What the hell is going on with Lifetime?

Lifetime, known as the television network for women and gay men, has become the Sybil of television networks. Nancy Dubuc became president of the network in April of 2010 and things have slowly gone downhill with few rays of light since. 

The airing of "Liz and Dick" remains the least of its flaws as Lindsay Lohan is the current trash queen.  And Lifetime movies are typically trashy, guilty pleasures with a few exceptions noted later. 

But the network seemed to be making real inroads towards legitimacy with such shows as "Army Wives" and the fabulous "Drop Dead Diva," that seemed to point towards having shows that, while not perfect, would be awardworthy if on any other channel.  For example, "Diva" star Brooke Elliott (below) should have been nominated for every award possible every single year her show aired.

However, it was recently announced that "Diva" has been cancelled, despite solid ratings, and "Wives" is undergoing a major cast upheaval and retooling, despite being one of the network's highest-rated programs.

Instead, the future of the network seems to focus on such shows as "The Client List," about a prostitute HEADLINED by "Oscar-winning" actress Jennifer Love-Hewitt, featured in typical costume below.  This falls right in line with the trash Lifetime has historically offered, but the network could be so much more.

Witness the network's recent celebration of Black History Month.  It featured a movie about Coretta Scott King starring Angela Bassett and Mary J. Blige.  Another movie in the series starred Toni Braxton in the surprisingly beautiful multi-denominational love story, "Twist of Fate." 

And this is why the network remains completely frustrating.  It would be easy to write this network off as trash T.V., but then it goes and hires an all-star cast of fantastic black actresses for a new version of "Steel Magnolias."  While the new version paled in comparison, it at least showed that the network wants to be more than a guilty pleasure.

I hope Lifetime remembers that the few pieces of classy and entertaining programming it has offered are what the network should want to be known for--not just to be the latest stomping grounds for movies about accused murderesses Casey Anthony and Amanda Knox.  If Lifetime is indeed a network for women, then it needs to quit being so misogynistic and feature entertainment about strong women like Mrs. Martin Luther King, Jr.  or entertaining, vibrant women like "Diva's" Jane Bingham.   I have a dream for Lifetime, but sadly, the network is living the nightmare.

Hear the gorgeous Brooke Elliott singing Jason Mraz's "Lucky" below.  She sings, she dances, and, thanks to Lifetime, she needs a job!