Following a successful mini-series, USA Network assumed that viewers would want to watch a weekly version of The Starter Wife. After 10 episodes, it seems the numbers weren’t big enough and the TV show’s been cancelled.
The Starter Wife mini-series stars Debra Messing as Molly Kagan, a Hollywood wife/mother who has it all. Her life is turned upside down when her studio exec husband, Kenny (Peter Jacobson, later David Alan Basche), dumps her for a young starlet. Within hours, Molly’s social circle discards her and all that she knows is in turmoil. She slowly rebuilds her life and, by the time the TV show begins, Molly’s on her way to thriving. Castmembers include Judy Davis, Chris Diamantopoulos, Joe Mantegna, Stephen Moyer, Anika Noni Rose, Novella Nelson, Aden Young, Bethany Whitmore, Miranda Otto, Trilby Glover, Hailee Denham, Gigi Edgley, Hart Bochner, Danielle Nicolet, Reggie Austin, James Black, Brielle Barbusca, and Daniel Gerroll.
The mini-series of Starter Wife kicked off on May 31, 2007 and ran for six installments. The premiere attracted 5.4 million viewers with over half of those being in the coveted 18-49 demographic. Based on the numbers, USA announced plans to make Starter Wife a regular series. Unfortunately, the October 2007 announcement coincided with the writers strike and nothing happened for several months.
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That delay may have been particularly costly for any momentum the show could have had. The Starter Wife TV show debuted a year later, on October 10, 2008. The viewership was much less smaller. Though the show’s season average of 2.4 million is impressive for a cable audience, USA’s other series have been attracting more than double that number.
Despite Messing’s being featured in USA’s current “Characters Welcome” campaign, the network has opted not to renew Starter Wife for a second season.
A statement from USA reads, “The Starter Wife was an award-winning, critical and creative success. We were thrilled with its performance as a mini-series, expanded and enriched it through an additional 10 episodes and reached what we all feel is a satisfying conclusion.”
Unfortunately, viewers may not agree. How will their new life in San Francisco affect Devon and Liz? What will happen to Joan and her troubles with the law? Is there any hope for Molly and Zach’s relationship? We’ll likely never know.
Image courtesy USA Network.
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I loved The Starter Wife and can’t believe it was canceled. Like so many others, I hope somebody gets smart and brings this show back!
Bring back starter wife. Great show…excellent actors. We want more Debra messing!!!!!
I hope some other network picks up this show. It was so well cast with interesting characters and great humour. It showed us that maybe we didn’t have to envy many of the hollywood rich and infamous. It was well written and acted and it would have picked up a great following in time. I saw the miniseries on video having no idea it even existed. I loved it, my daughter loved it, and even my husband got hooked.
Please bring it back!!!!!
Starter wife was a great show with depth and humor as well as family values and kindness. I really really REALLY hope its brought back soon and know that even if not many people watched it we would watch it weekly! COME ON!
this was an amazing show…in a society that divorce is so common it is great to see a show where starting over can be sucessfull…even with its setbacks…please bring it back!
Loved this show!
I was looking forward to the shows return! Please bring it back, I loved it!
This was a really good show – had all aspects of life – drama, happiness, sadness, excitement. Please, networks out there, pick this show up!!
Please bring Starter Wife back!!! I loved the show and found Molly liberating.