The attacks haven’t been vicious, but many have worried that the show has lost its luster. Now, no one is more willing to turn on a show than I am. I ditched “The O.C.� – a show I once loved – somewhere in its second season. I no longer acknowledge the existence of “The West Wing.� And I drift in and out of “CSI� with no discretion.
Yet I am still loyal to the “Housewives,� even as others turn away.
True, the show is maybe not as strong as it was this year. Yes, the fact that the gals haven’t yet banded together to solve a season-long mystery is problematic, as there is no glue banding them together. That means we haven’t seen them together much, which I admit is problematic.
And yes, the new plot featuring Alfre Woodard and her shackled basement-dweller is loony, even for a satirical show.
But the bottom line is, the thing is still good. It still features some of the best acting on television, particularly from Marcia Cross as tormented perfectionist Bree.
And, while some of this year’s plot developments are so-so, many moments are still laugh-out-loud funny (my favorite so far was Felicity Huffman’s Lynette planting a mouse in her home to spur her lazy hubby to tidy up more often).
I also thought this week’s episode was particularly strong, as it gave the stars their most scenes together this season. It also gave Cross that great graveside meltdown as well as that hilarious in-prison marriage counseling sequence with Gaby and Carlos.
Last but not least, it finally shed a little light on Woodard’s character and Mr. Chains and Shackles.
So, let everyone else whine about “Desperate Housewives.� Meanwhile, in a world where gunk like “Yes, Dear,� “Joey� and “Surface� are still on the air, I still have faith in the “Housewives.�
A Brief Aside: While we’re talking about “Housewives,� am I the only one that noticed that Lynette was dancing on a bar to the song “Boogie Shoes� in this week’s episode? It just struck me as funny, because that’s the same song that Huff-man’s character on the short-lived “Sports Night� danced to when she had too many margaritas.
Did anyone else see that connection?
Probably not. The rest of you probably have lives.
Unlike me.