Title: Body of Proof
Question: Have we seen the last of Katherine on Desperate Housewives? —Carol
Ausiello: For this season, yes. But if Dana Delany’s ABC pilot, Body of Evidence, fails to earn a pickup, she’ll most likely be back in the fall. “We’d love to have her back, but obviously for her sake, I hope her pilot goes,” says exec producer Bob Daily. “Marc [Cherry] has said that she has an open invitation to return next season if it doesn’t.”
Last we saw of Katherine on Desperate Housewives she was ditching Wisteria Lane and heading to Europe to have some alone time with her new gal pal, Robin (Julie Benz). So what’ll become of the show’s new lesbian lovers? Katherine herself, Dana Delany, doesn’t even know!
While promoting her new film Multiple Sarcasms, Delany revealed that she honestly doesn’t know when or if she’ll be returning to the show. “I could. It’s all up in the air; I’ll know in a month.” When asked about the details of her deal keeping her attached to the show, Delany explained, “It’s one of those they have a contract that all works in their favor. I have a contract with them, a six-year contract – actually, we added a year, so a seven year contract, I’ve done three of them, so they have the choice of bringing me back, but I don’t have the choice of whether I stay or not.”
Just in case they opt to ditch her character’s scenario entirely, Delany has a back up plan. “I will either have a new show on the air that I’ll be starring in, I’ll be back on Desperate Housewives or I’ll be out of a job and look for something else.” That new show is what Delany calls a “procedural with character.” She revealed, “I play a medical examiner on it.”
And, of course, there was no escaping without getting hit by a question regarding the whole Nicollette Sheridan vs. Marc Cherry situation. According to Hollyscoop, as of yesterday, the suits at ABC were in talks with Sheridan trying to get her to exchange her $120 million lawsuit for some sort of “peace package.” For those of you out of the loop on the neighborhood gossip, Sheridan is suing the show’s creator claiming he slapped her during an argument and when she proceeded to complain about his behavior, was booted from the show. Delany’s take on the whole thing? “Kind of baffled by it. I certainly didn’t see that behavior.” She added, “I hope it works out for her, I hope everybody gets what they want, but yeah, that was puzzling to me.”
One question I often get asked is what makes for a good (and memorable) drama series. I’ve always believed that the heavily character-driven shows usually stand the best chance because viewers want to identify with one or more of the characters, they want to care and get invested in that character. In addition to the characters, I also believe that the shows that have defined a generation make for the most memorable of the bunch.
In a business where people seek the fountain of youth above all else, women from all walks of life were relieved when Desperate Housewives made it cool to be in your thirties, forties and fifties. Gone were the stereotypical housewives who “obey” their husbands and were barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen.
Three years ago, Katherine Mayfair arrived on Wisteria Lane to give the neighborhood a much-needed makeover. Her character has escaped an abusive husband, dated the neighborhood hottie, spent time in a mental institution and reexamined her sexuality by entering into a lesbian relationship with an ex-stripper.
Dana Delany, who plays Katherine on the hit series, became a household name back in the ’80s when she starred in the popular drama China Beach, and has kept us entertained ever since with that captivating and charismatic personality. I had the good fortune to speak with Dana about her days on China Beach, her role on Desperate Housewives, and a cause that is very close to her heart…
Dana Delany has hinted that she may return to Desperate Housewives in the future.
The actress recently confirmed that she would depart the series if her ABC pilot Body of Evidence is picked up.
Her alter ego Katherine was recently seen departing Wisteria Lane for a new life in Paris with her lesbian lover, which will serve as her exit in the event that Body is given the green light.
However, Delany has since discussed a possible return during an interview with TV Guide.
“It would be so great if she became very sophisticated in Paris,” she said. “She can come back with a funny French accent and be wearing berets.”
Desperate Housewives airs Sundays at 9pm on ABC in the US and Wednesdays at 10pm on Channel 4 in the UK.
Desperate Housewives’ Wisteria Lane hasn’t been this dangerous since Nicollette Sheridan was on the prowl! In addition to Rex Van De Kamp’s creepy illegitimate son, Sam, and Danny Bolen’s psychotic biological father, Patrick, we’re about to learn the identity of the Fairview Strangler, who killed a coffeehouse barista and tried to off Susan’s daughter, Julie, at the start of the season. One of the six suspects below will be revealed as the serial killer in the April 18 episode, when another familiar face is strangled to death. “I thought we could have some fun if the audience knew who the killer was before the rest of the people on Wisteria Lane,” says creator Marc Cherry, who will resolve the story line in May’s season finale—but not before one of our four Housewives’ lives is placed in peril.
[...]
Suspect No. 3
Katherine Mayfair (Dana Delany), Fairview’s AWOL lipstick lesbian
She started the season as a self-hating redhead who stabbed herself to frame Mike before heading to the loony bin. But Katherine seemed to recover (and Delany’s now off the show), though Cherry hints, “We may have shot something before she left.”[...]
Suspect No. 6
Someone Who Has Only Been Referenced
Cherry suggests several possibilities, including someone Katherine befriended at her mental institution. He promises, “It would be a total surprise to the audience but would make sense once that person was revealed.”
So maybe, we haven’t seen the last of Katherine… Yet.
It’s been more than 20 years, but “Desperate Housewives” star Dana Delany still won’t spill about her date with Sen. John Kerry – a night so strange it could have happened on Wisteria Lane!
“Oh, it’s ancient history,” Dana demurred yesterday when we again tried to get her to give it up. “And it wasn’t really a bad date – it was just a good story.”
The Phillips Andover alum met Kerry, then a bachelor, at a veterans event in D.C. when she was starring in the Vietnam-themed TV drama “China Beach.”
he senator invited her to dinner then back to his apartment to see his “war films.” (Why, oh why, did Kerry bring a video camera to war, Dana wondered . . .) Apres screening, the senator attempted to, shall we say, storm “China Beach.”“We’re all friends,” Delany laughed. “I know his daughter, Alex . I supported him in 2004. People have such mouths!”
Move over Ryan Seacrest, Dana Delany just stole your busiest actor in Hollywood title. Don’t believe us, get this. On a break from shooting her new ABC pilot BODY OF EVIDENCE in Providence, Delany took to the phones to not only promote her current guest stint on CASTLE, but her recent Desperate Housewives exit and reflect on a career that has spanned over three decades and included TV Addict favorites such as PASADENA and KIDNAPPED.
Before we get to your guest appearance on CASTLE, I first have to ask about your recent work on DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES. How surprised were you by Katherine’s journey this season?
Dana Delany: I loved this season. Just beginning with last fall when I started to unravel when Mike left me, to when Marc [Creator Marc Cherry] came to me with the idea that I would go sapphic for a while, I thought it was great material and so much fun to do. I think what Marc discovered early on that with the Katherine character, you could go through a little more odd stuff with her because she wasn’t really as iconoclastic as the other characters. Like the story-line with Robin [Julie Benz], I think it turned out delightfully sweet and heartfelt.With Katherine and Robin heading off to Paris, and yourself having signed on to a new ABC pilot, does this mean we’ve seen the last of Katherine?
It’s all sort of up in the air. Marc Cherry was great. He said, “I would love for you to have your own show so go do it and if it doesn’t work out we’ll have a place for you here.” (Continue Reading »)
Guess what? Another interview with the lady!
From the minute last night’s episode “Castle” kicked off, it was unlike any other. Not only is “Tick, Tick, Tick… their first two-parter, but it involved a serial killer targeting Kate Beckett and introduced the first legitimate foil for NYC’s most single-minded cop.
Dana Delany reunited with her one-time Wisteria Lane husband Nathan Fillion to play Special Agent Jordan Shaw, who was brought in to profile and find the killer. Dana is becoming ABC’s secret weapon of late — not only did she reinvigorate “Desperate Housewives” back in 2007, but she’s currently hard at work on a pilot for the network that could just land Dana her very own series on next fall’s schedule.
Somehow during this hectic schedule Dana found time to ring up PopWrap. She copped to using Nathan as her own personal radio shack, why Katherine should wind up with Robin and when 60 episodes became her TV escape clause!
Can you believe it? Yet another article/interview today. Aren’t we on a roll?
Chances are if you’ve tuned into ABC recently, you’ve seen a good deal of Dana Delany.
Not only is Delany a regular on “Desperate Housewives,” but she is the special guest star of the much hyped two-episode “Castle” event, which kicks off Monday (March 22). And, as if that isn’t enough, she’s also headlining the new ABC pilot “Body of Evidence.”
Korbi TV scored some time with Delany to talk about “Castle,” “Housewives,” her friendship with Nathan Fillion and her new show…
You’re ABC’s MVP at the moment, they have you everywhere!
Dana Delany: [laughs] I know! It’s kind of funny. It all sort of happened by accident.Was ABC the one who sought you out for “Castle” or was it Nathan?
DD: I sort of blame Nathan for the whole thing. He got the [the ball] rolling because he called me in December and said, ‘There’s this two-part character coming up and would you consider doing it?’ And I said, ‘I think I already have a job, don’t I?’ And then the next thing I heard, ABC thought it was a good idea, so I said ‘okay.’ So I was shooting both “Castle” and “Housewives” at the same time — while I was fighting the flu. That was not easy. And then what I think happened was ABC saw the “Castle” dailies and thought, well, maybe Dana would be good for this pilot? So Nathan was the instigator of everything.If “Body of Evidence” goes to series, you’re going to need to buy him something pretty.
DD: Definitely. We’ll definitely need a night out together to celebrate.But first, we need to celebrate your appearances on “Castle.” Had you seen the show before Nathan called about the guest arc?
DD: Yeah, I knew what it was. I watch Nathan in anything he does. And also, I’m a big fan of mystery books, so I like the whole thing they’ve got going there.
Dana Delany may have left Wisteria Lane last night, but she still hopes to call ABC home. Some 24 hours after ‘Desperate Housewives’ Katherine Mayfair skipped off to Paris with gal pal April in tow, Delany makes her debut on ‘Castle’ (Mondays at 10/9c), playing an FBI agent who rubs Beckett the wrong way as she helps suss out a serial killer fixated on Nick’s new novel.
Delany gave Fancast the scoop on her ‘Housewives’ future, revealed the lesson she hopes to teach Beckett over the course of ‘Castle’s two-part mystery, and shed light on the other crime solver she’s playing in the ABC pilot ‘Body of Evidence.’
So, did we see ‘Desperate Housewives’ Katherine ride off into the Sapphic sunset last night?
[Laughs] You’re the only person besides me that says that; I like that! Yes, she’s off to “gay Paree.” Right now I’m in Providence, Rhode Island, filming this pilot for ABC, so it’s all sort of up in the air. If the pilot gets picked up, that’d be great. If it doesn’t, hopefully I’ll be invited to “come back” from Paris.But as far as this season of ‘Housewives,’ you’re done? We’ve seen the last of you?
Who knows? That’s the great thing about ['Housewives' creator] Marc Cherry and television; you can do things at the last minute.But what about poor Nathan Fillion? He told Zap2It he was hoping to check in on his former ‘Housewives’ wife and maybe have some three-way action.
Yeah, well – too bad! And he’s not going to get any of that on ‘Castle.’Why do you think it is that ‘Housewives’ always has trouble making any fifth housewife stick?
I think that there’s a certain structure, almost like a Greek structure to the writing, where you have these four women. And if you do have a fifth housewife, she has to sort of always circle around the other women and cause trouble for them. It works, and I don’t think they want to mess with that.Now you’re fighting crime as ‘Castle’s Jordan Shaw. Why is she so rigid?
That’s just her job. She’s there as an example to show Beckett that you actually can have it all. You can be a kick-ass agent, and you can be married and have a kid…. Beckett doesn’t have to shy away from romance.So even though Shaw rides Beckett pretty hard, she’s there to serve some greater purpose.
Yes, exactly.Is Shaw at all susceptible to Castle’s charms? I thought I saw a moment in Part 1 where she’s warming up to him…
Any chemistry between Shaw and Castle is just me and Nathan, our friendship coming through. [Laughs]Will we learn more about Shaw in Part 2?
Just that she has a husband who’s very supportive, and she relies on him. It’s interesting because the pilot that I’m shooting now is the opposite, which I think is a little more realistic. When a woman works as many hours as Jordan Shaw does or the character I’m playing [on 'Body of Evidence'], it takes a toll on a marriage.I was wondering if this ‘Castle’ role was almost an “audition” of sorts, to see how you played a crime solver before ABC went to you with ‘Body of Evidence.’
I think it was an audition that nobody knew was happening. It was one of those odd synergistic things where ABC saw the dailies from ‘Castle’ and went, “Oh, we may have found our actor.”Shaw brings with her some snazzy tech toys. How went your introduction to “smart board” acting”?
I’ve always liked watching John King do that on CNN, so I was very excited! I was like, “This is my chance to do it!”But he’s actually doing it. You’re just dragging your finger across a sheet of blank glass, until they drop the visual effects in.
Yes, I’m faking it. But acting is all faking anyway!
Remeber to tune in to watch the first episode of the two parter tonight! We’ll make a reminder post, like with the DH episodes. And now Tori may kill me but I have to say, we both have seen a screener and the episode is really good and it will leave you wanting for more at the end of it. And we need those damn special effects, the ones for the sheet of a blank glass! They were still off when we watched it.
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