Issue Date: October 16, 2005
DVD Insider
Seedy suburbia
A real-life hunky gardener dishes dirt on "Desperate Housewives."
Out last month on DVD: ABC's guilty pleasure
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The plot: At first glance, Wisteria Lane could be Suburban Anywhere, USA. But in this prime-time soap, the neighborhood plays host to arson, blackmail and murder. Then there's the mother taking her kids' ADHD medicine and the teen gardener delivering "extra services."
Insider's credentials: Steve Sandalis, owner of Mystic Water Gardens, designs natural-looking lakes, streams and waterfalls in Southern California. His projects range from $8,000 to $400,000. Sandalis also has a loyal following as a cover model for more than 700 Topaz Romance books.
Overview: "You watch the show and think it's an exaggeration, but it's not," Sandalis says. In fact, he says, he'd consider many of his clients "desperate housewives."
Disc 1: Pilot -- The gardener, John (Jesse Metcalfe), tells Gabrielle (Eva Longoria): "Mrs. Solis, I really like it when we hook up. But I gotta get my work done. I can't afford to lose this job."
"I had my first lawn-mowing job when I was 12. I could relate [to John]. I didn't fool around with anyone's mother, but I did fool around with the daughters of a few people on my route."
Disc 2: Anything You Can Do -- John works on the yard, shirtless.
"A lot of clients take pictures of us working. Sometimes we're asked to take off our shirts, but we're professionals, so we can't. One time the homeowner wanted to squirt me down with the hose. I said, 'I'll just take a glass of lemonade.' "
Bonus feature: The Ladies' Favorite Scenes -- Gabrielle mows her lawn at night in an evening gown so her husband won't notice John was slacking.
"I liked this scene, with her tripping all over the place in her dress, but all I have to say is: Don't cut the lawn wearing sandals. You'll be missing a few toes."
-- Melanie D.G. Kaplan
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