Marc Cherry, the creator of 'Desperate Housewives,' would probably appreciate this reference. In the 1932 Oscar-winning movie 'Grand Hotel' -- which became a Tony-winning musical on Broadway -- one character, Dr. Otternschlag, who lives at the hotel and observes the action, comments wryly, "People come and go. Nothing ever happens." Of course, a zillion things happen; he's just unaware from his perch in the lobby.

Wisteria Lane is like that. From some neighbor's point of view, nothing happens. However, as viewers, we know better! And as for the people come and go, well, that's abundantly clear with the news this week.

Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello had two major casting items about the ABC drama. Emmy-winner Drea de Matteo is leaving 'Desperate Housewives' and Dana Delany might be out, too.

In Drea's case, the exit is voluntary and planned. Cherry reported that her role was a one-year only commitment. Drea Matteo's a New Yorker and wants to be back in the city with her family. Therefore, Cherry's story about Angie Bolen was meant to be a mystery that would evolve for the season, with the climax coming in May sweeps. John Barrowman's character is, reportedly, the key to her exit.

As for Dana Delany (who's also an Emmy-winner), she's in the proverbial cat-bird seat. ABC has a pilot in production called 'Bodies of Evidence' that would top-line Delany as a medical examiner who was formerly a neurosurgeon. The deal is that if 'Bodies of Evidence' gets picked up, Delany would leave 'Housewives' for the new show. How she would be written out and what would happen to Katherine is still to be determined. If the pilot is a wash-out, she can stay on 'DH.'

Boy, pretty soon we'll need a scorecard to keep up with the changes on 'Desperate Housewives.' You see what I mean, people come and go ... Fortunately, a lot happens!