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’ve been looking forward to the return of this witty, funny, program. There are very few shows on TV now that are entertaining and creative. Starter Wife was one of the few and was one of my very favorite programs. The writing and acting were superb. PLEASE bring it back. There are so few shows on TV of any quality. Many of the good ones are gone and are replaced with mindless reality shows.
Smart, funny, literate and a blast to watch…and then rewatch for all the inside jokes.
I guess this one required a higher IQ than “That 70’s show” a typical brain dead laugh track experience the Starter Wife was not. What actors! What scripts! What a loss!
I was so sad when the mini series was over and my girlfriends and I were thrilled when they brought it as a series, we even rewatched the mini series when the reaired before the series premiere since it had been so long. I am sad to see this show go. I agree with the other posts, there are so many crappy shows on tv these days, mostly reality (though I do enjoy some of them) this wa on of my favs and am sad to see it go. I heard that Debra Messing was doing another show, which is… Read more »
This is crazy. The show is intelligent and entertaining. There is so much junk on the tube and so many shows are repeated over and over. I can’t believe they can’t find a place to air this great show. Please bring it back.
This is an excellent series with great actors, which is why it must be saved! I should’ve know it would be cancelled, since so many others I’ve gotten hooked on have been cancelled in the past! Reality TV SUCKS, and I agree with others that it’s a direct reflection of how our society has become! Who wants to see our own lives on TV, when we live them out each day? We need a break from the insane reality of this world we see on TV, and this show is EXACTLY the break that we need! Please bring it back,… Read more »
You have GOT to be kidding me!! I can’t believe my one guilty pleasure show on Fridays nights is canceled! I am SO sick of all the reality crap shows on tv. Doesn’t anybody like a story line anymore? A little drama, mystery, comedy?! Unfortunately, I think reality television (which has taken over it seems) is a direct reflection of how insane our society has become!! BRING back The Starter Wife for the true fans…or at least give us our 2 hour series finale!! PLEASE!!!!!
I think it’s terrible that this show is being cancelled!!! Out of all of the shows that could be cancelled you would cancel the one that was one of my favorite shows.
PLEASE bring this show back!!! I have searched the USA network several times a month trying to see when the show was returning , only to find out it was cancelled through some obscure website. Starter Wife is the only show I have watched every episode since Sex and the City. Loved the entire cast!! Please reconsider!!!
NO!!!! Thanks to the “smart” trend hounds….this was one of the most clever and refreshing shows out there. There are only so many bride shows we women can watch. The TV execs have complete written the post “Sex & the City” audience off. First Lipstick Jungle, now the Starter Wife!?! PLEASE reconsider and give it another go!
I have been waiting for this show to come back for a long time now… the show was my lunch-time get away!
O NOOOOOOOOO! I was patiently awaiting the return of the 2nd season. This really saddens me, this was my favorite show. I don’t know what they are thinking , its ridiculous.
I have been wondering when SW would be airing and found this. It’s totally disgusting that good shows are cancelled regardless of being watched and these so-called “reality shows” that are nothing near real life seem to be taking over. The stupid writer’s strike was not solely responsible. Over the years, I have learned not to let myself become interested in a program as this always happens to good shows. I did watch SW and liked it very much. I loved Debra Messing in this role, she is very beautiful and natural. A return of SW without her would not… Read more »
I never watch tv, but I loved this show. Even my hubby liked it , and always watched it with me. Bring it back!!
I AM HEARTBROKEN THAT STARTERWIFE IS CANCELLED. IT WAS MY FAVORITE SHOW. I NEVER MISSED AN EPISODE. PLEASE PUT IT BACK ON THE AIR.
I loved this show!!! In fact, this was one of the only shows I actually cared to watch on tv. I am sooo upset this got cancelled. I wish they would bring it back!!!!