"Drop Dead Diva" returns to Lifetime for Season 4 on Sunday, June 3. And as with years past, this one will also be chock full of guests stars. Right out of the gate there's a three-episode arc for Kim Kardashian. In a recent conference call interview, executive producer Josh Berman talked about the guests he has had on the series.
'Drop Dead Diva' Brings in Top Notch Guest Stars.
The series is becoming known for the quality of the guests they bring on. Berman stated, "Emmy Magazine has actually singled us out as one of the great shows for guest stars to work. We've had six Academy Award nominees, over 20 Emmy nominees, 15 Global Globe nominees, and countless Screen Actors Guild nominees. But on top of that, we also love to get people from the zeitgeist, from pop culture, from reality."
He mentioned just a few of the unscripted TV stars who have done guest spots including Tim Gunn, Patti Stanger, and Nancy Grace. This season, in addition to Kardashian, other familiar faces will also be on the show. Berman mentioned some of the upcoming stars including Serena Williams, Joan Rivers, Brandy Norwood, and Patty Duke. He said, "We continue to bring in a great host of guest stars that add to the fun of the show."
Here's a look at Kardashian's turn on the series this season and some of the best guest actors to grace the "Drop Dead Diva" stage in the past.
Kim Kardashian - Season 4
The celebutante takes on the role of relationship guru Nikki LePree and gives advice to Stacy (played by April Bowlby) as she pines away for Fred. In a recent conference call interview, Bolwby said of Kardashian, "I had a great experience with Kim… She was really serious. She had her acting coach. She wanted to do a good job. She showed up on time. She knew her lines. She's beautiful… She was really great, and she had a really good time. She's a lovely businesswoman, and it was a real pleasure to work with her."
Clay Aiken - Season 3
Clay Aiken joined the "Drop Dead Diva" cast for a very special episode about gay teens being denied access to high school proms. In a conference call interview right before his 2011 appearance, Aiken discussed why he wanted to do the show. "The message of the show is different than anything that's on TV. It really tells a story that resonates with so many people. It talks about the importance of how image should not be as important as often times we make it in society. It gives a really positive message without preaching, and that's really hard to find on TV."
Lance Bass - Season 3
Another openly gay star appeared in the same episode -- *NSYNC's Lance Bass. He also talked in a 2011 conference call about why he did the show. "The story was something that really hit home with myself. When I heard the news about this girl getting denied going to her prom, I actually sent cameras down to Mississippi and… we're shooting a documentary about gay youth in the South. So once I knew Josh was writing an episode about that story, I was just so intrigued to be a part of it."
Paula Abdul - Seasons 1, 2, and 3
Paula Abdul, fittingly, played a judge on "Drop Dead Diva." She has appeared to Jane (played by Brooke Elliot) five times throughout three seasons. In her first spot on the show, Abdul's character critiqued Jane's singing and courtroom attire. In the Season 2 opener Abdul, Jane and the rest of the cast performed an elaborate dance number in a shopping mall food court to the Eurythmics' "Would I Lie to You?" For the Season 3 premiere, Jane's subconscious found herself in bed with the ex-"American Idol" judge.
Tim Gunn - Season 1
One of the earliest guest stars on the show was "Project Runway's" Tim Gunn. The fashion guru also appeared to Jane in a dream in which she was wearing a wedding gown. While his visit on the show was brief (just one scene), it was memorable in all its Tim Gunn glory. He popped in and out to give Jane some style advice and disappeared leaving her on her own to "make it work."
Watch "Drop Dead Diva" when it premieres on Sunday, June 3 at 9pm EST/8pm CST on Lifetime.
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