Recap: "Mama Spent Money When She Had None"

On this week's "Look at us reference the bad economy" episode of Desperate Housewives, Bree and Lynette learned how money can cost a friendship, Susan realized the high price of education, Gabrielle discovered the value of teamwork, and Katherine told Mike he doesn't have to be a big spender to spend a little time with her. Oh, and Tom gave Dave what he owed him! I'm Matt Mitovich, subbing for Mickey (who was up late, late taking inventory of the new Dancing stars), and this ... is your recap.

The theme this week, yes, was money - who has it, and who doesn't. It was played rather heavy-handedly in the first few scenes, as Katherine and Lynette all but whipped out pie charts. Soon, though, the "Look at how timely this script is!" tone gave way to comedy of varying degrees, plus a token Scary Dave moment.

* Bree and Lynette

Just as Lynette revealed to Katherine that she and Tom are in tough financial straits - hence the selling of Tom's "midlife crisis" aka Roxy - Bree pulls up in a brand new This Story Point Was Brought to You by Lexus. Yes, the cookbook biz has Bree rolling in the dough. Lynette simply cannot share in the oohing and ahhing over Bree's new Visit Your Lexus Dealer Today, and literally sulks away upon the mention of the car's refrigerator (!). This prompts Katherine to blab to the other gals about the Scavos' sitch.

Bree goes to Lynette with a check - for $20,000! Lynette cannot accept, nor can she seem to let go of the check. Lynette ultimately accepts it as an "investment" in the pizzeria, for which Bree gets 15 percent dibs. All is good until Lynette comes up with the idea to celebrate Bree's success with a friends-and-family gathering at Scavo's. Bree loves the idea, but loves even more her notion to turn it into a book-signing, saying, "We could turn one of your dismal Thursday-night seatings into a real event!" The same easy way we can turn your character into someone so unlikeable, Bree!

When the event arrives, Bree is aghast to realize that Scavo's is serving her recipes - minus, of course, the fancy-shmancy ingredients. Namely, they're using "commercial parmesan, the dust they sweep off the floor where they make real cheese." Bree tosses out Lynette's half-baked pizzas, only to have her dis discovered in the back alley. A hurt Lynette says Bree's money has changed everything, and vows to pay her back ... right after she pays for backing into her new Lexus.

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