Desperate Housewives

Eva seems to be in the news an awful lot these days! The latest story out says that Eva has told Tony that he cannot have the traditional bachelor party before their wedding. As reported in In Touch Weekly, “Eva thinks letting men have bachelor parties is just asking for trouble.” When she heard that Tony’s San Antonio Spurs teammates were planning a big to-do for their friend, she put her diminutive foot down. The plan was for a lavish and wild party at Parker’s home that would last an entire weekend. Normally, I’d say a bachelor party is fine if you trust your husband-to-be (and you should). But a weekend-long bash? That’s pushing it. What do you think?

Eva Longoria, Desperate Housewives, Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs

“Desperate Housewives” is no longer just restricted to our tv sets. There’s a new review of the “Desperate Housewives: The Game” for the PC over at GameSpot.com. Even before I read the review, I saw the screenshots from the game and thought, “Wow, that looks just like ‘The Sims’.” Even the reviewer mentions the eerie similarities. The interactions are similar, as are some of the game’s goals and mini-games. The basic idea is your character is a new neighbor on Wisteria Lane and you have a secret past (of course!). You interact with the other ‘wives, but ultimately the story is about you. It sounds interesting, if a little silly. But the reviewer does mention that is part of the appeal. After all, “Desperate Housewives” itself is a little on the silly side, and that’s what makes it so delicious to watch. So if you ever played “The Sims” and loved it or if you’re in the mood for some guilty-pleasure-style fun on the PC, pick up a copy at your nearest electronics store. I have to admit, it does sound interesting.

Also coming to a store near you, “Desperate Housewives” dolls. Created by Madame Alexander, these Barbie-sized beauties will be featured in Fashion Doll Quarterly’s spring 2007 issue. Looking at the dolls, I can’t see where they truly resemble the characters. The Bree doll is the most recognizable simply because she’s the only Housewife with red hair. But think of the clothes. I think that’s where the market are with these pint-sized cuties. Another concern: who are these dolls for? Adult fans of the show who are also doll collectors? Or for small girls who shouldn’t even know what “Desperate Housewives” is yet? Interesting.

Tis the season to be making resolutions about losing weight. All you have to do is walk through your nearest department store to see all the fitness equipment on sale to realize that getting fit is a huge deal after those indulgent holidays. And, to no one’s surprise, being fit is something Teri Hatcher has in spades. She’s often been the subject of speculation about her weight, being one of the ultra-thin celebrity women out there. But according to her, she really doesn’t do anything special to keep her weight down. In fact, she shuns the gym like the plague.

According to an interview with new! magazine (as reported by Yahoo! News UK), “A lot of people do all kinds of nutty diets and weird things, but I believe in moderation. I can have pizza and pie and a glass of red wine - just not every day. I wouldn’t want to.” That might just make too much sense, I’m thinking. About the gym, she says, “I can’t stand going to the gym. It’s too formatted and it freaks me out with all the germs. I hike outside. I lift weights in my house, just not at a gym.” Now, I don’t go to the gym because I’m too lazy, too cheap, etc and so forth. So I think her answer is much better than mine.

Regardless of how she does it, Teri has a figure that all of us would love to have.

Apparently Eva’s opening of the annual Harrods Winter Sale wasn’t without a hitch or two. According to Page Six, the popular celebrity gossip section of the New York Times, Longoria drew criticism while in London kicking off the famous department store’s big after-Christmas sale. She was heckled loudly outside the store by anti-fur activists while trying to give interviews and pose for pictures. She was also recently named PETA’s “Worst Dressed” (a dubious honor which in the past has gone to such stars as Christina Ricci), for wearing “dead-animal pelts”. It continually surprises me that modern celebrities and people in the limelight wear fur anymore, since it’s a practice that seems to have long since been labeled as taboo.

I’d like to first off wish you all a belated Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. I was absent from the blog for a week, due to one of my children being uber-sick and also being out of town for the holidays. I’m back home now, and my child is on the mend, so back to reporting the “Desperate Housewives” news it is! There’s quite a few tasty bits to report, so sit down and get comfy while I get you all caught up.

• As I reported previously, Eva Longoria opened the Harrods Winter Sale in London on December 28th. She got first dibs on the deals, and reportedly spent a whopping #35,000 in a mere 90 minutes. She picked out designer handbags, shoes and coats, among other goodies. Lucky for her, she didn’t have to battle the crowds which had been lining up outside since 5am. Now that’s the way to shop!
• Eva also made news when rumors floated around about series creator Marc Cherry mentioning that Heather Mills (the soon-to-be ex-wife of Paul McCartney) would be an interesting addition to the next season of “Desperate Housewives”. Longoria, however, has different ideas. She thinks “it would be completely crazy” and would be offended if she was offered a part. Ouch!
• In Golden Globes news, Felicity Huffman will be one of the many presenters, having won a Globe herself last year. Look for her (and also see if she wins again for Best Actress in a Comedy Series) on the awards show airing Monday, January 15.

Enjoy your daily dose of “Desperate” news and thanks for being patient with me for the last week!

It’s that time of year again, when the year comes to a close and we turn our thoughts inward to reflect on the year past. This is the time when we start to see “best of” lists show up on tv, in newspapers and magazines. We start to consider ourselves, what was the best of the past year? What was the worst? “Desperate Housewives” has managed to make it onto a couple of lists already, in one form or another. Journalist Kevin Thompson made Gabrielle’s knock-down, drag-out fight with Sister Mary his Best Catfight of the year in his best TV moments of 2006 list. And, honestly, who didn’t love that scene? I get the giggles just thinking about it. The fact that it took place in a church only makes it better.

Felicity Huffman also made a “best of” list, this time it was The Nateflix’s Guide to the Year’s Best. While her honors had little to do with “Desperate Housewives”, I felt they were due a mention here. He gave her a “Free to be You and Me” Award, and said, “Felicity Huffman gave the performance of her career as a transgendered man becoming a woman in ‘Transamerica.’” Wow! You go, Felicity!

So what do you think? What do you think the best (and worst) moments of “Desperate Housewives” were this year? I think the best moment in my opinion was the hold-up at the supermarket. Again, Felicity turned in an amazing performance and the entire episode had my jaw on the floor. Worst? The horribly failed Applewhite storyline. Didn’t it feel like at least a couple balls were dropped on that one? Such potential wasted! Ah well, it can’t all be fantastic, I suppose.

Now this is something I could never have predicted; Kim Jong Il, the leader of North Korea (yes, that North Korea), is a big fan of “Desperate Housewives”. No foolin’. According to Time Magazine reporter Nathan Thornburg, “It is said that ‘Desperate Housewives’ DVDs are brought into North Korea for their leader.â€? Apparently the dictator is a big fan of pop culture, and “Desperate Housewives” is his favorite American television program.

Now, I don’t know how true this is, but if it is? Don’t you think that’s just a little scary? At least you can always say you have something in common with a dictator.

In the new issue of “Stepping Out” magazine, out on newstands today, there’s an interview with Eva Longoria. And in that interview, Eva delves into some of the details of her relationship with NBA star Tony Parker. The couple had split up briefly in the Fall, but the actress thinks she has a good idea now of what it takes to make it last, “You just have to work at it and make sure that it’s right for you.â€? Pick up “Stepping Out” today, wherever magazines are sold, to read the rest of the article and see if Eva truly does know what it takes.

I’ve long known that Kristin over at E!Online has been a fantastic source for tv show news and spoilers. This week, she’s got some very good “Desperate Housewives” goodness that I’m going to share with you all. As with the last time, if you’d rather not be spoiled, don’t click the “read more” link below! This is your last warning!

Read the rest of this entry »

This picture of Felicity is just gorgeous, I simply had to feature it. It was taken December 4, 2006 at the “Tisch On Broadway”, New York University’s Tisch School of the Art’s 2006 Gala Benefit, hosted by Billy Crystal.

Harrods department store in London is famous throughout the world. Almost as famous? Harrods annual bargain bazaar that begins December 26. Each year, store head Mohamed Al Fayed asks someone, often a celebrity, to help him open the sale. This year? The honor goes to Eva Longoria and she is sincerely thrilled. She says that being asked is “an honor and a privilege.” Past celebrities have included British actress Kelly Brook and former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham. Hopefully while she’s there she can snag a couple really good bargains as well!

Our favorite voice-over Housewife has a new interview with TV Guide magazine. In the interview she talks about a new role she has on ABC’s new sitcom “Help Me Help You” with Ted Danson (playing his new love interest!). They also talked at great length about “Desperate Housewives”, including joking around about Mary Alice’s voice-overs and her love of using trite proverbs to illustrate a point and how she must have been killed of because she was so much taller than the other ‘wives. She was even asked for the story behind how she got the voice-over job in the first place, since that wasn’t the original plan. Brenda also said that while she would love to be able to show up for work in her pajamas (since she doesn’t need to be on camera for her “scenes”), the closest she’s come is sweats after a yoga class. But she is chummy with other ‘wives, often going out to dinner together. We also got to hear about a movie she will be appearing in, called A Plumm Summer with Hugh Jackman and Henry Winkler. Sounds good to me! Head over and read the interview for yourself for all the juicy details!

Fans of Rex Van De Kamp and Steven Culp (the actor who plays him) will be pleased! Apparently, Rex will be the narrator of an upcoming episode that will focus on the men (oh the men!) of Wisteria Lane. Will we maybe see a new scene or two with him? Even as a flashback? For those who need a little reminding, Rex is the dead husband of Bree. He was poisoned by nutcase pharmacist George Williams back at the end of season 1. I’d love to see new stuff with Rex, or even just hear his perspective on some things. Should be a good one!

I can’t imagine how I would feel when I “got the call” that I was nominated for something like a Golden Globe. I imagine it’s a day that you will remember for the rest of your life. Here are some reactions from the nominees, as quoted from The Examiner:

“I really don’t know how to tell you how grateful I am, with a baby coming, a new husband and now a Golden Globe nomination. I’m very blessed.” - Marcia Cross

and…

“I will probably toast my writing staff with Diet Coke and we’ll spend about 10 minutes talking about it and then we’ll just jump back into work. You only get a couple seconds to enjoy the showbiz glow of it all before you have to get back to what they’re paying you for.” - “Desperate Housewives” creator Mark Cherry

The Golden Globes nominations were announced at an ungodly hour this morning. No real surprises in the television arena (I was very pleased to see “Heroes” get nominated for Best Drama Series), just some very deserving nods. “Desperate Housewives” was nominated for:

• Best Comedy Series
• Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy: Felicity Huffman
• Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy: Marcia Cross

No nods for Teri Hatcher or Eva Longoria, unfortunately, but it was unlikely that all four of the women would be nominated at the same time anyhow. I’m pleased with the nominations, mostly because I’m not sure who I’d like to see win Best Actress more; both are very deserving and have had some great storylines to work off of. I’m going to give the edge to Marcia Cross, however. I think she’s due.

The Golden Globes will air Monday, January 15th.