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« Samantha Who?
Episode Recap: "The Virgin"
I said it last week but I'll say it again: I really love this show. I usually receive the preview clips to get up on TVGuide.com every Thursday and whenever I do, it just psyches me up for another Monday night with Samantha and Co. When I found out that this week's show would be about Samantha trying to remember sex, I made the decision to put Heroes on hold for an hour and check out Samantha Who? in real time. Yep, even a DVR delay was too much for me!
This week's episode started out with a great family moment with the Newlys. Papa Newly was on the couch checking out the tube while Mama Newly tossed her daughter some backhanded compliments before Sam headed for a night out with Andrea. Sam and Andrea arrive at the bar and immediately catch the eye of the sleaziest guy in the bar. The guy uses every lame pickup line in the book to which Sam is completely oblivious. After Andrea needs to pull a rescue mission, it occurs to Sam that she can't recall pickup lines, or anything related to sex for that matter. What's a girl to do? Talk to her mom, of course! Really?!
As if she can't recall the type of person her mother is, Sam goes off to have a chat with mom about the birds and the bees. Before the conversation is even under way, Sam's mom thinks the conversation is about her period. Not a great start. Next, Sam is told to refer to sex as "the happy touch." Her dad has his own name for it: the special hug. When the conversation shifts focus to her parents' first times, Sam decides her friends would be the best bet for this topic.
Playing the angel vs. devil roles we've come to see them as, Andrea and Dina have completely dissenting opinions on how Sam should handle this situation. Andrea advises she go out and lose her v-card right away but Dina suggests waiting for the right guy. Andrea tries to convince Sam that sex was such a huge part of who she was before the accident that having it again might bring all of her memory back. After getting very little help from her friends, Sam goes off to visit Todd to pick up some more stuff and talk about their sexual history.
That night, Sam learns from her mother that her first time was when she was 17, which she learned from reading Sam's diary. Andrea tells her that sex is just like riding a bike, so Sam busts out her old bicycle, which she apparently can't remember either.
Later on, Sam and Andrea are out for another night on the town. Sam has some apprehension about trying to pick up a guy, doubting her ability to perform well in the sack. Andrea assures her she's good based on a $300 offer the two were given back in old Sam's glory days. Just as Andrea gets Sam ready to reel in her fish, Dina shows up to be the voice of reason. Sam learns she and Dina also shared a few smooches back in the day. Just when things couldn't get any more embarrassing for Andrea, Sam's mother shows up to join the girls night. As the three speculate on Sam's potential suitors, Sam reaches the end of her rope and goes with Dina's choice: 21-year-old Jason.
As Jason and Sam get off to an awkward start, Jason reveals to Sam that he's a virgin and Sam realizes she needs to be with someone she has history with. Just as it dawns on her that Todd is the guy for her, the memory of her first time with him comes rushing back. When she makes her way to his apartment, she discovers he's moved on and there's a new girl at his apartment. Sam returns home to sleep alone and face what no child should ever have to deal with: her parents having sex in the next room.
This was another great episode. With the amount I've been enjoying this show, it was damn near impossible for me not to like an episode built entirely around sex. Even though last week I was loving Dina's lines, this week Jean Smart and Jennifer Esposito take the cake. Every line they said was quotable. I really love how each character plays off the other. Jean Smart and Jennifer Esposito's hatred for one another is hilarious and I hope to see them in a lot more scenes together in coming episodes. Any chance the writers for this show decided not to strike?
Memorable moments:
• Jean Smart's response to Sam storming out of the house after her mom tells her she looks like a hooker and gives her a 12:00 am curfew: "What? No kiss?"
• The whole bar goes quiet when it's revealed that Sam is a virgin.
• Sam's parents throwing out all of her sentimental items because she can't remember them anyway
• Andrea: "I'll tell ya this... it does not taste like chicken!"
Dina: "Most of the time!"
• Sam to Frank the doorman: "How am I? I'm a virgin. That's how I am." His response: "Yes, and I'm a pirate!" And later: "Hey Frank, I'm not a virgin anymore!" His response while checking his watch: "And apparently not a cuddler!"
• Andrea: "I'm out with a dork, her mother, and her stalker... looks like I'm leading a special-needs field trip!"
Best line of the episode:
Dina, in response to Andrea calling Sam a child: "Childhood is nice! You get to order off the children's menu. You get to have grilled cheese!"
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Nov 5, 2007 11:40 PM
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I've been a fan of this show since the premiere episode, and it has maintained its wonderfully clever and funny quality in every episode since--and Christina Applegate is absolutely charming! She can do no wrong by me.
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Nov 6, 2007 8:15 AM
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I'm really loving this show every week. I find myself looking forward to it & I don't Tivo it to watch later, either. (I'll watch Chuck, etc. later, but I'll watch this one immediately.)
Christina Applegate is perfect in this role and she manages to pull off the show every week, even though the bulk of it rests on her shoulders.
My only beef is the Dina character. I was a "GG" fan and Dina seems to be a replica of Sookie from GG. I don't know if it's because the actress can't make the role different or just because it's written that way, but it's distracting.
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Nov 6, 2007 9:14 AM
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The funniest moments of the show for me were when Samantha tried to ride her old bicycle...I just cracked up when she fell over on her first attempt - don't know why I thought it was so funny!
I really like this show - I was a fan of "Heroes" but just couldn't get back on board this season so I'm glad to have a show to really look forward to during this time slot!
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Nov 6, 2007 9:26 AM
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This just can't get said enough...the show is awesome! so hilarious! each week, I'm amazed that it continues it's great streak of great shows. I don't think I've ever liked a show this much at such an early stage...except for the big bang theory. now that's had me hook, line, and sinker ever since the beginning.
I've not been a fan of the andrea character, but I found myself cracking up last night at all her lines. still loving jean smart and I'll always love the dina character b/c melissa mccarthy plays it...I don't care what anyone says. she's just funny!
oh, the whole chicken thing was hilarious to me for some reason...and I agree that sam falling off the bicycle was hilarious! so many laugh-out-loud moments
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Nov 6, 2007 10:13 AM
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I agree that Dina is pretty much Sookie with a different name.
Perhaps Melissa McCarthy has found her niche as a light comic actress, and is not destined to stretch much beyond the way we've seen her in those two roles. I don't mind it so much. It's nice to see a "Gilmore Girls" alum again so soon after that show's demise.
Besides, you've gotta admit, she's perfect for the Dina character.
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Nov 6, 2007 10:48 AM
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The "special needs" remark made me laugh out loud. This show is so funny. I was disappointed that the old boy friend had "company" though. I guess time will tell on that subject.
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Nov 6, 2007 2:01 PM
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My favorite character is the doorman. His dry delivery and one line zingers are hilarious.
As for the show, I'm not sure I really like it, but I'm hanging in there because of Jean Smart and Christina Applegate....and of course, the doorman.
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Nov 6, 2007 2:08 PM
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I'm with Pinkie there; my favorite character is definitely the doorman (though I do agree Christina Applegate is perfect in her role.)
You already quoted my favorite lines, but I will have to say my vote for best came from Dena after the "does not taste like chicken" comment...most of the time. Too funny.
Luckily I did not watch GG, so I do not have any other character to compare her to. I like the Dena character.
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Edited by jayhawk at 11/07/2007 4:55 AM
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Nov 6, 2007 6:08 PM
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Again another brilliant episode!
Frank definately stole the show with his one liners in this episode. Delivery of them was perfectamondo! Followed closely by Andrea and her special needs field trip. I just about spat my drink out everywhere with that.
I was completely amazed to see that Dena (my fave character) was less inhibited than she has initially been portrayed as. I was picking her as being a virgin also, and to discover that she wasn't, floored me. Not to mention how liberal she was in giving the details about it.
I too was sad to see Todd hooked up with somebody else, although I did notice he seemed happy that Sam was jealous. It'll happen for them eventually!! I hope.
M - http://www.samanthawho.org/
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Nov 6, 2007 9:37 PM
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Wrong post......sorry.
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Edited by Pinkie at 11/07/2007 12:40 AM
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Nov 6, 2007 10:46 PM
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I love Tuvok, I mean Frank. I want to see more of his Vulcan, er, doorman wisdom.
Is it just me or does Samantha look so much prettier in her flashbacks with long hair? I'm a fan of long hair on women (I mentioned the exact same thing about Olive on Pushing Daisies when she had her flashbacks as a jockey), and don't get me wrong, Christina Applegate is lovely with her curly shorter style.
I think I'd like to see her compete in Dancing with the Stars next season. Wouldn't that be synergy? She would own Monday nights.
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Nov 7, 2007 4:51 AM
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This show is so cute and funny. Granted, it may not be the funniest show out there (at least for me), but I love it.
Christina Applegate is endearing as Samantha and I can't help but feel for her as she tries to put her life back on track.
Jean Smart is, of course, one of my favorite characters. She has such a wide range -- from being the tough-as-nails First Lady in 24 to the feisty, witty mother in Samantha Who? -- pretty big transition.
I like Jennifer Esposito as Andrea because she has such a way of delivering her lines. (As Tyra Banks would say, that woman is "fierce.")
The only beef I have is with the Dina character. She comes off as pathetic more than anything else. (Once again, in my opinion. Feel free to disagree.)
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Nov 8, 2007 10:57 AM
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