‘Starter Wife’ skewers Hollywood hypocrisy

By HAL BOEDEKER

The show starring Debra Messing premieres Friday.

A tale of two comedies: “Kath & Kim” features Molly Shannon, adapts an Australian hit and joins the NBC lineup at 8:30 p.m. Thursday. The results are simply dreadful. That is all.

“The Starter Wife” showcases Debra Messing, extends a popular miniseries and joins the USA lineup with a two-hour opener at 9 p.m. Friday. The results have wit, edge and promise. That’s entertainment.

Cable upstages broadcasting again, even in the NBC Universal family.

You don’t have to have seen the “Starter Wife” mini to enjoy this frisky skewering of Hollywood hypocrisy and superficiality. Divorcee Molly Kagan (Messing) deals with a selfish producer ex (David Alan Basche) and a 7-year-old daughter who wants a BlackBerry.

Molly swears off men and struggles to make her own way by turning her private journal into a humor column. But a writing instructor (Hart Bochner) and a thief complicate her plans. As Molly’s life turns messier, it becomes more involving.

“Will & Grace” fans are familiar with Messing’s glamour and charm, but the actress brings poignancy and maturity to this role. Messing also flourishes in fantasy sequences that cast her as everything from Elizabeth I to Indiana Jones.

The star benefits from first-rate actors playing Molly’s best pals. Chris Diamantopoulos returns as Rodney, an interior designer who catches the attention of a macho star.

Judy Davis reprises her Emmy-winning role as Joan, a recovering alcoholic longing for intimacy with her husband (Ronny Cox). Joan’s work in rehab brings her into the orbit of an incorrigible, Oscar-winning actor (Daniel Gerroll).

Davis acts with such touching urgency that you can’t take your eyes off her. “The Starter Wife” has that effect. The show isn’t seamless or groundbreaking, but Messing and her colleagues deliver stylish goods in a threadbare era for comedy. Good show!