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.
Thought the show was light, amusing and superficial. . . a real shame it hasn’t continued, I looked forward to it every week. I especially like her beach boy boyfriend in the first few shows. Great chemistry on screen!
Was sooooooooo looking forward to the next season! Very disappointed.
Was anyone using there brain when they made the choice to pull the plug?
Good ratings, and the show gets canceled. I don’t understand it.
Was so looking forward to another season! Very disappointed.
My husband and I finally found a show that we both enjoyed, and now it’s gone. We were looking forward to it in the Fall.
they could have at least given it a second chance before it was canceled
I had a horrible feeling this had happened as I ‘ve been waiting & waiting for the new season to start! LOVED this show.
So disapointed…..I became a USA fan because of this show….I might not be so willing to get involved with a new show because this is so disapointing…Bring it back….please……
Very disappointed. USA has had a lot of great new shows and this was my favorite. Wish there was something we could do to get them to bring it back. With all of the larger networks focusing on the younger viewers it was nice having something for viewers over 22.
Big Bummer! I loved that show. In fact, i scheduled my whole day around it. It was funny, the characters were unique, it was about showbiz, and DEBRA MESSING was outstanding. I’ve been waiting and waiting for the new season to start, and now i find out that it had been cancelled. BUMMER BUMMER BUMMER!!!!!
Loved the show! Looked forward to the every episode.. Co-workers and I were just talking about how dissapointed we were that the show was cancelled. Bring it back! There are alot of fans out there who would tune in again!
Please consider one last season of The Starter Wife. It is an amazing show. I was really looking forward to what was goin to happen next.
my friends and I work in a caner center. we watched this show every week, we came back to work and would laugh at the escipades of the people on the series and found great relief to laugh at others lives, because we deal with death and dying every day of our lives. it was a great comedic relief for us to be able to escapee the reality of ourlives you should re-think your decision to cancel.
Gosh, this just SUX. I really liked that show and assumed it would be back.
i was sooo upset to hear this show was cancelled i loved this show the only reason why i ever heard of USA. Now i will never know what happend mabye someone can make a movie so we can see, but i wish more ppl watched. all the good shows keep getting cancelled then ppl start watching. Its sad and i hope they can bring it back.
Huge disappointment the show was cancelled. Great characters! The entire cast was entertaining. Reconsider cancelling!