The series revolves around vapid aspiring model Deborah "Deb" Dobkins (played by Brooke D'Orsay), who is killed in a car crash on the way to an audition for The Price Is Right.

While he is distracted, Deb presses the "return" key before Fred can stop her, and is brought back to life in the body of a recently deceased lawyer named Jane Bingum (Elliott), who died protecting her boss, Jay Parker (Josh Stamberg).

Among them are: Quinton Aaron, Candice Accola, Clay Aiken, Louis van Amstel, Jake T. Austin, Diedrich Bader, Lance Bass, Amanda Bearse, Corbin Bleu, Delta Burke, Danielle Campbell, Bruce Davison, David Denman, Seamus Dever, Patty Duke, Jorja Fox, Vivica A.

Fox, Robin Givens, Tony Goldwyn, Elliott Gould, Nancy Grace, Kathy Griffin, Tim Gunn, Jasmine Guy, Deidre Hall, Valerie Harper, Gregory Harrison, Natasha Henstridge, Howard Hesseman, Star Jones, Kim Kardashian, Rami Kashou, Ricki Lake, Sharon Lawrence, Mario Lopez, Chad Lowe, MacKenzie Mauzy, Abby Lee Miller, Liza Minnelli, Tyler Jacob Moore, Mark Moses, Mary Mouser, Kathy Najimy, Kelly Osbourne, Jake Pavelka, Teri Polo, Melissa Ponzio, Susan May Pratt, John Ratzenberger, Crystal Reed, LeAnn Rimes, Joan Rivers, Romy Rosemont, Olesya Rulin, Cybill Shepherd, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, James Snyder, Leelee Sobieski, Patti Stanger, Chelsea Staub, Wanda Sykes, Lee Tergesen, Jennifer Tilly, Gina Torres, Steve Valentine, Nia Vardalos, Dylan Walsh, Barry Watson, Serena Williams, Wendy Williams, Jeff Wincott, Chuck Woolery, Nick Zano, and Maddie Ziegler.

"[9] Though the background setting for Drop Dead Diva is set in Los Angeles, the series is filmed in Peachtree City, Georgia, and Senoia, Georgia, with principal photography taking place in a studio contained in a large hangar at Atlanta Regional Airport, and outdoor locations shot around the town.

Lifetime's decision to cancel the expensive drama came after the cable network approached producer Sony Pictures Television for cost-cutting options to continue with the series.

[12] However, a month and a half after Lifetime cancelled the series, the cable network signed a deal with producer Sony Pictures TV to bring the show back for a fifth season.

[15] The New York Times Alessandra Stanley commented: "while the presumption that a woman can be either brainy or beautiful, or in this case, good or thin, but not both, is a bit primitive, the series has humor and charm beneath its facile message, in large part (no disrespect intended) to a subtle, winning performance by Ms.

"[16] Brian Lowry of Variety was less enthusiastic about the series, commenting: "Granted, there's much to be said for a program featuring a smart, plus-sized heroine in today's rail-thin TV world, but "Diva" under nourishes its premise amid a sea of legal-procedural banalities."

""[17] New York Daily News David Hinckley, gave the premiere two out of five stars, describing Drop Dead Diva as "still feeling like a pasted-together assortment of ideas and plot lines from productions past."

The track list includes music by Brooke Elliott, Margaret Cho, Ben Feldman, Scott Starrett, Confetti, Becca Jones, Platinum Pied Pipers, Lil' Wendy, Madi Diaz, Dri, Katie Herzig, Malbec and Joshua Morrison.

The new series would have incorporated a gender-swap premise, with the main character, Dave, having his soul transferred into a lawyer named Rita following a freak accident.

[50] In May 2022, Sony Pictures Television Latin America announced that production had begun on a Spanish-language remake of the series, titled Ligeramente diva, with Estefanía Villarreal in the lead role.