"Desperate Housewives" writer contradicts creator's testimony in Nicollette Sheridan case
(CBS/AP) A former "Desperate Housewives" writer's testimony Wednesday contradicted the testimony of Marc Cherry, the show's creator, who said a decision to kill off Nicollette Sheridan's character had been made four months before the actress claimed he struck her on set.
The testimony by Lori Kirkland Baker was the latest twist in Sheridan's wrongful termination and battery lawsuit against Cherry and ABC.
Cherry and Baker told jurors how plots are discussed months in advance, using index cards, brainstorming sessions and assistants taking notes.
Cherry testified that he announced at the writers' retreat in May 2008 that he had received authorization from top studio and network executives to kill off Sheridan's character Edie Britt. He said a photograph of note cards from the sessions that included the coded message "Steve drinks OJ" signaled that Britt's days were numbered.
He said the coded phrase was necessary to keep the secret from people passing through the writers room where "Housewives" scripts are contemplated and crafted.
Hours later, Baker testified that the first time she heard about the decision to kill Britt was in December 2008, the same month ABC cleared Cherry of wrongdoing in his September 2008 dispute with Sheridan.
Baker said she remembered seeing a note card with the phrase "Dave drinks the OJ" to refer to Britt's death after Cherry told writers in December 2008 that Sheridan's role was being cut.
She acknowledged she was not present for all discussion about plot points and that she considered suing Cherry after her contract was not renewed for the sixth season of the show.
Her testimony also contradicted the testimony of former ABC studio executive Mark Pedowitz, who told jurors on Tuesday that he gave Cherry approval to kill off Britt on May 22, 2008.
Baker, who won an Emmy Award for her work on "Frasier," said she didn't think Sheridan's role would be cut because her character was popular. If it did happen, she said she expected it would occur right before the season finale.
"It felt like it was just being stuck in any old episode," she said. "It didn't feel like we were building up to anything."
Cherry will resume testifying later in the trial.
"Desperate Housewives," made a pop-culture and ratings splash when it premiered in 2004 but has seen its audience dwindle. It is in its last season.