From Deseret News archives:
Amnesia a good thing
The title character in "Samantha Who?" was a completely awful person. But when Sam (Christina Applegate) is run down by a hit-and-run driver, spends eight days in a coma and wakes up, she can't remember anything about her life. And when she finds out about her life, she's horrified.
"At first, my problem was that I didn't know who I was," Sam says in tonight's premiere (8:30 p.m., ABC/Ch. 4). "But now, my problem is that I do know who I was and I really hate it. And I really want to change but maybe I can't."
"Bad Sam" was mean, nasty, vain, self-absorbed, adulterous, back-stabbing, avaricious you name the vice, she had it. "Good Sam" seems like, well, a pretty nice person with a whole lot of baggage she can't even remember.
This is not a comedy about someone who is going to eventually recover her memory creator/executive producer Donald Todd assures us that Sam "will not ever fully regain it," although there will be "opportunities for her to recover a little memory at a time."
Mostly bad ones, as it turns out.
She's never even spoken to her doorman (Tim Russ), but when she does it turns out he's a really nice guy (once he gets over the shock).
Sam has pretty much been horrible to everyone around her.
She is aghast as she finds out more and more about herself, but she's determined to become a better person. Although there are moments when "Bad Sam" unexpectedly (and rather hilariously) comes out.
And the whole amnesia thing is by no means a tragedy it's a blessing.
"That's exactly how we're approaching it," said Todd, "is that it's the idea of taking an infirmity, a problem, and making the best of it. She has to realize that. At first ... she just wants to get back into her life. That's what a person would want to do. But gradually, through the friends and experiences, she realizes that who wouldn't want this opportunity?"
It certainly helps that Applegate is so great in the role. And there is some very funny stuff in "Samantha Who?" The pilot is pretty good, and a second episode sent to critics is even better a very good sign.
E-mail: ">pierce@desnews.com
Comments
- UNLV earns ranking before BYU 9:11 p.m.
- Utes prepare to go bowling 9:08 p.m.
- 'Mr. Hyphen' takes aim at stereotypes 9:07 p.m.
- Studies: Gambling addiction is illness 9:06 p.m.
- Utah business indicators rose 9:04 p.m.
- Electronics sales soar; clothing slips 9:04 p.m.
- GM's Henderson resigns as CEO 9:02 p.m.
- GE returns to its roots 9:01 p.m.
- FDA issues warning to Tyson in Texas 9:00 p.m.
- Institute extends deadline for entries 9:00 p.m.
- 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
- BYU says Hall incident resolved
- Max Hall: a fixture in rivalry lore
- 'Grandfamilies' a growing trend
- Witness: Mitchell wanted attention
- Mitchell called intelligent, controlling
- MWC '09 season in review
- Jazz win 6th in 7 games
- Jazz ready to be without Harpring
- Daughter: Mitchell fed me my pet
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
903 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
482 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
401 - Max Hall issues apology
387 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
344 - Utes won't respond to Hall
274 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
232 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
157 - BYU is champion of the state
143 - Religion in politics is tiresome
128
As distressing as it was to see KUTV's longtime vice president/general...
good to know that obama voted against the war we're winning (iraq) and voted...
Some people can lift themselves up by their own bootstraps, others have no...
Thank you Scott for sending the story. I will share this with the rest of...
This is an unfortunate situation. No one wins. Many lives changed and lessons...
When Sloan retires, you could put Matt in his place on the bench with not...
I knew these officers personally, wonderful people!!
Why does it matter what others say? Why do you even listen to them? If...
Whatever Max Hall said about the U of U, it will haunt him for a long time...
The aggies are out in the cold and you hate the only two football teams in...
This article isn't accurate. It says COBRA would go away under health care...





You can be the first to comment on this story.