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.
I am SO beyond upset about this! I LOVED this show! This is something that I watched with a glass of wine after my kids went to bed on Friday nights while my hubby is out playing softball. What a jip! Is there any show on USA for women to watch? I wish another network would pick it up. It has so much potential! I agree that they should at least do a 2 hour ending to give us some closure.
I am beyond upset by this. I agree with what everyone has been saying. Why is it so hard to believe that there are people out there who want to watch actual television shows instead of stupid reality television!!! This is just getting ridiculous! First October Road and now the Starter Wife!!! Other than Lost, there is nothing on television for me to watch anymore and its a damn shame!!! And they think they left us with a satisfying ending?!?!?!? At least October Road is doing an epilogue to bring closure to its fans! USA has made a big mistake… Read more »
it pisses me off that i got into it, and now we never know whats going to happen. At least have like a two hour ending or something.
This sucks, there isn’t anything on TV to watch except reality TV. And believe me it’s not reality, my life is reality and I get enough of that on a daily basis. The Starter Wife is cancelled and so is Boston Legal. I think it is age discrimination. We 40 and up have nothing to watch. Ok producers who do you think is paying for most of your crap productions. Somebody had better start writting some good shows for us. Oh, wait my son will graduate from film school in a few years and maybe he can help.
MAAAANNNNN….. I have been waiting on this show to come… I don’t watch to many shows but I really liked this one…. what can we do?????
This is terrible! This was one of my favorite shows! Even my husband liked it! (I think…)
One of the best shows on tv in every arena!
I have been waiting for this show to come back!!!!!!!! AAAAHHHH!!!!!
The entire cast was phenomenal!
What a shame….I hope another network picks it up!
I am shocked and disapointed – I truly loved the show!
It was pure fun and kept you guessing.
I loved the chemistry of the characters – I just found out they cancelled it while wondering when it would begin again.
Couldn’t USA Network provide us with some closure episodes before cancelling?
It is so hard to find a show that appeals to both me and my daughters.
Friday night was girls night, my husband would take off and we would make popcorn and watch together. I am so sad to hear Starter wife is cancelled. I only found out because I was trying to find out when the new season was starting.
I was saddened to hear that Started Wife was canceled. It was too witty and thoughtful for TV. The poweres that be at USA are STUPID!!!!
are USA and ABC owned by the same idiots??? what is up with excellently written, very witty, wonderfully acted shows being cancelled???? argh… i’ve really debated about getting rid of tv in the house and this cancellation is just one more reason to dump it. anything Good always gets dumped by networks ….so i guess i should just dump them.
Wow. I think this is SUCH a big mistake. Here I’ve been since last summer waiting for more commercials and I bought season one and i decided Id google it today cause i was SO tired of waiting and this just ruined my whole day. WEEK. I had never really liked debra messing in Will and Grace but I LOVED her in The Starter Wife.
Sigh.
I had heard rumors that ‘Starter Wife’ had been cancelled, but I didn’t believe it. I am so sorry for the viewers and the cast. What a great cast!!! I can’t believe they let it go. I thought it was just between seasons. I sure hope they reconsider.
I also loved this show! I thought it was stylish and funny and USA really jumped the gun on this one. Big mistake… Makes you think twice about watching a network who doesn’t care about what it’s consumers want. Hopefully they’ll wise up and bring it back or some other network will pick it up!
I am absolutely shocked to learn that Starter Wife has been cancelled! It’s one of the most creative shows on tv! With Monk ending too – USA – you are making a big mistake!