Daytime Divas Explained

Daytime Divas is an American satirical comedy-drama television series developed by Amy and Wendy Engelberg for VH1.^[1] It is based on the 2011 book Satan's Sisters by former co-host of The View Star Jones. The show stars Vanessa Williams, Chloe Bridges, Camille Guaty, Fiona Gubelmann, and McKinley Freeman.^[2] Principal photography began in August 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.^[3] The series premiered on June 5, 2017.^{[3] [4]} On November 1, 2017, VH1 cancelled the series after one season.^[5]

Premise

Maxine is the creator and lead host of the popular daytime television talk show The Lunch Hour, which also includes co-hosts Mo, Kibby, Nina, and Heather. On-air, they are great friends, but behind the scenes, they live in a world of power struggles and super-egos. Meanwhile, Maxine's former assistant, Anna, returns as the hard investigative journalist working for a great magazine, who wants to expose the truth about Maxine.

Cast and characters

Main

• Vanessa Williams as Maxine Robinson, the creator and lead host of the daytime television show The Lunch Hour. She is one of the greatest personalities on American television and mother of Shawn^[6]
• Chloe Bridges as Kibby Ainsley, a former child star and recovering addict who is one of the co-hosts^[7]
• Camille Guaty as Nina Sandoval, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist and one of the co-hosts^[7]
• Fiona Gubelmann as Heather Flynn-Kellogg, an outspoken conservative and one of the co-hosts^[7]
• McKinley Freeman as Shawn Robinson, the producer of The Lunch Hour and Maxine's adopted son^[7]

Recurring

• Tichina Arnold (credited as a "special guest star") as Mo Evans, an eccentric comedienne and one of the show's co-hosts^[7]
• Niko Pepaj as Leon, an ambitious head production assistant^[8]
• Sarah Mack as Ramona Davies, a production assistant
• Tammy Blanchard as Sheree Ainsley, Kibby's scheming mother
• Ness Bautista as Andrew Weller, Nina's husband and a rising politician^[9]
• Rich McDonald as Brad Kellogg, Heather's husband and a race car driver
• Adam J. Harrington as Jason Abel, a network president
• Norm Lewis as William Tomas, the doorman at Maxine's co-op building, who knows some of her darkest secrets^[10]
• Kristen Johnston as Anna Crouse, Maxine's former assistant and current editor-in-chief of a great magazine, who wants to expose the truth about the behind the scenes of The Lunch Hour^[11]
• Cassady McClincy as Tandy Ainsley, Kibby's younger sister
• Scott Evans as Julian, a celebrity sober coach who helps Kibby keep her life on track^[10]

Guest

• Tamera Mowry-Housley as herself^[9]
• Kelly Osbourne as herself^[11]
• Tasha Smith as Portia Camden, a popular lifestyle guru and the ladies' counselor who is brought on to guest host^[10]
• Debby Ryan as Maddie Finn, Kibby's rival and former Lacey from Outer Spacey co-star, who wants to ruin Kibby's life^[10]
• La La Anthony as Isabel Carlisle, a crisis management expert hired by Maxine to help handle a situation in behind the scenes^[10]
• Joy Behar as herself^[9]
• Sunny Hostin as herself^[9]
• Jedediah Bila as herself^[9]
• Sara Haines as herself^[9]
• Eve as Cecile James, a bestselling author of books about alpha women who guest hosts, and who initially wants to become a permanent co-host^[10]
• Richard T. Jones as Ben Branson, a charismatic real estate mogul who is set up on a blind date with Maxine^[9]
• Patti LaBelle as Gloria Tomas, the mother of William, who also has secrets^[11]
• Janet Mock as herself, who appears as a guest host on the show^[10]
• Jillian Rose Reed as Kali Z, a millennial YouTuber brought on as a guest host^[12]
• Rob Estes as Vance Gordon, an actor and Kibby's former Lacey from Outer Spacey co-star^[11]
• Star Jones as herself^[9]
• Ashley Graham as herself, who appears as a guest host on the show
• Zeeko Zaki as Cab Driver

Production

On February 18, 2016, VH1 announced a television adaptation of Star Jones' best-selling book Satan's Sisters for 2017.^[13] The series is based on real behind-the-scenes events of The View, which Jones appeared on between 1997 and 2006.^[14] Vanessa Williams was announced as lead role on March 1.^[6] The show's head writers are Amy and Wendy Engelberg; it is directed by J. Miller Tobin.^[15] Production began in August 2016,^[3] and the series was retitled Daytime Divas.^[16] Tichina Arnold, Chloe Bridges, Camille Guaty and Fiona Gubelmann were announced as the other co-lead roles on August 22.^[7]

Reception

On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 60% based on 10 reviews, with an average rating of 6.45/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "These Divas try a little too hard achieve genuine camp, but fans of prima donnas will find a catty enough array here."^[17] On Metacritic, the show has a score of 53 out of 100 based on four reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".^[18]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Pedersen . Erik . VH1 Assembles 'Satan's Sisters', Scripted Drama Based On Star Jones' 'View'-Esque Novel . . February 18, 2016 . February 18, 2016.
2. Agard . Chancellor . Daytime Divas: Meet the women in Star Jones' View-inspired series . . November 3, 2016 . August 1, 2017.
3. Web site: Petski . Denise . VH1's Star Jones Drama Series Sets Cast; Chris Alberghini & Mike Chessler To Showrun . Deadline Hollywood . August 22, 2016 . May 23, 2017.
4. Serrao . Nivea . Watch VH1's Daytime Divas put on a 'sh-- show' in exclusive trailer . Entertainment Weekly . April 17, 2017 . May 23, 2017.
5. Web site: Swift . Andy . Daytime Divas Cancelled at VH1 . . November 1, 2017 . November 1, 2017.
6. Web site: Petski . Denise . Vanessa Williams To Star In 'Satan's Sisters' Drama Series At VH1 . Deadline Hollywood . March 1, 2016 . March 1, 2016.
7. Web site: Ausiello . Michael . Michael Ausiello . VH1's View-Skewering Drama Series Daytime Divas Adds Tichina Arnold, Chloe Bridges, Camille Guaty . TVLine . August 22, 2016 . August 1, 2017.
8. Web site: Petski . Denise . 'Daytime Divas' Casts Niko Pepaj; 'MadTV' Adds Anjelah Johnson . Deadline Hollywood . August 31, 2016 . December 4, 2016.
9. Web site: Lincoln . Ross A. . Star Jones, Tamera Mowry-Housley, & 'The View' Co-Hosts To Guest On VH1's 'Daytime Divas' . Deadline Hollywood . January 13, 2017 . May 23, 2017.
10. Web site: Petski . Denise . 'Daytime Divas': Kelly Osbourne, La La Anthony, Six More Join Cast . Deadline Hollywood . November 3, 2016 . December 4, 2016.
11. Web site: Swift . Andy . VH1's Daytime Divas: Kristen Johnston, Patti LaBelle Among Latest Castings . TVline . November 3, 2016 . December 4, 2016 . December 9, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161209063949/http://tvline.com/2016/11/03/daytime-divas-cast-vh1-kristen-johnston-patti-labelle-rob-estes/ . dead .
12. Web site: Nededog . Jethro . An MTV star is going to shake up VH1's upcoming scripted drama inspired by 'The View' . . November 21, 2016 . July 29, 2017.
13. Web site: VH1 Announces New Scripted Series Satan's Sisters Inspired by Star Jones' Book . https://web.archive.org/web/20160219100215/http://www.vh1.com/news/244979/vh1-announces-new-series-satan-sisters-star-jones/ . live . February 19, 2016 . . February 18, 2016 . December 4, 2016.
14. Web site: de Moraes . Lisa . 'Daytime Divas': No Closed-Door Secrets, But Two Sh*ts, Four D*mns, One F-Bomb And Occasional "C," Star Jones Promises – TCA . Deadline Hollywood . January 13, 2017 . June 2, 2023.
15. Web site: Andreeva . Nellie . Upfronts 2016: The Overachievers . Deadline Hollywood . May 20, 2016 . May 20, 2016.
16. Web site: Star Jones' VH1 Series Gets a New Title, 'Daytime Divas' . . August 23, 2016 . December 4, 2016.
17. Web site: Daytime Divas. Rotten Tomatoes. February 24, 2022.
18. Web site: Daytime Divas . . June 9, 2017.