Exclusive: Housewives Casts Lynette's Mom

• Apr 23, 2007 08:11 PM ET
• by Michael Ausiello

Those stunt-casting-crazy kids over at Desperate Housewives are at it again.

Inside sources confirm that veteran actress Polly Bergen ( Cape Fear, Commander in Chief, denture commercials) has been cast as Lynette's saucy mother. She'll first appear in the May 20 season finale to "help" Lynette deal with a life-threatening health crisis. "She shows up smoking and drinking," says my spy. "It should be a really fun character."

Additionally, M*A*S*H alum Mike Farrell has been tapped to play Victor's gazillionaire dad (and Gaby's soon-to-be father-in-law). He'll also show up in the finale.