As an avid Margaret Cho fan, I was excited to watch her new series, Drop Dead Diva, on Lifetime Television. After watching the first two episodes, I was hooked!

It probably won’t win any Emmys, but it is definitely fun, fresh, original and entertaining. Men beware- total chick show!

The show premiered on July 12, 2009. In the first episode, a beautiful, thin, blonde model, “Deb”, dies unexpectedly in a car crash. And, an intelligent, attractive, plus-size lawyer, “Jane” gets shot during an altercation in her law firm and is rushed to the hospital. While Jane is being treated and almost dies, the soul of Deb enters Jane’s body.

When Jane awakens, she has the combined personality, soul and knowledge of Deb and Jane, wrapped into one package. As an online fan described, it’s “The ultimate showdown between brains and beauty.”

The character of legal wiz Jane Bingum is played by 30 something Brooke Elliott who is a relatively unknown actor. Prior to Drop Dead Diva, Brooke starred in one episode of Law and Order (2005) and had a very small part in the movie What Women Want (2000).

Entertainment Weekly also reported that Brooke was a member of the Chicago-based theater company Babes with Blades, whose productions showcase the strength, vitality, and proficiency of women in the art of stage combat. More info here..

But wait.. what about Margaret Cho? In Drop Dead Diva, Margaret plays Jane’s legal assistant, Teri Lee. It’s a small, yet powerful role. In true Cho form, she is feisty, opinionated, intelligent and very funny.

I recently watched Cho’s newest cable, comedy stand-up performance, “Margaret Cho, Beautiful”. Are there any similarities between this and Drop Dead Diva? No- none at all! LOL.

If you have seen Cho perform, you know that she pushes the limits with her raunchy yet intelligent commentary on sex, drugs, dieting and her family members with some politics sprinkled in.

None of Cho’s stand-up comedy stylings are included in the Drop Dead Diva television show.

In upcoming episodes, celebrities including Rosie O'Donnell and Paula Abdul will be playing guest star roles. This could be a good thing, as long as it doesn’t get out of hand. So many good shows, go overboard with their special guests.

The core acting team on Drop Dead Diva is very good, as is.

1. Girl Power: The show features a number of powerful women characters. These include the lead, lawyer Jane Bingum, Margaret Cho’s character Teri Lee and fellow lawyer, Kim Kaswell.
2. Original: There are so many shows with the same exact story line. There’s the high powered, action packed police series, the hospital drama and the hundredth comedy about the family with kids. The story line on Drop Dead Diva is fresh, new and interesting.
3. Margaret Cho: I have always liked her and want to support her career choices.
4. Like the Tension: I enjoy watching the inner battles between the “dumb blonde” and the “plus size genius”. The situations the character gets into make you think.

You can find out more the cast, the crew and watch full episodes of Drop Dead Diva on the Lifetime Television Network website.

Have you watched the show? Please add your comments below.