The sixth season of Desperate Housewives began on RTÉ Two in the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday, January 5, 2010. The sixth season also started airing at 10:00pm on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom on January 27, 2010, as well as on the Seven Network in Australia on February 1, 2010.[2][3] It started airing at 9:00pm on February 1, 2010, on OSN's Show Series in the Middle East.[4] It also started airing in India on Star World from February 26, 2010, at 10pm.[5] In France, Season 6 began airing in the translated version on April 1, 2010 on Canal +.
The series saw lower ratings in the sixth season. In the first 12 episodes, the series attracted very similar viewership to the second half of the fifth season; however, the ratings declined heavily after the thirteenth episode, "How About a Friendly Shrink?", due to the competition with the 67th Golden Globe Awards. The series continued to lower numbers, with further competitions like the 2010 Grammy Awards, 2010 Winter Olympics, and the new CBS reality series Undercover Boss, which first aired after the Super Bowl XLIV, pulling impressive ratings. Desperate Housewives lost much steam in the second half of its season, picking up some again in the final three episodes.
Nonetheless, the show got a spot in the twenty most watched series in the 2009–2010 television season, at number twenty, averaging 12.82 million viewers (tenth, in scripted shows).[6] When adding DVR figures, the show ranked at thirteenth place (seventh, among scripted shows) with 14.13 million viewers.[7][8] The sixth season ranked fourteenth in the important, advertiser-coveted 18–49 age group, with a 4.2 rating, sixth highest with scripted shows. After including DVR playback (Live+7 days), the season average number increased to a 5.0 rating, placing eighth, in terms of scripted shows.[9][10]
Production
The first episode of the sixth season, "Nice is Different Than Good", began airing on September 27, 2009. The series creator, Marc Cherry, told Entertainment Weekly that the bride's initial identity was to be Katherine and that Susan was the one who was going to have a nervous breakdown, until viewers informed him that they would rather see Susan and Mike reconcile. Cherry explained: "I originally was going to have Mike marry Katherine, but as I went out into the world on vacation and just started talking to people they were so determined that Mike and Susan should get together; they were so insistent on it. So I started to think, 'What if I went that way?' And it occurred to me that it might be a more effective way to go as opposed to frustrating the fans for another year by keeping Mike and Susan apart. The fans demanded it in a voice so loud I was kind of scared to go against them". Cherry also hinted that the couple's marriage "plays better for this season's mystery". Cherry also said that Katherine will suffer a breakdown, adding: "And it's going to be one of the funniest breakdowns you've ever seen". Marc Cherry revealed that the sixth season mystery will pay homage to a classic Dallas storyline. He added: "What we've planned is an interesting mystery storyline involving one of our beloved characters. It's a 'Who shot J.R.?' kind of storyline. For the mid-season cliffhanger, Marc Cherry has revealed that there will be a plane crash in season six of Desperate Housewives. The show's creator explained that the story is still in the planning stages and added that he does not yet know who will be involved in the accident. "It's going to be my cliffhanger for the first half of the season," he said, adding that it would "affect everyone's lives". However, Cherry said that none of the main characters will be killed in the crash. "I'd love to kill somebody 'cause that's just what I do," he joked. "But the truth is, right now I don't have anyone major dying."
This season featured many established and new guest stars. Tuc Watkins and Kevin Rahm respectively played Bob Hunter and Lee McDermott, a gay couple and residents of Wisteria Lane. Part of Bree's storyline were Richard Burgi portraying Karl Mayer, Susan's ex-husband and Bree's divorce lawyer and new lover, Dakin Matthews returning as Reverend Sykes, reverend at the local Presbyterian church, Samuel Page appearing as Sam Allen, Rex's son conceived before he meets Bree, and Joy Lauren in the role of Danielle Katz, Bree's daughter. Part of Gabrielle's storyline were Daniella Baltodano playing Celia Solis, Gabrielle's youngest daughter, Jesse Metcalfe returning as John Rowland, Gabrielle's ex-lover and former gardener, Jeff Doucette portraying Father Crowley, priest at the local Catholic church, and John Rubinstein appearing as Principal Hobson, headmaster at Juanita and M.J.'s school. Part of Lynette's storyline were Helena Mattsson in the role of Irina Korsakov, Preston's Russian fiancée, and Brent Kinsman, Shane Kinsman and Zane Huett returning as the younger versions of Preston, Porter and Parker Scavo in flashbacks. Part of Katherine's storyline were Lyndsy Fonseca who returned for one episode in the role of Dylan Mayfair, Katherine's daughter, and Julie Benz portraying Robin Gallagher, a stripper and Katherine's new love interest. Part of the main mystery arc were John Barrowman appearing as Patrick Logan, an eco-terrorist and Danny's biological father, Julie McNiven playing Emily Portsmith, a barrista at a local cafe and acquaintance of Nick, and Ellen Crawford portraying Iris Beckley, a neighbor of Angie's mother that informs Patrick of the Bolens' whereabouts. Orson Bean was introduced in the role of Roy Bender, Mrs. McCluskey's new boyfriend. Josh Zuckerman appeared as Eddie Orlofsky, the infamous Fairview strangler. Maria Cominis played Mona Clarke, a Wisteria Lane resident who blackmails Angie when she discovers her secret. Mindy Sterling portrayed Mitzi Kinsky, a new neighbor in Wisteria Lane. Furthermore, Mark Moses returned in the season finale as Paul Young, Mary Alice's widower.[14]
Mike Delfino's bride is finally revealed, and while one woman of Wisteria Lane is struck by happiness, another woman's world falls apart. In the meantime, Lynette tries to cope with her new pregnancy, and develops some unexpected and horrifying feelings towards her unborn babies. Bree begins an affair with Karl Mayer, and Gabrielle has to deal with raising a rebellious teenage girl. Meanwhile, a new family with a dark past, headed by new housewife, Angie Bolen, moves to the street.
Bree continues her affair with Karl despite the fact it may jeopardize her friendship with Susan. Everybody tries to figure out why Julie was attacked and Gabrielle discovers Ana is lying for Danny over his whereabouts at the time of the attack, Lynette struggles to decide whether to abort her unborn babies or not and Mrs. McCluskey's boyfriend Roy is introduced.
After a chance encounter with John Rowland, Carlos begins to suspect that his wife still has the hots for him, and allows his niece Ana to be hired by John to test Gabrielle. In the meantime, the Scavos tell their kids they are expecting twins, and Lynette hides her pregnancy from Carlos in order to get a big promotion. Bree realizes Karl is more serious about their affair, but she doesn't want to put much effort into something she does with a man she does not love... or does she? The intensity between Susan and Angie grows as the latter tries to defend her son, but Susan is determined to warn everyone that Danny Bolen is a dangerous kid.
Susan discovers Julie was seeing a married man before she was attacked. Bree worries about Katherine when her denial over Mike and Susan's marriage worsens and begins to interfere with her work. Gabrielle becomes furious over John and Ana getting close. As Lynette's breasts get bigger during her pregnancy, Carlos and her colleagues believe she's had a boob job.
Gabrielle is deemed a bad mother during her daughter Juanita's playdate, and she tries desperately to prove to others that she is a responsible parent. The Bolens find themselves in trouble when Danny lends Julie their gun in case her attacker returns and Susan accidentally shoots and grazes a spying Katherine. Bree gets angry over a motel cleaner who judges her for having an affair with Karl. Lynette begins to dislike her and Tom's new handyman, Mrs. McCluskey's boyfriend, Roy. (The episode title references Stephen Sondheim's Broadway musical song of the same name.)
When Bree begins to fall for Karl, she decides it is time to break things up before they get way too serious. However, Karl isn't willing to let her go that easily, and makes her a proposition. In the meantime, Juanita says a bad word during a school play and Gabrielle is attacked by the school's principal, which leads her to respond and ultimately get her daughter out of the school, whereas Lynette learns her husband is cheating during mid-term. Katherine pretends to be on Susan's side to get to Mike, and Angie hides some secrets regarding her mother.
Susan is in desperate need of help to figure out if Katherine was responsible for strangling her daughter, and the detective who agrees to help her, Denise Lapera, shares some history with her that they both would rather forget. In the meantime, Lynette learns about Julie's past affair with Nick Bolen, which leads her to have her own theory as to who may have strangled her. The Hodges are invited over for dinner by the Bolens, and Nick proposes to Bree that she hire Angie to work for her at the catering company. Meanwhile, Gabrielle takes advantage of her housekeeper by making her play the role of Juanita's tutor.
Susan and Katherine are both sentenced to community service by picking up trash, and in the meantime Katherine finds a way to let Susan know she and Mike once had sex five times in a day, which annoys Susan, as her sexual ratio with Mike was never that high, leading her to believe he was closer to Katherine. Meanwhile, Gabrielle goes out of her way to get her daughter into Catholic school, and the only way to do so is by having Carlos send one of his employees, and Lynette's trainee, to Florida, much to Lynette's dismay, as she was training him to cover for her during her soon-to-come maternity leave. Angie refuses to make small talk with Julie, and Orson lets on that he is suspicious his wife might be cheating on him.
In the wake of another unexpected attack, Nick decides the time has come for him and his family to move away from Wisteria Lane. In the meantime, Susan and Bree clash over the latter's affair with Karl Mayer, whereas Gabrielle and Lynette clash over the latter's pregnancy. Meanwhile, Katherine's crazy schemes have brought Mike to a point where he can no longer put up with her, and a heated argument between the two of them has shocking results.
Susan and Dylan are forced to get Katherine help when her breakdown gets worse, Angie continues to be blackmailed by neighbor Mona, Gabrielle and Lynette continue to feud over Lynette's lies to Carlos about being pregnant, Orson discovers Bree's and Karl's affair and whilst the residents are enjoying their annual Christmas party a small plane crashes onto the lane, changing the lives of the residents forever.
After the horrific plane crash of Wisteria Lane, the housewives think of their lives different ways. If Susan had stayed married to Karl and gotten fat; Bree imagines if Orson had died and Karl had taken her away; Angie imagines if Mona had survived and told the police everything she knows about the Bolen secret; Gabrielle thinks of Celia's future where she turns up to be an old woman; and Lynette imagines if Patrick had lived, but learns that Patrick died and Paige survived.
Feeling guilty for Orson being in a wheelchair, Bree takes him back to her home; After inheriting a strip club, Susan learns that Mike is a constant visitor; Gaby is forced to examine feelings she's suppressed about her heritage; Lynette learns that Tom wants to fill in her place in Carlos' company.
Lynette balks at the idea of seeing a couples' therapist. In the meantime, Katherine shows no intention to moving back onto the lane, whereas Gabrielle and Susan are determined to find out which of their kids is in the smartest math group at school, whereas Orson makes life harder for Bree and Angie disapproves of Danny's new girlfriend.
Gabrielle and Carlos grow concerned with the direction Ana and Danny's relationship might be taking. In the meantime, Susan befriends a stripper named Robin and takes her under her wing, whereas Tom and Lynette come to a disagreement regarding their new therapist. Bree watches over Orson as she fears he may commit suicide, and Angie tries to get a neighbor to sort out her garbage, much to Nick's dismay.
Gaby experiences the single life again after Celia gets chicken pox and discovers a sad secret about Lee and Bob; Lynette and Tom forget Penny's birthday; Bree hires a promising employee; Katherine suspects that she might be bisexual; Susan pushes Roy into proposing to Karen but then has second thoughts, only to find out something potentially tragic; Angie worries about Danny's disappearance when she finds out he didn't go camping after all.
Gaby and Angie have a chance encounter with supermodels Heidi Klum and Paulina Porizkova in New York; Katherine is confused by her feelings for Robin; Preston returns from Europe with a big and expensive surprise for Lynette and Tom; Mike tries to show Susan how manly he is after he begins to feel like he's emasculated; Bree makes a shocking discovery about Sam; Angie reveals a secret.
Susan and Gaby go to shameless lengths to top each other's kids; Lynette believes that Irina is hiding something; Bree invites Sam to a family dinner; Katherine comes out of the closet; Patrick finds out where Angie currently lives.
Lynette discovers the truth about Irina; Gaby offers to help Bob and Lee in having their child without considering the consequences; Bree begins to question Sam's motives; Susan has a creative way to help Mike with his finances; the Fairview Strangler makes another victim.
Angie comes face to face with Patrick after spending 18 years running away from him; Gaby and Susan plan a scheme against their husbands; Lynette sees a dark side of Eddie; Bree meets Sam's mother.
Lynette makes a shocking discovery about Eddie; Angie discreetly relies on Gaby for help; Bree offers money to get rid of Sam; Susan and Mike's financial woes result in the ultimate sacrifice.
Gaby risks her safety to save Angie and Danny; Lynette and her unborn baby's fates are in Eddie's hands; Susan comes to grips with her financial woes; Bree considers confessing a secret that she's been keeping from everybody for a long time; an old neighbor returns to Wisteria Lane.
