Desparate Housewive's James Denton On Lasting Love

Right now, as the show's testosterone catch, he's essential. And that means he and Erin spend a great many evenings at charity dinners and industry events. This is not quite the life they dreamed of. It's simpler for Erin—"I try to brush my hair, and I've started wearing makeup"—but she's not part of a national obsession. Jamie is, and it's not always easy.

"We went over to the rehearsal of the American Music Awards because I was a presenter," he says. "And suddenly a news crew was interviewing me and Dick Clark came over. Erin leaned over and said, 'Bet you wish you'd taken a shower.' I've got to keep reminding myself: I'm a hunk now."

Most of the time he's philosophical about it: "My window of 'hunky' opportunity is closing so quickly, I've got to enjoy it for what it is." The People magazine honor? "A belly laugh—especially for Erin. You just have to throw up your hands. At my age …"Some things haven't changed. The Dentons still play in a co-ed softball league, and Jamie, a left fielder, still revels in dazzling catches worthy of an ESPN highlight reel. They own a hundred acres in Montana, and they're holding onto the dream of moving there at some point when Desperate Housewives, or whatever the next money-maker turns out to be, has faded to sepia. And they still think that all they really need is a slightly bigger house.

And who knows, they may be right. They have the kind of balance that allows them to take Jamie's transition from character actor to bigtime heartthrob as a happy cosmic joke. Asked why their marriage works, Erin turns to her husband as she answers: "Because I don't wake you up in the middle of the night and want to talk."

"Right," Jamie responds. "No 1a.m. conversations. And, more profoundly, she gets me. And tolerates me. A lot of tolerance."Jamie and Erin know Wisteria Lane isn't real. They are making sure their marriage is.

Jesse Kornbluth, a former contributing editor of YourTango, edits the cultural concierge Web site headbutler.com.