The Fox TV network has canceled "The O.C.," but its creator says he is not disappointed to be going out "creatively on top."

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The Feb. 22 finale "feels like the best time to bring the show to its close," series creator and executive producer Josh Schwartz told TVWeek.com.

"Thanks to the hard work of our cast, crew and writers, we have enjoyed our best season yet, and what better time to go out than creatively on top," he said. "For a certain audience, at a certain time, 'The O.C.' has meant something. For that we are grateful."

The ratings for the teen soap have fallen every year it has been on the air, TVWeek noted. It averaged a 4.2 rating among adults 18-49 in its first year, a 3.3 in its second year, a 2.7 the third year and a 1.8 average rating for this past year.