Fans of both Army Wives and Drop Dead Diva have been a bit nervous lately since both finished airing their respective seasons in August. Are they coming back or not?
If you were among them, you can now rest easy. The cable channel has just announced that they’re renewing both for 13 episodes apiece.
Drop Dead Diva’s two previous seasons have had 13 installments each. Army Wives meanwhile has had two seasons of 13 and two seasons of 18 episodes.
Both will return sometime in 2011. Here’s the official press release from Lifetime…
LIFETIME TELEVISION RENEWS HIT SCRIPTED SERIES ARMY WIVES AND DROP DEAD DIVA
LOS ANGELES, CA (September 23, 2010) – Lifetime Television has renewed its hit scripted series Army Wives and Drop Dead Diva for their fifth and third seasons, respectively, to premiere in 2011, during which 13 all-new episodes of each program will air on the network. The announcement was made today by Nancy Dubuc, President and General Manager of Lifetime Networks and HISTORY.
Regarding the announcement, Dubuc said, “Army Wives and Drop Dead Diva have lead Lifetime’s charge in scripted programming and are key components to our success. We are so happy with these two special programs and are excited to pick them up for new seasons, which allows us to launch our next generation of scripted series.”
ABOUT ARMY WIVES AND ABC STUDIOS
Army Wives follows the struggles, dreams and friendships of a diverse group of women – and one man – living with their spouses and families on an active army post. The series stars Kim Delaney, Sally Pressman, Brigid Brannagh, Brian McNamara, Sterling K. Brown, Wendy Davis, Drew Fuller, Terry Serpico, Katelyn Pippy and Catherine Bell.The most successful series in Lifetime’s 26-year history, Army Wives’ fourth season averaged 3.2 million total viewers this year. Its season four finale on August 22 was the program’s most watched episode of the year across all demographics, including Total Viewers, Adults 25-54, Women 18-49, Women 25-54, Women 18+ and Adults 18-49.
Army Wives is produced by ABC Studios for Lifetime Television. Mark Gordon and The Mark Gordon Company’s President of Production, Deborah Spera, serve as executive producers. Jeff Melvoin, Marshall Persinger and Harry Bring also served as executive producers of season four. The series is based on the book Army Wives: The Unwritten Code of Military Marriage by Tanya Biank, who serves as a consultant.
ABC Studios develops and produces compelling programming for broadcast on ABC, as well as across television and digital platforms. The successful partnership between ABC Studios and ABC Entertainment has delivered some of the most successful, talked-about and evolutionary series on television today, including Desperate Housewives, Grey’s Anatomy and Brothers & Sisters.
ABOUT DROP DEAD DIVA AND SONY PICTURES TELEVISION
Drop Dead Diva 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). Drop Dead Diva also stars Margaret Cho, Jackson Hurst, Kate Levering, April Bowlby, Josh Stamberg and Ben Feldman. Guest stars throughout the second season of Drop Dead Diva included Paula Abdul, Cybill Shepherd, Rosie O’Donnell, Jake Pavelka, Chad Lowe, Vivica A. Fox, Sharon Lawrence, Ricki Lake, Nancy Grace, Leelee Sobieski and Natasha Henstridge, among others. The second season of the series was seen by over 49.9 million Total Viewers.Josh Berman is creator and executive producer of Drop Dead Diva, which is produced by Sony Pictures Television for Lifetime. Craig Zadan and Neil Meron of Storyline Entertainment and Alex Taub are executive producers.
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 Television, the number one rated women’s network, is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming, and advocating 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, MothersClick.com and LifetimeMoms.com) are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, LLC, a subsidiary of A&E Television Networks, LLC. A&E Television Networks is a joint venture of the Disney-ABC Television Group, Hearst Corporation and NBC Universal.
What do you think? Are you glad to hear these shows are coming back? Do you enjoy one more than the other?
Images courtesy Lifetime.
I am so happy that army wives is returning. I cannot get enough of this very special bond. The courage, love, strength, giving,friendship, etc. It is every eposide. The casting is magic coming through the TV. All different people that come together to help each not just get through the day, but embrass each day.
Drop Dead Diva is fun enterainment-I am not sure if it is believable-but Jane is smart,funny, pretty, etc. I am looking forward to see where they take her Jane/Deb character.
I am so glad that these shows are coming back.
Drop Dead Diva and Army Wives are two great shows. Brooke Elliot is excellent and proves a plus size gal can look great.She exudes confidence in who she is as a person. Margaret Cho is a great sidekick.I think she made her role bigger than planned, I served 20 years in the USAF. Army Wives does a good job of addressing the many issues encountered in military life. I hope they get input from real life active duty troops (male and female), spouses, and the single troops. I’m ecstatic they will be on for another season.
HURRY UP PLEASE LOVE THEM BOTH.
I LOVE BOTH OF THEM THEY ARE GREAT CANT WAIT TO WATCH EVERYONE OF THERE SHOWES HURRY UP PLEASE.
LOVE both shows,can’t wait until there back on. Back to back on Sunday night, please.
i’m so happy that both shows are coming back. i think they r great!!!!!!!
I am so glad theses two shows are coming back. They provide real topics that are looked at from a womens prospective. Theses topics provide woman such as my self , a career woman single parent of two chilldren, a always renewed strength.
Thank you for not canceling.
I believe Army Wives will go down in tv history as one of the best shows on television ever. It is so great of Lifetime to let people have a glimpse of what goes on with families of our wonderful men and women who fight for us and their country.
My husband and I would not miss it on Sunday evenings. I have turned many of my friends on to Army Wives and they have thanked me. BRAVO.
So glad Army Wives is coming back! It’s a great show and really lets non-military families see what spouses go through. Can’t wait for the new season to start!
Thrilled to hear that Army Wives has been renewed for another season. Hope there will be many more.
Thanks Lifetime.
I am so happy Army Wives and Drop Dead Diva are coming Back.
so happy that both shows are coming on. I absoulutely love these shows. I can relate to the military life. My husband was in the air force for 20 yrs. Lot of the stories really hit home. Can’t wait for it to come on again.
I’m glad there will be another season of Army Wives. As a retired female veteran the program is great, I know that not everthing portrade is the true army life. But it does give insite into the military world. My spouse and I are what’s known as a duel couple since we are both retired army . There is nothing like army life it does become your family
I LOVE ARMY WIVES AND DROP DEAD DIVA. IM GLAD THERE NOT CANELED.