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.
this show sucked so bad, I’m glad it’s gone.
So I’ve been wondering lately where this show has gone, and I just found out it’s cancelled. Wow. I agree with Jes, I’ve been waiting for this show to air again, after it has become my favorite show that I never missed any week. So the numbers weren’t high enough, GIVE IT TIME! Ten episodes and you back out? Really?! It takes way more than ten for people to even hear about it! The Starter Wife has become by far my favorite show on television since the mini-episodes. Definitely reconsider airing this show, I’m sure the outcome will be totally… Read more »
Sad to hear The Starter Wife was cancelled….it was funny, smart and just too good for TV apparently….Please, reconsider and bring the show back.
I am so annoyed at television networks lately. Constantly cancelling shows that people are hooked on, but tivo / dvr instead of watching them live – – – goodness sakes, we have lives and many of us don’t have time to watch shows live. Maybe they can come up with something really creative like 15 new versions of law and order or perhaps csi albuquerque, pocatello, and missoula? maybe we can have more stupid so called reality shows to watch, cause they are so “real”… geeze tv executives, get a friggin clue!
I just found out this show was cancelled today….i’m so upset…i’ve been waiting and waiting for it to come on and it hadn’t so, i decided to look up when it was coming on again and this is what i found…i really don’t understand why shows are cancelled so soon after they start, networks need to give them a chance….i’m sure this show would have done great…it only took me seeing an episode by chance and i was hooked…it was a great series with a great cast…BAD MOVE cancelling this show…i’m sad =(
I don’t watch any series on t.v. Starter Wife is the only one that I watch. I can’t believe it was cancelled! Bad decision USA. I’ll have to jump on the band wagon and never watch USA again.
Well now there is no irony in the name of this tv station, USA,wrong choice after choice after choice! They finally get a show that brings in new loyal viewers and then drop it, yet every morning when I scan through the channels they still play crap like JAG! I never ever watched USA! Then I started because debra messing is hilarious! Well good job! I’m with the other guy oxygen has just moved up the latter!
I too am surprised that this show was cancelled! I had really been waiting for this series to return and now i find out that it’s not. UNBELIEVEABLE USA! I do hope someelse will pick it up. How can we help?
I just found out about this and I’m REALLY disappointed. Maybe showtime will pick it up, they seem to have the best series’ right now. Bad, bad call USA. The numbers may not be there because of the irregularity of the broadcasts, short seasons, etc. Try putting it on the same time every week for more than 6 weeks and see what happens. You’ve kept Monk on for years, and while I enjoy it too, it’s not any better than this. I saw previews for the new Criminal Intent for a year before it came on. I’m just saying….perhaps it’s… Read more »
I can’t believe they cancelled this show! I loved The Starter Wife and was really looking forward to season 2. What’s wrong with the USA Network?
Is there any one we could write to to get this show back.I have been soooo looking forward to it. I thought it will be on again this summer.
This was an excellent and compelling show- I esp liked the relationship w/Steph. Moyer and where that mite go but also the relat. w/her ex-hubby’s boss–the one who “walked” into the sea…. But the constant barage of ads for the show were awful…just too often, too much to bare-began to hate them. But the show–grt characters and I long to watch “their lives” developing. Consider continuing that show please.
what the hell? I have been waiting for the starter wife to begin again. Finally a show that I like…and you CANCEL it? And you keep crap like Saving Grace on TV? First Wanted gets cancelled and now The Starter Wife…whats next Burn Notice? Keep it up and I won’t ever watch USA again. Oxygen is looking better and better.
I just love this show and I wish and hope it comes back!
I am so disguisted. One of the best shows on television has been shut down. I can only hope that someone with vision picks it back up. Thank you to Debra Messing and the ENTIRE cast for making us all laugh. How wonderful to have such a positive following and fan base.
Someone in tv land……. PICK THIS BACK UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!