• Variety, Thursday, October 29, 2009 11:18 PM

As part of a new two-year deal that Marc Cherry has signed with ABC Studios, he will remain executive producer of "Desperate Housewives" for an eighth and ninth season, until 2013. Whether or not "Housewives" continues until then depends on the show's core cast members, who are only committed through the 2010-11 season, the show's seventh.

Cherry had originally hinted that he might end the show sooner, after seven seasons. Also signing a two-year extension with ABC Studios is Cherry's top "Housewives" lieutenant, Bob Daily, who will also now remain with the show through those potential eighth and ninth years.

"Desperate Housewives" remains a strong performer for ABC, clocking in as Sunday's most-watched entertainment program all five weeks it has been on the air so far this season.

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