NiceGirls Previews “The Starter Wife”

NiceGirlsTV had the opportunity to view the two hour premiere of The Starter Wife recently. Entitled “The Forty Year-Old Virgin Queen/Diary of a Mad Ex Wife”, the new USA Network television series is sure to delight fans of the mini series as well as Debra Messing fans. It’s packed with all the humor and heartbreak from the mini, and they’ve thrown in a bit of mystery for spice.

The show begins with a recap of the mini series, (including Hot Homeless Guy, Sam, much to this Nice Girl’s delight!) and goes right into a fantasy scene, which was so much fun in the mini. Molly Kagen is once again aided and encouraged by her friends, Joan and Rodney, when she finds herself having to redirect her life yet again. Her children’s pop-up book is a flop and the relationship with Sam didn’t work out. Joan and Rodney are there, not to pamper Molly, but to force her into being proactive. I love how they don’t let her mope around, feeling sorry for herself. They blatantly tell her where she went wrong and make her fix it. On her new journey, Molly meets Zack McNeill (Hart Bochner), her writing workshop professor, who could well become a new romantic interest.

Although the series centers around Molly, for the most part, Joan and Rodney have their share of issues to deal with too. Joan (Judy Davis) begins working for Destinies, a rehab facility, where her job is to shuttle clients to and from the local airport. Her first client is a drunk actor, David Shea, played wonderfully by British actor, Daniel Gerroll, who proves to be quite a challenge for Joan. Adding to that, her relationship with Pappy (played by Ronny Cox) undergoes some changes that take her by surprise.

Rodney (Chris Diamantopoulos) has a new client in the form of a famous action movie star, Felix (played by James Black). Rodney is attracted to Felix, but Felix is straight – maybe.

Kenny Kagen is back and fantastically played by David Alan Basche. I have to say, his scenes with Debra Messing are rich. They will make you laugh, shake your fists, and cry. Kenny is still a complete jerk and he’s clueless in the fatherhood arena, but I think we will see him try – a bit.

I can promise you will be in for a real treat when you tune into this show. I predict it will be just as much of a hit for USA Network as the mini-series was, and then some. Rounding out the cast this season are Danielle Nicolet, playing Molly’s new friend, Liz Marsh, and Brielle Barbusca as Molly and Kenny’s daughter, Jaden. Don’t miss the series premiere of The Starter Wife, this Friday at 8 pm, Central/9 p.m. Eastern, on USA Network. To wet your appetite, check out these short video clips: