He’s in a great place
Marc CHERRY, the creator of “Desperate Housewives,” was doing the first cut of the two-hour May 18 season finale on Monday. “They always start out dreadfully and I hate everything. A couple days later I start to like them,” he said.
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The first half of the upcoming season finale is directed by Bethany Rooney, who has directed episodes of nearly every show on TV -- including “Melrose Place” and “90210.” Does it help to have a lady director for a lady show?
Um. I don’t think the sex of the people matters, the people behind the scenes. It matters if they get the tone. I kind of created it, and I’m not a gal! I care much more that the people who come aboard know how to mix the drama with the comedy. That’s the trick, to find people who have those tools at their disposal. Especially that first season, we went through a lot of people who didn’t get one or the other. . . . That first season was just murder.
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Does it feel like a burden to be bound to the show until 2011?
Certainly, on the days I’m tired. But the truth of the matter is, unlike some show runners, I was aware that this would only come around once in my career. I’ve been blessed with a great concept for a show and a great cast. And a great time slot and a great network. Let me protect the franchise -- and at the end of seven years we’ll all take our bows and go home. There’s something smart about . . . committing to a certain amount of time. I didn’t want it to be one of those shows that goes on two seasons too long and the public doesn’t care when you say goodbye. There’s a couple big hit shows that overstayed their welcome.
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That’s what they say about Bill Clinton now!
I will not comment at all in terms of political allusions. But just in general, in life it’s good to know when to get off the stage.
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Is it hard to be a Broadway musical enthusiast in Hollywood?
Oh, no, there’s a bunch of us running around covertly exchanging gossip about Bernadette Peters, humming tunes from “Gypsy.”
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So everyone’s all atwitter over the Great Post-Strike Ratings Crash -- “Desperate Housewives” went from 18 to 20 million viewers down to 16 million. Why do Americans hate TV?
I think it’s not that they hate TV -- I think DVRs are siphoning off viewers. They had three months to buy new gadgets and discover cable shows. I think the same amount of viewers are watching -- they’re apportioning themselves in different ways. It’s like when they went from radio to television. The paradigm is shifting. It can be scary for some people, but ultimately we’ll all survive it. In 10 years from now it’s going to be a completely different landscape.
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Did you have that answer prepared?
No, I’m just that articulate. No, I mean, it’s something we’ve all talked about. When “Desperate Housewives” premiered, I think we got a 24 share, which was considered huge. Well, I’ve been canceled for shows with a 24 share before -- back in 1985, when I did “The Five Mrs. Buchanans.” The truth is there’s millions of people out there catching TV. They’re finding it different ways -- streaming, DVD sales.
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It should give rise to creativity.
Now you’ve got shows that are going to be written for niche audiences. So you can have, I dunno -- you’ve got shows over there on FX, things like “Nip/Tuck” for their demographic -- you’ve got wrestling on another channel for their demographic. . . . I think it’s a fabulous time for the viewer. They should have lots of good choices.
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I should be happy.
Why aren’t you?
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When faced with infinite choice, people don’t know to choose anything.
There could be some element of that. There’s a mentality on TV that I need only a couple choices so I know what to tune in on. . . .
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Remember how back in 2005 there was that Vanity Fair story about how all the women in the cast were basically scheming villainesses in real life? Was that all fake?
Well, it wasn’t fake! Like anything, I think some of my gals had a really bad day. And unfortunately a reporter was around and wrote an article about it and made it seem larger than it was. Sure, we’ve had a couple days where people were not as pleasant as they should be. But not more than any other TV show. If you’d been around for the last couple years, we get along pretty well. I’m a nice guy, I like my folks to behave nicely, and they do.
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You told Charlie Rose: “Isn’t that interesting, when you get the life you’ve chosen for yourself and you’re still not happy.” So? Are you happy?
I’m deliriously happy. Yeah, sure I am! I’m a very happy guy. Here’s the thing about that. I was sort of happy even when I was broke and unemployed. I could find joy in the simple act of living. I think some people can find happiness and some people are unhappy no matter what happens to them. I’m one of the lucky ones. It’s easier for me to be happy so I chose to be so. . . . But it’s a little easier now that I can pay my bills.
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Money’s not all that.
I have frustrations in my life. Some of the things that success brings with it -- odd fans approaching you at malls and scaring you. The occasional weird lawsuit from someone looking for a quick buck. Critics who are unfair and mean. Little things come along that can upset your perfect day.
By and large I have my health, a job I love, I feel I’m doing good work and my mom loves me, so there you go.