Early this month, it was reported that Nathan Fillion (One Life to Live, Firefly) and Dana Delaney (Kidnapped) will appear in the upcoming season of Desperate Housewives.  Not too many details regarding the new characters were given, other than that Fillion would play a gynecologist, Delaney would play his older wife, Katherine, and a then unnamed actress would play Delaney's teen daughter.

Now, TV Guide has come out with a more extensive profile of the new family, who, in true Desperate Housewives fashion, is harboring a dark secret.

To start off, Nathan Fillion's character has been blessed with the name Adam.  TV Guide talked to Fillion about his character, and though the actor refused to budge, he did let slip that his profession will most likely play a significant part in a storyline.

"One might extrapolate [that] if there is an OB-GYN around, someone may have need," Nathan Fillion said, but refusing to say whether or not Adam's job, which has him constantly interacting with women, will result in any illicit affairs.

Dana Delaney's on-screen persona is now known as Katherine Mayfair.  Katherine lived in Wisteria Lane 12 years ago with her daughter, Dylan, and aunt, Mrs. Lillian Sims (Ellen Geer).  With Adam in tow, she and Dylan move back to the small suburban neighborhood, presumably to take care of the ailing Mrs. Sims.

TV Guide described Dana Delaney's Katherine as a much darker version of Bree (Marcia Cross). She, like Bree, lives for perfection and tends to control other people.  All of Wisteria Lane come to loathe her, especially Bree.

"I always wanted to come up with a character everyone loves to hate," Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry said, adding that he patterned Delaney's character after J.R. from Dallas and Amanda from Melrose Place.  Katherine's flashbacks will also offer viewers the chance to see more of Wisteria Lane's dark past.

Ironically, the role of Bree was originally offered to Delaney, but she felt compelled to turn it down.

"I'd just done Pasadena, and it seemed too similar," Dana Delany told TV Guide.  "It's very rare in life you get second chances.  I'm really flattered and honored."

Last but not the least, 17-year-old Dylan will be played by Lyndsy Fonseca (The Young and the Restless, Boston Public).  Contrary to what Mike Ausiello said earlier this month, Fonseca's Dylan is reportedly a “goody-goody,” having been trained well by her overbearing mother.

"My mom keeps me on a rigorous schedule and a short leash," Fonseca said of her character.  "Almost like a dog."  Dylan also suffers from a bit of memory loss, and was once best friends with Susan Mayer's (Teri Hatcher) only daughter, Julie (Andrea Bowen).  Now, she does not remember anything, leading many to speculate that she experienced something traumatic as a child.

Of the mystery surrounding the family, Cherry said, “They had to leave Chicago because something unsavory happened in Adam's professional life.”

Desperate Housewives will return for its fourth season on September 30.


-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: TV Guide
(Image Courtesy of TV Guide)