Samantha Qui?

I was not familiar with this comedy series. I had never even heard of it until I found it on Hulu. From reading the IMDb entry, I see that there were quite a few nominations for this series and its actors. Well deserved, I'd say!

It does take two or three episodes for the series to feel like all the pieces come together - but then they really do, wonderfully.

It's distracting while you are learning the premises of the story that the actors are so accomplished and talented. I did not know that Melissa McCarthy had this regular gig on TV, for example. Jennifer Esposito has always been one of my favorite comedic actresses, as well as Christina Applegate. Jean Smart surprised me in her role here. She plays characters who are usually a little more flamboyant and playing Sam's mother, she has dialed it back a notch. To great effect.

I laughed a lot watching this series, once I was hooked. When every episode has at least one quotable humorous line, I count that as a successful TV comedy. This series has that.

The series has held up very well over time. I recommend binge- watching with a martini (you'll feel right at home drinking along with the characters).

Recently rewatched this as I remembered quite liking it the first time around. The whole cast compliments each other well, but in my opinion Jennifer Esposito steals the show in every scene she's in. Her portrayal of Andrea is hilarious. Why this show didn't last beyond two seasons is beyond me.

Initially I was drawn to this programme purely for Christina Applegate because she has been hilarious in EVERYTHING! but after watching this I have realised it's not just her but in fact the whole cast that attribute to the comedy of the programme- Andrea's harsh bluntness, her parents extreme inappropriateness and Dena's general personality. As a combination, the cast creates a sweet programme filled with both laughs and a essentially poignant question- If we could, would we go back and change the people we are? The only possible problem I could have with the programme is actually how short it is, because sometimes i felt as though they could increase the comedy in situations. However, Fantastic stuff, please keep it up!

The series was unusual in tackling the issue of original sin, or of free will. Is Samantha born to sin as the sparks fly upward? And the issue was handled with a good comic touch; quite a few good and original lines of dialog. Not surprisingly considering his track record of first-class work, Kevin Dunn managed to satisfactorily fill out an underwritten part-- the series is presented from a woman's point of view and there is little character behind the men's predictability or unpredictability. Maybe the biggest mistake was allowing time to pass at real average rate of a year per year, because the possibilities are greatest when Samantha's awakening is recent. After a while, the series begins to cast her in the same gags as the visitor from space-- Mork, or Alf (who is name-checked in one episode), or Dick Solomon-- who is surprised to be experiencing human life. Also, with time, the rules of behavior keeping the good friend good and the evil friend evil begin to crack a little. But the dynamic with the parents looked like the life raft that might-- who knows?-- have rescued the series for another season.

I wish there was more seasons of this! Watched a couple of episodes when it was first on, but bought the dvds recently and binged them - such a lovely show. It's light, funny, sassy, great actors and script. Love Christina Applegate and Jennifer Esposito, they are hilarious. We need more light-hearted shows like this!