Debra Messing is no Diane Keaton. Or Goldie Hawn. Or Bette Midler

I have to say USA Network's premiering The Starter Wife, their Debra Messing (Will & Grace) led mini-series based on the novel of the same name, on Thursday night is pretty shrewd. After all, there are going to be a lot of women (and not a few gay men) going through Ugly Betty/Grey's Anatomy withdrawal that evening. And The Starter Wife pretty much shares the same audience as those two shows though it isn't nearly as good as either.

Messing plays Molly Kagan, a woman dumped by her Hollywood mogul husband so he could go on to greener pastures. Everything thereafter is pretty much predictable (at least in the first two hours, which is all USA sent for review) from Molly's initial breakdown to the icy reaction of the other wives fearing the same fate to Molly's bonding with her daughter. Messing is fine here moving from woeful to plucky as needed. Thankfully, this isn't another comedic role which is great as I never quite bought her as the next Lucille Ball. (Or Goldie Hawn. Or Bette Midler.)

The whole time I was watching SW, I found myself referencing other movies and shows. Like any performer associated with a long-running hit show, Messing is saddled with being thought of as Grace, and that wasn't helped when we were introduced to Will Rodney (Chris Diamantopoulos), her gay best friend. Naturally, they talk about shopping and how bad men treat them, which was practically like flashing back to NBC's Must See TV on Thursday nights back in the 90's.

As for Rodney, I think the above picture gives a pretty accurate idea of what sort of gay character this is. No stereotypes are broken here. He's a little less Jack McFarland, but definitely nothing new in the pantheon of gay roles. That's not terribly surprising. After all, this is a movie for women wronged by philandering straight men and Rodney really isn't much more than another accessory like high heels or a Gucci bag. Actually, he's more of an afghan blanket to be thrown over Grace Molly's lap to make her feel warm and loved.

If a plucky, wronged woman finally getting to meet the man of her dreams while staying in a fabulous Malibu beach house is your cup of tea, then go ahead and tune in Thursday night. As for me, I kept thinking of The First Wives Club, another movie about dumped wives that, while far from perfect, certainly had more zip than this. After the jump you'll find a clip from that movie of Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler, and Diane Keaton singing "You Don't Own Me".