Chris Carmack To Guest Star On Lifetime's Zadan And Meron Produced DROP DEAD DIVA

Chris Carmack will guest star on an upcoming episode of Lifetime's hit comedic drama "Drop Dead Diva".

Carmack appeared in the 2006 Roundabout Theatre Company revival opposite Alec Baldwin, Richard Easton and Jan Maxwell.

Carmack appeared as "Luke Ward" on The O.C. Other film and tv credits include Into the Blue 2: The Reef, Bring It On Again, Smallville, Related, Beach Girls, NCIS, and Desperate Housewives.

The Hollywood Reporter recently announced that Lifetime's hit comedic drama "Drop Dead Diva" has been renewed for a second season. Lifetime has ordered 13 new episodes of the freshman series, from Sony TV, creator Josh Berman and exec producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, to air in 2010.

"Diva," which premiered in July as Lifetime's best original drama series debut since the 2007 launch of "Army Wives," has become the first scripted series since "Wives" to earn a second-season pickup reports THR.

" 'Drop Dead Diva' is one of those rare gems that has charmed both viewers and critics," Lifetime's exec vp entertainment JoAnn Alfano remarked of the show which co-stars Margaret Cho.

Lifetime's all-new, one-hour comedic drama series, Drop Dead Diva scored its highest ratings ever among Women 18-49 (1.66 rating) and Women 25-54 (1.94 rating) with last Sunday night's episode featuring special guest stars Tim Gunn (Lifetime's Project Runway), Jorja Fox (CSI) and Elliott Gould (Ocean's 11 franchise).

The series, starring rising talent Brooke Elliott, also averaged more than 3 million total viewers (3,062,420 P2+), a 16 percent increase above its season-to-date average, and earned a solid 2.51 rating among Households, a 19 percent jump above its season to date average in its time period from 9-10 PM ET/PT. Drop Dead Diva posted significant increases at the half breaks in both target demographics. Among Women 18-49, it grew 13 percent at the half-way point and 14 percent among Women 25-54.

Drop Dead Diva is produced by Sony Pictures Television for Lifetime Television. Josh Berman (Bones, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation) is creator and executive producer. Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (Academy Award-winning Chicago, Hairspray, Lifetime's Living Proof) of Storyline Entertainment are executive producers. Alex Taub (Eli Stone) is executive producer and show runner and David Petrarca (Brothers and Sisters) is a director and executive producer. Thania St. John (Eureka) is a consulting producer as are the team of Jeanette Collins and Mimi Friedman (Big Love). 

Together, Zadan and Meron produced the blockbuster "Hairspray" and the critically acclaimed   "Chicago," which was the first musical in 34 years to win the top honor of Best Picture Oscar at the 2002 Academy Awards. They also produced the made for television "A Raisin in the Sun", and had a recent collaboration with Lifetime on the film "Living Proof" featuring Rene Zellweger, Harry Connick, Jr. and Bernadette Peters. Last winter they released "The Bucket List" with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. In 2007 they were honored with the Hollywood Film Festival's producers of the year award. Last year the talented producing duo were honored by the The casting Society of America with career achievement awards at the 24th Annual Artios Awards. They are currently guiding the upcoming big screen remake of the 80's hit "Footloose" back to the silver screen with Gossip Girl star Chace Crawford in the lead. Craig Zadan was a producer of the original "Footloose" in 1984.

Lifetime is a diverse, multi-media company, committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming that celebrates, entertains and supports women. Through its award-winning public affairs initiatives, the Company also advocates a wide range of issues affecting women and their families. Lifetime Television, Lifetime Movie Network, Lifetime Real Women and Lifetime Digital (which includes myLifetime.com, LMN.TV, Lifetime Games, Roiworld.com, DressUpChallenge.com and MothersClick.com) are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.