‘Daytime Divas’ is true to life

Some of the behind-thescenes drama on the new TV series “Daytime Divas’’ is true to life, says star Vanessa Williams.

Inspired by TV personality Star Jones’s book “Satan’s Sisters: A Novel Work of Fiction,’’ “Daytime Divas’’ has Williams in the lead role of Maxine Robinson, the producer and star of a long-running women’s talk show called “The Lunch Hour.’’

Tichina Arnold, Fiona Gubelmann, Chloe Bridges and Camille Guaty play her co-hosts in the series, which airs Mondays on Bravo in Canada and on VH1 in the U.S. Williams said Jones, who was one of the original co-hosts on the talk show “The View,’’ shared some of her own experiences to help inspire storylines.

“In the first episode something happens and Maxine takes her fingers and digs them into her co-host and that is a derision of something that ... Star told me would happen on the set,’’ said Williams, who has been nominated for a Tony Award as well as multiple Emmys and Grammys.

“Not particularly digging fingers into somebody else but there are things that happened that only Star knows and there are little hints of what her reality was that we reflect.’’

Williams also looked to Jones when crafting her character.

“Star is definitely an influence, for sure, and if there is a diva, Star is the diva,’’ said the stage and screen performer.

“She has certain expectations in terms of friends and lifestyle that definitely influence Maxine Robinson, and she actually named Maxine Robinson after Max Robinson, who was the first black male anchor on network television.’’