Follow Zap2it:
'Desperate Housewives' exclusive: Why they killed Karl and Bree's future
It was a shock to fans when "Desperate Housewives" killed Richard Burgi's Karl Mayer. Susan's ex and the man who reignited Bree's sexual fire died in this season's disastrous plane crash on Wisteria Lane.When Zap2it posted Teri Hatcher's response to Karl's death and Korbi TV's talk with Marcia Cross about Bree's unexpressed feelings, our readers commented in droves.
So when we spoke to executive producer Bob Daily, we had to find out why they killed Karl and the path his death has set Bree on.
Warning: Spoilers!
Our readers would hate us if we didn't ask you this. Can you talk about the thought process of either killing Karl or Orson in the plane crash?
That was a very difficult position, because we loved Richard Burgi. Everybody in the show from the writers down to the Kraft services people loved Richard Burgi. He was just a favorite of everybody, so that was a really tough decision. I think Marc felt like that relationship with Bree and Karl was really fun, but it was so uncharacteristic for Bree that I think the feeling was to keep that going would have been difficult and would have transformed Bree's character in a way. I think audiences like to see characters change a little, but I really think they want them to return to who they are. While that was a great moment for Bree, having that sort of unbridled sexual relationship with a guy she had nothing in common with, we felt at the end of the day, she needed to go back to being Bree. It was going to be tough to do that with Karl.
Bree hasn't really expressed her sense of loss for Karl. At some point, will she just have a breakdown over him?
I think there's an opportunity there. That's a good question. I think there's an opportunity for that maybe down the road. Yeah, we've been through a lot this year. I think we need to find a way to express that for her. I think Marcia [Cross] would be into doing that. I think we'll look for a way that she could express that.
Bree turned a corner with Orson in the last episode. Can we expect to see them together for a while?
Yes. I think we're looking to see them certainly through the spring and maybe some surprises at the end of the year.
What else does Bree have on the horizon? Anything with Andrew?
Yes. As a matter of fact, he's in an arc coming up. Starting in March, he'll be in for a number of episodes. He's working for Bree and it's sort of a little bit of a battle between Andrew and Bree over that company. It starts out professionally and quickly becomes personal. Andrew and Bree are always best when they're fighting.
Follow Zap2it on Twitter, @TheRealJethro on Twitter, and Zap2it on Facebook for all your movies, TV and celebrity news.
Related:
'Desperate Housewives' exclusive 'big bad' John Barrowman details
'Desperate Housewives' exclusive: Searching for a new 'Edie'
'Desperate Housewives' exclusive: EP Bob Daily on building a mystery for Angie, Susan and Lynette
'Desperate Housewives' recaps
Photo credit: Danny Feld /ABC
Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook for the latest news and buzz
Related pics
Zap2it Elite Sheet Must Reads from the Web's In-Crowd
Our Partners
They need to write Orson out of the show. The character has become so unappealing that it's ridiculous. He is ruining the Bree character. The only way that Orson moves the show along is the desire that he induces for me to hit the forward button on the DVR controller.
So why not let Karl be caught cheating and end it that way and keep Karl available for future stories?
This way makes no sense; if they're saying that Karl really did love her (and there were signs of it) and we know that she loved him, she should mourn. She isn't. Because of a drug-induced dream, she's catapulted out of love and into guilt-fueled humiliation at the hands of an emotionally abusive husband she was planning to divorce BEFORE she hooked up with Karl. Nice.
This storyline makes no sense and the sloppy continuity (why no Evan/Marisa at the funeral?) doesn't help.
Pleasee !! kill orson
Orson is seriously the most annoying character on the show; doesn't even matter if he's playing the good guy or the bad guy. Kill off Orson immediately!! The only thing the producers are doing right is the Bolen mystery, which has everybody's minds warped tight. The upcoming lesbian affair isn't really all that exciting to wait for. If they were truly insistent on "staying true to the character", then they wouldn't have Katharine hook up with a stripper. What a load of BS.
Sign me up for the Orson hate train. I hate this character and the fact that the producers insist on keeping him...and over KARL?
And thank you, Jane D, for pointing out that Orson is emotionally abusive. I find it sickening that the show has trivialized the way that Orson has blackmailed Bree, literally and emotionally.
"I think the feeling was to keep that going would have been difficult and would have transformed Bree's character in a way. I think audiences like to see characters change a little, but I really think they want them to return to who they are."
So basically, the writers had a chance to delve into some character development and explore some uncharted territory, but wimped out. NICE. No wonder their storylines feel recycled.
I am so HAPPY that they finally killed Karl off!
I just HATED the guy! I mean, he was really funny and nice, I loved to hate him, but it was about time for him to die. He had a nice run in the show.
Orson, on the other hand is my favorite character and I loved his story! :)))
I also fastforward all of the Orson scenes. I can't stand him! His character IS "Unappealing" as someone said, and he IS destroying the Bree character. C'mon DH producers, get it together! Listen to your fans!!!!
Well, I am very very sad Cherry chose to make [ sexy, fun, witty ] Karl die instead of [ Boring, old, creepy ] Orson, but that's kind of too late now. I loved the guy, and I thought Bree and him had this amazing amount of chemistry, lust and desire which was just great. This storyline really thrilled me, but I was so disappointed of what they did of Karl's death and funerals... I mean this character was fun, witty, cool ! But in this last episodes he is described as just being a total cold-hearted jerk. Too Bad ! And they showed like 30 seconds of funerals where we did not eve get to see Evan or Marisa, or Bree's feelings of sadness/loss. I really thought that was a such a shame. But I heard there was this cut scene about the funerals that's gonna be in the DVD, and if Cherry decides to show Bree suddenly having a kind of breakdown where she'll cry for Karl and express her love for him, I will forgive the show :) Because I thing Bree's nightmare was a ver easy way to get out of the affair without any sadness, like : "OMG he is dead ! *Dreams* Oh in fact I don't care, if I had married him he would have cheated on me. Let's go back to Orson." So please-please-please Cherry, do this storyline about Bree's breakdown ! I wanna hear more about Karl !
Karl mayer for Ever
They really need to get rid of Orson Hodge!! JUST because he said that he would never have reported Bree to the police even if she had filed for divorce, it DOES NOT mean that he's a person she should be with! He's the guy who wanted her to sell her flourishing business, which gave her such pleasure, JUST because he wanted his male ego to be restored! He's also the guy who resorted to stealing and caused Edie Britt's fatal accident while trying to escape after breaking and entering! And please, being on a wheel chair should earn him a little of Bree's sympathy at the most; it CANNOT be the grounds on which she changes her opinion of him!! Bree needs to leave him!!!
It makes me so angry that Marc Cherry doesn't care about what the fans love. We loved Bree and Karl together. So he decides to kill Karl. What a dumb move. Bree going back to Orson is way more unrealistic for her. That man is insane. Orson should have died instead of Karl. Karl and Bree were so entertaining. I always looked forward to seeing them together every week. They brought a spark to the show. Since they killed Karl, the spark is gone. It's back to the same old boring crap. Karl and Bree forever!!!!!