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 can hardly wait for drop dead diva to come back onto the airways. It is such a neat show and if I have to miss one, I always watch the espisode on the internet.
we love “Diva” soooooo very happy to hear it’s coming back – Seems like the good ones never last. ( I am an Army wife – Marine mother and Airforce aunt )- & I prefer Diva over all!!!!! don’t even watch the other – I don’t need Military drama. Got my own. – we NEED the DIVA – she distracts and makes us laugh!!!
I totally love Drop Dead Diva! can’t wait to see watch it again!
Yes glad there both coming back.But think changing.The time slot for diva.Is going to hurt it.Switching to Friday night instead of after Army wives.Is a bad move.
I’m happy to see Army Wives back on this year but was concerned when Drop Dead Diva wasn’t on before it as it used to be. Glad to learn DDD will be back again this year. My favorite is Army Wives tho.
My daughter and I cannot WAIT for Drop Dead Diva to come back on! We LOVE this show! Jane Bingham rocks!
Is there a return date for Drop Dead Diva yet??
@Julie: Sometime this summer. No specific date yet.
I love Drop Dead Diva and army wives.Both shows are thought provocking.They make me laugh and cry.Its like old friends.Its great they are will continue.
Drop Dead Diva is brilliant and I would love to find out when it will return, other than “sometime in 2011” I am also thrilled that I am able to see episodes online. I have never seen Army Wives, however after reading these reviews I look forward to checking it out.
More than likely it will return in May or June.
I love both of these shows so I hope they have many more seasons.I just wish they did more than 13 episodes per season you just have to wait so long to the next season.
Ar
my Wives and Drop Dead Diva are two of the best shows I have ever watched. I CAN’T. hardly wait for them to come back on
I LOVE “ARMY WIVES”!!! I hope it stays around for a long time!!!
Can’t hardly wait for Army Wives to come back on. It’s one of the best show’s on TV
today.
when in 2011 will Army Wives be back on Lifetime. I can’t find it, even reruns.
@kris: It’s supposed to return next month.
Yeah! My favorite show is coming back! Drop dead diva rocks.
I absolutely love “Army Wives”. It is one of my favorite tv shows. This show is so awesome!!!