AceShowbiz -

Marc Cherry, creator of "Desperate Housewives" announced that the show will be extended up to ninth season although no deal has been sealed with ABC. Cherry who also serves as the executive producer, thought that the series would end in seventh season but the popularity of the show provides the courage to go on for two more seasons.

While celebrating the shooting of the show's 100th episode, Cherry said, "My intention has always been to end the show after seven seasons, 'cause that first season darn near killed me. (But) the five-year jump seems to have reinvigorated interest in the show, and the ratings are terrific. So I started recently talks with (ABC Entertainment president) Steve McPherson and (ABC Studios chief) Mark Pedowitz about continuing the show for a ninth season. We're going to find a way to make it work."

On this McPherson added, "Conceptually, we sat and talked about this. The fact is that it is his show, and his heart is in it, and I think it's always important to keep the vision of the show in the hands of the creator."

"Desperate Housewives" is currently in its fifth season. For the week ending December 7, the show scores ABC a high rating of 16.1 million on top of fellow ABC show "Grey's Anatomy".