By Amy Amatangelo/ Television
Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Network TV has come a long way, baby.
     When Lucy Ricardo found out she was carrying Little Ricky on “I Love Lucy” in 1952, actress Lucille Ball wasn’t allowed to say the word “pregnant.” The networks have loosened up since then.
     Four top TV actresses currently are expecting. Here’s how their respective shows are dealing - or not - with the blessed events.
    Marcia Cross on ABC’s “Desperate Housewives”: Cross is expecting twins, but Bree won’t be pregnant. Bree is constantly behind something - a chair, a countertop and, most recently, a gingerbread house. With Bree already enmeshed in a questionable marriage to Orson (Kyle MacLachlan) and not a model mother to begin with, producers made a wise choice. Bree already has enough mama drama. But because Cross is so visibly pregnant, the series may have to throw in the towel about hiding it. Let’s just hope “Desperate” doesn’t do to Cross what “Frasier” did to Jane Leeves when she was pregnant. Suddenly Daphne had a weight problem.

Amanda Peet on NBC’s “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip”: Creator Aaron Sorkin made the right call when he chose to write in Peet’s pregnancy. On a show fond of showing characters racing up and down hallways, Peet’s pregnancy would have been difficult to disguise. Now her character, Jordan, who already has incurred the ire of her network’s shareholders because of her tell-all ex-husband, is pregnant via a one-night stand with an old boyfriend. The situation has brought her closer to Danny (Bradley Whitford) and will continue to explore one of the show’s recurring themes, how female executives are held to a different standard than male counterparts.
     Diane Farr on CBS’ “Numb3rs”: This season on the crime drama, Farr’s Agent Megan Reeves began an unlikely romance with nebbish professor Larry Fleinhardt (Peter MacNicol). But Larry and Megan won’t be expecting a little math wizard any time soon. The show’s producers have declined to write in Farr’s pregnancy. The actress, however, has hinted that something will happen that will force Megan to rethink her career. Perhaps a stint of desk duty is in her future?
     Jaime Pressly on NBC’s “My Name is Earl”: Well, snap. The gum-smacking Joy will be pregnant on “My Name is Earl.” Being a mom is a big part of Joy’s life, so there was no reason to hide Pressly’s pregnancy. The only time Joy shows compassion is when she is interacting with her two young boys. Viewers will see a kinder, gentler Joy - until ex-hubby Earl finds another way to get on her nerves.
http://theedge.bostonherald.com/tvNews/view.bg?articleid=171561