The Starter Wife (miniseries)

Last updated

The Starter Wife
Starter Wife 4x3 small.jpg
Created by Gigi Levangie
Written by
  • Josann McGibbon
  • Sara Parriott
  • Gigi Levangie (novel)
Directed by Jon Avnet
Starring
Country of originUnited States
No. of episodes6
Production
Producers
  • Jon Avnet
  • Stephanie Davis
  • Howard Klein
  • Gigi Levangie
  • Josann McGibbon
  • Sara Parriott
Production companiesHaypop Productions
3 Arts Entertainment
McGibbon-Parriott Productions
Release
Original network USA Network
Original releaseMay 31 (2007-05-31) 
June 28, 2007 (2007-06-28)

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.

Contents

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.

Characters

Nielsen Ratings by episode

Episode #TitleAir DateRating [3] 25–54 [4] ViewersCable Rank [5]
1 & 2"Premiere"May 31, 20073.72.85.39#5
3"Hour 3"June 7, 20072.7?3.92#7
4"Hour 4"June 14, 20072.5?3.55#9
5"Hour 5"June 21, 20072.2?3.15#22
6"Finale"June 28, 20071.7?2.82#29

International broadcasting

CountryTV Network(s)Series PremiereWeekly Schedule
Flag of the United States.svg United States USA Network May 31, 2007
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada A-Channel September 10, 2007Mondays at 9:00 pm
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia Network Ten December 5, 2007Wednesdays at 8:30 pm
Flag of Thailand.svg Thailand Hallmark Channel October 21, 2007Sundays at 8:00 pm
Flag of Malaysia.svg MalaysiaSundays at 9.00 pm
Flag of Singapore.svg Singapore
Flag of Hong Kong.svg Hong Kong
Flag of the Philippines.svg Philippines
Flag of Portugal.svg Portugal MOV December 2007
TVI November 2009Thursdays at approximately 00:15 am
Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil Rede Telecine / People+Arts October 2007
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom Sky Movies Drama December 10, 2007Mondays at 9:40 pm
Flag of Turkey.svg Turkey CNBC-e September 18, 2008Thursdays at 9:00 pm
Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden Kanal 5 March 11, 2008Tuesday at 9:00 pm
Flag of Germany.svg Germany Premiere February 19, 2008Tuesdays at 8:15 pm
Flag of Croatia.svg Croatia Nova TV announcedTBA
Flag of France.svg France Canal+ August 7, 2008Thursdays at 8:50 pm (2 episodes)
Flag of Spain.svg Spain Cosmopolitan TV (cable)February 2, 2009
TVE 2 July 2009
Flag of Italy.svg Italy Mya September 4, 2008Thursdays at 9:00 pm
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Switzerland SF zwei November 17, 2008Monday at 8.00 pm
Flag of Hungary.svg Hungary TV2 May 26, 2009Friday at 10.15 pm
Flag of Japan.svg JapanStar Channel(CS)October 2008
The Middle EastShowseries Showtime Arabia
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands RTL8 January 3, 2010Sundays at 8.00 pm
Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland TG4
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium La Une June 2010Thursdays at 10:00 pm (2 episodes)
Flag of Serbia.svg Serbia Fox Life

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
2007
Artios Awards Outstanding Achievement in Casting – Television Mini Series Mary Jo Slater, Steve Brooksbank, and
Tom McSweeney
Won [6]
Online Film & Television Association AwardsBest MiniseriesNominated [7]
Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Debra Messing Nominated
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Joe Mantegna Nominated
Best Costume Design in a Motion Picture or MiniseriesNominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Miniseries Josann McGibbon, Sara Parriott,
Jon Avnet, Stephanie Davis,
Howard Klein, Gigi Levangie Grazer,
Jeff Hayes, and Marsha Oglesby
Nominated [8]
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Debra MessingNominated
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Joe MantegnaNominated
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Judy Davis Won
Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special Josann McGibbon and Sara ParriottNominated
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or Movie Tracey Gallacher, Brian Edmonds, and
Rolland Pike
Nominated
Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special Mary Jo Slater, Steven Brooksbank, and
Tom McSweeney
Nominated
Outstanding Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special Marion Boyce, Debra McGuire, and
Vanessa Loh (for "Part 1")
Nominated
Outstanding Makeup for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special (Non-Prosthetic) Viv Mepham and Deborah LanserNominated
Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries or a Movie Robert Florio (for "Part 3")Nominated
Satellite Awards Best Miniseries Nominated [9]
Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Debra MessingNominated
Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or
Motion Picture Made for Television
Judy DavisNominated
2008
Art Directors Guild Awards Excellence in Production Design Award – Television Movie or Mini-series Tracey Gallacher, Brian Edmonds, and
Michelle McGahey
Nominated [10]
Australian Film Institute Awards Best Actress Judy DavisNominated [11]
Costume Designers Guild Awards Outstanding Made for Television Movie or MiniseriesDebra McGuire and Marion BoyceNominated [12]
Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television or Miniseries Jon AvnetNominated [13]
Golden Globe Awards Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film Debra MessingNominated [14]
Gracie Awards Outstanding Female Lead – Mini-SeriesWon [15]
Outstanding Supporting Actress – Mini-SeriesJudy DavisWon
NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special Anika Noni Rose Nominated [16]
Producers Guild of America Awards David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television Jon Avnet, Josann McGibbon,
Marsha Oglesby, and Sara Parriott
Nominated [17]
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Debra MessingNominated [18]
Writers Guild of America Awards Long Form – Adaptation Sara Parriott and Josann McGibbon;
Based on the book by Gigi Levangie Grazer
Nominated [19]

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