TV Detail: Samantha Who? review. Season 2 Premiere

Samantha Who? was one of the breakout shows of 2007, the highest rated new sitcom of the fall season and earned Jean Smart an Emmy for Supporting Actress in a Comedy. Not too shabby for a show that had to endure a huge writer’s strike in it’s first season. Although it left the air in December, the show returned in April to finish out a shortened 15-episode run but was eventually picked up for the fall 08-09’ season.

None of this is too surprising for fans of the hilariously heartwarming show, which tells the story of Samantha Newly (Christina Applegate), a hugely successful but uptight 30-year-old businesswoman who develops full retrograde amnesia after a hit and run. Doesn’t sound too hilarious, we know, but the funny comes in as Samantha starts to piece her life back together and learns that she’s none-too-fond of her former self.

Providing much of the comedy (aside from the goofy-good Applegate) are Samantha’s parents, played by Jean Smart and Kevin Dunn. They think they’re super cool, but in truth they’re just pretty kooky. Also bringing the laughs is Samantha’s alcohol-loving best friend Andrea (Jennifer Esposito), who isn’t a fan of her new-and-improved nice girlfriend. The now-huge differences between them has given Sam a chance to get close to her childhood best friend, the super naïve but sweet Dena (Melissa McCarthy). In the middle of all of this is Todd (Barry Watson), Sam’s live-in ex boyfriend who she quickly realizes she still has feelings for, despite having treated him horribly while still “mean Sam.” Get all that?

Our sparkly-yet-awkward heroine spent most of the first season trying to win Todd back, even though he quickly moved on to a new love, Chloe, midseason. Through a series of humorous hijinks, Sam eventually split up Todd and Chloe, but not before realizing (in perfect sitcom form) that she didn’t want him either. At least not for now. She strongly decided to keep learning about herself, and that she especially wants to live alone for a while. The duo decided to start fresh, ending season one with closure but enough question marks to bring viewers back.

Much to the sadness of her parents, the start of season two finds Sam moving out of her parents house and back to the apartment she had been letting Todd live in for free (and, at one point, with Chloe). But she doesn’t stay away from mom and pops for long. While over at her ‘rents to do some laundry, Sam discovers that her parents are entering a local dance contest, a skill she had forgotten that she herself possesses. She quickly decides to take her dad’s place as her mom’s partner. All great fun, until she realizes that dancing is not just like riding a bike and that her amnesia has crippled her ability to groove. When her mom cheats on her by asking her dad back to the dance partnership, Sam returns to the city broken hearted. But don’t worry; this is a sitcom, people. Howard fakes a sprain to let a giddy Sam have her time in the spotlight with mom. And, oh, the horror, that girl can’t dance a lick.

Cybil Shepherd guest stars in a flat role as an archenemy to Sam’s mom Regina, who competes against her every year in the contest. Yawn. There was also another small storyline with Todd and Andrea where she helps him get some money to move out of Sam’s place, but it was so unremarkable we can’t even recall the details. The problem with the premiere is that it didn’t dig deep enough into the relationships that make the show so lovable. Let’s all cross our fingers that we see way more of Sam’s friends and a little less of her loveable yet weirdo parents in the future.

Overall, the show works because, even in its 30-minute time slot, it usually covers a lot of ground each week. The series is at its best when focusing on Sam discovering bigger issues than her dance skills. Our big hopes for the new Sam this year include a new job, a few fresh hobbies and a (slow build) rekindled flame with Todd. Overall, the premiere moved nowhere and proved a pretty hollow and disappointing return to the usually funny, whipsmart and perfectly sweetened hit show. Hopefully, it’s just off to a slow start.