Few characters on "Desperate Housewives" have gone through the changes that Tom Scavo has. Since the very first season, he has changed professions and demeanors faster than the viewers can keep track. It appears that he's finally moving in a positive direction -- at least professionally.
Tom Scavo is played by Doug Savant, who got his big break playing the Matt Fielding on the Fox television hit "Melrose Place" in the 1990s. His character was one of the first openly gay men on network TV. Savant has done guest appearances on many other shows over the years and was in a number of flicks in the 80s, including "Teen Wolf" with Michael J. Fox. Off-screen the actor has almost as big a family as his "Desperate Housewives character." Savant has four children, two from his first marriage, and two with actress Laura Leighton, who co-starred with him on "Melrose Place."
Family is what it is all about for Lynette and Tom Scavo. They certainly procreate more than anyone on the block, though it looks like they are done with five kids. While his wife had her doubts with each pregnancy, Tom's desire for a big family never wavered and when he found out that he had fathered a daughter before his marriage, he welcomed that child too. Along the way, he did some pretty interesting things to make sure they were provided for.
We didn't see a lot of Tom Scavo in the first season as he was away on business, but he decided to make up for it and quit his job at the end of the year, leading up to his stint as a house husband in season two. That didn't last long and soon he and Lynette were working side by side until a vindictive boss has him fired. He used his free time to meet with Nora Huntington, a woman he had a child with after a one night stand. The saga of Tom fighting off Nora's advances continued through the third season, but a chance burglary left Nora dead and Tom and Lynette with a difficult tween.
Tom Scavo's next profession was perhaps the oddest. The executive decided he wanted to open a pizzeria. The adventure -- made more difficult with a back injury and a (purely mental) infatuation between Lynette and the pizzeria's manager Rick. All was forgiven in the family, however, when Lynette was diagnosed with lymphoma.
It wasn't easy getting the large Scavo family through cancer and a tornado, but Tom stumbled through it, as well as difficulties with daughter Kayla. His midlife crisis really kicks in full gear when he buys a Mustang in season five and decides to sell the restaurant so the family can travel around in an RV. Instead, the economy takes a downturn and he loses the restaurant and comes up with yet another dream -- to go to college and learn Chinese. School didn't last long as Lynette found herself pregnant again, with twins.
The start of season seven of "Desperate Housewives" was the end of the downfall of Tom Scavo. He became a stronger man after suffering through some depression and takes Lynette's old job with Carlos Solis. Tom does so well that he is offered an even bigger job at another company. He's finally bringing in the big bucks with huge perks, like private jet rides. It looks like this man finally has found his professional calling, but it takes a toll on his personal life.
The final episode of the seventh season showed Lynette and Tom Scavo heading for a separation. It appears to just be a case of the duo growing apart so hopefully they will work it all out before the "Desperate Housewives" series finale, which is rumored to be 2012.
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