Lifetime Drops ‘Drop Dead Diva’

Drop Dead Diva has been cancelled by the Lifetime Network after four seasons. The series starred Brooke Elliott as Jane Bingum, a plus-size lawyer whose body is inhabited by the soul of a shallow fashion model. Season four ended in September.

TheWrap website had the inside scoop on the cancellation of Drop Dead Diva:

“An individual familiar with the situation told TheWrap that the cost of producing the series had become prohibitive, and that Lifetime had approached Sony Pictures Television, which produced the series, about coming up with creative ways to keep the series on the air, apparently to no avail.”

When a successful TV series becomes “cost prohibitive,” it often means that the producers were unable to meet the salary demands of the stars.

Together with Army Wives, the series apparently garnered strong ratings for Lifetime in the female 25-54 demographic on Sunday evenings.

Deadline Hollywood reported additional information on Lifetime’s decision to end Drop Dead Diva:

“There had been speculation that Lifetime brass felt Drop Dead Diva did not fit into the network’s shift toward edgier fare. The network tried to shake things up last season with the casting of Kim Kardashian in a recurring role. Ratings-wise, Drop Dead Diva has been a solid performer since its July 2009 premiere, which drew 2.8 million viewers. Its most recent season averaged consistently over 2 million viewers an episode in Live+Same Day.”

Drop Dead Diva might not be entirely dead however. The show may be shopped to another network.

Are you a fan of Drop Dead Diva?