Hatcher's a hoot on 'Housewives'

Who would've thought that this year's Big New Comedy Talent would be Teri Hatcher?

Not just because the "Desperate Housewives" star's career has been, well, sort of spotty since her four-year run on "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman" ended in 1997. Not just because in Hollywood, the New Big Thing is generally someone in their 20s — and Hatcher turned 40 two weeks ago.

But "Desperate Housewives" itself was an iffy proposition at best. In a television landscape dominated by procedural dramas and reality shows, this is an hourlong comedy (which is a TV anomaly all by itself) that's also a prime-time soap. And it airs on a network that was mired in fourth place last season.

"I'm so grateful to even have a job," Hatcher said as the show was about to premiere. "It's wild to have been on shows that were successful and then have times where you can't get an audition to save your life. That's just the way the business is."

• Accidentally burned down her romantic rival's house.

• Accidentally almost killed her would-be boyfriend's dog when, in an attempt to get the animal to like her, she rubbed meat on her neck, causing the dog to inadvertently swallow her earring and choke.

• Gotten locked out of her house — naked.

• Been knocked out cold when she attempted to ride a mechanical bull to impress her would-be boyfriend.

• Fell through a ceiling and gotten stuck while snooping through her would-be boyfriend's house.

• Been attacked by the mother of her 17-year-old gardener, John, due to a misunderstanding when John's mom mistakenly believed Susan was having an affair with her son (he's really having an affair with Gabrielle, another of the "Housewives"); she attacked Susan just as she was about to go on the runway at a fashion show, and Susan was pushed out in front of the crowd wearing a ravaged dress.

• Been interrupted by the teenage boy she didn't know her teenage daughter was hiding in the house just as she was about to consummate her relationship with that would-be boyfriend.