She is well known for her role as Lynette Scavo , a busy mother on the ABC television show Desperate Housewives . She is known for her role as executive producer Dana Whitaker on the ABC television show Sports Night ( 1998 â '' 2000 ) , which earned her an Golden Globe Award nomination , and as hectic supermom Lynette Scavo on the ABC show Desperate Housewives ( 2004 â '' present ) , which has earned her an Emmy Award .