Bree (Marcia Cross) is showing off her rock.

'DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES' BACK ON TRACK

"I can't wait for you to pop out that baby, because when you do I am putting you on the first plane back to Shanghai and you're going to be on all fours in a rice paddy before the epidural wears off".

How's that for a catty comeback? It's time to come clean - 'Desperate Housewives' are back on track.

All summer long, the show's creative team led by the creator and show runner Marc Cherry leaked to the public one spoiler after another promising a better, crispier and funnier third season following what many viewers and critics considered a sophomore creative slump.

ABC sent out the third season premiere episode to critics last week and they agree: Mr. Cherry has kept his word. Appropriately, washing away the past is the theme of "Listen to the Rain on the Roof".

Gone are the Youngs and the Applewhites and there are new mysteries, new relationships, and new characters. Kyle McLachlan's mysterious Orson is a new central character on the show and there's a new hunk on the bloc - Josh Henderson joins the cast as Edie's naughty nephew Austin.

Tom's old flame Nora and their daughter Kyla will cause more trouble for the Scavos. Gabrielle will be driving Xiao-Mai insane as she battles her husband Carlos and seeks divorce. Susan will meet a charming stranger (played by Scottish actor Dougray Scott) as she cares for Mike in coma.

Andrew and John will be back, one of whom will have become a male prostitute. There's a new mystery involving a toothless body wrapped in clay and a supermarket hold-up that at least one character will not survive.

One thing will not change. Brenda Strong's Mary-Alice will continue to narrate from beyond the grave. As she concludes the season opener: ""Every storm brings with it hope that somehow by morning everything will be made clean again and even the most troubling stains might be cleared".

ABC is repeating the conclusion of the second season finale this Sunday, September 17 at 9/8c.

The new season premieres a week later - Sunday, September 24 at 9/8c on ABC.