On the Town: A fundraiser on Wisteria Lane
After a hugely successful eight-year run that earned numerous Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild wins, ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” wraps production on its final episode this week.
The two-hour series finale, slated to run on Sunday, May 13, will close the curtain on the comedy-drama series, created by Marc Cherry, that followed a group of seemingly perfect housewives who concealed all sorts of dirty secrets, crimes and mysteries behind the doors of their white-picket-fenced Wisteria Lane homes.
More than 500 fans of the show and supporters of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation convened on Wisteria Lane (which is actually Colonial Street on the Universal Studios back lot) to thank the show’s cast members for their eight seasons of dastardly and desperate decadence, and to raise funds for the foundation this past Saturday evening.
Staged as “A Block Party on Wisteria Lane,” residents from Burbank, Glendale and Toluca Lake joined guests from all over Southern California on the world’s most infamous cul-de-sac for a barbecue provided by Stonefire Grill, live and silent auctions, the opportunity to wander through the housewives’ homes, mingle with the show’s stars and enjoy the music of Band From TV.
Headed-up by Glendale resident James Denton, who plays the part of Mike Delfino on the show, Band From TV is comprised of actors who have appeared in various television series including Jesse Spencer, Hugh Laurie, Greg Grunberg, Adrian Pasdar, Scott Grimes and Bob Guiney. Joining the band for Saturday’s main event was actress Teri Hatcher, who plays the role of housewife Susan Delfino.
Special guests in attendance at Saturday’s block party, which was chaired by Mark, Michelle and Melissa Horak, included Vanessa Williams, who plays the role of Renee Perry, Felicity Huffman, who plays housewife Lynette Scavo, and numerous regular and recurring cast members including Darcy Rose Byrnes, Madison De La Garza, Lainie Kazan, Andrea Bowen, Kevin Rahm, Daniella Baltodano and Mason Vale Cotton. Others who enjoyed the evening on the lane included Chanda Fuller, Max Andrews, Kristina Elejalde, Patty Tarica, August James, Lory Sarlo, Caryn Virtue, Julie Arutunian and Lisa Janisse.
Cystic Fibrosis is North America’s number one genetic killer of children and young adults. It is a disease that affects the lungs, pancreas and digestive system, causing life-threatening infections and premature death.
More than 10 million Americans, or one in 30, are unknowing carriers of the CF gene. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is the world’s leader in the search for a cure and funds more CF research than any other organization.
Nearly every CF drug available today was made possible because of foundation support.
DAVID LAURELL can be reached by email dlaurell@aol.com or (818) 563-1007.
