‘Starter Wife’ tries to revive career

Tonight’s must-see

“The Starter Wife” series debut, 9-11 p.m., USA. When we last saw Molly (Debra Messing) in a miniseries, she was adjusting to being a Hollywood ex-wife.

Now comes a new twist: Her ex-husband (re-cast with David Alan Basche) has all their money tied up in a shaky movie.

She tries to revive her writing career, via a teacher (Hart Bochner). She grumbles to her friend (Judy Davis), a recovering alcoholic.

All of this is more fun than it sounds. “Starter Wife” has a bright look, a breezy style and a witty view of human quirks. There are false notes near the end (after a theft), but this is a fine comedy-drama ride.

Tonight’s might-see

“Life,” 10 p.m., NBC. After a couple of Monday shots, this above-average show settles into Fridays.

Tonight, a college prison experiment brings a death. Crews, who spent 11 years in real prison, investigates.

Other choices include

“Ghost Whisperer,” 8 p.m., CBS. Melinda discovers some dark secrets about her high school classmates.

“Everybody Hates Chris,” 8 p.m., CW. Chris agrees to help a classmate in exchange for being introduced to a hot girl.

“The Princess Bride” (1987), 8 p.m., AMC. Rob Reiner directed this fun fairy tale for grown-ups. He assembled a great (and odd) supporting cast, including Mandy Patinkin, Andre the Giant, Christopher Guest, Peter Falk and Fred Savage.

“The Ex List,” 9 p.m., CBS. Bella meets a former boyfriend who used to be pleasantly lazy. Now he’s a fitness buff; it’s tiring to know him.

“Numb3rs,” 10 p.m., CBS. Don investigates kidnappings at ATMs. Also, Keith Carradine plays someone who could restore Charlie’s FBI credentials.

“Sanctuary,” 10 p.m., Sci Fi. After last week’s fairly good opener, we have the show’s key players – a forensics psychiatrist, a wise (and well-preserved) 157-year-old and her daughter, who doesn’t know her biological dad may have been Jack the Ripper. Tonight, they go to Scotland to free three women from a crypt.