Mistresses (American TV series)

Did You Know?

• Mistresses premiered on CTV in Canada on June 3, 2013, the same day as in the US.
• The series premiered in the United Kingdom on July 25, 2013, on TLC.
• In Australia, Mistresses premiered on September 30, 2013, on the Seven Network.

Cast and characters

The cast of the American series "Mistresses" included Alyssa Milano as Savannah "Savi" Davis, a lawyer who is the ex-wife of Harry and the older half-sister of Joss, appearing in the first two seasons. Yunjin Kim played Dr. Karen Kim, a psychiatrist who had a romantic relationship with a patient. Rochelle Aytes was April Malloy, a widowed mother who runs a home furnishings store and cafe. Jes Macallan portrayed Josslyn "Joss" Carver, a real estate agent and Savi's younger half-sister.

Brett Tucker played Harry Davis, a chef and restaurateur who was married to Savi. Erik Stocklin appeared as Sam Grey in season one, the son of Karen's late lover. Jason George played Dominic Taylor, a lawyer and Savi's coworker, as a main character in seasons one and two and a guest in seasons three and four. Rob Mayes portrayed Marc Nickleby in seasons three and four, a friend of Harry's who moves in with April.

Jennifer Esposito played Calista Raines in season three, a fashion brand creative director who becomes friends with Joss. Tabrett Bethell appeared as Kate Davis, Harry's sister who moves to Los Angeles after her engagement falls apart, as a guest in season two and a main character in season four.

Production

In February 2012, ABC green-lit Mistresses with a direct-to-series order of thirteen episodes and a planned summer 2013 airdate. K.J. Steinberg wrote the pilot, which had been under consideration for ABC's fall 2012 schedule. This was the second attempt to import the British series to the U.S.; Lifetime had announced a version in 2008 starring Aytes alongside Milano's Charmed co-star Holly Marie Combs, but it never aired. ABC renewed Mistresses for a second season on September 25, 2013, airing from June 2 to September 1, 2014.

On September 30, 2014, the series was renewed for a third season, with production moved from Los Angeles to Vancouver, British Columbia; the season premiered on June 18, 2015, in a new Thursday timeslot with a two-hour premiere. On September 25, 2015, ABC renewed the series for a fourth season of thirteen episodes. In December 2015, Mistresses received a California film and TV tax credit, relocating filming back to Los Angeles. Casting began in early March, with Rochelle Aytes and Jes Macallan cast first, followed by Yunjin Kim in mid-March and Alyssa Milano completing the lead cast.

On September 30, 2014, Milano announced she would not return for the third season due to the production move to Vancouver. On February 10, 2015, Jennifer Esposito joined as a new co-lead, but left after one season on September 25, 2015. On February 19, 2016, Tabrett Bethell, who had guest-starred in season two, returned as a lead for the fourth season.

Reception

Mistresses holds a score of 42 out of 100 on Metacritic, based on 16 negative reviews from early in the first season. Brian Lowry of Variety described it as a frothy prime time soap with a naughty streak, suited to daytime serial fans, and noted the U.S. version sought a cheekier, less somber tone than the British original. Dorothy Rabinowitz of The Wall Street Journal likened the show to Sex and the City, stating the best sparkle was in the darkest plots and looming catastrophes.

David Hinckley of the New York Daily News gave the premiere two out of five stars, saying ABC had done better work in the genre and that the problem lay with expectations. Mary McNamara of the Los Angeles Times wrote that executive producer K.J. Steinberg appeared more interested in replicating plot from the British version than character or nuance. The premiere episode scored a 1.2 in the 18–49 demographic and 4.40 million viewers. The first season ranked as the No. 2 scripted summer drama among adults 18–49, behind Under the Dome, averaging around 5 million viewers and a 2.0 18–49 rating with DVR factored in.