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Once again, I’ve been called upon to eulogize yet another lovable TV series: Samantha Who?—which, like .nightsandweekends.com/articles/09/NW0900426.php>Dirty Sexy Money and Eli Stone, was unceremoniously dumped sometime mid-season.
For (nearly) two seasons, the half-hour sitcom followed Samantha Newly (Christina Applegate) on her quest to start her life over. Though she can’t remember much of her life before a hit-and-run accident put her in a coma and gave her a serious case of amnesia, Sam’s been gradually piecing her past together, with the help of her family and friends (as well as through the snippets of memories that come back from time to time).
Old Sam wasn’t a Good Sam—and now New Sam’s starting from scratch. She’s trying to be a better friend…a better daughter…a better person. So, throughout season two, she tries to find the perfect career, start a normal relationship, and make things up to her ex-boyfriend (and now roommate), Todd (Barry Watson).
Meanwhile, Sam’s parents (Jean Smart and Kevin Dunn) struggle with retired life—and their differing dreams. Sam’s childhood friend, Dena (Melissa McCarthy), works on her relationship with Sam’s old boss, Chase (Rick Hoffman). And shallow Andrea (Jennifer Esposito) starts a whirlwind relationship with a professional basketball player.
As in the show’s first season, Applegate is still adorable as the well-meaning amnesiac, playing her character with the perfect mix of maturity and child-like wonder. Even in some of her most awkward moments, you can’t help but love her (except in “The Amazing Racist,” when she just goes too far). And the delightful cast of supporting characters once again add to the fun—from ditsy Dena to Frank the doorman (Tim Russ), who’s always there to offer a few words of wisdom while he’s hailing Sam’s cab.
Like Dirty Sexy Money, though, Samantha Who? was dropped for a pretty clear reason. After all, the whole amnesia plotline couldn’t go on forever. Sure, it worked well in the first season—but, as the second season opens, Sam has already had a full year to regain her memories. She’s come to grips with her unpleasant past, and she’s moving on. So, in this season, with the exception of the occasional pre-amnesia flashbacks, Samantha Who? becomes just another sitcom. It’s still funny and charming, but it isn’t quite as special (or as different) as it was before. At the same time, the subplots (especially Andrea’s bizarre budding romance) fall flat, and Sam’s near misses with Todd eventually become so old hat that the return of Sam’s conniving boss, billionaire Winston Funk (Billy Zane), is actually a welcome change of pace.
Sadly, like so many other recently-cancelled series, Samantha Who? didn’t have a chance to give its audience (or its characters) closure. So while one major plotline comes to a somewhat satisfying conclusion, several others are left open-ended, waiting in vain for a third season premiere. And that makes this second season DVD release bittersweet: it’s nice to be able to relive Sam’s most entertaining moments—but it’s a shame that we never really had a chance to say good-bye to our fun-loving but forgetful friend.
DVD Review:
Unless you were especially vigilant—or you had your DVR set to record episodes whenever they happened to pop up, like I did—you probably missed the last handful of Samantha Who? episodes. So the three-disc season two DVD release offers an opportunity to pay your last respects—and to spend a few more minutes with Sam and her friends.
The set includes 17 regular episodes and three extra episodes (one of which, according to my DVR, never aired). Other special features include a super-short blooper reel, six deleted scenes, and an uncut dance scene (featuring Applegate and Smart) from the season premiere. There’s also a quick tour of the set (including the plethora of chickens found around the Newly home) with Applegate and Melissa McCarthy, and a short interview with Applegate, McCarthy, and Jennifer Esposito.
Though most of the extras in the set are mildly entertaining, the best of the bunch is the extra episode, “The Sister,” which shows Sam’s crazy family at its worst. So as you’re making your way through the set, don’t overlook the “More Sam” option on the third disc.
