Tonight (July 12) at 9pm ET, Lifetime premieres the network’s latest original series, an hourlong dramedy called Drop Dead Diva.

The show stars stage actress Brooke Elliott in her first television role. She plays Jane Bingum, a brilliant attorney whose body is taken over by a vapid model after the latter dies and gets another chance at life. Veteran standup comic and actress Margaret Cho co-stars as Jane’s faithful assistant Teri.

Meet both cast members in the videos after the jump before checking out the newcomer on TV later tonight.

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First Tuesdays, then Thursdays, and now this.

Don’t bother tuning in to TNT on Thursday nights at 8pm ET anymore to catch the latest fresh episode of the new original reality series Wedding Day. The network has once again moved the show to a different time slot, quietly and with no effort wasted on notifying viewers who happen to like the series.

As of now and until it’s moved yet again — although where it would go besides entirely off the air, I have no idea — Wedding Day will debut new episodes on Saturday mornings (yes, mornings!) at 9am ET (yes, 9am!).

I think it’s safe to assume the series won’t be returning for a second season, either, so do enjoy it while you can.

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Basic cable network TV Land plans to air a variety of special programming this weekend in tribute to actress Farrah Fawcett, who passed away at age 62 after a long battle with cancer, and recording artist Michael Jackson, who passed away at age 50 after a heart attack. Both entertainment icons died on Thursday, June 25.

Says TV Land president Larry W. Jones: “Airing these tributes allows our viewers to remember and understand the legacies that will continue into the future. We invite our audience to remember where they were the first time they heard The Jackson 5 singing “ABC,” saw the iconic “Thriller” music video or witnessed history when they heard the angels call ‘Charlie’ for the first time. They will both be missed terribly by all.”

I couldn’t agree more. I had just received the press release about TV Land’s tribute to Fawcett and was preparing a post when news of Jackson’s death suddenly reached me. Both passings have had an immediate and profound impact on fans worldwide.

Follow the jump to learn about the upcoming TV Land celebration of Fawcett and Jackson with special broadcasts of Charlie’s Angels and Chasing Farrah episodes and the miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream.

In memory of Fawcett, TV Land will air a tribute presentation of two Charlie’s Angels episodes on Saturday, June 27, from 7–9pm ET, followed by the first two episodes of the 2005 TV Land original series Chasing Farrah from 9–10pm. Chasing Farrah chronicled the icon’s daily life as one of the most recognized stars in the history of celebrity.

In memory of Jackson, TV Land will air the 1992 five-hour miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream on Sunday, June 28, from 2–7pm, with an immediate encore presentation from 7pm–12am afterward. The popular biographical series, which documents the progression of Michael Jackson’s career from childhood to adult stardom, will allow fans to remember the King of Pop and his influence on the world music scene.

Find official descriptions of the programming below.

Charlie’s Angels

Hell Ride: Sabrina pretends to be a race car driver as the girls go undercover to investigate a conspiracy surrounding the death of a female racer. [#001]

Angels In Chains: The Angels go behind bars to uncover a murder-extortion scheme at a prison-farm in a corrupt small town where rich women are enslaved for their fortunes and then killed. [#004]

Chasing Farrah

Lights, Camera, Farrah: In spite of her dislike of reality shows, actress Farrah Fawcett agrees to star in one. [#001]

My Dinner with Farrah: Farrah and Ryan O’Neal have dinner at his beach house. [#002]

The Jacksons: An American Dream

A TV mini-series based on the Jackson’s true story that takes us through five decades of the Jackson Family’s career, from their early beginnings in the mid-western steel town of Gary, Indiana, to their quick rise to stardom.

The cast includes: Lawrence Hamilton Jacobs, Angela Bassett, Jason Weaver, Jermaine Jackson II, Holly Robinson and special appearances by Billy Dee Williams, and Vanessa Williams. Featured music sung by The Jackson 5, Boyz II Men, Jermaine Jackson and Syreeta Wright, and Jason Weaver and songs include the hits, “Never Can Say Goodbye,” “The Love You Save,” “ABC,” “Beat It,” “Billy Jean,” and “I’ll Be There.”

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One thing I’ve always said about TNT’s Saving Grace is that the show is very much an acquired taste. That’s the trait that kept me from liking the cop drama for more than a season, and once I forced myself to give it a second chance and sit through an entire episode, that’s the trait that also made it grow on me. Fortunately, Holly Hunter’s Grace Hanadarko and her familiar Oklahoma City Police Department colleagues are still chugging along on the fine line between irritating and gripping during tonight’s (June 16) Season Three premiere “We’re Already Here.”

The central case involves a murdered OCPD police officer whose death is eventually associated with one of those fringe anti-government groups and a weird yet dangerous criminal scheme. There’s the expected tenacity and diligent detective work as Grace and her fellow officers investigate, in addition to the familiar pranks and camaraderie when they’re off duty.

One of the best scenes in the episode comes near the end, while the cops are at their favorite bar and Butch (Bailey Chase) reveals a big surprise. The rapid change of expression on both Grace and Ham’s (Kenny Johnson) faces in reaction perfectly captures Saving Grace’s skill switching between the spirited segments and the more serious ones. It’s good to see the team functioning in harmony again following the strife between partners Butch and Bobby (Gregory Cruz) last season after Bobby finished his undercover assignment.

Also at the end of last season, Grace endured the execution of Leon Cooley (Bokeem Woodbine), the man who shared her last-chance angel Earl (Leon Rippy). So, it’s no surprise that much of the detective’s attention is now devoted to another person who seems to have Earl in common, a young drug addict named Neely Lloyd (Yaani King).

This plotline takes precedence during the season premiere, as Grace’s familiar struggle with Earl’s existence and his place in her life continues to color most of her experiences. To the show’s credit, the situation with Grace’s latest spiritual connection plays out in an entirely unexpected way. It will be interesting to see what happens next.

Continue below for a sneak peek at the season premiere, featuring two scenes from the beginning of the episode.

Saving Grace airs Tuesdays on TNT at 10pm ET.

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Film actress Jada Pinkett Smith both stars in and executive produces the medical drama HawthoRNe, TNT’s latest original series aimed at expanding the network’s reputation as an outlet for TV shows featuring strong and complicated female leads.

Smith plays the title character, Christina Hawthorne, the Chief Nursing Officer at Virginia’s Richmond Trinity Hospital. She’s also a recently widowed single mother of a difficult teenage daughter named Camille (Hannah Hodson) following her late husband’s death from cancer one year ago.

In the pilot episode, we learn just how dedicated Christina is to her job, her patients, her colleagues, her community members, and her family as she takes on one potential disaster after another, including trying to prevent an attempted suicide, showing up on the scene where her rebellious daughter has handcuffed herself to a snack machine, sticking up for a mentally disturbed homeless local, and warning doctors before they commit fatal mistakes.

During and between the various mini crises, viewers also meet Christina’s assorted co-workers, mostly nurses under her command who deal with their own personal and professional issues and provide varying amounts of intended comic relief. There are doctors afoot, too, such as Michael Vartan’s (Alias) Chief of Surgery Dr. Tom Wakefield, but they’re more like foils to show how accomplished nurses are in comparison than persons of genuine interest at the outset.

The main concern I have about HawthoRNe after watching the pilot (the only episode I’ve seen in advance) is how well it will be able to deliver on the promise of TNT’s earlier women-centric, proven hits, meaning Kyra Sedgwick’s The Closer and Holly Hunter’s Saving Grace. In addition to the unique and compelling main characters, both of those shows have the crime element in common, which leads to many dramatic situations.

While HawthoRNe’s pilot admittedly isn’t enough to judge an entire season on, the first episode opts for a more lightweight and scattered feel than The Closer and Saving Grace fans are used to, probably to introduce the various characters and some of their backstories. Smith already has the strong and complex traits down pat, of course. So, hopefully, the unique and compelling aspects of the series aren’t far behind and the depth of HawthoRNe’s characters and plotlines will improve as the 10-episode freshman season progresses.

View photos of HawthoRNe’s supporting cast in the earlier gallery post: Suleka Mathew plays Christina’s good friend and fellow nurse Bobbie; David J. Hirsh plays nurse Ray, who has to cope with working in a predominantly female profession; and Christina Moore plays nurse Candy, a Barbie doll lookalike who enjoys giving some patients “special” attention. Blade Runner icon Joanna Cassidy also guest stars as Christina’s mother-in-law Amanda, a hospital board member still giving Christina much grief after her son’s death.

A preview of the series premiere, featuring the opening scene, follows.

HawthoRNe airs Tuesdays on TNT at 9pm ET.

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TNT has a dramatic night of premieres in store for viewers today (June 16), and kicking it all off at 8pm ET is the basic-cable network’s first-ever unscripted series Wedding Day. The newcomer has prestigious backers — Mark Burnett Productions and DreamWorks Television — and a prominent pair of hosts, upscale event planner Alan Dunn and high-end wedding designer Diann Valentine, both of whom do much of their work in the extravagant and demanding celebrity world.

Since I’m not a fan of most reality shows, especially those that deal with romantic relationships, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Wedding Day is exactly what TNT calls it: an unscripted drama. Each episode introduces an engaged non-celebrity couple who have endured some form of remarkable hardship to make it to their special day. As a result, the fact that they’re even getting married is a remarkable event in itself.

During tonight’s premiere “Holli and Steve,” we meet the title couple Holli Munro and Steve Holdwick from Saginaw, Michigan. Just days before their originally scheduled nuptials in 2007, Holli was involved in a disastrous car accident that left her severely injured and in a coma. Doctors told her fiancé and family she had only a 50 percent chance of survival, making a wedding the least of their concerns from that point on.

Holli eventually recovers, with the help of her loved ones, bringing us to her and Steve’s appearance on Wedding Day. The show is set up to give a brief overview of the couple’s relationship and the adversity they’ve faced, before introducing the family and community members who’ll pitch in to help plan and execute a very unique and much-deserved marriage ceremony.

My biggest question before watching advance episodes of Wedding Day concerned how couples were chosen. Apparently, a lot of work went into locating engaged people who have dedicated their lives to serving the needs of others. Says ace reality-TV producer Mark Burnett: “We conducted an extensive search from coast to coast for couples whose stories are undeniably inspirational and uplifting. The show also gives us the wonderful chance to give back to those who volunteer their time or put their lives on the line to help others.”

Wedding Day is all about feeling good, and I recommend it to any viewers who appreciate entertainment that makes you optimistic about people and the relationships that help individuals through the tough parts of life. Watch a sneak peek at the series premiere with the bride, groom, and family members below. Moving stuff, no?

Wedding Day airs Tuesdays on TNT at 8pm ET.

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If my many recent blog posts on The Closer haven’t made it clear that the TNT show’s fifth season opens tonight at 9pm ET, let me publish one final reminder. After watching the premiere episode called “Products of Discovery” in advance, I have no trouble assuring viewers that the series is still in top form, despite the changes that TNT has advised are coming up this summer.

Tonight’s premiere features a particularly disturbing case involving the early-morning mass murder of four family members: mother Cynthia Rivera, her young children Lucia and Miguel Rivera, and her mother Diana Alvarez. As is standard procedure in such crimes, Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick) and her team of detectives immediately cast their collective eye on the man of the household, who’s not exactly an upright citizen, as the killer.

Since I don’t want to spoil the subsequent developments in the case that fans enjoy experiencing fisthand, let me just say that solving the evil crime involves noticing a most unbelievable and simple error, as well as some typically gutsy and insightful collaboration by the Major Crimes unit. The scene where Team Brenda gets their guy is as gripping as they come on the show, and that’s saying a lot.

The notable guest star for the episode is seasoned actor Lee Tergesen, an alum of hard-hitting series like HBO’s stellar prison drama OZ, the venerable and gritty cop show Homicide: Life on the Street, and TNT’s own short-lived crime drama Wanted (I was so bummed when the network canceled that after only one season). All you need to know about his latest gig on The Closer is that there’s not a drop of love lost between his character and Brenda.

Some of the changes viewers can expect this season include the exit of a former regular cast member, a significant lifestyle change for grumpy but always lovable Lieutenant Provenza (G.W. Bailey), economic hardship for another Major Crimes unit member, and a bit of adjustment to married life on the part of Brenda. So far, she and new hubby Fritz (Jon Tenney) are doing just fine, though.

A special treat tonight during the season premiere is the opportunity to interact with series co-creator and co-executive producer James Duff as he and other TNT staff live-tweet the episode at the The Closer’s dedicated Twitter website @TheCloserTNT. I’ll be there, getting in on the action from my main Twitter account @tvjots, so please join us and other fans to help take the premiere to a whole ‘nother level of entertainment. See ya there!

The Closer airs Mondays on TNT at 9pm ET.

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Lifetime has a brand-new show coming up this summer called Drop Dead Diva, which is currently scheduled to premiere on Sunday, July 12, at 9pm ET, immediately before the network’s smash hit Army Wives.

An hourlong dramedy, the series focuses on beautiful, vapid wannabe model Deb (Brooke D’Orsay). After she dies in a car accident, Deb suddenly finds herself in front of Heaven’s gatekeeper Fred, who’s convinced she’s nothing more than a self-centered “zero.”

Deb protests, of course, and then tries to persuade Fred to return her to her shallow existence. Something goes wrong, however, and Deb winds up in the body of recently deceased Jane Bingum (Brooke Elliott) instead, who just happens to be brilliant, thoughtful, and — Oh, no! — plus-sized.

An attorney with a loyal assistant (Margaret Cho), Jane is used to her more conventionally pretty colleagues getting all of the attention. Deb, on the other hand, has always relied on her external beauty.

So, what happens when the aspiring model is forced to come to terms with inhabiting Jane’s plus-size frame? Drop Dead Diva aims to show viewers exactly that, and I’m looking forward to the ride.

If you are, too, continue below to sneak an advance, quickie promo peek at the series.

Drop Dead Diva is executive produced by creator Josh Berman (Bones, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation), in addition to Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (Oscar–winning Chicago and Hairspray).

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The day has finally arrived for the Season Three premiere of Lifetime’s Army Wives called “Best Laid Plans.”

During the episode, the tribe supports Claudia Joy and Michael as they search for Emmalin, who has disappeared before the Holdens’ scheduled move to Brussels. Roxy also struggles to take back control of Betty’s Bar and Grill from Betty’s nephew Collin (Ivan Sergei), and Denise must cope as news of her affair gets around at the hospital.

Follow the jump for a third-season promo that gives a hint of some of the action coming up as the drama unfolds this summer. Check out preview photos for the premiere episode in the earlier post.

Army Wives airs Sundays on Lifetime at 10pm ET.

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We are just days away from the Monday, June 8, fifth-season premiere of The Closer called “Products of Discovery.”

During the episode, which features guest star Lee Tergesen (OZ, TNT’s Wanted), Team Brenda investigates the quadruple murder of a family and soon learn the case is related to an ongoing FBI investigation.

Follow the jump for a revealing Murder Room sneak peek that features the return of one of Brenda’s favorite people (Not!) and an extra sour Provenza. Can you spot which longtime team member isn’t present?

The Closer will air Mondays on TNT at 9pm EST.

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