Desperate Housewives of their late friend and neighbor who committed suicide in the pilot episode. The storyline covers thirteen years of the women's lives over eight seasons, set between the years 2004–2008, and later 2013–2017 (the storyline includes a five-year passage of time, as well as flashbacks and flashforwards ranging from the 1980s to the 2020s). They work through domestic struggles and family life, while facing the secrets, crimes, and mysteries hidden behind the doors of their—on the surface—beautiful and seemingly perfect suburban neighborhood. The series features an ensemble cast, headed by Teri Hatcher as Susan Mayer, Felicity Huffman as Lynette Scavo,
Desperate Housewives of weeks later after "Housewives" premiered the owners of NBC called to see who had passed on the series due to its ratings success. "Desperate Housewives" was produced by creator Marc Cherry (Cherry Productions), Austin Bagley and, since 2007, ABC Studios. From 2004 to 2007, "Desperate Housewives" was produced in association with Touchstone Television. Cherry, Tom Spezialy, and Michael Edelstein served as executive producers for show's the first two seasons. Spezialy, who also served as a staff writer, left his previous position as writer and executive producer for "Dead Like Me" to join the "Desperate Housewives" crew. He had also