Samantha Who? 2.15 “Todd’s Job”
Air Date: July 2, 2009
Recap & Discussion

After realizing that “old” Sam may have been responsible for Todd’s not becoming a successful photographer, “new” Sam sets out to sabotage his competition for a job at a local newspaper. Meanwhile Regina, who is desperate for a new listing in order to continue touting her real estate partnership with Sam, puts Dena’s house on the market - unbeknownst to Dena.

Samantha Who? Highlights:

• Sam begins to think herself unlucky that Todd is always in her way at their apartment.
• Feeling crowded in her own place, she heads over to her parents’ house. A brief moment of peace lapses when they come home early!
• Regina shares news that their townhouse listing sold! Except to her, it’s bad news. Because it was their only listing, and she thinks you need a listing to get more listings.
• Regina thinks it’d be a good idea to list their house (not to sell, but just list). Howard doesn’t want strangers in the house.
• Learning that Todd will be at the movies, Sam returns home… except Todd is still there.
• Sam confesses she never gets to be at home by herself because Todd is always there
• Sam remembers that she was the one who didn’t pass Todd the message about a photo opportunity at a collapsed mine… which got another photographer a Pulitzer prize. Oops!
• Since Todd is now up against that photographer for a full-time job, Sam wants to get this other guy (Wes) out of the picture. To cover her guilt and get him out working.
• Dena gets a call that there’s an open house going on at her place! She returns home to find Regina there!

(Photo Copyright © 2008 ABC Studios / Bob D’Amico)

Recap continues below… Read more

Samantha Who? 2.14 “The Rock Star”
Air Date: June 25, 2009
Recap [Spoilers & Photos]

(Copyright © 2008 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc./ Eric McCandles)

When Sam (Christina Applegate) starts dating rock superstar Tommy Wylder (Duran Duran’s John Taylor) - an idol from a youth that she has no recollection of - she becomes so embarrassed by Andrea (Jennifer Esposito) and Dena’s (Gilmore Girls star Melissa McCarthy) fan-like reactions that she unintentionally begins to alienate them. Meanwhile, with Sam dating Tommy, Regina (Jean Smart) fondly recalls memories of Howard’s (Kevin Dunn) early days as a musician.

Note: they didn’t edit this episode, which was originally supposed to air several episodes earlier in the season. Therefore, there are a few things out of sequence (like Andrea’s relationship with Tony Dane).

Samantha Who? Highlights:

• Samantha meets a pop icon, Tommy Wylder, but doesn’t know who he is (no memories). She even manages to insult him a few times!
• Andrea hasn’t yet met Tony Dane, but she’s gushing all over him
• Dena is planning a birthday for Mr. Cellophane, her dog.
• Upon hearing of Sam meeting Tommy, Dena and Andrea go crazy. Dena moreso (of course).
• Dena brings over memorabilia of her obsession with him (apparently Sam was obsessed too as a kid!).
• Sam shares with Tommy, on their first date, that she and Dena used to laugh that his album, “King of Hearts”, sounds like “King of Farts.” He likes that she’s not shy to be herself with him.
• Just as Sam is being complimented for not bringing the “hero worship” stuff into his life, Dena & Andrea arrive!
• Sam takes Dena & Andrea to the bathroom to tell them not to be crazy fans. Dena doesn’t do so well with that
• Apparently Sam has sent her dad a guitar, to bring back his own dreams of being a rocker. Howard woos Regina with his playing.
• Sam tries to talk to Dena & Andrea about them being too fan-crazy, and how it’s too early for that with her and Tommy.
• Dena & Andrea both get offended. They want to go to Tommy’s concert!
• Being at Tommy’s concert gives Sam a flashback to being 13 and screaming “Tommy, I love you!” to him at another concert!

Read more

Samantha Who? 2.13 “The Debt”
Air Date: April 16, 2009
Recap [Spoilers]

While with her parents are in Vegas attending a real estate seminar, Samantha (Christina Applegate) loses a huge sum of money at the craps table and finds herself in debt to the casino. But a chance meeting with her ex-boss, billionaire Winston Funk (Billy Zane), could be the answer to her financial trouble. Meanwhile, when Dena (Melissa McCarthy) asks Andrea (Jennifer Esposito) for a big favor, she agrees - but only if Dena consents to fake a situation that could help boost Andrea’s sagging public approval ratings as she plans her wedding to pro-basketball player Tony Dane (McKinley Freeman).

• Samantha is promoting an open house when Winston Funk drives by and asks her if things are well since she quit
• Sam decides she wants to tell her mom that she wants to quit doing real estate. She feels like she left her job to do great things but has hit a dead end.
• Dena visits Andrea at work to ask a favor, though Andrea is surprised to learn Dena is a teacher. Dena wants Andrea to get a basketball signed by Tony Dane for a school auction, hoping it would land her a job at the school full-time
• Andrea is upset because public polls show that she’s heartless and people would rather see Tony Dane gay than marry her. Andrea hatches a plan to make people like her and it involves a chocking Dena.
• Regina (Jean Smart) convinces Sam to go to Las Vegas with her, but it turns out to be a trick to go to a real estate convention
• Sam refuses to go to the seminar, instead she’s drawn to the casino. They apparently know her there and have a $50,000 credit in her name there. Sam slips into gambling but…
• Sam loses $100,000! She lost her first $50k and they lent her another $50k, which she also lost
• Regina is happy - Sam has to keep working with her to pay off her debt
• Andrea gives Dena a croissant to choke on, but a boy scout tries to help Dena and Andrea pushes him down, hurting him.

(Photo Copyright © 2008 ABC Studios / Bob D’Amico) MORE RECAP… Read more

Samantha Who? 2.12 “The Amazing Racist”
Air Date: April 09, 2009
Recap

After a series of misunderstandings, Samantha (Christina Applegate) discovers she needs to be a better friend to Frank (Tim Russ). Meanwhile, when Andrea’s (Jennifer Esposito) pro-basketball player boyfriend is outed as gay, she fears that all the glamorous perks that come from dating a celebrity will end.

Samantha Who? Highlights:

• Regina (Jean Smart) uses guilt and motherly disappointment to get Sam to pull more of her weight at the house showing
• Sam tries to level with a client about ‘people like us’ wanting to live in one neighborhood vs another, but the client thinks she’s being racist. Turns out the client’s husband is African American and Sam had no idea what the other region was like
• Sam worries that her life doesn’t have enough black people - voting for Obama and watching Oprah aren’t big in her favor. She doesn’t think she knows any black people - Andrea and Dena (Melissa McCarthy) do.
• Turns out that Andrea’s fake boyfriend, Tony Dane (McKinley Freeman), was caught kissing another man! So much for keeping being gay quiet. Andrea worries her posh lifestyle is over.
• Sam comes home and is greeted by Frank; “Frank, you’re black!”
• Frank tells Sam they’re not friends - she may talk to him, but doesn’t even know his last name or anything about him
• Sam thinks they have enough shared experiences to have a friendship and is determined to be his friend (though, I wonder, is it to make herself feel less racist??)
• Todd (Barry Watson) is growing a mustache, perhaps to spite Samantha, who mocks him. He’s trying to point out she’s not his girlfriend and has no say.
• Sam tries to get Frank to join them for “F Day” dinner, but Frank doesn’t want to get “Fired”

(Photo Copyright © 2008 ABC Studios / Bob D’Amico) MORE RECAP… Read more

Samantha Who? 2.11 “The Dog”
Air Date: April 2, 2009
Recap [Spoilers]

Sam (Christina Applegate) wants a baby, but she settles for a babysitting one of Dena’s (Melissa McCarthy) dogs to see if you has any motherly instincts. Howard (Kevin Dunn) and Regina (Jean Smart) inherit a plane, which causes Regina to take flying lessons.

Samantha Who? Highlights:

• Samantha doesn’t have a green thumb - her plants “are teenagers”, rejecting her love
• Uncle Walter has died - Sam’s Uncle Walter. Who she doesn’t remember. Thankfully Sam has a cute black dress to wear…
• At the open-casket funeral, Sam can’t muster up any tears.
• Regina gets all teary about the “shortness of life” and the lack of any grandchildren from Sam, and Sam getting older.
• Sam gets a baby put into her arms by a relative, the baby smell sending her into tears. “I want a baby!”
• Walter left Regina & Howard a plane in his will - Howard thinks he’s taunting his wealth at them. Regina decides to take flying lessons!
• Dena has adopted a new dog - a much smaller dog that Mr. Cellophane seems to want to eat.
• Sam is looking into adopting a baby, but finds the process laborious. Dena gives her an egg to tend, to see if she’s ready for responsibility… Sam drops it.
• There’s a photo of Andrea (Jennifer Esposito) in a gossip magazine with “baby bump” written on it, referencing “Tony Dane’s Love Child”, despite their fake relationship.

(Photo Copyright © 2008 ABC Studios / Bob D’Amico) MORE RECAP… Read more

Samantha Who? 2.10 “My Best Friend’s Boyfriend”
Air Date: March 26, 2009
Recap

Todd (Barry Watson) discovers something peculiar about Andrea (Jennifer Esposito)’s pro basketball-playing date and Sam (Christina Applegate) decides to meddle in his affairs to keep Andrea from getting hurt. Dena (Melissa McCarthy) must deal with a strange relationship with a soldier.

Samantha Who? Highlights:

• Sam is spending her time being single getting caught up on history & pop culture and ‘loving’ it
• Dena feels like she’s cheating on Chase because she sent coffee to a soldier and he initiated small talk
• Andrea and Tony Dane (McKinley Freeman) are still only “dating” by texting but Andrea doesn’t want to share details with Samantha - who always tried to sabotage her relationships
• Todd has women falling all over him, but he’s not falling in return. He still seems hung up on Sam - he hopes it will grow into something more. Seth (Stephen Rannazzisi) tells Todd he’s becoming the “gay roommate” and needs to make Sam miss him.
• Sam convinces Seth to give her a press pass to confront Tony about his feelings for Andrea and why he keeps canceling their dates (love that Seth got her in for ‘Hiney Magazine’). Tony says Andrea cancels on him.
• Andrea confronts Sam then confesses she’s afraid to meet Tony because it’s the best relationship she’s ever had… and Sam destroyed it
• Sam chases after Andrea, telling her she deserves more than a text relationship. Andrea’s afraid her text-self is too perfect for reality.
• Sam offers to take Todd on a double date with Andrea & Tony
• Dena goes to Howard (Kevin Dunn) in a panic because the soldier sent her a new fridge after she had told her a boring story about her broken fridge. She doesn’t want Chase to think she’s cheating.
• When Sam tells Todd they’re going out with Andrea, he tries to be a man and say ‘No’, but he’s tempted by Tony Dane
• Regina (Jean Smart) advises Dena to break up with the soldier. Regina practices her break-up speech on Dena but she didn’t realize it was fake and starts crying for being dumped!
• Poor Andrea! She’s so nervous meeting Tony that she’s tongue-tied, saying “Hi-llo”

(Photo Copyright © 2008 ABC Studios / Bob D’Amico) MORE RECAP… Read more

Samantha Who? 2.09 “The Family Vacation”
Air Date: December 1, 2008
Recap & Discussion [Spoilers]

Sam (Christina Applegate), her heart somewhat broken, goes on a family vacation - with Andrea (Jennifer Esposito) and Dena (Melissa McCarthy) in tow - and discovers that the owner of the lodge is an old flame from her forgotten youth. But not wanting to get her heart broken again, she resists the temptation of reconnecting with lodge owner Brad (Teddy Sears ) and then becomes jealous when Andrea makes a move on him.

This is the last episode of “Samantha Who?” to air until January 12th.

Samantha Who? Highlights:

• After breaking up with Owen, Sam fell for Mike. And is a complete mess when it doesn’t work out after three weeks.
• Todd (Barry Watson) is not so sympathetic, after giving 4 years to Sam when she gave nothing back. Now that she gives too much, it’s merely ironic.
• Regina (Jean Smart) is taking Howard (Kevin Dunn) on vacation because his blood pressure is too high. Sam latches on the idea of a vacation with her family.
• Sam invites Dena to come along on the vacation with her. Andrea is not invited, because Regina says so. Sam gives her a pity invite, but has to retract it.
• The Pine Knot Lodge is a little more… rustic than Sam was expecting. Dena is freaked out too.
• Sam is greeted warmly by lodge owner Brad… an ex-boyfriend she forgot about. Her first love, apparently. She has to break her amnesia to him.
• Regina gets a surprise of her own - the lodge no longer serves alcohol
• Andrea shows up at the lodge as if she comes there all the time. Andrea immediately crushes on Brad.
• Regina warms up to Andrea, knowing she probably has alcohol
• Brad joins Sam & Dena to play some board games, which freaks Sam out. But Brad drags Sam to look at handprints that they left in the cement together, and they share a moment. Sam pulls away.

(Photo Copyright © 2008 ABC Studios / Bob D’Amico)

Recap continues below… Read more

Samantha Who? 2.08 “The Park”
Air Date: December 1, 2008
Recap & Discussion [Spoilers]

Sam (Christina Applegate) tries to make herself appear to be an environmentalist, so Owen (James Tupper) might like her more. Owen comes to meet Sam’s parents. Andrea (Jennifer Esposito) doesn’t fare well when the basketball player, Tony Dane, is looking for a date.

Samantha Who? Highlights:

• Owen is building a park for kids - Sam is pitching in to help, but hates manual labor. She sounds like she’s getting a little annoyed with his good nature.
• Dena (Melissa McCarthy) complains about Chace thinking she loves her dogs more than him. Andrea is shining after text-dating Tony Dane for two weeks.
• After Sam admits to becoming a vegetarian, Andrea asks if she likes being this person - someone who changes who she is for a man. She hates it but is willing to endure the pain.
• Andrea finally has a real date with Tony - the next night
• Todd (Barry Watson) is not happy with the low-flow shower and re-usable water bottles Sam has in their house - changes she made at Owen’s suggestion
• Sam insists she’s not changing for Owen. Todd points out he never wanted her to change - she’d only end up resenting him.
• Sam ends up taking back her old shower head!! That slope slips to meat and plastic again. So much for saving the world
• Regina (Jean Smart) says Sam is ‘cheating’ on Owen with these choices
• Andrea gets escorted from the club for her date with Tony Dane. She’s all giddy with celebrity fervor. But she’s soon joined in the limo by a whole slew of guests. It’s not a date date.
• At the prospect of spreading manure all day, Sam fakes being ill and lies to Owen.

(Photo Copyright © 2008 ABC Studios / Bob D’Amico)

Recap continues below… Read more

Samantha Who? 2.07 “The Farm”
Air Date: November 24, 2008
Recap & Discussion

Sam (Christina Applegate) and Owen (James Tupper) head over to Regina (Jean Smart) and Howard’s (Kevin Dunn) for dinner. Everything is going fine until Owen starts in on the horror of chicken farms, not knowing that Howard owns one. Dena (Melissa McCarthy) oversteps her boundaries, when she undermines Chapman’s authority with his employees. Todd (Barry Watson) enjoys the apartment alone after not telling Sam his mother isn’t coming after all.

I realized I missed this episode, so sorry for the late recap!

Samantha Who? Highlights:

• Todd is shocked to find Sam at home… with Owen. So now Sam owes Todd a favor for that awkwardness.
• Todd’s mom is coming in from Canada (he’s Canadian!) and Todd wants her to leave while she’s there. So he doesn’t have to explain living at her place.
• Sam recalls taking Todd to her parents’ house - and Howard walking in on them in bed
• Sam decides to take Owen to meet her parents - to get over her fear of that whole issue (mixing personal life with family life)
• Dena misses Chase, so decides to stop by his office. To mix up his life too.
• Sam, realizing that Owen will get to know her parents, decides to change them up a bit. Put “green” products in their house, give them cue cards.
• Frank (Tim Russ) thinks Todd was lying about his mother coming over in order to get Sam to leave. But what he really wants is to get away from his own in-laws, who are staying with him for two weeks. They go play video games.
• Dena stops by Chace’s office, but stays in there during an office meeting! She laughs at his attempts to be severe to his employees, which discredits him. He kicks her out of the office. But not before people laugh at him.

(Photo Copyright © 2008 ABC Studios / Bob D’Amico)

Recap continues below… Read more

Samantha Who? 2.06 “The Ex”
Air Date: November 17, 2008
Recap & Discussion [Spoilers]

Sam (Christina Applegate) is still dating Owen (James Tupper). Owen finds out that Sam lives with ex-boyfriend Todd (Barry Watson). Things get messier, however, when Sam discovers that Owen’s best friend is also his ex-girlfriend, Willow (Eliza Coupe). When a romantic spark ignites between Todd and Willow, Sam finds herself becoming jealous and must decide which man is most important in her life. Meanwhile, Dena (Melissa McCarthy) tries her best to shoot a flattering picture of an non-photogenic Andrea (Jennifer Esposito) in order to secure her a date with a hunky pro-basketball player.

Samantha Who? Highlights:

• Sam tries to decide if it’s a “big thing” to tell Owen that she still lives with her ex, Todd. She has so far eluded telling him or showing Owen her apartment.
• When Owen gets all dreamy about how much he wants to get to know Sam, Sam asks Frank (Tim Russ) if Todd is home (in a roundabout way). Sadly, Todd is just then arriving home.
• Dena shows Andrea photos of her dogs all dressed up for a calendar she’s doing
• Seth (Stephen Rannazzisi) calls Andrea, who hangs up since she already has Tony Dane’s (the basketball player) number
• Sam, burdened by her secret from Owen, has decided to come clean with both Todd and Owen
• Seth tricked Andrea to meeting him at the bar. Apparently Tony won’t meet Andrea without a photo - he’s used to dating celebrities
• Sam is honest to Owen about Todd… and about owning alligator shoes
• Owen is relieved, however, because his best friend is his ex-girlfriend, and he was hiding that from Sam. Jealous Sam rears her head.
• Regina (Jean Smart) is upset because cookies are out of fashion at open houses - cupcakes are ‘in’ and she doesn’t know how to make those
• Sam decides she wants to meet Willow, though is already intimidated that she might be prettier than her. Owen suggests inviting Todd too.
• Todd comes home to find Sam making dinner, when Sam tries to innocently share that she’s dating Owen. And that Todd has to stay for dinner, to prove it’s not awkward (even though it is)
• Andrea has Dena over to take a sexy photo of her for Tony Dale, only the photos are very very bad. Andrea’s not photogenic at all!

(Photo Copyright © 2008 ABC Studios / Bob D’Amico)

Recap continues below… Read more