she's depressed. Then she pushes a candle in Edie's living room, accidental. And her house's on fire. Susan went and waited out of the house with the other housewives. Then Mike's suddenly coming from behind and talks to the ladies. Susan's surprised.
    The "perfect" one: Bree's the perfect housewife with the perfect family. But that's just the surface. Andrew's a cheeky teenager, who's tired of the whole life with the perfect mother. Danielle's a wanna-be beauty, I think. Then Rex, the ungrateful husband. Then they're in a restaurant, when Bree putted some onion in Rex' salad. And she knows, he's allergic to onion. After that he has to go to the hospital. Rex' asked for a divorce and Bree's lost her frame, but only on the toilette.
    the tough one: Lynette. Lynette's life isn't easy at all. She's got 4 children. 3 Boys and 1 Girl. The girl's still an infant. The boy's don't behave themselves that good and went swimming on the funeral service. Lynette had to get them out of the pool. Her husband Tom returns from a business trip and the first thing he want to do is sex. But he didn't want to take a condom. And Lynette beats him. She don't want to have more babies. I totally understand her! 4 are quite enough.
    The pretty one: Gabrielle. Her life seems perfect too. She's got a great house, a nice husband and her beauty is the greatest gift ever. But her life isn't perfect at all. She has an affair with her underaged gardner John. And her husband treats her not that good.
    The 4 ladies find a letter in a box of Mary-Alice. The letter says: I know what you did! It makes me sick! I'm going to tell! Now, the question is: WHAT HAS SHE DONE? We'll see ;Dmoreless

  • Pilot

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By danny7277, Jun 05, 2011
    This was an absolutly fantastic pilot episode that did a brilliant job of setting up the characters and the storylines, this pilot also had some great dialogue with some really funny lines and some really dark comedy, the pilot has done a brilliant job of setting up the tone of the series with some dark humor mixed with drama comedy and secrets and mystery desperate housewives feels refreshing and orignal and cant wait to see more it has only been one episode but already i am addicted.
    a really really really really really really really really really really good pilotmoreless

  • The best series premiere ever!

    9.4
    "Superb"
    By RenatoB, Apr 29, 2011
    There was a time that I thought the "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer" series premiere was the best ever. Well, that obviously was before I knew what "Desperate Housewives", and how great of a pilot it had. This episode is, without question, superb. It introduces the show's setting, characters, relationships, stories and mysteries so very well. We can tell right from the kick-off that the characters and their stories are interesting and entertaining. This is truly the best pilot ever written, everything about it is perfect. There are no boring scenes in it, and it is one of the funniest episodes of the series. Way to go, Marc Cherry, you are a genious. :)moreless

  • Oh Mary Alice, what did you do?

    10
    "Perfect"
    By desperate_dude, Feb 01, 2009
    Agreed with Renato, this is one of the best pilot episodes I've ever seen, with "Grey's Anatomy" in second. Marc Cherry locks the audience with a perfect blend of satire, humor, darkness, and very relate-able characters. After all the questions of Mary Alice's suicide are answered, it's fun to go back and re-watch all the clues as they are being uncovered ever so slightly, secretly, and deviously. If you haven't seen "Desperate Housewives" yet, there is no other series like it, so start watching. It's in Season Five (2008-2009) and it's still as addicting as it was in Season One.moreless

  • Absolutely amazing Pilot with alot of potential for a great series..

    9.6
    "Superb"
    By charmed1102, Aug 25, 2008
    We are introduced to the character of Mary Alice Young, a resident of the town of Fairview who resides on the quiet street known as Wisteria Lane. Mary Alice reports on the unusual day she had which included a series of errands, cooking for her son and husband, cleaning the house, and pulling an unused revolver out of a closet and ending her life. Her body was discovered by Mrs. Martha Huber, When she hears a loud popping noise, she quickly runs to the Young house where she finds Mary Alice's lifeless body on the floor. She calls for an ambulance but soon learns that she is too late. Mary Alice's funeral is held a few days later. After the funeral, each of the mourners is invited back to the Young home where a repast dinner will be held. In attendance are not only her family but her closest friends she has left behind. They include Lynette Scavo, a former businesswoman who got married and soon after became pregnant with twin boys. Her husband Tom persuaded her to give up her career to be a stay-at-home mom and two other children soon followed. Lynette, now a mother of 4, is forced to struggle with her bratty and out of control children while her husband Tom is constantly out of town. Immediately following Lynette into Mary Alice's home is Gabrielle Solis. Before moving to Wisteria Lane, Gabrielle was a runway model who enjoyed a lavish lifestyle and of course, rich men. Shortly after meeting a very successful executive, Carlos Solis, the two married and moved to the suburbs where Gabrielle has lived a quiet but elegant life ever since. The third of the women to arrive is Bree Van de Kamp. Bree seems to do everything right involving her housework and ideal home but her family life is clearly another story. The final friend to arrive is Susan Mayer, Susan has been divorced a year from her husband Karl who was caught cheating on her with his secretary. Susan, feeling betrayed, called the marriage off and fought for custody of their daughter Julie. Susan has gotten over her divorce with the help of her daughter but still has feelings of loss.
    At the funeral, the women reminisce about Mary Alice and how her warm personality and stature shrouded her inner feelings which eventually lead to her suicide. Susan sits down at the table where they once sat when Susan announced to the women her divorce. As Mary Alice pours coffee, Susan cries and the women talk about their home life. Lynette jokes that she wishes that Tom were having an affair since she is so stressed out and he has got her pregnant three times in the last four years. Susan is brought back to the present when Bree reminds her that Paul asked if they can clean out Mary Alice's closet. Susan gives a nod when Gabrielle brings up the fact that what caused Mary Alice to kill herself. They suspect Mary Alice was most definitely depressed. Paul stands at the back of the room quietly listening with a mysterious look on his face. Later, Susan spots someone eating her appetizer and quickly tells the man to back away because her macaroni and cheese is infamously bad. The man gives her a weird look and continues to eat the dish. He chews but quickly spits it out. The two laugh when introductions are made. The man is revealed to be Mike Delfino, a plumber who has just moved into the neighborhood. Susan smiles and introduces herself. In another room, Lynette breastfeeds where she is told by Mrs. Huber that her sons are in the pool out back and are swimming carefree. Lynette runs into the yard where already a majority of the guests are looking on. Lynette scolds the children and demand they get out of the pool. They refuse which leads Lynette to give her baby to the priest and walks into the pool with her dress on. She grabs the children, gives Paul her condolences and leaves.
    Gabrielle is angry at her husband Carlos because she would rather not attend another business dinner where Carlos' boss is extremely flirty. Carlos leaves the house where he reminds gardener John to cut the grass. John tells Carlos that he will do it as soon as he is able. Gabrielle tells John that there are bandaids in the kitchen for his cut. After Carlos leaves, Gabrielle seduces John and the two make love on a table. On the evening of the business dinner, Carlos discovers that John is not doing his job since he did not do what Carlos asked. At the party, Gabrielle bribes a waiter who will make sure he has a drink all evening. Gabrielle quickly drives home, pulls out the lawn mower and begins to mow while in a cocktail dress and heels. The following morning, Carlos looks suspicious when the grass has been freshly mowed. He thinks of it as a coincidence and drives off. Gabrielle looks on from the balcony relieved.
    Bree and her family quietly eat dinner in the dining room. The children comment on why Bree always has to make such weird things when it comes to their meals. Bree reminds them that she tries new things because regular meals get redundant after a while and that she likes to keep it fresh. Andrew tells her that sometimes they just would enjoy a regular dish other than Bree's gourmet recipes. Bree feels upset and demands support from her husband Rex. Rex, however, just asks for the salt.Bree decides to take the family out for dinner at a cowboy themed restaurant.Bree puts onions in Rex's salad knowing that he could have an allergic reaction. The two eat their salad but Rex becomes short of breath and collapses. At the hospital, Bree visits Rex where he believes she did it on purpose.
    Lynette continues to be stressed out with the children as she goes grocery shopping with the boys. While there, Lynette frantically calls Tom telling him to come home. She continues that if he does not come home by tomorrow, that they will all be joining him. As Lynette talks, her twin sons Porter and Preston wander off grabbing any grocery item in sight. Lynette soon meets up with a former colleague from an ad executive office. The two talk when the woman asks Lynette how her home life is. Lynette lies saying it is "the best job she ever had" knowing that it is really the worst job ever.
    Julie, Susan's daughter, purposely throws her soccer ball into Mike's yard in order to find out some information about Mike. Julie manages to find out that he is widowed, previously lived in California but needed a change, and is single. Susan thanks Julie for her effort and decides to make her move. Susan brings Mike a gift but the two are soon interrupted by Edie Britt, a man hungry real estate broker who has been infamously known for her several husbands and one night stands. Edie also decides to make her move on Mike and she and Susan become involved in a contest. Mike smiles at the two of them and informs them that he would invite them in but he is in the process of settling in. The two women soon leave. That evening, Susan runs over to Mike's house where she tells him that she has a clog in her drain. Mike decides that he will be right over and Susan hurries to shove things down her kitchen sink. Mike discovers the problem and fixes her "clogged drain". The following evening, Mrs. Huber lets out to Susan that she is babysitting Edie Britt's son while she entertains a guest. Susan thinks that is Mike and feels defeated. Susan runs to Edie's house where she pretends to be asking for sugar. Susan hears moaning from upstairs and throws her measuring cup from behind. The measuring cup knocks down a candle which sets Edie's curtains on fire. Soon after, Edie's house goes up in flames and she quickly leaves unseen. Edie manages to make it out of the house without a scratch but her boyfriend becomes hospitalized. Susan is soon joined by Mike who asks what has happened. Susan gives a sigh of relief when she learns that he was not with Edie. Susan immediately gets rid of her guilt and decides that everything will be fine--for her at least.

    The following afternoon, the women pack the remains of Mary Alice's belongings into a car and toast Mary Alice with a glass of wine. However soon after, an envelope is found in Mary Alice's belongings which was post marked the day she had died. Bree was the one who found the letter. Gabrielle opens the envelope to reveal a short letter. The purple paper is printed with the message:

    I Know What You Did It Makes Me Sick

    I'm Going To Tell

    The women look on puzzled at the letter as this is possibly a piece of evidence to Mary Alice's suicide.moreless
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  • TRIVIA (15)

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    • Goof: When Bree waters the flowers in the bathroom of the hospital, there is the shadow of the camera man visible behind her.

    • Goof: When Susan sits on Edie's couch, just after she throws the bra behind her and knocks the candles over, a crew member in blue jeans can briefly be seen moving on the floor behind the couch to the right.

    • The envelope that Mary Alice's blackmail note came in says Secretsville, USA instead of Fairview.

    • In this episode Mary Alice says she died on a Thursday, however on her tombstone, which is seen in the episode after it says she died on September 26th 2004. This date is a Sunday.

    • Mike's door is made of brown wood, but in later episodes it is white and has a screen door.

    • You can see that the sets are not the ones used later in the show. Lynette's house is the better example, it's clearly smaller and different. Susan's kitchen is different and so is Bree's dining room.

    • When Susan life's flashback are being shown you can see Karl coming out through the stairs. Anyway, the stairs are suddenly in the other side of the room, later we will see that the stairs are not on that side.

    • Brenda Strong (Mary Alice Young) is seen in this episode.

    • Notice that when John and Gabrielle are "doing it" on the table, they are in front of a very large window that you can see through perfectly.

    • When Lynette is shopping in the supermarket, right after she loses track of the twins, she is shown pushing the shopping cart down the aisle and in the seat there's only a pink blanket; however in the next shot, her daughter is sitting in the seat with the blanket and one of her sons is riding in the basket.

    • When the women are all standing in front of Edie's burning house. As Bree turns to her husband, Rex, it is actually the actor who played Rex in the unaired pilot (Michael Reilly Burke) and not the actor who replaced him (Steven Culp).

    • When Martha looks through the window and sees Mary Alice dead, Mary Alice is laying on her left side with the gun in her right hand. First, she shot herself in the right side of the head but there was no bullet hole, and secondly, if she did shoot herself in the left side which was on the floor, she should have been holding the gun in her other hand.

    • Gabrielle is mowing the lawn with an lawn Aeration machine...?

    • Where does the Scavo baby go when Lynette and Tom run into their room to have sex?

    • When Lynette comes up from the pool during the wake (getting her boys) she is still in her high heels, the shot after when she gets her baby back she is all of a sudden barefoot.

  • QUOTES (29)

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    • Mary Alice: (closing voiceover) And suddenly there he was (referring to Mike). Like a phoenix rising from the ashes. And just like that, Susan was happy. Life was suddenly full of possibilities. Not to mention a few unexpected surprises. The next day my friends came together to pack away my clothes, my personal belongings and what was left of my life. Not quite, Gabrielle, not quite. How ironic to have something I tried so desperately to keep secret treated so casually. I'm so sorry, girls, I never wanted you to be burdened with this.

    • Mary Alice: (about Edie) Susan had met the enemy, and she was a slut.

    • Rex: I can't believe you tried to kill me. Bree: Yes, well, I feel badly about that.

    • Mary Alice: My name is Mary Alice Young. When you read this morning's paper you may come across an article about the unusual day I had last week. Normally there is never anything newsworthy about my life, but that all changed last Thursday. Of course everything seemed quite normal at first. I made breakfast for my family, I performed my chores, I completed my projects, I ran my errands. In truth, I spent the day as I spent every other day, quietly polishing the routine of my life, until it gleamed with perfection. That's why it was so astonishing when I decided to go to my hallway closet and retrieve a revolver that had never been used.

    • Gabrielle: This table is hand carved, Carlos had it imported from Italy. It cost him $22 000. John: So, you wanna do it on the table this time? Gabrielle: Absolutely.

    • Bree: First of all, your father can't eat onions. He's deathly allergic. And I won't even dignify your navy bean suggestion. (turns to Andrew) So, how's the osso buco? Andrew: It's okay. Bree: It's okay? Andrew, I spent three hours cooking this meal. How do you think it makes me feel when you say it's okay in that sullen tone? Andrew: Who asked you to spend three hours on dinner? Bree: (shocked) Excuse me? Andrew: Tim Harper's mom gets home from work, pops open a can of pork and beans, and boom, they're eating. Everyone's happy. Bree: You'd rather I serve pork and beans? Danielle: (turns to Andrew) Apologize now, I am begging you.

    • Bree (to Rex): If you think I'm going to discuss the dissolution of my marriage in a place where the restrooms are labeled 'Chicks' and 'Dudes', you're out of your mind!

    • Bree: (at the dinner table) Rex. Seeing as you are the head of this household I would appreciate it if you said something. Rex: Pass the salt.

    • Gabrielle: It's like my grandmother always said: An erect penis doesn't have a conscience. Lynette: Even the limp ones aren't that ethical.

    • Lynette: Oh, wait, I forgot to tell you. I had some trouble with swelling so the doctor took me off the pill so you're just gonna have to put on a condom. Tom: Condom? What's the big deal? Let's risk it. Lynette: Let's risk it? Tom: Yeah. (Lynette punches him in the face)

    • Susan: How would you feel if I used your child support payments for plastic surgery? Julie: You look fine. Susan: If you could cut back to two meals a day, I could get a chemical peel.

    • John: So, why are we here? Why are we doing this? (In bed having affair) Gabrielle: Because I don't want to wake up one morning with the sudden urge to blow my brains out. John: Hey, can I have a drag? Gabrielle: Absolutely not. You're much too young to smoke.

    • Rex: (to Bree) I want a divorce. I just can't live in this detergent commercial anymore. I'm sick of the bizarre way your hair doesn't move. I'm sick of you making our bed in the morning before I've even used the bathroom. You're this plastic suburban housewife with her pearls and her spatula who says things like, "We owe the Hendersons a dinner." Where's the woman I fell in love with, who used to burn the toast and drink milk out of the carton, and laugh? I need her. Not this cold, perfect thing you've become.

    • Danielle: Why can't we ever have normal soup? Bree: Danielle, there is nothing abnormal about basil puree.

    • Andrew: I'm saying, do you always have to serve cuisine? Can't we ever just have food? Bree: Are you doing drugs? Andrew: What? Bree: Change in behavior is one of the warning signs and you have been as fresh as paint for the last six months. That certainly would explain why you're always locked in the bathroom. Danielle: Trust me, that is not what he is doing. Andrew: Shut up.

    • Carlos: It's business. Tanaka expects everyone to bring their wives. Gabrielle: Every time I'm around that man, he tries to grab my ass. Carlos: I made over $200,000 doing business with him last year. If he wants to grab your ass, you let him.

    • Carlos: At the Donahue party everyone was talking mutual funds, and you found a way to mention you slept with half of the Yankee outfield. Gabrielle: I'm telling you, it came up in the context of the conversation.

    • Rex: Since when do you make mistakes? Bree: What's that supposed to mean? Rex: It means I'm sick of you being so damn perfect all the time. I'm sick of the bizarre way your hair doesn't move. I'm sick of you making our bed in the morning before I've even used the bathroom. You're this plastic suburban housewife with her pearls and her spatula who says things like "we owe the Hendersons a dinner." Where's the woman I fell in love with? Who used to burn the toast and drink milk out of the carton? And laugh? I need her. Not this cold perfect thing you've become.

    • Susan: I have a clog. Mike: Excuse me? Susan: And you're a plumber, right? Mike: Yeah. Susan: The clog's in the pipe. Mike: Yeah, that's usually where they are.

    • Susan: I just don't know how I'm going to survive this. Mary Alice: Listen to me. We all have moments of desperation. But if we face them head on, that's when we find out just how strong we really are.

    • Susan: (reading the blackmail note) Oh, Mary Alice, what did you do?

    • Lynette: What are you doing?! We are at a wake! Preston: When we got here you said we could go in the pool. Lynette: I said you could go by the pool. Do you have your swimsuits on? Preston: Yeah, we put them on under our clothes before we left.

    • Susan: Oh, I wouldn't eat that if I were you. Mike: Why? Susan: I made it, trust me. (Mike prepares to take a bite) Hey, hey, do you have a death wish? Mike: No, I just refuse to believe that anybody can screw up macaroni and cheese. (Mike takes a bites of the macaroni, as Susan gestures apologetically, smiling) Mike: Oh my God. (makes a face) How did you… it tastes like it's burnt and undercooked. Susan: Yeah, I get that a lot. Here you go. (Susan gets a tissue and gives it to him, as he spits his mouthful of macaroni and cheese into the tissue)

    • Julie: Ugh, you need to get back out there. Come on. How long has it been since you've had sex? (Susan's pen halts stroke. She turns to look at Julie, open-mouthed) Are you mad that I asked you that? Susan: No, I'm just trying to remember. (Julie tilts her head to one side, smiling at Susan, who turns back to her drawing) I don't wanna talk to you about my love life anymore, it weirds me out.

    • Julie: Stop being so nervous, you're just asking him out to dinner. It's no big deal. Susan: You're right. (stalling) So, is that your project for school? You know in 5th grade I made the white house out of sugar cubes. Julie: Stop stalling and go. Before Mike figures out he can do better. Susan: (gapes at Julie) Tell me again why I fought for custody of you? Julie: You were using me to hurt dad. Susan: Oh, that's right.

    • Susan: I can't believe it. This can't be happening. Mike can't like Edie better than me, he just can't! Julie: You don't know what's going on. Maybe they're just... having dinner. (Susan gives her a look) Julie: You're right. They're doing it.

    • Julie: Mom, why would someone kill themselves? Susan: Well, sometimes people are so unhappy, they think that's the only way they can solve their problems. Julie: But Mrs. Young always seemed happy. Susan: Yeah. But sometimes, people pretend to be one way on the outside, when they're totally different on the inside. Julie:Oh, you mean like how dad's girlfriend is always smiling and says nice things, but deep down, you just know she's a bitch? Susan: I don't like that word, Julie. But yeah, that's a great example.

    • (Rex has asked for a divorce in a family restaurant) Rex: Are we gonna talk about what I said? Bree: If you think I'm gonna discuss the dissolution of my marriage in a place where the restrooms are labeled "Chicks" and "Dudes", you are out of your mind.

    • Lynette: Now listen to me, you are going to behave. I will not be humiliated in front of the entire neighborhood. And just so you know that I'm serious, I am. (She pulls out paper) Porter: What's that? Lynette: Santa's cell phone number! Preston: How'd you get that? Lynette: I know someone who knows someone who knows an elf. And if any of you acts up, so help me I will call Santa and tell him you want socks for Christmas! All right, are you willing to risk that!?

  • NOTES (29)

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    • The opening credits were cut for the series premiere. They would first appear in the following episode.

    • In this episode the characters pronounce Susan's last name "Meyer". However, in the rest of the series her name is pronounced "Mayer". This is due to the fact that during the shooting of the pilot, Susan's character's last name was supposed to be Meyer. It was later changed to Mayer.

    • International Titles: Canada: Beautés déséspérées Italy: Desperate Housewives - I segreti di Wisteria Lane Japan: Desuparêto na tsuma tachi Mexico: Esposas desesperadas Norway: Frustrerte fruer Poland: Gotowe na wszystko Croatia: Kućanice Serbia: Očajne domaćice Estonia: Meeleheitel koduperenaised Spain: Mujeres desesperadas Portugal: Donas de Casa Desesperadas Greece: Noikokyres se apognosi Hungary: Született feleségek Finland: Täydelliset naiset Macedonia: Ocajni domakinki Switzerland/Austria - Schmutzige Wäsche

    • Marc Cherry received a 2005 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for his work on this episode.

    • Charles McDougall won the 2005 Emmy for Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series for his work on this episode.

    • This episode won the 2005 Emmy for Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Comedy Series.

    • This is not the first time Felicity Huffman and Brenda Strong have been on a series together. One of Huffman's major previous roles was as Dana Whittaker on Sports Night and Brenda Strong had a recurring role as Sally, another producer on the same network. Brenda Strong is VERY tall compared to Huffman, by the way. In one shot on Sports Night Huffman only comes up to Brenda's chin.

    • Opening credits contain references to famous pieces of art, including American Gothic and The Arnolfini Portrait.

    • According to Gabrielle, the dining room table she and her gardener John used in their pilot lovemaking session was hand-carved, imported from Italy and cost her husband Carlos $23,000.

    • On its series debut, Desperate Housewives attracted the largest audience for any ABC series debut in eight years and was its most watched drama debut in 11 years - since September 17, 1996 (Spin City) and September 21, 1993 (NYPD Blue), respectively.

    • Encouraged by strong premiere numbers and hoping that word-of-mouth may bring even wider audience, ABC scheduled encore presentation of the pilot episode for Saturday, October 9, 2004, at 10/9c. The viewers got yet another chance to see "how it all began" when, having aired the first 10 episodes, ABC repeated the pilot for the second time on Sunday, December 26, 2004 at 10/9c.

    • Doug Savant (Tom Scavo) and Nicollette Sheridan (Edie Britt) have previously worked together on the primetime soap Knots Landing during the 1986-1987 season. Savant played a young Mack Mackenzie in flashbacks. Sheridan, who was already appearing as Paige Matheson also appeared in the flashbacks as her characters mother Anne.

    • In Australia on channel 7 The show drew an audience of 2.5 million people for the premier.

    • This episode drew in 4.4 million viewers in the UK, beating the Sex and the City finale, and only having less viewers than BBC News, which got 5.2 million viewers.

    • Music featured in this episode was from Mazzy Star's "Fade Into You." Also, "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye is playing when Susan walks into Edie's home.

    • Doug Savant (Tom Scavo) and Marcia Cross (Bree Van De Kamp) have previously worked together on the Fox hit primetime soap Melrose Place.

    • There were a few minor shots that were added to the aired pilot. Besides the scenes with different actors, a few new shots were added, mainly in the "pool" scene. Where Rex Van De Camp (Steven Culp) "falls" onto the ground in the restaurant, the original pilot featured the table also falling to the ground.

    • Not only was it the highest rated show of the week, but it was the highest rated series premiere of the 2004-2005 season, besting highly anticipated shows "CSI: NY" and "Joey."

    • Kyle Searles who played the original gardener John Rowland is actually in the pilot. He has no speaking role and can be briefly seen twice during Mary Alice Young's wake (Once when Susan Mayer [Teri Hatcher] 'joins' the girls at the table; and twice where Lynette Scavo [Felicity Huffman] gets into the pool).

    • Networks NBC, CBS, Lifetime and even HBO passed on "Desperate Housewives."

    • In the pilot episode the character Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria) is smoking a cigarette after having sex with gardener John Rowland (Kyle Searles), but creator Marc Cherry was asked to cut it out, but kept it in anyway.

    • The character Bree Van De Kamp (played by Marcia Cross) is based on series creator Marc Cherrys' mother in real life.

    • Just like actress Sheryl Lee (the original Mary Alice Young), Brenda Strong (now Mary Alice Young) will play a dead character for a second series. She already plays one on a recurring basis on the WB's Everwood. Sheryl Lee played one for the first time in Twin Peaks.

    • Before Desperate Housewives actresses Brenda Strong (Mary Alice Young) and Marcia Cross (Bree Van De Kamp) both had recurring roles on the WB's Everwood. They never had any scenes together, but both had a relationship with lead character Andy Brown (Treat Williams).

    • In the original pilot of "Desperate Housewives" the role of Rex Van De Kamp was originally played by actor Michael Reilly Burke, but left the role when the series was picked up by ABC and was replaced by actor Steve Culp.

    • In the original pilot episode of "Desperate Housewives" the role of the gardener John Rowland was played by actor Kyle Searles. He was let go after the series was picked up by the network and replaced by actor Jesse Metcalfe.

    • The neighborhood block (studio set) that the neighbors live on in this episode is also the same block used in the 1989 Tom Hanks movie The Burbs.

    • In the original pilot episode of "Desperate Housewives" actress Sheryl Lee played the title role of Mary Alice Young. After the pilot was picked up she was dropped from the series and was replaced by actress Brenda Strong. The show's creators replaced Sheryl Lee because they felt her voice-over narration needed "more of a comic lift" and "somebody more present and less ethereal". However, they still hope to bring Lee back to the show in a future guest spot.

    • In the screening pilot, Mary Alice's full name is given (both in conversation and in print) as Mary Alice YOUNG. The surname Scott (as it appears in all the early synopses, etc.) is never mentioned.

  • ALLUSIONS (2)

    ADD ALLUSIONS

    • Edie's welcome gift is a dish of Sausage Puttenesca. Puttenesca is an Italian word that resembles 'prostitute'. Folklore has it that in Naples prostitutes used to make a pasta sauce that required little or no cooking and used their dishes as one more way of appealing to potential customers. The fact that Edie is bringing this dish is an allusion to her reputation.

    • Andrew: "You're the one with the problem, all right. You're the one who's acting she's running for mayor of Stepford." Bree Van De Kamp is described as "the perfect mother." Her son then makes a remark about Stepford. This is most likely a reference to the movie(s), The Stepford Wives (1975) (starring Katharine Ross) or the recent remake, The Stepford Wives (2004) (starring Nicole Kidman). The women living in the town of Stepford are too perfect à la Bree, and turn out to be robots.

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