PASADENA, Calif. — The producers of "Desperate Housewives" say the series finale will leave a few loose ends hanging, but cautioned fans against awaiting a reunion movie.

Creator Marc Cherry said that eight seasons have given the series time to "plumb the depths" of the characters played by Teri Hatcher, Felicity Huffman and others in the ensemble cast. "Desperate Housewives" will air its final episode this spring.

He's very satisfied with where the series stands, Cherry told the Television Critics Association on Tuesday, the actors alongside him. Cherry contrasted "Desperate Housewives" with "Sex and the City," which did fewer episodes and followed its HBO run with two big-screen movies.

Referring to the Middle East-set "Sex and the City 2," which received largely negative reviews, Cherry quipped: "I'm just never sending these gals to Dubai."

He remained mostly mum about how his series will conclude, saying some "old, familiar characters" will return, but that the rest is a secret and "I'm being hyperprotective of it." Fellow executive producer Bob Daily said the last year of "Desperate Housewives" will include echoes of season one and serve as a bookend to it.

Whatever the final act, it's one that Cherry said he's been carrying in his head since the show went on the air. Although the show's writers are embellishing his vision, "the general premise has always been the same," he said.

He's also going to keep his promise to make a cameo appearance before the lights go out on Wisteria Lane.

"I'm gonna do a Hitchcock," he said, referring to Alfred Hitchcock's tradition of popping up in his films. "The hair and makeup people will go through more hell that day than they ever have."

Programming note from CTV:

Due to NFL playoff coverage pre-empting Desperate Housewives on Sunday, Jan. 15 and Sunday, Jan. 22, please note these programming changes:

On Saturday, Jan. 21 and Saturday, Jan. 28, CTV Montreal, CTV Northern Ontario, CTV Winnipeg and CTV Saskatchewan will be airing original episodes of Desperate Housewives in the afternoon.

The Saturday, Jan. 21 episode airs at 2pm and is the episode from Sunday, Jan. 15.

The Saturday, Jan. 28 episode airs at 3pm and is the episode from Sunday, Jan. 22.

Catch new episodes on CTV Two on Sunday, Jan. 15 and Jan. 22 at 9pm ET/PT