Desperate

Housewives 5

Star World

Saturday, 10 pm

Rating ***

What’s it about? Five years and plenty of Botox later, the fabulous five of sunny Wisteria Lane come back into our lives—with more engaging stories and a few surprises. For starters, Susan Mayer is no longer with the love of her life, Mike Delfino, and is in a casual-soon-to-be-serious relationship with a younger man. Gabrielle Solis has two kids, one of them with a serious weight problem, and no time for facials. Bree Hodge runs a successful catering business with one-time rival, Katherine Mayfair, and is a celebrity cook. Lynette Scavo is still struggling with wild, out-of-control kids who’re now old enough to drive and a well-meaning but ineffectual husband, while (surprise, surprise) former man-eater of Wisteria Lane, Edie Britt, is now in what seems to be a stable and loving marriage.

Who’s in it? Teri Hatcher continues her run as the ditzy but lovable Susan, recuperating after the devastating break-up of her marriage, by running into the eager arms of her house painter, Jackson Braddock—played with a lot of puppy-dog passion by Gale Harold. Felicity Huffman as the harried Lynette is still one of the most sympathetic characters, while Eva Longoria Parker, who plays Gaby, with fresh baby weight, finally gets to show her acting chops, rather than her toned derriere. Returning, after a gap in the fourth season, is Nicollete Sheridan, now married to the rich, mysterious and slightly creepy Dave Williams (Neal McDonough). Marcia Cross, back to her svelte self after a baby, plays the obsessive and suddenly ambitious Bree with perfection—we only wish she hadn’t Botoxed her face into such a mask.

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