Starter Wife is back and this time there’s no expiration date. The former mini-series starring Debra Messing as the loveable divorcee Molly Kagan starts tonight as the latest show on the USA line up.
When we stopped by the set (click here for photos) to talk to Messing and the cast we found out that Molly’s latest children’s book isn’t doing so hot so the sexy single seeks help at a local writing class. With her best friends Rodney (Chris Diamantopoulos) and Joan (Judy Davis) at her side every step of the way, Molly continues to discover her true self and even make a few new friends along the way.
Here’s the scoop on our five favorite things about the new season!
From Mini-Series to Series: Debra Messing admits she wanted to take five years off after Will and Grace but the chemistry on the set of the mini-series was too much for the star. “It was a very fertile and fun and intimate, creative experience doing this in Australia with [writers Josie McGibbon and Sara Parriott],” Messing says. Now she has the best of both worlds with her son Roman by her side. “When a little child comes on the set everybody sort of lightens up…it puts a smile on even the dourest of faces,” she gushes. “After fourteen hours of work and everyone’s tired and exhausted and then he comes on. It’s a breath of fresh air.”
KEEP READING: Meet Molly’s latest love interest
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Molly’s Hot for Teacher: Molly falls hard for her writing instructor Zach, who’s a bit of a “starter husband” himself. “I think what he finds…in Molly is his muse,” explains Hart Bochner who plays Zach on the show. “She gets him writing again! She taps into him emotionally in a way that makes him feel safe and admired and loved. He came from a marriage where his ex-wife was extremely powerful…she eclipsed his career.” What starts as a booty call clearly turns into much, much more!
KEEP READING: Chris Diamantopoulos tells us his fantasies
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Fulfilling Fantasies: If there’s one thing the cast loves it’s acting out their fav movies in fantasy scenes. What’s up for this season? Chris Diamantopoulos explains, “We did an Elizabeth fantasy sequence, which was great fun where Debra is the [Virgin Queen]…We did Hello Dolly, which was spectacular, good fun, an old-school musical thing. But we’re doing a Tomb Raider [fantasy]…that one I’m looking forward to…I play Daniel Craig.” Of course, if Diamantopoulos (who plays Molly’s friend Rodney) had his way, he’d be playing Daniel Craig as James Bond.
KEEP READING: Meet the show’s new high-profile characters
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Making Friends: First off there’s her new gal pal Liz played by Danielle Nicolet who says, “Liz is like the new kid on the block, new kid at school. To a certain extent Rodney and Joan kind of haze her…thank goodness Liz has Molly.” Then there’s Reggie Austin who portrays Liz’s hubby. “I play Devon Marsh who is the all-star relief pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers,” he says. “My wife has to deal with being the wife of this famous person.” Rodney finds love too, but with a closeted actor, named Felix Soul. “I’m guessing in the world of action stars, if middle America knew that the action star that they went to see kill the bad guy [was gay] they wouldn’t watch anymore,” says James Black of his character.
KEEP READING: Find out who’s expecting!
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Real Life Love Behind-the-Scenes: David Basche and Alysia Reiner found love long before they found Tinsel Town. “I thought David was really cool because he was a waiter in New York and had done a walk-on on a soap opera,” Reiner says of meeting her husband when they were “kids.” Now the couple gets to work side-by-side on the set of Starter Wife. Basche as Molly’s ex Kenny (stepping in for Peter Jacobson) and Reiner as Cindy a fellow starter wife working at the school where the Kagan’s daughter attends classes. To top it off they’re expecting their first baby Dec. 2!
