The Starter Wife debuts this weekend on the USA Network. Crimespree has received an advanced peek. You may ask why. Here at the office I did. Crimespree/Chick T.V. It hardly seemed simpatico.
That said, The Starter Wife is several delightful hours of television. Debra Messing’s return to T.V. is a triumph. Will & Grace may have been blessed by a great cast but the formula grew stale. I’d forgotten what a good actress Messing is; why she made an immediate impact on television with a guest starring role on N.Y.P.D. Blue. Her work here appears effortless. Which explains why a Crimespree Publisher sat down to take a cursory glimpse of the show and didn’t come up for air for the duration.
The story is based upon the book by Gigi Glazer. Messing plays Hollywood Wife Molly Kagan. We meet Molly on the last day of her marriage. She’s making the rounds; school, yoga, lunch with the girls and a Hollywood Premiere.
Hubby calls from a hotel and delivers the news. Quickly shunned by all but her nearest and dearest Molly moves into a pal’s Malibu property and gets on with it.
Jon Avnet moves the story forward with a light but sure touch. There is mystery within this tale. You want to know what will happen to Molly, her friends and their spouses. Full of laughs, Hollywood politics, a dab of intrigue and a whole lot of heart The Starter Wife will leave a smile on even the most cynical of lips. And Joe Mantegna rocks as a romantic lead.Ruth Jordan
I have to agree with my wife on this completely.
We popped in the first disc and I felt kind of obligated to watch, they sent it, I should at least watch some of it.
Well, by the end of the first episode I was hooked. I didn’t like Will and Grace, not a huge Sex in the City fan, but Messing is great here and it is not the Sex/City copycat I was expecting.
It’s funny, it’s charming and Joe Montagna rocks! When it was over I wanted more, and I didn’t want to wait.
Well done USA!
jon
I’m so happy you gave this such a good review, I’ve been looking forward to it forever and it looks like it was for good reason! You’re right about Debra, I simply adore her and I’m so glad she’s returning to television. I want an advance copy like you have, I can’t wait another week! thanks for the post!
p.s. jon the crime spree guy…didn’t think this would appeal to men, but wow! you must have good taste 🙂