Starter Wife Restarted and More Short Cuts

The Starter Wife by Matthew Rolston/USA Network Photo USA has renewed The Starter Wife, thus enlightening me to the fact that miniseries even could be renewed. Debra Messing will return in the title role.... Per Reuters, on Nov. 14, the last in Garth Brooks' string of nine sold-out pre-retirement concerts will be simulcast from the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri, to over 300 movie theaters.... Jenna Elfman and, like, half the creative team behind Dharma & Greg are suing 20th Century Fox for $15 million they claim they are owed in profit-participation payments. Wednesday's Today's News was written by Ben Katner. Leave a Comment
TVGuide Links: Dharma & Greg Debra Messing Jenna Elfman Garth Brooks Starter Wife
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Posted by Matt Webb Mitovich Oct 17, 2007 9:24 AM Report Abuse

I'm with you, Ben. Just how do you "renew" a miniseries?
Posted by Katcon Oct 17, 2007 9:37 AM Report Abuse

I wasn't surprised at Starter Wife being renewed. USA was hedging its bets. It only ordered 6 episodes to start to see if the show would catch on (like FX did with Thief last year). This "chick-lit" story was something different than the usual USA original comedy/action fare. USA categorized Starter Wife as a miniseries for Emmy purposes (again, like FX did for Thief) so that its nominees would have a better chance for recognition (maybe there's some rule that 6 is the maximum number of episodes for something to qualify as a miniseries for Emmy purposes). When Starter Wife found an audience, USA decided to bring it back. Where's the mystery?

Posted by gghwc

Oct 17, 2007 9:50 AM

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From what I understand anything under the normal episode order could be considered a mini-series. So if it's more than two and less than 13 it's a mini-series.

I agree with gghwc, this was a back door pilot. F/X's Thief is a good example but I have a better one: The 4400. It ran as a six-episode miniseries in 2004 and was picked up as a recurring series. I believe it even won an award for best miniseries.

Posted by 525600min

Oct 17, 2007 11:18 AM

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From what I understand anything under the normal episode order could be considered a mini-series. So if it's more than two and less than 13 it's a mini-series. Fox has tons of mini-series every year if that's the rule.
Posted by Mannie_Annie Oct 17, 2007 11:24 AM Report Abuse

Im so happy that Starter Wife is coming back. I loved that mini-series.
Posted by lizzybelle Oct 17, 2007 1:28 PM Report Abuse

I don't really care, just glad it is coming back. I thought it was good.
Posted by iamjillian Oct 17, 2007 3:00 PM Report Abuse

Speaking about the 4400... Why hasn't it been renewed?
Posted by ladypictureshow Oct 17, 2007 3:14 PM Report Abuse

As soon as I read this, I thought the same thing as 525600min - The 4400 started out as a Mini-Series and was picked up as a summer regular. AND ladypictureshow, I wonder the same thing. Ultimately though, I really liked the show as well and am very glad it's coming back. It was one of my summer guilty pleasures.
Posted by mrdhollins Oct 17, 2007 4:09 PM Report Abuse

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