'Desperate Housewives' Ending in 2012?

Bad news for fans of ABC's campy Sunday night soap, Desperate Housewives. TVLine is among the sites reporting that the show's upcoming eighth season will be its last. The decision is expected to be announced at Sunday’s Television Critics Association summer press tour.

Stars Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross and Eva Longoria are reportedly "shocked and saddened" about the news since they'd been told by ABC that the show would see, at least, nine seasons. This isn't to say the decision wasn't foreseeable. Creator Marc Cherry stepped down as showrunner at the end of last season to focus on developing new shows.

Desperate Housewives -- which premieres Sunday, September 25 -- started off white hot in 2004 as an award show juggernaut (with multiple Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe a win for comeback kid Hatcher),but has seen its buzz and acclaim dwindle in recent seasons.