--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It [going from mini-series to series] was…" description: "\"It [going from mini-series to series] was never even discussed because it [The Starter Wife] was, you know, an adaptation of a novel. And we - the mini..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/debra-messing-8824_adaptation_it-going-from-mini-series-to-series-was_1818201.jpg" --- # It \[going from mini-series to series\] was never even… ![“It [going from mini-series to series] was never even discussed because it [The Starter Wife] was, you know, an adaptation of a novel. And we - the mini-series encompassed the whole novel. And so it was always going to be a finite sort of event. And then I imagine when people started to really…” quote by Debra Messing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/debra-messing-8824_adaptation_it-going-from-mini-series-to-series-was_1818201.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/debra-messing-8824_adaptation_it-going-from-mini-series-to-series-was_1818201.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c8/debra-messing-8824_adaptation_it-going-from-mini-series-to-series-was_1818201.jpg) > “It \[going from mini-series to series\] was never even discussed because it \[The Starter Wife\] was, you know, an adaptation of a novel. And we - the mini-series encompassed the whole novel. And so it was always going to be a finite sort of event. And then I imagine when people started to really respond to the show and then we got ten Emmy nominations, USA sort of said, "Oh, I think maybe we have something here."” [Debra Messing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-messing/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The series was intended as a limited adaptation, but success led to extension. **In simple terms:** Initial plans changed due to audience demand. Key Takeaway Adapt plans to audience response. Themes media adaptation audience influence TV production Mood reflective analytical Type industry creative When to use this quote - TV network decisions - showrunner planning - fan engagement - award nominations - production budgeting Key Concepts creative flexibility market demand story continuity Questions to Reflect On - Should creators stay true to original scope? - When is it right to expand a story? A Different Perspective Extending a story can dilute original intent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adaptation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adaptation/) [Emmys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emmys/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Nominations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nominations/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Usa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/usa/) ## Related quotes > [And so out of the blue the call did come and said, you know, "Would you be - would you consider turning this \[The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-messing/and-so-out-of-the-blue-the-call-did-come-and-said-you-know-would-you/) [Debra Messing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-messing/) > [ Well I would say that, you know, I agree in part with that it \[The Starter Wife\] is fantasy and it is a romp… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-messing/well-i-would-say-that-you-know-i-agree-in-part-with-that-it-the/) [Debra Messing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-messing/) > [Oh my God the fantasies are my favorite thing that we do each episode by far. And the great thing now is that instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-messing/oh-my-god-the-fantasies-are-my-favorite-thing-that-we-do-each-episode/) [Debra Messing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-messing/) > [I love every aspect of the show. I've been very involved. It was important for me to be very involved in, you know, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-messing/i-love-every-aspect-of-the-show-i-ve-been-very-involved-it-was/) [Debra Messing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-messing/) > [I've done a little bit of TV. I'm doing a little mini-series at the moment called 'Scooter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-nicholas/i-ve-done-a-little-bit-of-tv-i-m-doing-a-little-mini-series-at-the/) [Ben Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-nicholas/) > [The show originally started out as a ten hour mini-series. We shot two hours and then were excused for a while, for no apparent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-gerard/the-show-originally-started-out-as-a-ten-hour-mini-series-we-shot-two/) [Gil Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-gerard/) > [I've played the leads in two British TV series. I've done a bunch of mini-series. Everybody in Australia is a bit in awe of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-taylor/i-ve-played-the-leads-in-two-british-tv-series-i-ve-done-a-bunch-of/) [Robert Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-taylor/) > [If you think about how broadcast mini-series approach historical events, there is a hagiography. There has been a soft, very glossy idea about history.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landgraf/if-you-think-about-how-broadcast-mini-series-approach-historical/) [John Landgraf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landgraf/) > [At 11, I got my first job in a mini-series for America, and it was very exciting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamsin-egerton/at-11-i-got-my-first-job-in-a-mini-series-for-america-and-it-was-very/) [Tamsin Egerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamsin-egerton/) > [When I was probably in middle school I saw the mini series Angels in America for the first time and I think Mary Louise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-phipps/when-i-was-probably-in-middle-school-i-saw-the-mini-series-angels-in/) [Grace Phipps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-phipps/) > [The requirements for illustrating an eight-page story are as different from that of an ensemble-cast mini-series as they are different from a solo ongoing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-immonen/the-requirements-for-illustrating-an-eight-page-story-are-as/) [Stuart Immonen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-immonen/) > [As someone who grew up in Europe, I don't look at TV and automatically think of a primetime network series, created by a staff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-alexander/as-someone-who-grew-up-in-europe-i-don-t-look-at-tv-and-automatically/) [Lexi Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-alexander/) > [The TV mini-series is kind of a lost genre because the networks have given up on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-hammer/the-tv-mini-series-is-kind-of-a-lost-genre-because-the-networks-have/) [Bonnie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-hammer/) > [I don't think I've ever done a real mini-series, but I love doing film first and foremost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dash-mihok/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-done-a-real-mini-series-but-i-love-doing-film/) [Dash Mihok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dash-mihok/) > [That's the definition of a mini-series. A mini-series is a show that has no continuing story or narrative elements between one group of episodes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landgraf/that-s-the-definition-of-a-mini-series-a-mini-series-is-a-show-that/) [John Landgraf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landgraf/) ## More by Debra Messing > [There's always - somehow a red carpet everywhere. And I think that, you know, it's a fantasyland out here, you know. It's beautiful. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-messing/there-s-always-somehow-a-red-carpet-everywhere-and-i-think-that-you/) [Debra Messing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-messing/) > [If I have a pocket, then I'll have lip balm, my keys, and $10 cash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-messing/if-i-have-a-pocket-then-i-ll-have-lip-balm-my-keys-and-10-cash/) [Debra Messing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-messing/) > [Well first of all I was nine weeks pregnant at the time and no one knew it. So it was - it had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-messing/well-first-of-all-i-was-nine-weeks-pregnant-at-the-time-and-no-one/) [Debra Messing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-messing/) > [I know there must be something I should explore about that with my therapist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-messing/i-know-there-must-be-something-i-should-explore-about-that-with-my/) [Debra Messing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-messing/) > [I'm thrilled because I think that, you know, everyone has gotten what they wanted. You know, I just wanted to be (there) surrounded with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-messing/i-m-thrilled-because-i-think-that-you-know-everyone-has-gotten-what/) [Debra Messing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-messing/) > [Oh my God the fantasies are my favorite thing that we do each episode by far. And the great thing now is that instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-messing/oh-my-god-the-fantasies-are-my-favorite-thing-that-we-do-each-episode/) [Debra Messing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-messing/) > [And because I have a four-year-old son I have become a great baseball pitcher. And, you know, juggler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-messing/and-because-i-have-a-four-year-old-son-i-have-become-a-great-baseball/) [Debra Messing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-messing/) > [I mean I love my family very much, but there is a difference when you're reuniting with your family outside of your hometown and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-messing/i-mean-i-love-my-family-very-much-but-there-is-a-difference-when-you/) [Debra Messing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-messing/) > [I don't think it's possible to have a wedding without it being stressful!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-messing/i-don-t-think-it-s-possible-to-have-a-wedding-without-it-being/) [Debra Messing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-messing/) > [Whatever consequences come as a result, in terms of work, I'm fully prepared to embrace because it's a priority to me to be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-messing/whatever-consequences-come-as-a-result-in-terms-of-work-i-m-fully/) [Debra Messing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-messing/) > [I pay parking tickets. You know, you can try to give 50%, but then they charge you all those penalties! Seriously, I have gotten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-messing/i-pay-parking-tickets-you-know-you-can-try-to-give-50-but-then-they/) [Debra Messing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-messing/) > [You know, unfortunately divorce it happens in Kansas as much as it does in Hollywood. And, you know, women having to start over at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-messing/you-know-unfortunately-divorce-it-happens-in-kansas-as-much-as-it/) [Debra Messing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-messing/) > [Repeat after me: 'I am doing the best that I can.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-messing/repeat-after-me-i-am-doing-the-best-that-i-can/) [Debra Messing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-messing/) > [It's essentially encouraging parents, teachers, and caretakers to remind children how special they are on a regular basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-messing/it-s-essentially-encouraging-parents-teachers-and-caretakers-to/) [Debra Messing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-messing/) > [My parents always made education and school the number one priority. They believed that an education is the best gift you can give to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-messing/my-parents-always-made-education-and-school-the-number-one-priority/) [Debra Messing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-messing/) [Explore all 77 Debra Messing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-messing/) ## More Adaptation quotes > [“The global population of Earth are involved in the following corporate government experiments: The long term effects of - 1. Nuclear bomb fallout radiation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-global-population-of-earth-are-involved-in-the-following/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [I do think that theater is a great venue for science fiction, and not just adaptations but also original work. I also think some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-einhorn/i-do-think-that-theater-is-a-great-venue-for-science-fiction-and-not/) Edward Einhorn > [“Why I am Passionate and Dedicated 1000% to producing and bringing my books Loving Summer, Bitter Frost, and other book series to the Screen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailin-gow/why-i-am-passionate-and-dedicated-1000-to-producing-and-bringing-my/) [Kailin Gow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailin-gow/) > [My familiarity with the successful use of very long steel ropes for mining purposes naturally suggested their adaptation to the new purpose of deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-agassiz/my-familiarity-with-the-successful-use-of-very-long-steel-ropes-for/) Alexander Agassiz > [The survival of the fittest is the ageless law of nature, but the fittest are rarely the strong. The fittest are those endowed with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-smalley/the-survival-of-the-fittest-is-the-ageless-law-of-nature-but-the/) [Dave Smalley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-smalley/) > [The facts of variability, of the struggle for existence, of adaptation to conditions, were notorious enough; but none of us had suspected that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-facts-of-variability-of-the-struggle-for-existence-of-adaptation/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is a law of nature we overlook, that intellectual versatility is the compensation for change, danger, and trouble. An animal perfectly in harmony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-law-of-nature-we-overlook-that-intellectual-versatility-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The world may not be ready yet for the film equivalent of books on tape, but this peculiar phenomenon has arrived in the form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-mitchell/the-world-may-not-be-ready-yet-for-the-film-equivalent-of-books-on/) [Elvis Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-mitchell/) > [“Evolution is more about adaptivity than adaptability.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheel-farooq/evolution-is-more-about-adaptivity-than-adaptability/) [Raheel Farooq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheel-farooq/) > [There is change by necessity or adaptation, and there is contrived change or novelty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/there-is-change-by-necessity-or-adaptation-and-there-is-contrived/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [“The tendency for depression to repeat reflects the normal default settings of a plastic mood system that is open to experience. The unfortunate consequence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-rottenberg/the-tendency-for-depression-to-repeat-reflects-the-normal-default/) [Jonathan Rottenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-rottenberg/) > [“The unglamorous truth is that there are but a handful of uniquely human traits that we have clearly demonstrated are adaptations evolved to thrive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rutherford/the-unglamorous-truth-is-that-there-are-but-a-handful-of-uniquely/) [Adam Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rutherford/) > [“You must be shapeless, formless, like water. When you pour water in a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/you-must-be-shapeless-formless-like-water-when-you-pour-water-in-a/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [“On the rare occasions on which a movie was shown, there was as much suspense in the audience over whether the electricity would hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-caro/on-the-rare-occasions-on-which-a-movie-was-shown-there-was-as-much/) [Robert A. Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-caro/) > [Working on an adaptation is not as satisfying, because it's not your original work: you're interpreting. With 'L.A. Confidential,' I loved the book. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-helgeland/working-on-an-adaptation-is-not-as-satisfying-because-it-s-not-your/) [Brian Helgeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-helgeland/) [Browse all 476 Adaptation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adaptation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It [going from mini-series to series] was never even discussed because it [The Starter Wife] was, you know, an adaptation of a novel. And we - the mini-series encompassed the whole novel. And so it was always going to be a finite sort of event. 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