The Starter Wife (miniseries)

Infobox Television Film
name = The Starter Wife


caption = "The Starter Wife" title card
format = Comedy / Drama
runtime = 6 hours
creator = Gigi Levangie
director = Jon Avnet
producer = Jon Avnet
Stephanie Davis
Howard Klein
Gigi Levangie
Josann McGibbon
Sara Parriott
writer = Gigi Levangie (novel)
Josann McGibbon & Sara Parriott (screenplay)
starring = Debra Messing
Judy Davis
Miranda Otto
Chris Diamantopoulos
Peter Jacobson
Stephen Moyer
Joe Mantegna
music =
country = USA
network = USA Network
released =
first_aired = May 31 - June 28, 2007
last_aired =
num_seasons =
num_episodes = 5 (one two-hour; four one-hour)
followed_by =
website = http://www.usanetwork.com/series/starterwife/
imdb_id = 0810726
tv_com_id = 67805
amg_id =

"The Starter Wife" is a 2007 USA Network television miniseries, based on the novel of the same name by Gigi Levangie Grazer. Its title is derived from the concept of a starter marriage. Filmed over four months in Queensland, Australia, [cite web |title=The Starter Wife |publisher=krista-net.com |url=http://www.krista-net.com/wiki/index.php?title=The_Starter_Wife |accessdate=2008-07-15 ] the plot focuses on Molly Kagan (Debra Messing) who, after years of marriage to a Hollywood film mogul, is forced to redefine herself and her role in society when he leaves her for a younger woman.

The mini-series premiered with a two-hour presentation on May 31, 2007 at 9:00 p.m. ET. The premiere attracted 5.4 million viewers, with 2.8 million of them being adults aged 25-54 (the network's target demographic). Ratings steadily decreased as the series progressed. The series is available for purchase on iTunes (to American customers only) and was available for DVD purchase starting September 11, 2007.

The mini-series was nominated for ten Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Miniseries, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie (Debra Messing), Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie (Joe Mantegna) and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie (Judy Davis). Davis was the sole winner. Messing was also nominated for a 2008 Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries or a TV Movie and a 2008 SAG Award for Outstanding Female Actor in a Miniseries of TV Movie.

Although initially intended as a one-shot miniseries, USA subsequently ordered "The Starter Wife" as a new series for the 2008 spring season [ [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117974174.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 'Starter Wife' evolves on USA - Entertainment News, TV News, Media - Variety ] ] . Production on the series first ten-episode season was delayed due to the 2007-2008 Writers Guild of America strike, and will begin airing October 10, 2008.

Characters

Molly Kagan (Debra Messing) is a 41-year-old wife and mother of five-year-old daughter Jaden (Miniseries: Bethany Whitmore; Series: Brielle Barbusca). Soon after the characters are introduced, she is abandoned by her husband and is forced to rebuild her life and assert herself within the film community, most of which ignores her after the split.

Joan McAllister (Judy Davis) is Molly's oldest friend and an alcoholic socialite who lends Molly her beachfront Malibu home when she pretends to jet off to Paris but actually enters a rehab center in Ojai. She later calls upon Molly to impersonate her non-existent sister "Bambi," upon whom she has placed all blame for her failings, when her therapist insists the two confront each other and work out their hostilities.

Cricket Stewart (Miranda Otto) is one of Molly's friends whose allegiance to her is tested when her film director husband, a business associate of Kenny, demands she break all ties with her. When she discovers him in a compromising situation with their children's nanny, she orders him to leave the house and reconnects with Molly. She later takes him back after she finds out that she is pregnant with his child but does so out of forgiveness more than the unexpected pregnancy.

Rodney (Chris Diamantopoulos), one of Molly's best friends, is a gay interior decorator suffering a financial setback.

Kenny Kagan (Miniseries: Peter Jacobson) is Molly's soon-to-be ex-husband and President of Production at Durango Pictures. He leaves Molly for a woman half his age and aims to replace the current CEO of the company.

Sam Knight (Stephen Moyer) is a homeless beach bum who saves Molly from drowning. He openly scorns her as superficial but the two eventually become involved in a romantic relationship. It is later revealed he spent five years in prison for involuntary manslaughter after his best friend was killed in a car crash caused by Sam's DUI.

Lou Manahan (Joe Mantegna) is the head of Durango Pictures. He fakes his suicide by drowning to start anew, yet cannot help but attend his memorial service (disguised as a woman) to see how his friends and colleagues react to his death.

Lavender (Anika Noni Rose) is the security guard at the entrance to the gated community where Joan lives. Molly takes her and her grandmother under her wing when they are evicted from their apartment for having a dog.

Shoshanna (Trilby Glover) is a young pop music singer who becomes involved with Kenny. It is revealed she was only using him to advance her career and she dumps him when he is fired from his job.

Nielsen Ratings by episode

International broadcasting

References

External links

* [http://www.usanetwork.com/series/starterwife/ Official Site at USA Network]
* [http://starterwife.bb2.org/ starterwife.bb2.org A blog for fans.]
*
* [http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117933795.html?categoryid=32&cs=1 The Starter Wife Review] at "Variety.com"
* [http://www.reuters.com/article/peopleNews/idUSN3035603520070530 The Starter Wife Review] at Reuters