Jesse Metcalfe reveals he was fired from 'Desperate Housewives' after Season 1 Jesse Metcalfe, who played the role of John Rowland, the hunky gardener in the first season of the ABC series, disclosed on Tuesday’s episode of Amanda Hirsch’s podcast that he was let go from the show after its initial season. During the episode, Metcalfe explained that the creators of the show, including showrunner Marc Cherry, did not have a clear direction for his storyline beyond the first season. “After the first season they didn’t really know where else to take my storyline,” he said. Metcalfe’s character, John Rowland, was a teenager involved in an affair with Gabrielle Solis, portrayed by Eva Longoria. The role quickly established Metcalfe as a heartthrob and earned him three Teen Choice Award nominations in 2005. He won the breakout star category, marking a significant turning point in his career. However, Metcalfe revealed that the pressure to maintain his physique due to the show’s sexualized portrayal of his character became overwhelming. Despite being removed as a series regular, Metcalfe returned as a guest star in several later seasons. He also secured a lead role in the 2005 film “John Tucker Must Die,” which was released by 20th Century Fox. At the time, Metcalfe expressed confidence in his transition to film, stating, “I was just kind of riding the wave… I was going to be a movie star.” The show, which aired from 2004 to 2012, became a cultural phenomenon and ran for eight seasons. Metcalfe’s performance as the young gardener was instrumental in launching his career, though the role also brought scrutiny over his physical appearance. In an interview with Vice’s i-D magazine in 2021, he reflected on the challenges of maintaining his image.#eva_longoria #jesse_metcalfe #desperate_housewives #marc_cherry #20th_century_fox
Jesse Metcalfe reveals he maintains friendships with members of the "Desperate Housewives" cast despite being fired from the series Jesse Metcalfe, who portrayed John Rowland on "Desperate Housewives," expressed his continued admiration for the cast following his departure from the show. During an interview with Page Six at the Clarins Night of Extra event on March 20, Metcalfe shared that he still communicates with Eva Longoria, whom he described as a close friend. He also praised Marcia Cross, stating he “absolutely love[s]” her and recalled seeing her in a Broadway production in New York City. Metcalfe, 47, highlighted his respect for Cross, noting that she was “really touched” by his support during her career. He emphasized his longstanding admiration for her acting talent. Similarly, he expressed enthusiasm for Felicity Huffman’s recent work, calling her an “incredible talent” and noting her increased presence on television after her involvement in the 2019 college admissions scandal. Huffman, who portrayed Lynette Scavo on the series, had served a two-week prison sentence and paid a $30,000 fine for her role in the scandal, which involved paying $15,000 to boost her daughter’s SAT scores. Metcalfe explained that he was let go from "Desperate Housewives" after the first season because the writers struggled to develop his storyline. He recounted the situation on the “Not Skinny But Not Fat” podcast, quoting the show’s creator, Marc Cherry, who clarified that the series was not about “Desperate House Gardeners” but rather “Desperate Housewives.” This decision led to Metcalfe’s reduction to a recurring character. Despite the exit, Metcalfe described the firing as not a major setback, as he had already booked the film “John Tucker Must Die” at the time.#eva_longoria #jesse_metcalfe #desperate_housewives #marcia_cross #felicity_huffman
