Drop Dead Diva: Lifetime TV Series Returns for Season Three

If you’re a fan of Drop Dead Diva, the wait is almost over. Lifetime has announced that season three of the dramedy is set to kick off at 9pm on Sunday, June 19th.

Starring Brooke Elliott, Drop Dead Diva was renewed last September for another 13 episodes and they went into production in early March.

Here’s the press release from Lifetime:

SEASON THREE OF LIFETIME TELEVISION’S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED HIT SERIES “DROP DEAD DIVA” TO PREMIERE SUNDAY, JUNE 19

BREAKOUT STAR BROOKE ELLIOTT AND ENSEMBLE CAST RETURN FOR 13 NEW EPISODES

LOS ANGELES, CA (May 3, 2011) – Season three of Lifetime Television’s hit series Drop Dead Diva will premiere Sunday, June 19, 2011, at 9pm ET/PT. The one-hour, comedic drama tells the story of a shallow wannabe model who dies in a sudden accident only to find her soul resurfacing in the body of a brilliant, plus-size and recently deceased attorney, Jane. Produced by Sony Pictures Television, Drop Dead Diva features breakout star Brooke Elliott (Wicked, Taboo), Margaret Cho (Dancing with the Stars, Notorious C.H.O.), Jackson Hurst (Living Proof), Kate Levering (Cashmere Mafia), April Bowlby (Two and a Half Men), Josh Stamberg (Lie to Me) and Ben Feldman (The Perfect Man). The third season of Drop Dead Diva will feature 13 new episodes.

Currently in production in Atlanta, Drop Dead Diva’s season three opener will once again be a celebrity-packed celebration, as entertainer Paula Abdul (Live to Dance) reprises her role as Jane’s (Elliott) voice of reason to give her some sage advice about her relationship with Grayson (Hurst). LeAnn Rimes (Nora Roberts’ Northern Lights) also guest stars as the estranged soon-to-be ex-wife to a hard-partying celebrity who is on trial for a hit-and-run case that Jane takes on. Additionally, the premiere episode will guest star talk-show host Wendy Williams (The Wendy Williams Show, Dancing with the Stars), Mario Lopez and features a musical dream sequence with the cast of Drop Dead Diva, choreographed by So You Think You Can Dance’ Keith “Tyce” Diorio.

Some of the other guest stars this season include Kathy Griffin, Wanda Sykes, Clay Aiken, Lance Bass, Amanda Bearse, Tony Goldwyn, Howard Hesseman, Sharon Lawrence, Faith Prince, Jennifer Tilly, Louis Van Amstel and many more.

Drop Dead Diva: The Complete Second Season debuts on DVD May 3rd.

ABOUT DROP DEAD DIVA
In the first season of Drop Dead Diva, beautiful-but-vapid model wannabe Deb, suddenly finds herself in front of Heaven’s gatekeeper, Fred (Feldman), following a fatal car crash. Outraged by her sudden demise, 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). An intelligent, thoughtful and plus-size attorney with a loyal assistant, Teri (Cho), Jane has always lived in the shadow of her colleagues whereas Deb has always relied on her external beauty. 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.

At the close of Drop Dead Diva’s second season, Jane is left speechless when following a car accident, Grayson recognizes her as Deb before falling into a coma. As she anxiously waits for him to wake, Jane finds herself struggling with her desire to reveal who she is, despite warnings from Fred.

Josh Berman (Bones, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation) is creator and executive producer. Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (Academy Award(R)-winning Chicago, Hairspray, Lifetime’s Living Proof) of Storyline Entertainment and Alex Taub (Eli Stone) are executive producers.

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 122 channel feeds, which are available in more than 140 countries reaching almost 438 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 Networks
Lifetime Networks 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(R), Lifetime Movie Network(R), Lifetime Real Women(R) and Lifetime Digital(TM) (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 the show is returning? Why do like or not like it?