As more and more channels are continuing to create original content, the executives at VHI1 have greenlit a new drama, Daytime Divas, based on Star Jones’ 2011 book, Satan’s Sisters.
Set in the bright lights of daytime television, Satan’s Sisters is the story of “The Lunch Hour” – a long-running, popular ladies’ talk show in which alliances are forged, careers are made, and bridges are burned.
Vanessa Wiliams will headline the series, which also co-stars Tichina Arnold (Survivor’s Remorse), Chloe Bridges (The Carrie Diaries), Camille Guaty (Scorpion), Fiona Gubelmann (Wilfred), and McKinley Freeman (Hit The Floor) in VH1’s upcoming hour-long scripted drama series.
Daytime Divas will focus on the five female co-hosts of a popular daily TV talk show and the fireworks that ensue each weekday when they discuss life, love, family, politics, and gossip. These five women, with very different points of view, are best friends and sisters… while they’re on TV. But behind the scenes, they are Satan’s Sisters, a backstage world filled with power struggles, personal demons, diva fits, love affairs, man troubles, cat fights… and cocktails.
Williams will play the role of Maxine, the creator and host of “The Lunch Hour;” described as a formidable, powerful, and decisive woman, who fears she’s being put out to pasture. Arnold, Bridges, Guaty and Gubelmann will all play her co-hosts of the talk show, while Freeman will play Williams’ son and producer of the show.
“I’m so excited that ‘Satan’s Sisters,’ which was such a fun book to write, is finally coming to the small screen,” said Star Jones in a previous statement. “I would be lying if I said that Satan’s Sisters wasn’t influenced by the soap opera life of daytime TV but it is a work of fiction. All the characters are inspired, in parts, by someone I’ve worked with, worked for, interviewed, was interviewed by and/or even prosecuted.”
Josh Berman (Drop Dead Diva, CSI), Star Jones, Suzanne DePasse (The Temptations, Lonesome Dove), Madison Jones, and Susan Levison, will executive produce the drama.
Slated for a 2017 premiere, the series will continue VH1’s momentum in the scripted arena. The network recently greenlit its critically acclaimed original movie The Breaks which was seen by 2.6 million total viewers on its January 4 premiere night, earlier this year.