According to James Denton, the cast of Desperate Housewives finally has found harmony on the set.

"Our show hasn't been a lot of fun at times," admitted Denton, who plays Mike Delfino, a.k.a. Teri Hatcher's new on-screen husband. "There has been a lot of tension, a lot of growing pains, but this year everybody is happy and thankful to be there.

"No one is worried about the show being cancelled. People have developed friendships. Like any other workplace, there are people you like better than others, people you hang out with and people you don't. But there's a nice equilibrium and everyone has realized we're all very lucky."

Certainly through the first three seasons of Desperate Housewives, stories occasionally would leak about ego clashes among the five main female leads (Hatcher, Eva Longoria, Marcia Cross, Felicity Huffman and Nicollette Sheridan). But as the fourth season kicks off tonight (CTV/ABC), the main ego clash is set to occur in front of the camera, not behind it.

"I was in Canada working on a movie (last summer) when I saw we had hired Dana Delany and (Canadian) Nathan Fillion," Denton said. "We've had some questionable casting -- me as an Italian might have been one of them. But those two are so perfect for Desperate Housewives.

"What happens is, they move into Mike's old house. Dana has lived there in the past, so she predates the other women, which is fascinating.

"She lived there when it was her, Susan (Hatcher) and Mary Alice (Brenda Strong's deceased character, who serves as the narrator), so Dana sees Bree (Cross), Gaby (Longoria) and Lynette (Huffman) as the newcomers. This is her street. So it sets up a fun territorial competition between Marcia Cross and Dana Delany. And Nathan plays a gynecologist, so write your own plotline."

Okay, that's all fine and good, but back to that line about "questionable" casting, James. "That was the problem with the Applewhites when Alfre Woodard came in -- they had no connection," Denton said. "No matter how brilliant (Woodard) was, her character stumbled into Wisteria Lane.

"Dana Delany apparently has a really dark history with this house and there's a reason she had to move back. Making Dana predate a lot of the characters on the street I thought was very smart. She's really more of a desperate housewife than even Bree and Lynette."

As for Denton's character, he admitted it was easy work when Mike was in a coma, "just lying there and having Teri and Dougray Scott have scenes over my body." It also was cool for Denton to be able to introduce himself as the man Teri Hatcher and Nicollette Sheridan were fighting over.

"It was pretty good for the ego and Nicollette is a scream," Denton said. "But Teri is my bread and butter. I owe my job to Teri Hatcher. The fact we had such good chemistry in the first season is the only reason Mike is still around. As Susan goes, so goes Mike."

So all things considered, James Denton is looking forward to Mike Delfino settling into wedded bliss with Susan ... or at least what passes for wedded bliss on Desperate Housewives.

Also returning tonight: Dexter (TMN/MC); Brothers & Sisters (Global/ABC); American Dad (Global/Fox); Everybody Hates Chris (City).

Debuting: Dirty Sexy Money (CTV, previously seen on ABC).

Advice: Go with the double-Ds, Desperate & Dexter!