Deadline reports that long time ABC sudser Desperate Housewives will come to an end following the upcoming eighth season. Once the most talked about show on television, Desperate Housewives has seen ratings drop in recent years.
The series starring Felicity Huffman, Teri Hatcher, Eva Longoria and Marcia Cross as long time neighbors and rivals dealing with the sudden suicide of a neighbor who knew all of their secrets, debuted on ABC in 2004 to stunning ratings, more than 21 million viewers. By 2007 the series was the most watched show among its demographic worldwide with more than 120 million people tuning in to get the latest gossip from Wisteria Lane.
Unfortunately, average domestic ratings for the series eroded each year the show was on the air dropping from a high average of 23 million viewers in season one to a series low average of just over 11 million viewers for season seven. In seven seasons Desperate Housewives has won 8 Emmys, including Best Actress in a Comedy Series for Felicity Huffman, and three Golden Globe Awards.
The end of Desperate Housewives came as quite a shock as ABC had cut deals with the lady leads of the show for an eighth season with options for a ninth season. Series creator Marc Cherry had told people he wanted the series to go for a ninth season despite his having stepped down at the end of season seven.
The move to cancel Desperate Housewives at the end of the eighth season may be a pre-emptive move by ABC. Desperate Housewives is expected to take a hit in the ratings this fall when it goes head to head with the hot CBS legal drama The Good Wife which is going head to head with DH for the first time this fall. Telling fans that this is the last season might be a wedge to keep viewers from fleeing.
What is now the final season of Desperate Housewives will premiere Sunday, September 25th on ABC.
