"Desperate Housewives" to end next spring

(CBS/AP) BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - It's a wrap for the ladies of Wisteria Lane.

ABC has announced that "Desperate Housewives," a glossy primetime soap opera with an ensemble cast including Teri Hatcher and Eva Longoria, will end its TV run next spring, after its upcoming eighth season.

Pictures: Eva Longoria
Pictures: Teri Hatcher

"The only harder thing than creating a hit show is knowing when to end it," show creator Marc Cherry told reporters during a Sunday session of the Television Critics Association conference. "I'm very aware that some shows overstay their welcome and I didn't want that to happen with 'Desperate Housewives.'"

"We wanted to go out in the classiest way possible," he added.

"Desperate Housewives," which also stars Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross and newcomer Vanessa Williams, made a pop-culture and ratings splash when it premiered in 2004 but has since seen a fall-off in the ratings and viewer buzz.

Cherry said he and ABC Entertainment President Paul Lee began discussions a year ago about when the series should be shuttered.

"We made this decision together," he said, "and I feel so good about it. We can have a whole year to reflect on how lucky we've been."

Shortly after the announcement, Longoria took to Twitter to express her sentiments regarding the news.

"I am so grateful for what the show has given me!" she wrote. "We always knew we wanted to end on top and I thank ABC for giving us our victory lap!"

"We have such amazing fans! Watch this final season, it is going to be the best one!" she added.