| Lowest Recommended Age: | High School |
| MPAA Rating: | NR |
| Profanity: | Mild language |
| Nudity/Sex: | Sexual references |
| Alcohol/Drugs: | Drinking |
| Violence/Scariness: | References to sad deaths |
| Diversity Issues: | A theme of the show |
| Movie Release Date: | 2009 |
| DVD Release Date: | 2010 |
The Lifetime television series “Drop Dead Diva” was one of the happiest television series surprises of 2009. As it returns for a second season, the first is out on DVD and I have one copy to give away.
It’s the story of a young woman who gets a second chance at life when she finds her soul in a new body very different from the one she knew. Deb is a pretty model who takes for granted all the good things that come to her because she is young, blond, and conventionally beautiful. She has a best friend, Stacey (April Bowlby), also a model, and a handsome fiancee Grayson (Jackson Hurst), a lawyer.
Deb is killed in a car crash. In Heaven, she is evaluated as a “zero.” She has not committed any major sins but she has not made any great contributions, either. So, she is sent back to Earth, this time in the body of a just-deceased size-sixteen lawyer named Jane (Brooke Elliott).
And so a woman who lived on her beauty has to become a woman who lives on her brains. Deb learns what it is like to be dismissed and marginalized based on the way she looks. She learns how much she can accomplish with knowledge and understanding. And she realizes how much she misses Grayson, who works in Jane’s law firm, and wonders if she can make him fall in love with her even though she is no longer blonde and slim.
The show is delightful, with a strong writing, a terrific cast, and some well-chosen guest stars, including “Project Runway’s” Tim Gunn and real-life divas Paula Abdul and Rosie O’Donnell. But in every way the heart of the series is Elliott, who is utterly charming as Deb/Jane. Can’t wait to see what she does next.
Send me an email at moviemom@moviemom.com and tell me your favorite “Drop Dead Diva” moment. The first to respond will get the DVD set of the first season. Enjoy!
posted May 29, 2010 at 5:18 am
I loved this show. My favorite episode was the one in which Jane meets her (Deb’s) mother and finds it so awkward. I think the exchanges between Jane and Deb’s best friend are great because Elliot perfectly captures the “airhead” mentality of Deb, which seems so odd in Jane’s educated, non-airhead body. Glad to see this show is back.
posted May 29, 2010 at 6:55 am
Great comment, Cheryl! Elliot is sensational at conveying Deb’s body language and facial expressions. She is also just plain adorable.
posted June 1, 2010 at 8:06 pm
I love this show. Great acting and story telling. I love Brooke Elliot. Great message for everybody.
posted June 3, 2010 at 7:08 pm
Brooke is a star. But the whole cast is amazing. April Bowlby is the gorgeous blonde screwball goddess. All the guys are hot in different ways. Margaret Cho is simmering fun and Kate Levering is my favorite TV bitch.
But what I love most is that the show isn’t a guilty pleasure. It’s really just a pleasure. Smart and sweet and super lovable.
posted June 3, 2010 at 10:27 pm
Perfectly put, Sammi — great scripts, great cast, great spirit.
posted June 7, 2010 at 4:36 pm
This show is so much fun to watch. I love Jane, Stacie, teri Grayson All of them. They all play there parts perfectly. Each character complements the other. Hope it lasts a long time..
posted July 5, 2010 at 1:18 pm
Love the series, but please fire whoever is the Costume Designer for Brooke.
The tight, short jackets are not flattering, and the short skirts are disgusting.
Please teach Brooke to walk with confidence not like a twisty, silly little girl.
posted July 5, 2010 at 7:08 pm
Thanks, Betty. I think Brooke’s walk and clothes are designed to contrast her body with the movements she brings with her as Deb. And I believe we will see evolution in both as she adjusts to her life as Jane.
posted July 28, 2010 at 3:44 am
While Ms Elliott is very pretty, it worries me that this is just one more television show that tells obese women “You’re Beautiful,” but neglects to add, “but you’re still fat and it’s not healthy nor attractive.” The make-up and hair people on the show help her to look even prettier. Not much help for Ms O’Donnell there, however. Good nutrition and exercise will make us healthier and give us a nice glow all the while keeping our weight at a healthy level. While it probably doesn’t effect intelligence, it surely must effect learning ability, if from nothing else but the amount of extra energy it takes to move about leaves them tired at time when they need to be attentive. Please don’t mistake my comments to be hurtful or that I think women, or men, should be skinny either. Ms. O’Donnell is neither very pretty, funny, or near a normal weight. I’m no fan of Mr. Trump, but much of what each says about the other is very true. It’s a fun show but should be balanced with the health issues associated with obesity. Otherwise, our young girls, and boys, will hear what they want to hear and not listen to women such as our First Lady, Mrs. Obama.
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