Lifetime Picks Up ‘Drop Dead Diva’
I like the sound of this new show, folks.
Although originally developed for Fox, the hourlong dramedy Drop Dead Diva has just been picked up for twelve episodes by Lifetime instead. If you know anything about Fox’s shaky history keeping certain kinds of series going for more than a handful of episodes, then you probably understand why this development is a very, very good thing.
The show was created by Josh Berman, a writer for familiar names like Bones and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, as well as lesser known flashes in the pan like Vanished and Killer Instinct. It stars primarily stage actress Brooke Elliott (What Women Want) as Jane Bingum, a super smart but overweight lawyer.
For reasons I’m sure we’ll learn about when the series starts airing, dear Jane gets body-snatched by a stupid aspiring model. The whole switcheroo takes place when the skinny gal is killed following a car accident. Funnywoman Margaret Cho co-stars, as well.
I hope this premise is as big of a hoot for other potential viewers as it is for me. As long as Lifetime keeps the silly to a minimum and delivers a little depth, too, I could totally see myself watching Drop Dead Diva on a regular basis.
Says Lifetime Executive Vice President JoAnn Alfano: “[Drop Dead Diva] is the type of show that truly enhances the Lifetime brand — the duality of emotionally compelling drama with an equal balance of humor.” And, in an August 2007 report when Fox first picked up the series’ script, Berman himself elaborated that the show is “about deconstructing the beauty myth while discovering what’s really important in life.”
Maybe I’ll get my wish.
NOTE: As for Holly Marie Combs fans who were hoping her potential series Mistresses would get a Lifetime pickup — Mistresses was one of three shows vying for a green light at Lifetime, along with the Berman series and something called Mrs. Novak, yet only Drop Dead Diva got the nod of approval. That means no knew show for Combs at the moment. Keep the faith, though.
1 Comment
I am now boycotting Lifetime. How could anybody be stupid enough to drop a HOLLY MARIE COMBS show? Seriously! Ugh!