Desperate Housewives Complete Season 01 Special Fixed (ORIGINAL)

Desperate Housewives: Complete Season 01 – Special Edition – A Perfect Suburbia in a Box

When Desperate Housewives premiered on ABC in October 2004, no one could have predicted the cultural phenomenon it would become. Part soap opera, part mystery, part dark comedy, and wholly addictive, the show broke network records, earned a Golden Globe for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy, and turned Wisteria Lane into the most talked-about address in America. The Complete Season 01 – Special Edition DVD box set (and later high-definition releases) was crafted to honor that legacy, offering fans not just the episodes, but an immersive deep dive behind the picket fences.

Gag Reel (18 min)

  • Flubbed lines, broken props, and the cast breaking character – including a legendary 5-minute stretch where Felicity Huffman cannot stop laughing while trying to wrangle the Scavo twins.

Packaging & Presentation

The Special Edition is designed to sit on a collector’s shelf like a glossy coffee-table book. The outer slipcase is a vibrant, apple-red or pristine white (depending on region) with a die-cut window revealing the iconic shot of the four leads in evening gowns holding fruit—a nod to the show’s sly parody of suburban perfection. Inside, the discs are housed in a fold-out digipak with episode guides, character portraits, and a reproduction of Mary Alice’s final letter: “I’m sorry, I couldn’t live with the shame.”

Is It Still Available?

Because this is a "Special" edition from 2005/2006, it is out of print. Standard Season One sets flood used bookstores and online marketplaces for as little as $5. However, the Desperate Housewives Complete Season 01 Special commands a higher price. Collectors on eBay and Amazon often list sealed copies for $40–$70, while used copies in good condition go for around $25.

Pro Tip: When shopping, look for the "Bombshell Slipcase" (red and black design, not the standard purple box). Verify the back cover lists a 3rd disc titled "Bonus Material: The Secrets of Wisteria Lane." If it doesn't have that, you are buying the generic version.

Final Verdict

The Desperate Housewives: Complete Season 01 – Special Edition is more than a DVD or Blu-ray set; it’s a time capsule of peak network prestige drama. For newcomers, it’s the definitive way to experience the mystery of Mary Alice Young without commercial interruption, and for longtime fans, the commentaries and deleted scenes offer new reasons to revisit the ladies of Wisteria Lane.

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
Essential for: Mystery lovers, Marc Cherry completists, anyone who ever wondered what happens after the suburban driveway gates close.
Quote from the set: “Yes, I remember the world before Wisteria Lane. It was boring.” – Marc Cherry, commentary track, “Pilot.”

Whether you’re dusting off an old DVD player or seeking the out-of-print Blu-ray edition, one thing is certain: on Wisteria Lane, first seasons are forever. And this Special Edition ensures the secrets never fade.

Featurettes

  • "Wisteria Lane: Building the Perfect Suburban Nightmare" (22 min) – How the iconic set was designed, from the Young house’s ominous pool to Susan’s charmingly cluttered kitchen.
  • "The Fashion of Desperation" (15 min) – Costume designer Cate Adair on dressing each housewife: Bree’s pearls, Gabrielle’s halter tops, Susan’s sweaters, and Lynette’s stained sweatshirts.
  • "The Score of Secrets" (12 min) – Composer Danny Lux on creating the show’s signature whimsically dark underscore.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Season 1 of Desperate Housewives is a landmark series that offered a nuanced portrayal of women's lives in suburbia. Through its engaging narrative and complex characters, the show addressed a range of social issues, influencing the television landscape and cultural discourse of its time. As a cultural artifact, Desperate Housewives continues to be relevant, offering insights into the evolving roles of women in society and the enduring challenges of balancing personal identity with societal expectations. Its legacy as a pioneering series in television history is well-deserved, reflecting its impact on popular culture and its continued relevance today. Desperate Housewives Complete Season 01 Special

Secrets of Wisteria Lane: A Deep Dive into the Desperate Housewives Season 1 Special

Welcome to the sexiest street in suburbia, where the lawns are perfectly manicured, but the scandals are even riper. If you’re looking to relive the television phenomenon that heated up water coolers from coast to coast, the Desperate Housewives: The Complete First Season DVD set is your ultimate backstage pass. Released in September 2005

, this 6-disc collection doesn’t just give you the episodes; it offers a treasure trove of "dirty laundry" that every fan needs to air out. Relive the Drama

The first season sets the stage for the entire series, beginning with the mysterious suicide of Mary Alice Young

. From beyond the grave, she narrates the intricate lives of her four closest friends: Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher) : The klutzy romantic searching for love. Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman)

: The former career woman struggling with the chaos of four children. Bree Van de Kamp (Marcia Cross)

: The uptight perfectionist trying to maintain her "perfect" family image. Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria) Desperate Housewives: Complete Season 01 – Special Edition

: The ex-model who finds excitement with her teenage gardener. Unpacking the "Complete Special" Bonus Features

The magic of this specific set lies in its extensive bonus content, which goes far beyond standard deleted scenes. Extended & Unrated Episodes

: Rediscover episodes like “Who’s That Woman” and “Sunday In The Park With George” with added footage that provides deeper insight into character motivations. A Stroll Down Wisteria Lane : Join creator Marc Cherry The View’s Meredith Vieira for a behind-the-scenes walk-through of the iconic set. Oprah Winfrey Is "The New Neighbor"

: A unique 8-minute clip that originally aired on Oprah’s talk show, where she gets mixed into the scandalous world of Wisteria Lane. Audio Commentaries

: Get the real gossip from the cast and Marc Cherry as they provide commentary on their favorite scenes throughout the season. Dressing Wisteria Lane

: A fascinating look at how the costume and set designers created the distinct visual style of the neighborhood. Shopping Guide: Where to Find It

Whether you're a collector or a first-time viewer, you can still find this iconic set at various retailers: Desperate Housewives: Season 1 DVD Review - AVForums Flubbed lines, broken props, and the cast breaking

Technical Specifications (Blu-ray)

  • Runtime: Approx. 1,020 min (episodes) + 430 min (bonus)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 (Original broadcast 16:9)
  • New 2025 Remaster: Scanned from 35mm original camera negatives, color graded to restore the show’s warm-golden sunlight and cool, shadowed interiors.

Special Features: Beyond Wisteria Lane

What elevates the Complete Season 01 – Special Edition above a standard box set is its treasure trove of bonus content. While standard releases exist, the “Special Edition” label (often marked by a slipcover or exclusive retailer packaging) typically includes:

  1. Audio Commentaries – Select episodes feature commentaries from creator Marc Cherry, executive producers, and cast members. The commentary on the pilot is legendary, with Cherry revealing how he sold the show as “American Beauty meets The Sopranos.”

  2. “Desperate Housewives: Behind the Closed Doors” – An hour-long documentary (split into segments) that goes inside the casting process. Learn how Teri Hatcher beat out Courteney Cox and Mary-Louise Parker for the role of Susan, and how Marcia Cross’s early exit from another pilot made Bree possible.

  3. “The Business of Being a Housewife” – A witty, featurette narrated by Brenda Strong, exploring the real history of the American suburban housewife, contrasting 1950s ideals with the show’s 2000s reality.

  4. Deleted Scenes – Over 30 minutes of scenes not seen on ABC, including an alternate opening to the pilot where Mary Alice describes Wisteria Lane during a tornado—foreshadowing a later season.

  5. Blooper Reel – A hilarious 10-minute outtake reel showing Felicity Huffman struggling with a vacuum cleaner, Eva Longoria breaking character mid-insult, and Teri Hatcher’s infamous inability to pour coffee without laughing.

  6. “Cherry-Picked” – Creator’s Cut – Marc Cherry personally introduces three pivotal scenes, explaining how real-life events (his mother’s friend’s suicide, a neighbor’s affair) inspired the show’s darkest moments.

  7. Wisteria Lane: A Map to the Mayhem – An interactive guide to the set, allowing you to click on each house to see character bios, key props, and behind-the-scenes photos.