Lifetime Television Picks-Up Second Season of Hit Comedic Drama Drop Dead Diva

Lifetime Television Picks-Up Second Season of Hit Comedic Drama Drop Dead Diva

Number One Women's Network Orders 13 New Episodes of Freshman Series Starring BROOKE ELLIOTT and Comedienne MARGARET CHO Program Has Cumed 50.1 Million Viewers Season-to-Date

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Lifetime Television, the number one women's network, has renewed its hit comedic drama Drop Dead Diva for a second season. The announcement was made today by JoAnn Alfano, Executive Vice President, Entertainment, Lifetime Networks.

   (Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090608/LA29276)   (Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080804/NYM114LOGO)   

The Network has ordered 13 new episodes of the freshman series, which stars break-out actress Brooke Elliott and popular comedienne Margaret Cho, for 2010. The critically acclaimed series, which tells the story of a shallow, aspiring model who dies in a sudden accident, only to find her soul resurfacing in the body of a brilliant, thoughtful and plus-size attorney (Elliott), premiered on July 12, 2009, and was Lifetime's highest rated original drama series debut since the 2007 launch of Army Wives.

From creator Josh Berman (Bones, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation) and executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (Academy Award-winning Chicago, Hairspray, Lifetime's Living Proof), Drop Dead Diva is averaging 2.6 million viewers per episode this season and has cumed 50.1 million P2+ viewers to date in its 9PM ET/PT Sunday time period. This past Sunday (August 16), it scored its highest ratings ever among Women 18-49 and Women 25-54, and averaged more than 3 million total viewers, a 16% increase above its season-to-date average, leading into Army Wives. Together, Drop Dead Diva and Army Wives make Lifetime the highest rated and most watched network in the Sunday, 9-11PM time period among Women 18-49.

"Drop Dead Diva is one of those rare gems that has charmed both viewers and critics, and I am proud to announce a season two pick-up," said Alfano. "Josh Berman, Craig Zadan, Neil Meron and their talented team have delivered an amazing show that is helping us to grow and evolve the Lifetime brand."

Alfano added, "Brooke is a unique talent who has a wonderful career ahead of her. It is so gratifying to see the public and the media responding so positively to her."

ABOUT DROP DEAD DIVA

When beautiful-but-vapid model wannabe Deb has a fatal car accident, she suddenly finds herself in front of Heaven's gatekeeper, Fred, who declares her a self-centered "zero." Outraged, she attempts to persuade Fred to return her to her shallow existence but is accidentally relegated to the body of the recently deceased Jane Bingum (Elliott). A brilliant, thoughtful and plus-size attorney with a loyal assistant, Teri (Cho), Jane has always lived in the shadow of her more confident, comely colleagues whereas Deb has always relied on her external beauty. Now, by a twist of fate and a bolt of divine intervention, Deb must come to terms with inhabiting Jane's curvier frame and learn to reconcile her beauty queen ways with her brilliant, new mind.

Guest stars throughout the first season of Drop Dead Diva include Paula Abdul, Rosie O'Donnell, Tim Gunn, Liza Minnelli, Delta Burke, Sharon Lawrence, Kathy Najimy, Nia Vardalos, Jorja Fox, Teri Polo, Gregory Harrison, Mark Moses, Marla Sokoloff, Shirley Knight, Faith Price, Devon Gummersall, Elliott Gould, Chuck Woolery and Diedrich Bader.

Drop Dead Diva is produced by Sony Pictures Television for Lifetime Television. Through his Osprey Productions, Berman is creator and executive producer. Zadan and Meron of Storyline Entertainment are executive producers. Alex Taub (Eli Stone) is executive producer and David Petrarca (Brothers and Sisters) is a director and executive producer. Thania St. John (Eureka) is a consulting producer as is the team of Jeanette Collins and Mimi Friedman (Big Love).

ABOUT SONY PICTURES TELEVISION

Sony Pictures Television is one of the television industry's leading content providers. It produces and distributes programming in every genre, including series, telefilms, theatrical releases and family entertainment around the world and for every platform: broadcast and cable television, first-run and off-network syndication and digital distribution. In addition to one of the industry's largest libraries of feature films and television shows, SPT boasts a current program slate that includes the top-rated daytime dramas and game shows, landmark off-network series, original animated series and critically acclaimed primetime dramas, comedies and telefilms. Internationally, SPT is a leader in local language productions around the world, some of which are co-produced with local partners and sells SPE-owned formats in approximately 70 countries. To better serve its clients and partners worldwide, SPT maintains offices throughout the world, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, the People's Republic of China, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Venezuela and the United Kingdom. SPT's worldwide television networks portfolio is a key strategy in SPE's long-range commitment to the global marketplace, with 114 channel feeds, which are available in more than 130 countries reaching almost 400 million households worldwide. SPT also creates original content for and manages SPE's premium video website, Crackle. Additionally, SPT is a part owner of cable channel GSN, FEARnet, the premier horror/thriller website and VOD service, and national media sales company ITN Networks, Inc. SPT advertiser sales is one of the premiere national advertising sales companies, handling the commercial inventory in SPT's syndicated series as well as in all of SPE's digital businesses in the United States, for Sony Music Entertainment and for the Tennis Channel. SPT (www.sonypicturestelevision.com) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.

ABOUT LIFETIME TELEVISION

Lifetime is a diverse, multi-media company, committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming that celebrates, entertains and supports women. Through its award-winning public affairs initiatives, the Company also advocates a wide range of issues affecting women and their families. Lifetime Television, Lifetime Movie Network, Lifetime Real Women and Lifetime Digital (which includes myLifetime.com, LMN.TV, Lifetime Games, Roiworld.com, DressUpChallenge.com and MothersClick.com) are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.

Photography is available at www.lifetimepress.com.

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Source: Lifetime Television

CONTACT: Les Eisner of Lifetime Networks, +1-310-407-8526,
leisner@lifetimetv.com; or Kannie Yu LaPack of Lifetime Television,
+1-310-556-7582, kyu@lifetimetv.com

Web Site: http://www.lifetimetv.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment