While one friend and two old love interests have been dropped from the miniseries — possibly due to scheduling conflicts as one ended up starring in ABC’s short-lived Cashmere Mafia — luckily the Emmy-nominated writers from the original consisting of Josann McGibbon, Sara Parriott, Gigi Levangie Grazer, and Debra Messing all return as executive producers. And although the unimaginative Desperate Housewives-inspired version of movie-star paper-dolls opening credit sequence and the annoyingly forced spoofs of Hollywood films have survived the jump from the mini to the series, October 10’s premiere two-part pilot is filled with engaging subplots and surprises that can only strengthen with each passing week.
Just like Molly must try to face new adventures like living on a budget or attending a writer’s group led by a hunky single dad to try and jumpstart her own career, Rodney struggles with mixing business and flirtation when he forms a crush on the handsome actor who hires him, and Joan continually grapples with the twelve steps, volunteering three days a week at rehab.
Mining through contemporary headlines and trends for storytelling as Davis’ Joan finds herself babysitting a British version of Mel Gibson while trying to deliver him at rehab following an appalling arrest — Starter Wife even addresses the Hollywood impact of the rough economy as Molly’s ex uses his own credit cards to play with his increasingly expensive turkey Blood Canal.
However, like Sex and the City was only as strong as the plot of its main character Carrie Bradshaw, Starter’s Carrie—Messing’s Molly Kagan discovers that she’s become an accidental gossip girl when her humorous and revealing journal finds its way online in the second hour of the premiere entitled “The Diary of a Mad Ex-Housewife.”
And even when the show teeters on the edge of outrageousness as those familiar with the “homeless love interest” plot of the miniseries can attest, it’s ultimately the endearing and likable Messing who keeps us watching the sometimes ridiculous and self-involved events that occur in a town so out of touch with the rest of America, it almost feels like another planet. Yet, The Starter Wife is never science fiction—just easily winning, end-of-the-week, laugh-out-loud, lose-yourself-in romantic comedy fiction and if the opening two shows are any indication, we’re in for a treat with its ultimately ten episode run.
Article comments
1 - HollywoodFan83
Can't WAIT for this to begin! I absolutely love the "wife goes on" theme of this story. My mother was a single mom who only began to hit her stride AFTER her divorce. I love that there is a series showing women life can always start anew!
2 - Brando
OK. In June of last year I went to jail for the first time in my life. I will be saying for my mistake for a long time. The jail food was horrible and the conditions were cramped. The worst part of jail was the 6 hour marathon of The Starter Wife while I was being processed into the jail. This was Cruel And Unusual punishment that I wish upon no one. Jail and the consequences will stay with me for a while, but The Starter Wife scarred me for a lifetime. So everyone stay out of trouble, or you might catch the next marathon.