Locally filmed ‘Diva’ to debut

Paula Abdul listens to Jane Bingum’s singing and calls it “effortless, passionate,” but then insults her outfit as “monochromatic microfiber.”

“You’re the nice one!” Jane. “You tell everyone they look good!”

Abdul will be back in Atlanta soon to critique “American Idol” contestants for Season 9, but this sequence was pure fiction. Shot in Peachtree City this week, the “Idol” judge, dressed in a black judge’s robe, played a spoof of herself in a dream sequence for the new Lifetime dramedy “Drop Dead Diva,” debuting at 9 p.m. Sunday.

The show is a bit like “Heaven Can Wait” meets “Legally Blonde,” with elements of “Freaky Friday” and “Ally McBeal” thrown in.

Deb, a ditsy model, dies, and while awaiting her fate at the Pearly Gates, she demands to go back to Earth. She accidentally ends up in the body of Jane, a lawyer with self-esteem and weight issues played by theater actress Brooke Elliott.

Fortunately, Deb maintains Jane’s legal knowledge so she can still function as a lawyer. Her sassy assistant is played by the only big name on the show: comedian Margaret Cho.

The show’s premise may sound goofy, but it confronts serious issues about female body image.

“We are conditioned that beauty comes in a specific package,” said Elliott, who was on the same national tour of “Wicked” as “Idol” runner-up Adam Lambert. “That’s not the reality out there. Middle America looks like me. We hope the audience gets that beauty is everywhere and that you don’t have to be size zero to be beautiful.”

While shows such as “Will & Grace” and “30 Rock” became known as guest-star magnets, that reputation had to be earned.

Yet “Diva” producers are drawing some big names before a single episode has aired. Besides Abdul, others who have already flown into Peachtree City include Liza Minnelli, Elliott Gould, Tim Gunn (“Project Runway”), Kathy Najimy (“Sister Act”), Jorja Fox (“CSI”) Rosie O’Donnell and Delta Burke (best known for “Designing Women”).

“It’s unheard of,” said co-executive producer Josh Berman, who has similar duties on the hit shows “Bones” and “CSI.” “It’s the most gratifying thing you can imagine as a creator of a show. … We have literally been able to get every dream actor we’ve wanted for this show.”

Abdul heard about the show through the “Idol” music director, who had a good friend attached to “Diva.” She watched the pilot and wanted in.

“It’s charming as can be,” she said between takes. “It has this magical pixie dust spread all over it. It’s really, really well-written and very endearing. I don’t know why they picked me, because I’m none of that!” Her episode will air in September.

Although there is a gimmicky aspect to guest stars, producers hope the extra publicity will draw an audience beyond the core Lifetime viewer, said Craig Zadan, a co-executive producer.

Lifetime is making a major move into original series. Already, it has one highly touted series under its belt in “Army Wives.” And after a lengthy court battle, former Bravo stalwart “Project Runway” will debut next month on the network.

The pilot episode for “Diva” was shot this year, mostly in Midtown and Decatur. Once Lifetime gave the show a thumbs-up for 13 episodes, it began taping in Peachtree City, where traffic is less of an issue.

Sony Television built three major set pieces near Peachtree City’s private Falcon Field airport for a show that is supposedly set in Los Angeles: an expansive, well-heeled law firm; a decked-out Santa Monica beach pad; and a courtroom modeled after a vintage one in Decatur, save for the marble, which is not earthquake-code compliant.

Metro Atlanta may lack palm trees, but the show’s location manager Mitch Harbeson has found places to shoot, such as Newnan’s Oak Hill Cemetery, Thai Spice restaurant and Maguire’s Family and Friends Irish pub.

Taking advantage of improved tax incentives, TV shows and movies have flooded into Georgia. Filming for “Diva,” which employs 120 mostly local people, wraps in August.

TV preview

“Drop Dead Diva”

9 p.m. Sundays on Lifetime