Follow Zap2it:
Fresh Press
'Desperate Housewives' Doug Savant: Tom's 'done jumping through hoops'
Going into Sunday's (May 15) "Desperate Housewives" season finale, Tom (played by Doug Savant) and Lynette's (Felicity Huffman) marriage is at a crossroads. While we've seen them have conflicts over work before, we've never really seen them go at it as we did in the last episode.
"For seven years," Savant tells Zap2it. "This character has jumped through every hoop Lynette has asked him to jump through and he's done jumping through hoops. He's done exactly what she wanted and she's going to have to adjust."
We talked to Savant about the history of Tom and Lynette's marriage leading up to the fragile state we'll find them in the finale, what he wants for his character, and what we can expect in the finale.
Let's start with a couple great lines from the last episode. First, Lynette said, "You're not the CFO of this household!" Tell me about the significance of that line when it comes to Tom and Lynette's marriage.
As you know, Tom and Lynette are in uncharted territory for these two where Tom is really sort of fighting back. She is just entrenched in controlling. That's the only way I can put it in this moment. She cannot give up control of her place in the family structure and the dynamic of this relationship is being threatened by Tom's success.
We've seen both of your characters in and out of the home and work. So, what's the difference this time?
I think the primary difference this time is that a few episodes back Lynette was in the kitchen when Tom did not want to accept this new position - he thought he should remain working for Carlos [Richard Chavira] who bailed him out of a bad situation and gave him a chance at having a career again. She said, 'Look at you, you're 46 and you're sort of nowhere.' And she didn't take that back and Tom says, 'You're not going to take that back?' From that moment on, Tom committed to 'OK, you want to see if I can be a success, you want to see that this can happen?' He commits to that and is making that happen and now the irony is that's it's not making Lynette happy.
That brings us to another great line from the last episode. Tom tells Lynette she's a "raging b***h." How great was that line for the character and for you as an actor?
One of the things we ask ourselves when we're shooting that kind of scene is how is this scene different from every other scene we've ever shot, every other conflict. Our director Larry Shaw said that what he wanted from the scene more than anything was that they have deep contempt. So, it isn't just that sort of inflammatory word that he called her, but it's that they are contemptuous of one another in that moment to a degree that we've never seen before.
Zap2it readers have told us they don't want Tom and Lynette to break up. But as an actor, is there any hope that the writers will actually go there?
Frankly, I'm like your fan base. I don't want them to break up. I'm proud of what the relationship represents to America. It's a good marriage. I think despite the conflicts they've had in the past, that they've always had a deep and profound love for one another that has gotten them through and a deep, profound respect for one another. And I think those are great things to represent, so I'm actually like your fan base. I'm rooting for Tom and Lynette. It drives me crazy. Really, I wish she'd just snap out of it and see what a great husband she has [laughs].
What kind of ride are we in for in the finale?
Well, first and foremost, it's a great two hours of television. The writers have done an unbelievable job. Susan [Teri Hatcher] is coming back to the Lane and there will be a progressive dinner party that runs from house to house. So, it's always a blast to shoot those, because the cast is always together. There's just these very diverse elements at play. Tom and Lynette are having a dramatic storyline while Brie [Marcia Cross] is having a comedic storyline and Rene's [Vanessa Williams] storyline goes off in a hysterical sort of direction when she finds that her ex-husband is getting remarried. And then of course it wouldn't be a finale on 'Desperate Housewives' without some mystery and some dark undertow. There's a little bit of mystery surrounding a presence in Gaby's [Eva Longoria] life at the moment.
What can you tell us about the murder the previews have been teasing?
I don't know if I'm very good at this. How do I tease this? You'll not be disappointed. There will be blood. How's that? [laughs]
The two-hour Season 7 finale of "Desperate Housewives" airs Sunday, May 15 at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.
Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook for the latest news and buzz
Photo/Video credit: ABC
Related pics
Zap2it Elite Sheet Must Reads from the Web's In-Crowd
Our Partners
So, he's as dumb as his character? That's rather disappointing. "Jumping through hoops?" Seriously? That couple is so wrong for each other. She's an adult. He's a spoiled brat, a toddler with a 46 year old's body, who is always being babied by everyone around him. It only got worse when they brought his mother around. And HE is the one jumping through hoops? Has he actually watched this series?
Hey Mitch-what show have you been watching? SHES the *****, hes done everything shes asked and she cant sit back and enjoy it? This is really a non-story, and shouldnt be a major plotline. She should have gotten involed in the others, and Id like to know what great job hes doing and how he got it, cause recently he was a going nowhere college student and a failed businessman, and now hes THIS? Only in the movies!
Tom may have a long mid-life crisis but he definitely has jumped through hoops to keep Lynette happy the entire series. He's always deferred to her authority and has forgiven her many times in the past when she has been the one who has sabotaged him. Lynette has always been controlling to all members of her family and the show is finally addressing it. And in this instance, Tom only went into this job under Lynette's manipulation -now that he is sucessful she isn't happy. Tom has a perfect right to be upset about her recent actions.
Kill 'em all!
Thank you linda!! finally someone who actually watches and understands the show!!! I agree with you completely. lynette is a control freak, and tom has been letting her control him for the past 7 seasons. Now he is putting his foot down and being the man of the house.
Tom has always let Lynette be the boss because he did not want the responsibility. Now all of a sudden he wants to be "the man" and expects her to be the typical little woman? Please. She is better off with out having to take care of him as well as all her kids.
In this season finale episode, I just felt the pain, anger and fustration for Tom. Lynette is too stubborn for her own good. She can't see that her controlling attitude is ruining the marriage. She can't get into grip that Tom is making the big dollars, while she is at home being the housewife and you can clearly tell that it really bothers her. Lynette is like most modern woman like myself, that wants to be in control, independent, and have a successful career. But in this case, lynette needs to swallow her pride, and let Tom be the man for once. She needs to know when to stop, because she is the one that is continuing to fuel the argument and making matters worse. I with Tom , on this one.... lynette needs to calm down...
I think it's more complicated than one person being right and wrong. Lynette is a control freak, yes, but Tom was also getting a bit big for his britches with his new job. Ultimately, it makes for great television and conflict, and I sincerely hope they can work it out. My favorite couple on DH :)
Katie, you nailed it on the head. Everyone else seems to want to pick one person to blame, but the truth is both are at fault. Lynette didn't like giving up all the power and control she was so used to having, but Tom changed from the sweet, charming man he used to be into a power-hungry, all-about-money sterotype.
I wonder if they will use Vanessa Williams more next year and give her agreat storyline? maybe her and Tom.....?