How Long Can Desperate Housewives Last?

James Denton talks about the suburban mama drama and reveals that "it's almost time to start renegotiating with the women"

Unlike so many shows that launch powerfully and then flag in later years, Desperate Housewives is midway through season six and going strong. Creator Marc Cherry has promised to stick around for the foreseeable future, but what about the show's leading ladies, including Teri Hatcher, Marcia Cross, Eva Longoria Parker and Felicity Huffman?

We just caught up with the cast at the StandUp for Kids-L.A. benefit at the G2 Gallery in Los Angeles, and dreamboat James Denton told us the latest scoop on the cast's contract negotiations:

Felicity Huffman recently told a British paper, "I would like it if [Desperate Housewives] goes on for 10 years because it's a dream job. I'm going to do Desperate Housewives until I'm a desperate old biddy. People will say, 'The only actress who stayed was Felicity Huffman, and she needs a [walker]!" So is there any reason the show couldn't last a decade or more?

Well, according to Denton, "The women are the ones who have to sign up. Whatever they slide across the table, I'll sign." We love a man who's easy!

Denton continued, "Honestly, I say that jokingly, but I really am kind of curious, because it's almost time to start renegotiating with the women. And I really hope they all feel the same way as Felicity, because it is such a fun show."

But what are the realistic prospects of keeping hot properties like Eva Longoria Parker tied down for four or more years? Said Denton, "The women can all, of course, do whatever they want, career-wise, so we may not be able to keep them all, but we really don't have a show without them, so I'm glad she feels that way, because I think 10 is a nice number."