Not in an official capacity I’ve ventured onto the set of DROP DEAD DIVA. The LA set show is actually being shot in Peachtree City, Georgia, and in my home town of Senoia, Georgia. The cameras and trailers have been hard to miss along the streets of the little town of Senoia, the place where movies are being shot with regularity. Ashton Kutcher is even filming a movie there.
After seeing the production over the last few months, it was with great trepidation that I tuned into the Lifetime Network’s premiere of DROP DEAD DIVA. We tried to make a bit of a party of it. One of the last episodic TV shows shot in the area was ABC’s OCTOBER ROAD. That show left us befuddled and profoundly disappointed. ROAD, set in Massachusetts, made comical local news when a Fall scene was shot in a town square and production crews were seen gluing leaves to real trees. Such attention to detail should have been paid to the show’s script.
So, expecting the worst, it came a great surprise that DROP DEAD DIVA made for extremely enjoyable viewing. DIVA follows the exploits of Deb Dobson (Brooke D’Orsay), a model hopeful who meets an unhappy end by plowing into the rear of a truck loaded with oranges. It is the type of truck that only exists in urban cities in the movies--I’m sure that famed critic Roger Ebert has given this comical contrivance a name.
After a brief visit to a purgatory of sorts that is akin to Albert Brooks’ DEFENDING YOUR LIFE, Deb finds herself, well, her soul, jammed into the plus-sized body of LA based attorney Jane Bingum (Brooke Elliott). It just so happens that Jane has just met a heroic end at the hands of a gunman who invaded her lawfirm in search of an attorney who slept with his wife.
Once awake, Deb is horrified by her new shape and full fitting wardrobe. While Deb’s memories are intact, Jane’s intellect has been retained. The show has fun with the interaction between Jane’s book learning and Deb’s popular culture and fashion smarts. Meant clearly to be a light mix of BOSTON LEGAL and LEGALLY BLONDE, DIVA works primarily because the attractive cast appears to be having a lot of fun with the material.
Because I’m an attorney, I rolled my eyes at the condensing of time under which court cases are handled. Major litigation is shortened to meet the demands of episode hour-hour TV. But DIVA is more focused on the out of body adjustment. Brooke Elliott does a wonderful job in the FACE/OFF type role, taking on the characteristics of Deb, who we meet only briefly prior to her untimely demise. Also a surprise is comedian and ALL-AMERICAN GIRL Margaret Cho, who appears to have slimmed down to play Teri Lee, Jane’s assistant. Cho is quick and fits in well in the hip office environment.
DROP DEAD DIVA may have trouble dealing with Deb’s handling of her body’s former relations. How will Deb/Jane address her body’s mother and family? What emotions will spring forth? DIVA wants to be light, humorous entertainment, but as HEAVEN CAN WAIT proved, this kind of body and soul swapping comes at a high price. Previews of episode 2 promise to confront some of these ominous issues. One wonders whether pathos will undercut DIVA’s upbeat, fun mood. Only time will tell.
DROP DEAD DIVA can be seen on Lifetime on Sunday nights.
