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Simon Watches Desperate Housewives…

July 13, 2005

I finally got to watch Desperate Housewives last night on Astro. My wife caught it last week on local TV, gave it good reviews, and some bloggers where just singing praises to it. Me? I spent enough time watching American TV to know you can’t judge a show on just a few episodes.

But it was quite promising, and I can understand the hype it generated in the US when it first premiered. It cleverly uses a lot of tested clichés and plot devices to hook the viewers in and bring them back the following week.

For those who didn’t catch it, it’s about 5 housewives who live in upper middle class surburbia America, with their everyday problems of screaming kids, affairs with the gardener, nosy neighbours, a bitchy temptress, cheating husbands, etc. One day one of the 5 kills herself, and opens an intriguing mystery which apparently involves an undercover cop (or hired killer, I dunno) and more deep dark secrets. You know, the usual.

I can foresee a few spin-offs and copycat shows sprouting out soon, bringing back the good ol’ days of TV ‘dramedy’ (drama-comedy) of the 80’s and 90’s (remember Thirtysomething? Felicity? Ally McBeal?)


Here are some I can think of, if I may suggest:

Desperate Illegal VCD Sellers – Tale of 4 close buddies working the Pandan Indah illegal VCD business. They live together and share all their joys and tears in life. One day, one of them is arrested by DBKL (he tripped on the road kerb while evading enforcement officers). What’s worse, everything falls apart when another one of them confesses to a deep, dark secret – he has a normal day job as a bank clerk! The ultimate betrayal!

Desperate Audit Accountants – a show about the steamy secret lives of audit accountants. Stealing office supplies for home use, serious muscle injury from lifting too many P.O. files, personal lives ruined due to spending too much time on datelines, scandal about travel claims and meal allowance fraud, geeky auditor guy falls for dorky girl client (‘forbidden love’…!). In short, the Most Boring Show on TV.

Mahasiswa Universiti Malaya Terdesak – Kisah cinta terlarang antara Rumi dan Juli, dua mahasiswa menara gading terunggul negara. Satu dari keluarga berada, satu lagi anak penarik beca. Walau pun segalanya keluarga berada, satu lagi anak penarik beca. Walau pun segalanya kelihatan sulit dan malap bagi dua kekasih ini, cinta mekar di bawah sinar bulan mengambang di atas Bukit Gasing…
(translation: boy meets girl. Yadda yadda yadda)

Desperate Cartoon Network – the sordid and sleazy untold tales of the Powerpuff Girls. Buttercups has been secretly having an affair with Johnny Bravo while boyfriend Johnny Quest is away on a mission. Bubbles comes out of the closet. Blossom one day unearths the horrifying truth that Professor X is actually the same guy as Samurai Jack! (Guest appearance by Batman and Ed, Edd and Eddy)

Desperate Bloggers – Simon watches too much TV. Belacans is actually a crocodile(#69). Jason has to clean toilets. 5xmom’s sons always ponteng class. Din talks to his car (like Michael Knight). Violetwings finds the identity of the mysterious blogger at her table… Shan has a Darth Maul in her closet… Anjali dreams of being on CSI (mmm… Warrick Brown…)

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