Lifetime's Drop Dead Diva and Army Wives Reach Highest Ratings of the Season

Lifetime's Drop Dead Diva and Army Wives Reach Highest Ratings of the Season

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Lifetime's all-new, one-hour comedic drama series, Drop Dead Diva scored its highest ratings ever among Women 18-49 (1.66 rating) and Women 25-54 (1.94 rating) with last night's episode featuring special guest stars Tim Gunn (Lifetime's Project Runway), Jorja Fox (CSI) and Elliott Gould (Ocean's 11 franchise). The series, starring rising talent Brooke Elliott, also averaged more than 3 million total viewers (3,062,420 P2+), a 16 percent increase above its season-to-date average, and earned a solid 2.51 rating among Households, a 19 percent jump above its season to date average in its time period from 9-10 PM ET/PT. Drop Dead Diva posted significant increases at the half breaks in both target demographics. Among Women 18-49, it grew 13 percent at the half-way point and 14 percent among Women 25-54.

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

Last night's episode of Army Wives, which followed Drop Dead Diva at 10 PM ET/PT, garnered its highest ratings of the season among Women 25-54 (2.80 rating) and tied with its second week episode as its highest rated episode of the year with Women 18-49 (2.42 rating). The episode, featuring a special performance by country music star Jack Ingram, averaged more than four million total viewers (4,007,937, P2+), an 11 percent increase from its season-to-date average and earned 3.24 rating in Households, up 9 percent from the season-to-date average.

Together, the two series make Lifetime the highest-rated and most watched Network in the Sunday, 9-11 PM time period among Women 18-49. Drop Dead Diva and Army Wives have also reached 73.7 million P2+ viewers.

ABOUT DROP DEAD DIVA

Last night's Drop Dead Diva episode, "Second Chances," included an eclectic mix of celebrity guests: Tim Gunn, Jorja Fox and Elliott Gould. The storyline followed two separate legal cases, with the first involving Jane (Elliott) representing a soccer mom (Fox) who jumps bail and evades an arrest for a crime she committed 20 years ago. The second follows Grayson (Jackson Hurst) as he comes to the aid of an aging actor (Gould) who wants a newspaper retraction when his obituary runs while he's still very much alive. Gunn plays himself in a dream sequence.

ABOUT ARMY WIVES

On Army Wives last night, Claudia Joy and Denise found themselves serving as companions for the widower of a former senator, Mrs. Jean Calhoun (guest-star Kelly Bishop of Gilmore Girls), who was visiting the base for a ground-breaking ceremony. Roland also found a way to comfort Joan about her upcoming deployment. Roxy tried to impress the principal at an exclusive private school where she hoped Finn would be accepted. Country star Jack Ingram performed in the Hump Bar.

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.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080804/NYM114LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: Lifetime Television

CONTACT: Cindy Ronzoni of Lifetime Networks, +1-310-407-8525,
cronzoni@lifetimetv.com, or Kannie Yu LaPack of Lifetime Television,
+1-310-556-7582, kyu@lifetimetv.com

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

---

Profile: International Entertainment