Lifetime cancels "Drop Dead Diva" after four seasons

Lifetime’s drama “Drop Dead Diva” has…well…dropped dead. After four seasons, Lifetime has decided not to move forward with a fifth season of the show, which starred Brooke Elliott as a dead model trapped inside the body of a smart and curvy lawyer. Despite a slew of trendy guest stars over the past few years, including Joan Rivers, Kim Kardashian and Serena Williams, “Drop Dead Diva” was never successful in pulling in the same kind of viewership numbers as other Lifetime dramas like “Army Wives”.

As one of the two scripted series inherited by Nancy Dubuc when she took over Lifetime in 2010, “Drop Dead Diva” has been struggling to fit in with the edgier shows that Lifetime has been focusing on lately. Although it has performed decently in ratings, drawing 2.8 million viewers in its July 2009 premiere and averaging about 2 million viewers an episode since, it can’t compete with shows such as “Army Wives” which is entering its seventh season and still going strong.

“Drop Dead Diva” wrapped its fourth season only three months ago. Lifetime has been putting off the decision about cancelling the show while they look at some of their current pilots. The decision to move forward with the cancellation must mean that Lifetime likes what they see so far with their pilots. The series was produced for Lifetime by Sony, and they may decide to shop the series elsewhere.

Did you watch the show? Are you sad to see it go?