Desperate Housewives: Time for Raises for the Women on Wisteria Lane?

A raise for Lynette, Bree, Susan and Gabrielle may not top your Christmas list this year but for the stars of ABC’s Desperate Housewives, it certainly would help to ring in the new year. Contracts for Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, Teri Hatcher and Eva Longoria expire at the end of the season, and EW has learned that renegotiations have already begun.

ABC hasn’t officially said whether the drama will return for an eighth year, but all signs indicate that it’s a sure thing: Creator Marc Cherry is committed to Wisteria Lane through 2013 and the drama remains the most-watched series on Sundays (12.9 million). It’s also the No. 1 non-sports program on the night in adults 18-49 (4.3 rating/10 share) and dominates its time period across all key female demographics. The show also commands a hefty ad rate that’s well north of $200,000 per 30-second spot and ranks among TV’s highest-rated scripted series among adults in homes with an $100,000-plus annual income.

Since the four stars earn the same amount — reports peg their salaries at roughly $400,000 each per episode, which makes them among TV’s highest paid stars — its likely the women will negotiate together. From what EW hears, the women continue to get along well and are dedicated to seeing through Cherry’s vision. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, Cherry’s eager to find new hits for the Alphabet network. He has a script in development dubbed Hallelujah that would center on a small town “which finds itself being torn apart by the forces of good and evil,” according to Variety . Things improve, however, when a stranger comes to town “looking to bring justice, peace, and a little bit of faith” to the residents. The project is set up at ABC Studios through Cherry’s huge overall deal.

Teri Hatcher Fuming Over 'Untrue' Desperate Housewives Quit Claims

Teri Hatcher has blasted "ridiculously untrue" reports she's quit Desperate Housewives, insisting she will stay on the show until "it's cancelled".

The actress, who has played Susan Mayer in all seven series of the drama since it began in 2004, was said to have told executives at ABC the next season will be her last.

Britain's Sunday Express reported she was leaving the show so she could work on a new series - but Hatcher is fuming over the story, branding it a "reckless fabrication".

She's taken to her Facebook.com page to reassure fans she's continuing with her role, which she describes as "one of the highlights of my career", and is demanding a "retraction and apology" over the report.

In a series of posts, she writes, "There are not enough adjectives to describe how stupid, off base, and ridiculously untrue this is... What disturbs me the most is that one fan would consider for one second that I would 'quit' what has been... one of the highlights of my career for which I am grateful on a daily basis.

"I have never said nor inferred otherwise... I am awaiting a retraction and apology at the least... I will say it again, I love Dh, the cast and crew are like family and I am with it till it's cancelled."

Hatcher has also praised the makers of Desperate Housewives for their "new energy" on the current season, which has seen Vanessa Williams land a role.

She adds, "Vanessa Williams and the writers have brought a new energy to the show this year and I expect and hope it can continue on for a long time. I meet many people who still find so much joy in watching it and I want everyone to know I'm joyful to be involved to this day and that's not going to change."

Teri Hatcher Quitting Desperate Housewives

Teri Hatcher has quit her starring role on Desperate Housewives, according to a U.K. report.

The actress has played Susan Mayer in all seven series of the drama since it hit screens in 2004.

But Hatcher has reportedly told executives at America's ABC network the next season will be her last, so she can work on a new show.

A source said, "Teri has given in her notice and is making active preparations to move on."

"She has another production deal in the pipeline and she is in the early stages of developing a sitcom that she wants to start work on immediately after she finishes Desperate Housewives - she wants a new show in time for the mid-January pilot season."

The report also suggests Hatcher's co-star Felicity Huffman is planning to leave her role as Lynette Scavo after season eight.

It continues, "ABC hasn't announced its schedule yet because the future of the series is up in the air. Some of the crew are disappointed in Teri, they feel like she is abandoning the show that revived her career.

"Desperate Housewives can't really continue without Teri or Felicity because they need the original stars to pull in the ratings. She (Hatcher) says she had an amazing run on the show but feels it is time to move on to a project that she has more control over."

A spokesperson for ABC says, "We are working on the next season at the moment and we haven't got anything to say about the one after."

Desperate Housewives Stars Pledge Support for Producer in Nicollette Sheridan Dispute

A line has been drawn on Wisteria Lane.

Desperate Housewives stars Eva Longoria Parker, Teri Hatcher, Marcia Cross and Felicity Huffman issued a joint statement Tuesday pledging their support for show creator Marc Cherry in a lawsuit filed by Nicollette Sheridan.

"It would be irresponsible of us to let the public believe that being a part of this show from its inception has been anything but a blessing," the statement says. "We have no first-hand knowledge of what Nicollette may or may not have experienced, but we would never characterize our set as a hostile environment.

"It is, in fact, the opposite," the statement continues. "The friendships and support that Marc Cherry, the cast, the crew and the producers have shared for the past six years have made this a wonderful job that we are grateful for every day."

Hatcher, who plays housewife Susan on the show, separately expressed concern that the actress was singled out in the lawsuit alleging Cherry hit Sheridan in the face and that her Edie Britt character was killed off when she complained about him. Sheridan's suit alleged that when Hatcher went over Cherry's head to complain about him to ABC executives, he told Sheridan, "I hope Teri Hatcher gets hit by a car and dies."

The statement said it was "unfortunate and inappropriate" for Sheridan's attorneys to have mentioned Hatcher without her authorization.

Hatcher says: "While my adoration and respect for the classic and dynamic chemistry of the characters of Susan and Edie is indelible, I'm honored to stand with Eva, Felicity and Marcia, as a group and clarify that our set environment is nothing less than an amazingly positive experience. I have never felt discriminated against. In fact, I have felt heard and respected by Marc and other executives in regards to both my professional and personal needs."

Desperate Housewives Aged for Upcoming Episode

Eva Longoria Parker and her Desperate Housewives co-stars are set for a shocking glimpse into their futures when the ladies are aged 30 years for an upcoming episode.

Parker will play a poverty-stricken, demented, grey-haired grandma in the futuristic show, which will air on January 3rd, while co-star Teri Hatcher will have eaten herself into obesity.

Series creator Marc Cherry says, "The most expensive thing about the episode was Teri Hatcher's fat suit."

Teri Hatcher’s Sexy (and Silly) Striptease

You don’t see this every day at Home Depot!

Teri Hatcher shakes what she’s got as a sexy handy-woman — complete with fully stocked tool belt — during a striptease for an upcoming episode of Desperate Housewives. The actress shot the scene on Monday – her 45th birthday – and was coached by Sheila Kelley, a new member of TV’s Lost cast and founder of S Factor pole dancing studios.

Housewife Teri Hatcher is Swine Flu Free

Desperate Housewives star Teri Hatcher has brushed off reports she's suffering from swine flu.

Cast and crew on the set of her hit drama were said to have been put on high alert after Hatcher notified show producers she had been diagnosed with the H1N1 virus and pulled out of production scheduled for this week.

But a spokesperson for Hatcher insists the actress is actually suffering from laryngitis.

Her rep tells TVGuideMagazine.com, "She is sick and has laryngitis, but has already finished her work for the week and is not scheduled to work again until next week."

Teri Hatcher Diagnosed with Swine Flu?

Desperate Housewives star Teri Hatcher has brought production on the hit TV show to a standstill after becoming the latest celebrity struck down by swine flu, according to reports.

Cast and crew on the set of the drama have been put on high alert after Hatcher notified show producers she had been diagnosed with the virus known as H1N1, reports TVGuideMagazine.com.

Hatcher's illness comes at a bad time for the production crew - she was due to join all of her co-stars to shoot an important Christmas episode said to involve a small plane crash.

The actress has joined a growing list of celebrity stars who have been crippled by the swine flu - Backstreet Boys singer Brian Littrell and Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint have both contracted the virus.

Star Sighting: Mum's the Word

Teri Hatcher makes a point with her animated counterpart, Mother, during the Australian premiere of her stop-motion feature film, Coraline, Wednesday at the 2009 Sydney Film Festival.

Desperate Housewives' Same-sex Smooch

Bosses on TV hit "Desperate Housewives" have come up with a steamy way to keep viewers interested following the departure of blonde bombshell Nicollette Sheridan, they are planning a passionate same-sex kiss between Teri Hatcher and Eva Longoria Parker.

The ABC show announced Sheridan, who plays Wisteria Lane's resident man-eater Edie Britt, would be written out of the show in the forthcoming season.

And to keep the show's ratings on top, TV execs have thought of a novel way of enticing TV fans to tune in - some girl-on-girl action, according to Celebuzz.com.

A source tells the website, "Anything is kind of possible right now. You've got Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice basically becoming one two-hour show, the longest Dancing With The Stars tease ever.

"I don't think a kiss between Eva and Teri's characters could be ruled out, especially if it keeps people interested in the show."