How a British drama became a transatlantic soap opera experiment for American television

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Before it became a staple of ABC's summer lineup, the American adaptation of the British series Mistresses faced a rocky road to production. After a failed attempt by Lifetime in 2008, the show finally arrived in 2013, navigating shifting filming locations, high-profile casting departures, and mixed critical reception.

Developed by K. J. Steinberg, the American version of Mistresses was green-lighted by ABC in February 2012 with a direct-to-series order. The show focused on the complex, often illicit lives of four female friends, a premise adapted from the original 2008–10 British series. The lead cast featured Alyssa Milano, Rochelle Aytes, Yunjin Kim, and Jes Macallan, with the series officially premiering on June 3, 2013, after a slight delay from its original May target.

The production history was marked by significant logistical challenges. Following the second season, the show moved its primary filming location from Los Angeles to Vancouver, British Columbia, to reduce costs. This shift prompted the departure of Alyssa Milano, who chose not to return for the third season. Jennifer Esposito joined as a new co-lead for that season but departed after only one year. By the fourth season, the production returned to Los Angeles after receiving a California film and TV tax credit.

Critical reception was polarized. While some reviewers, such as Brian Lowry of Variety, praised the show as a "frothy prime time soap" that effectively filled a void for serial fans, others were less impressed. Critics like Mary McNamara of the Los Angeles Times argued that the adaptation focused too heavily on replicating British plot points rather than capturing the original's nuance. Despite these critiques, the show maintained a dedicated audience, ranking as the second-highest scripted summer drama among adults 18–49 during its first season.

The series ultimately concluded on September 9, 2016, when ABC canceled it after four seasons. While there had been speculation that a potential fifth season would have served as the final chapter, the network opted to end the run after the fourth. The show's legacy remains tied to its attempt to translate a specific British sensibility into the faster-paced, often cheekier world of American prime-time television.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• How a 2006 American Telenovela Became a Global Television Phenomenon
• The Transatlantic Reality TV Experiment That Redefined London Socialite Culture On Screen
• The television series that survived a major network cancellation
• How a reality spin-off evolved from a vacation concept into a global franchise
• The short-lived Hawaiian soap opera that ended on a cliffhanger never seen by most
• Why a 1970s soap opera turned the American housewife into a surrealist nightmare
• Why a Colombian Telenovela About an Unattractive Secretary Conquered the Global Television Market
• The double-shift actress who built a sitcom empire by night
• How a basketball-themed teen drama became a masterclass in narrative reinvention and survival
• How a fictional Cologne suburb became a staple of German daily television for decades
• Why this supernatural soap opera became the Twin Peaks of daytime television
• Three generations of chaos: the Balkan sitcom that defined a post-Yugoslav era

More in Soap operas · More in Entertainment · Latest · A–Z · All topics