Samantha Who?

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).

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.

Here is an original idea. What if we all had the chance to forget the transgressions we committed in our life up to this time? What would happen if you woke up from a coma not knowing the first thing about your past? Such is the premise of "Samamtha Who?", a charming fantasy-comedy starring Christina Applegate, formerly of "Married...With Children". I suspect that most of us, given the chance, would probably not like a few things about our past lives, but Samantha, pre-amnesia, was a bit more unlikeable than most. Miss Applegate has progressed quite a bit as a comedic actress over the years, and her character here gets a chance to show her considerable comedic talents. Her reactions and expressions remind one of the early Marlo Thomas in the "That Girl" series. This series deserves a chance to succeed, if only the writers can keep up the writing end, not running out of ideas based soley on the amnesia gag. There is promise here.

Did you enjoy 13 Going on 30? If so, you will certainly enjoy this sitcom. As it is impossible to watch Ugly Betty without remember The Devil Wears Prada, Samantha Who has an essence of 13 Going on 30. The best friend character have the same soul on both, and even the job of the guy is the same (photographer). But it is not a negative point. The central plot is great: if you wake up and discover how disgusting you were, could you change it? Besides, if you use to see TV series, here you can find actors from a lot of populars one, like Brian from What About Brian, Sookie from Gilmore Girls, Tuvok from Star Trek Voyager and of course, Kelly Bundy from Married with Children. I think this TV Series has potential to last for some seasons, and I hope they develop well this!

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.