The Starter Wife Returns to USA Network
Debra Messing Stars in Hollywood Comedy About Divorce
Aug 8, 2008
"The Starter Wife" is returning to cable television this fall, according to an announcement by USA Network. The Starter Wife was nominated for ten Emmys in 2007. The series, which ran as a five week special series is coming back as a ten week series this October. Debra Messing plays Molly, the perfect Hollywood wife who is blindsided when her producer husband calls her in the middle of the night and announces he wants a divorce. Molly is forced out of her status as Hollywood insider and becomes an outcast.
Summary of the 2007 Starter Wife Series
The original five episodes may be called a Hollywood fantasy. Molly is the "Wife Of" Kenny Kagan, a powerful but narcissistic Hollywood producer. Kenny, calls Molly on the telephone in the middle of the night and announces he wants a divorce. Molly is shut out of her Hollywood circle as soon as word of the divorce gets around, which is immediately. The snobbery and shallowness of the Hollywood set was revealed along with California scenery and humorous situations.
Molly was surrounded by an eclectic set of friends who helped her make the adjustment to single woman. Her ultra rich alcoholic friend offered her a house on Malibu Beach to stay at for the summer, while she got on her feet.
Lou Mantegna played the studio head who was Kenny's boss. Lou rescued Molly from her lowly status of shunned woman by dating her. The ultra rich and powerful studio head fell in love with Molly and offered her a lifestyle of priviledge even more lavish than the life she had enjoyed with Kenny. Molly decided that Lou was not the man for her.
Molly had a second romance with a beach bum with a compelling story. The man of mystery was a homeless man who lived on Malibu Beach.
Kenny Kagen was the narcissistic jerk who dumped his starter wife when he fell for a Britney Spears like pop star. After being humiliated by the younger woman, Kenny realized that he was falling back in love with Molly, but it was too late.
This Hollywood farce ended with Kenny being humiliated and jobless and Molly being surrounded by friends. Molly was tough enough to negotiate a good divorce settlement and start a new life.
The Starter Wife was a frothy tale about a serious subject. The story was told with good humor against the natural beauty of the scenery on the coast of Southern California. Molly had a chance to leave the shallow Hollywood life and start a new exciting adventure.
New Series Overview
According to the overview on the USA Network website, the new series begins after Molly's romance with the beach bum has fizzled and her recently published children's book did not sell well. Molly is still a Hollywood outsider, who gets withering looks from the women who are still "Wives of" someone important. Molly decides to get serious about her writing and joins a writer's workshop with a handsome group leader named Zach. Zach is the Starter Husband of a powerful agency head.
The Starter Wife Cast
- Emmy Award winner Debra Messing is returning as star of the series. Messing (Will and Grace) is now serving as executive producer as well as actress.
- There will be new cast members, in the October series. Molly's ex husband, Kenny Kagen, will now be played by David Alan Bashe. Liz Marst will play a new friend of Molly's. Brielle Barbusca will play Molly and Kenny's daughter. Hart Bochner joins the cast as Molly's new love interest.
- Joe Mantegna (Criminal Minds) had a key role in the original series as a studio head, Kenny's boss and Molly's lover. Mantegna will make a special guest appearance.
- Cast Members reprising their roles are Judy Davis and Chris Diamontopoulos, as friends of Molly.
The Starter Wife on USA Network
The Starter Wife is a piece of modern escapism, not to be taken seriously. The series will air on Cable USA Network in October, 2008.
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Review of The Starter Wife Series Premiere
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