The Starter Wife | |
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Created by | Gigi Levangie |
Written by |
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Directed by | Jon Avnet |
Starring | |
Country of origin | United States |
No. of episodes | 6 |
Production | |
Producers |
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Production companies | Haypop Productions 3 Arts Entertainment McGibbon-Parriott Productions |
Release | |
Original network | USA Network |
Original release | May 31 – June 28, 2007 |
The Starter Wife is a 2007 USA Network television miniseries, based on the 2006 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, [1] 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 her husband leaves her for a younger woman.
The mini-series premiered with a two-hour presentation on May 31, 2007 at 9:00 pm 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 miniseries was nominated for ten Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Miniseries, Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (Debra Messing), Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie (Joe Mantegna), Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (Judy Davis), and Writing for a Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special (Josann McGibbon & Sara Parriott). Davis was the sole winner, while Messing was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Actress in a Miniseries or 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. [2] Production on the series first ten-episode season was delayed due to the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike, and began airing October 10, 2008.
Episode # | Title | Air Date | Rating [3] | 25–54 [4] | Viewers | Cable Rank [5] |
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1 & 2 | "Premiere" | May 31, 2007 | 3.7 | 2.8 | 5.39 | #5 |
3 | "Hour 3" | June 7, 2007 | 2.7 | ? | 3.92 | #7 |
4 | "Hour 4" | June 14, 2007 | 2.5 | ? | 3.55 | #9 |
5 | "Hour 5" | June 21, 2007 | 2.2 | ? | 3.15 | #22 |
6 | "Finale" | June 28, 2007 | 1.7 | ? | 2.82 | #29 |
Country | TV Network(s) | Series Premiere | Weekly Schedule |
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United States | USA Network | May 31, 2007 | |
Canada | A-Channel | September 10, 2007 | Mondays at 9:00 pm |
Australia | Network Ten | December 5, 2007 | Wednesdays at 8:30 pm |
Thailand | Hallmark Channel | October 21, 2007 | Sundays at 8:00 pm |
Malaysia | Sundays at 9.00 pm | ||
Singapore | |||
Hong Kong | |||
Philippines | |||
Portugal | MOV | December 2007 | |
TVI | November 2009 | Thursdays at approximately 00:15 am | |
Brazil | Rede Telecine / People+Arts | October 2007 | |
United Kingdom | Sky Movies Drama | December 10, 2007 | Mondays at 9:40 pm |
Turkey | CNBC-e | September 18, 2008 | Thursdays at 9:00 pm |
Sweden | Kanal 5 | March 11, 2008 | Tuesday at 9:00 pm |
Germany | Premiere | February 19, 2008 | Tuesdays at 8:15 pm |
Croatia | Nova TV | announced | TBA |
France | Canal+ | August 7, 2008 | Thursdays at 8:50 pm (2 episodes) |
Spain | Cosmopolitan TV (cable) | February 2, 2009 | |
TVE 2 | July 2009 | ||
Italy | Mya | September 4, 2008 | Thursdays at 9:00 pm |
Switzerland | SF zwei | November 17, 2008 | Monday at 8.00 pm |
Hungary | TV2 | May 26, 2009 | Friday at 10.15 pm |
Japan | Star Channel(CS) | October 2008 | |
The Middle East | Showseries Showtime Arabia | ||
Netherlands | RTL8 | January 3, 2010 | Sundays at 8.00 pm |
Ireland | TG4 | ||
Belgium | La Une | June 2010 | Thursdays at 10:00 pm (2 episodes) |
Serbia | Fox Life |
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