According to Cherry, he had intended for the series to conclude after its seventh season,[4][5] but the eighth season ended up being the series' final season. The first episode of the season aired in Latin America on October 6, 2010. Season 7 premiered in Ireland on Tuesday, October 12, 2010. Season 7 began airing in the United Kingdom on October 17, 2010. It started airing at 9:00pm on October 25, 2010 on OSN's Show Series in the Middle East. Season 7 began airing in France in the translated version on April 14, 2011 on Canal Plus.
The series saw the lowest ratings in its history in the seventh season. In the first 12 episodes, the series attracted very similar viewership to the second half of the sixth season and hit season highs of 4.4 in the 18-49 demographic[6] and continued around 3.5 - 4.3 until mid January.[7] But after the thirteenth episode of season seven, "I'm Still Here", the ratings declined heavily because of the consecutive competition from the 68th Golden Globe Awards[8] and then saw even lower numbers, against the 2011 Grammy Awards and then the Country Music Association Awards. "Desperate Housewives" lost many viewers in the second half of its season, and unlike the previous season, it failed to pick up again towards the end of the season. The show hit series lows of 2.7 in 18-49 demographic twice and continued to receive ratings between 2.7 - 3.1 in the last 11 episodes with the exception of "Searching" which was promoted by ABC after the 83rd Academy Awards and had a lead in from the season premiere of Secret Millionaire. This is the first time in its history that it did not place in the 20 most watched shows, ranking as the 26th most watched show, although it did place as the 13th most watched scripted show during the 2010-11 television season.[9] The season averaged 11.85 million viewers per episode and is ABC's third most watched scripted show in total viewers after Body of Proof and Modern Family.[9] In the 18-49 demographic, the show ranked 20th.[9]
Moses's character returned as the subject of the season's main mystery.
The seventh season had thirteen roles receiving star billing, with eight out of twelve returning from the previous season. The series is narrated by Brenda Strong, who portrays the deceased Mary Alice Young, as she observes from beyond the grave the lives of the Wisteria Lane residents and her former best friends. Teri Hatcher portrayed Susan Delfino, who has moved out of the lane following a financial crisis. Felicity Huffman portrayed Lynette Scavo, who endures extreme marital problems. Marcia Cross portrayed Bree Van de Kamp, now divorced and starting a relationship with her contractor. Eva Longoria portrayed Gabrielle Solis, who discovers that her eldest daughter was switched at birth. Ricardo Antonio Chavira portrayed Carlos Solis, Gabrielle's husband who is close to discover the truth about his mother's death. Doug Savant portrayed Tom Scavo, Lynette's husband who is keeping a secret from her. James Denton portrayed Mike Delfino, Susan's husband who decides to take a job in Alaska in order to earn more money. Former Ugly Betty star Vanessa Williams joined the cast as a sort of fifth lead (following the departure of three supporting housewives over the previous two seasons) in the role of Renee Perry, Lynette's best friend from college.[10][11] Several years after leaving the contractually bound cast following the second season, Mark Moses returned in the role of Paul Young, Mary Alice's widower whose mysterious arc is the season's main storyline.[12][13]Kathryn Joosten was promoted from "also starring" to a formal "starring" cast member in the role of elderly neighbor Karen McCluskey. Former recurring guest stars Kevin Rahm and Tuc Watkins were also promoted to "starring" cast members respectively playing Lee McDermott and Bob Hunter, a gay couple.[14][15]Kyle MacLachlan asked to be let go from the main cast after the sixth season to pursue other projects, but he made two guest appearances during this season as Orson Hodge, Bree's ex-husband.[16]
This season featured many established and new guest stars. Part of Susan's storyline were Lainie Kazan portraying Maxine Rosen, Susan's landlady who also hires her to model on her erotic website,[19]Lesley Ann Warren returning as Sophie Bremmer, Susan's mother who is now fighting cancer, Gregory Itzin featuring as Dick Barrows, a dialysis patient encountered by Susan, Aaron Lustig acting as Craig Lynwood, Fairview Memorial Hospital's transplant coordinator, and John Rubinstein in the role of Principal Hobson, headmaster at M.J.'s school and Susan's former boss. Part of Lynette's storyline were Max Carver playing Preston Scavo, another of Lynette's sons, Lois Smith portraying Allison Scavo, Tom's mother, Polly Bergen returning as Stella Wingfield, Lynette's troublesome mother, Larry Hagman appearing as Frank Kaminsky, Stella's new husband, and Brent and Shane Kinsman reprising their roles as the younger versions of Preston and Porter in flashbacks. Part of Bree's storyline were Shawn Pyfrom and Joy Lauren in the roles of Bree's son and daughter, Andrew and Danielle Van de Kamp, Brian Austin Green appearing as Keith Watson, Bree's contractor and lover for the first part of the season,[20][21]John Schneider and Nancy Travis respectively playing Richard Watson and Mary Wagner, Keith's parents, Rochelle Aytes appearing as Amber James, the mother of Keith's son, Dakin Matthews playing Reverend Sykes, reverend at the local Presbyterian church, and future series regular Jonathan Cake in the role of Chuck Vance, a detective and Bree's lover towards the end of the season.[22][23] Part of Gabrielle's storyline were Daniella Baltodano portraying Celia Solis, Gabrielle's youngest daughter, Rolando Molina and Carla Jimenez respectively playing Hector and Carmen Sanchez, Juanita's biological parents and the legal parents of Carlos and Gabrielle's biological daughter Grace, Stephanie Faracy in the role of Miss Charlotte, a doll store owner, and Tony Plana appearing towards the end of the season as Alejandro Perez, Gabrielle's perverted stepfather. Part of the main mystery arc were Harriet Sansom Harris returning as Felicia Tilman, who still seeks revenge on Paul after he killed her sister,[24][25]Emily Bergl portraying Beth Young, Paul's new wife, former series regular Cody Kasch in the role of Zach Young, Mary Alice and Paul's son, and Steven Culp and Christine Estabrook reprising their roles as Rex Van de Kamp (Bree's deceased first husband) and Martha Huber (Felicia's sister who was killed by Paul) in the season premiere in a series of flashbacks that explained the events that led to the development of main mystery of the season. Orson Bean played Roy Bender, now married to Mrs. McCluskey, while Mindy Sterling appeared as Mitzi Kinsky, another resident of Wisteria Lane.
After losing Orson and her business, Bree begins to rebuild her life while Susan and her family struggle to adapt to their changed life with their financial troubles. Lynette finds herself questioning her life after the arrival and stay of a frenemy from college and Gaby is shocked to learn the truth about her mother-in-law's death. In the meantime, Paul Young, Mary Alice's widower, returns with blatantly shady motives.
Renee begins spending a lot of time with Tom, who discovered that he is diagnosed with postpartum depression, which Lynette doesn't believe. Bree begins to think about her contractor sexually, and accidentally runs someone over because of it while Gabrielle learns a heart-wrenching secret. Because of her sexy new job, Susan is weighted with guilt to keep it a secret from her loved ones while Paul's new wife finally arrives on Wisteria Lane.
Lynette is stunned when Tom's doctor prescribes marijuana as a cure for his depression. Gaby decides to do a little research to see how her biological daughter is doing while Renee takes Bree to a night out in a club, but when Renee begins to flirt with Keith, the competition begins between the two of them and Susan gets an important lesson from an unexpected person. Meanwhile, the women invite Beth to their weekly poker game in an attempt to find out some dirty little secrets about Paul.
Susan is horrified when the sexy internet company she's been working for makes her their billboard model and confronts Maxine about this. Tension continues to heat up as Renee tries to steal Keith away from Bree. Lynette learns her daughter Penny is helping a lot with the new baby and inadvertently takes advantage of her. Gabrielle and Carlos meet their birth daughter but Gabrielle gets a little too close.
Susan infuriates Maxine after she loses a big client. Renee and Gaby share intimate secrets about each other to the wrong people, leading to a smackdown while Bree gets increasingly exhausted by Keith's sexual appetite. Lynette is nervous after Tom hires his own mother as the baby's nanny without talking to her first. A new housewife, Emma Graham, puts on a cabaret show with surprising results.
Susan is forced to reveal her secret to Mike after Paul discovered her secret and blackmails her. Juanita becomes suspicious of Gaby spending a lot of time with Grace and Lynette is worried about Tom's mother's memory lapses. Bree learns a secret about Keith and Paul takes Beth out on a date.
A reluctant Susan accepts Lynette's offer to be baby Paige's nanny. After undergoing menopause, Bree is pressured to tell Keith the truth, resulting in meeting Keith's parents. Renee makes a proposal that Lynette can't refuse and Gaby fears that Bob might be trying to seduce Carlos after they become friends and attempts to reunite Bob with Lee. Beth begins to question Paul's motives for returning to Wisteria Lane and it is revealed that Beth is actually the daughter of Felicia, Paul's sworn enemy.
Bree invites Keith's parents to a Thanksgiving dinner and discovers some family secrets but starts to get worried when Keith's father, Richard, begins to flirt with her. Susan fights with Lynette about her techniques to make baby Paige fall asleep and Renee reminds Tom about their past. Gaby learns that her time with Grace might be threatened and Beth tries to learn more about Paul's past misdeeds.
Gabrielle tries to keep Grace in her life and breaks down when Carmen decides to take Grace with her as they flee from Fairview. Keith prepares a special dinner for Bree and a drunk Renee accidentally shares a dark secret with Susan. Paul's plan is finally revealed which causes anger among the residents of the lane.
Juanita learns the truth about the baby switch and confronts Gabrielle. Susan tells Tom the secret that Renee told her while Richard tries to drive a wedge between Bree and Keith. Paul puts his house-buying scheme into action which causes a riot to break out during the protest of the half-way house, resulting in some people getting seriously injured and at the end of the day, Paul gets shot by an unknown gunman.
Paul finds out that Beth is Felicia Tilman's daughter. A therapist asks Carlos and Gabrielle to erase Grace from their lives. Susan learns she will need kidney dialysis every 48 hours. Renee finally tells the secret between her and Tom to Lynette. After Orson returns, Bree must deal with her feelings and choose between Orson and Keith. Detectives try to find the person responsible for shooting Paul Young.
Susan's mother and aunt visit her at the hospital, Lynette plots revenge against Tom, Gabrielle becomes increasingly obsessed with getting Grace back and Bree wants to be friends with Beth.
Beth and Paul's relationship becomes tense as she believes she's being framed, leading to Paul suggesting they go on a trip. However, when police come to their door with evidence, Paul cancels the trip and Beth is upset. Gabrielle struggles with the loss of Grace, leading to her obsession with a doll. She and Carlos are mugged while the doll is in the car, and Carlos comforts her. Bree finds out that Keith has a son he didn't know about through an ex-girlfriend, Amber, and offers to tell him. Lynette's mother reveals she's marrying for money, and Lynette initially opposes the marriage before realizing why her mother is doing it. Lastly, Susan and Dick receive dialysis treatment, and while Susan tries to empathize, it takes her some time to connect with him.
In this episode, Paul discovers that Zach has been taking drugs and gambling, and it's revealed that Zach shot Paul in the past. Susan learns that a former classmate, Monroe, is willing to donate a kidney to her, but his actions become increasingly creepy and obsessive. Gabrielle goes to therapy but struggles to talk about her childhood until Carlos convinces her to open up. Lynette agrees to bring up Frank and Stella's children for a family photo, but Frank dies during the shoot, and Stella convinces Lynette to delay reporting his death to keep his will intact. Bree gives Amber money for bills and ends up watching her son Charlie, who turns out to be Keith's son too.
Lynette forces her twins to move out, but they end up renting from Mrs. McCluskey and continue to rely on Lynette. Susan struggles with the costs of her dialysis treatment and makes up a story to the police officer who pulls her over. Gabrielle returns to her hometown and is treated like a celebrity, but confronts a nun who didn't believe her when she confided in her about her stepfather's abuse. Bree encourages Keith to move to Florida to be close to his son and breaks up with him, admitting that their age difference is too much for a long-term relationship. Paul confronts his son in rehab and Beth admits she's fallen in love with him.
Jenny Hunter-McDermott and Juanita Solis perform in a school talent show; Civil War reenactors interrupt Susan and Mike's lovemaking; When an ER clerk tells Beth to go to another floor with her kidney donation paperwork, she uses drastic measures, and commits suicide by shooting herself in the head; While on a date, Renee pays a waitress to babysit Paige.
Paul tries to stand between Susan and her kidney transplant; Felicia is released from prison and swears revenge against Paul; Gabrielle is furious about a neighborhood party planned by Renee; Tom is caught between working with Carlos and a job opportunity; Andrew's drinking concerns Bree.
Susan makes a huge bet at a casino; Renee teaches Lynette to order a saleslady around; Carlos finds out that Andrew was responsible for his mother's hit and run; Felicia tries to make peace with Paul, despite her hatred of him.
When Tom attends a business seminar, Lynette attends to flower arrangements; she later tries to pose as a successful woman to no avail; Susan has nightmares about Paul Young; Gabrielle is forbidden to be friends with Bree by Carlos; Felicia tries to get help from Mrs. McCluskey in an attempt to get revenge against Paul.
After taking illegal action, Bree is caught by Chuck Vance, a police officer; someone, possibly Felicia, has been poisoning Paul with antifreeze; despite a family obligation, Tom must complete his work.
Bree finds out Chuck Vance has researched her; they later do something surprising, involving a hooker; Juanita is unable to sleep after watching a horror movie; Paul checks his food for any sign of antifreeze; Susan brings refreshments that could be fatal to people; Tom and Lynette have a vacation argument.
The police have reason to believe Susan and Felicia were poisoning Paul; Tom and Lynette learn that a couple are going through a rough patch; Gabrielle is shaken after finding out her past may not be behind her; Bree learns something about Chuck's relationship with men.The Wisteria Lane residents each enjoy a progressive dinner celebrating Susan's return to the lane. Lynette accepts Tom's departure, Bree connects with Chuck (and burns the entree) and Gabrielle is attacked by her stepfather. When Carlos kills him, the housewives cover it up.
*This episode was interrupted during its original airing by the breaking news of Osama Bin Laden's death which may have resulted in a lower than expected rating than usual.[48]
United Kingdom (On Channel 4)
In the UK, the season first airs on E4 on Sunday nights at 10pm, and on Channel 4 on Wednesday nights at 10pm.
aViewers in millions.
*These 4 episodes aired at the later time of 10:30pm on Channel 4.
The show took a break at Christmas until April and eventually returned to its previous time-slots of airing on E4 on Sundays, and on Channel 4 on Wednesdays. The series eventually returned on April 13, 2011 on Channel 4 and E4 from Sunday, April 17, 2011.
The Seventh Season began in New Zealand on 14 February 2011 around the time it always has in the 8:30pm Monday time slot which it has had for all 7 years. The season ended on July 18, 2011 with the highest rating of the show since Season 5 of 525,000 viewers. It also marks the first time in the series history in which episodes have aired consistently each week with no breaks. This season average 418,555 viewers.
All ratings sourced from: Throng RatingsArchived January 1, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. The first episode premiered to what was a series low rating of only 375,000 viewers but was still one of the highest rating shows for the night. The next 2 episodes rose steadily while Episode 4 hit an impressive 444,790 viewers. Episode 5 managed to remain around this high while the next 4 episodes only managed to hover below 400,000. Episode 10 managed 431,000 viewers while Episode 11 dropped to just under 400,000. Episode 12 pulled in a massive 460,000 viewers and at that point was the highest rated episode of the season. Up until episode 21, the ratings moved between over 390,000 viewers to 430,000 viewers. Episode 21 hit over 450,000 viewers while Episode 22 hit a series low 370,090 viewers. Episode 23 (season finale) premiered after a television special and pulled in 525,575 viewers, the highest in nearly 3 years for the show.
