The Starter Wife (USA)

THE STARTER WIFE takes a funny, somewhat critical look at Hollywood through the eyes of Molly Kagan (Debra Messing), whose studio-boss husband dumps her for a younger woman. Messing is charming and funny as Molly, who must examine her life and values after being "let go" from her role as Hollywood wife. As she slowly learns who her real friends are and makes tentative connections with people outside the catty world of Hollywood, Molly builds herself into a better person. But this new person still cares about what people think about her, as well as the size of her butt. Molly tends to let men take the reins all too often, and she can be a pushover when it comes to her egotistical, obnoxious power broker of an ex-husband, Kenny (Peter Jacobson).

Starter Wife is at its best when it's taking an inside look at Hollywood and its fickle ways. The show makes fun of the industry town's shallowness with sharp wit (Molly talks about worshipping at the Church of Perpetual Upkeep, for example).

Less successful are the show's forays into mystery (a handsome stranger saves Molly's life and asks her enigmatically if it's a life worth saving before diving into the surf) and "real" life (Molly befriends a UCLA student and a Malibu Colony security guard who's in danger of getting evicted).

With its talented cast and irresistible premise, The Starter Wife is lots of fun ... for adults. Typical Hollywood decadence and backstabbing make the show decidedly iffy for kids, as do mature topics like addiction and affairs.