Desperate Housewives: It's So Over

"I'm very aware that some shows overstay their welcome and I didn't want that to happen with 'Desperate Housewives,'" Cherry told reporters during at the Television Critics Association conference. "We wanted to go out in the classiest way possible."

"Desperate Housewives" will have run for eight seasons by the time it bids farewell. The show premiered on October 3, 2004 and has won multiple Golden Globe, Emmy, and Screen Actors Guild Awards.

It has also launched careers for some castmembers and revitalized the careers of others.

Eva Longoria was previously unknown before joining the cast of "Desperate Housewives" as Gabrielle Solis, a spoiled former model who can be reckless and manipulative but who is ultimately a sympathetic character.

On Sunday, Longoria confirmed the end of the series in the following Twitter message:

It's confirmed! We are filming our last season of Desperate Housewives! I am so grateful for what the show has given me! We always knew we wanted to end on top and I thank ABC for giving us our victory lap! And a special thanks to Marc Cherry who forever changed my life! #DesperateHousewives

Teri Hatcher, who is the face of "Desperate Housewives" as Wisteria Lane's girl-next-door Susan Mayer, thought her career was over before being cast in the show -- after Mary Louise Parker turned down the role.

"I couldn't have been a bigger has-been," Hatcher said in a 2005 interview. "Two years ago I was crying on my kitchen floor thinking I'll never be able to pay my mortgage."

Rumors of the series' swan song had been circulating for several weeks before they were confirmed this weekend.

"We want to make sure it has its victory lap," ABC Entertainment President Paul Lee said of the upcoming eighth season.

Cherry personally called all of the castmembers to break the news.

"It was bittersweet and lovely," he said. "There was a touch of shock, but not completely."