Marc Cherry Isn't Mad AboutReal HousewivesFollowing HisDesperate Housewives, but Admits, 'I Envy Them' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Marc Cherry, creator of ‘Desperate Housewives,’ and the cast of ‘Real Housewives of Orange County’.Photo:Presley Ann/Getty; Chris McPherson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Presley Ann/Getty; Chris McPherson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

So manyHousewives,so little time.

Marc Cherry, the creator ofDesperate Housewives,spoke exclusively to PEOPLE about the creation ofReal Housewivesfollowing the success of his ABC show, which aired from 2004 to 2012.

“They didn’t crib my name, to be fair to them,” he said of the mega-popular Bravo franchise, which began in 2006 in Orange County, Calif. “They just used the word. Our show came out, and they capitalized on that. And you know what? That’s the capitalistic system.”

Cherry isn’t upset about the reality series or the success it garnered, he added.

The ‘Desperate Housewives’ cast in 2004.Moshe Brakha/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Moshe Brakha/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

“Tommy got confused and said, ‘Oh, so do you produce all the various cities?’ And I looked at him — I had no idea what he was talking about,” Cherry said. “And then I realized, ‘Oh, you think I created the real-lifeHousewivesfranchise?’ "

Marc Cherry and the ‘Desperate Housewives’ cast in 2004.Danny Feld/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Danny Feld/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

That kind of experience has happened many times now, Cherry shared. The show’s creator believesReal HousewivesovertookDesperate Housewivesbecause “it continues to be out there” and continues producing new shows.

Cherry noted that he took 16 months to create his pilot episode, but for the rest, he got about eight working days to finish each.

Marc Cherry in 2019.Kevin Winter/Getty

Kevin Winter/Getty

“It’s kind of like you’ve taken a couple swimming lessons, and then they just throw you in the biggest pool ever,” he added of the writing process.

Cherry doesn’t regret where or how he ended the show — he had a chance to keepDesperate Housewivesgoing, but he felt “the time had come to pull the plug” in 2012. The “distance of time” has since provided him with perspective — why certain choices in the show worked, or why they didn’t.

He said that in the event of a reboot, he’d be better at the job the second time around. But there’s a lot to consider when thinking about returning to the show, Cherry said.

“The trick for me artistically is — is there still stuff that needs to be said?” he shared. “You know, they always want to move on to the new and the fresh. But if you do a reboot, you have to have a really good artistic reason to do it.”

The Real Housewives of Orange County cast in season 1.Chris McPherson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Chris McPherson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

He added, “If I ever dipped my toe in those waters again, I would want to make sure I had a really good reason.”

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ThoughDesperate Housewiveswas a success in its own right and ended the way he wanted, Cherry said he’s a bit jealous of the reality franchise’s creators for being able to continue with the shows for so long.

“I envy the fact that they’ve kept that franchise going,” Cherry said, adding, “I certainly envy the good folks who produce that show because it’s a train that keeps on chugging. So good for them.”

source: people.com