Did ABC have a case of amnesia? The much-delayed return of 'Samantha Who?'

Many of you have aptly titled "Samantha Who?," which returns to the schedule Thursday at 8:30 p.m. on ABC, "Samantha Where?" The show hasn't been on the air since December 1. ABC kept adding it to the schedule and taking it off to make room for epic long episodes of "The Bachelor." The funny comedy deserves more than a four month break in the middle of the season.

The show picks up right where it left off. Thankfully even if you have never seen the series, you'll be able to understand what's going on. Sam (Christina Applegate) and her ex-boyfriend Todd (Barry Watson) are roommates but both of them want something more -- just not at the same time. Andrea (Jennifer Esposito) is dating basketball player Tony Dane although they still haven't met. And Dena (Melissa McCarthy) has inadvertently started up a relationship with a soldier overseas.

I really like this show but I'm worried that it will not fare well in its new time slot and all the stops and starts have curtailed any momentum the series was building. It's not good when your own network seems to have forgotten about you. Applegate remains hilarious as the woman with amnesia who wants to lead a better life and this is definitely the role of Esposito's career. She is a consistent hoot. Add in Jean Smart and Kevin Dunn as Samantha's parents and Tim Russ as Sam's droll doorman and you have one of the best comedy casts on prime time.

But I think now the show has to start advancing the plots forward. They need to decide what to do about Samantha and Todd because this show doesn't need the hook of will they/won't they. And they definitely need to tone down the goofy aspects of the show. It's best served by story lines that are grounded in somewhat in reality. So Andrea dating a professional sports star, sure. Dena getting major appliances from a soldier she hasn't met, not so much.

All in all though, I'm still a fan of the show. I only wish ABC was too. Four stars.

You'll also want to check out "In the Motherhood," which premieres Thursday at 8 p.m. on ABC. Megan Mullally, Cheryl Hines, and Jessica St. Clair star as three very different moms navigating parenthood. Part of me is all for a show that manages to work in references to "Who's the Boss" and "Lost" but the premiere episode is rocky and doesn't really do enough to introduce all the characters. Three stars. After you've watched it, let me know what you think.

Talk about "Samantha Who?" and "In the Motherhood" below.

Where Have I Seen Them Before?

Kevin Kilner has been a busy guy this season. I'll pull him out of my "deserves his own show" file to tell you he was the Handler who attacked Sierra on "Dollhouse." And he popped up on "Damages" last week as the private investigator helping Ellen. We recently saw him as Ignacio's doctor on "Ugly Betty" and the husband who knew his wife was having an affair with an activist on "Life on Mars." He was also Clayton on "Cashmere Mafia."

Dennis recognized Aaron Hill as The Frozen Snowshoe on "How I Met Your Mother." Hill is Beaver on "Greek " and Dennis also recognized him as Peggy's mean truck driver date on the first season of "Mad Men."

Jack recognized Connor Trinneer as the port authority cop Jack saved on"24." He was Trip Tucker on "Enterprise" and we will be seeing him on "24" again this season.

Caroline and Ginni recognized Emily Kuroda as the patient for Cristina's first solo surgery on "Grey's Anatomy." She was Lane's mother Mrs. Kim on "Gilmore Girls."

Wendy Moniz is the older woman who is dating Patty's son on "Damages." She was Lulu on "The Guardian" and Stacey on "Big Shots." She so needs to guest star on "The Mentalist" as one of Patrick's old girlfriends, don't you think?

Matt Letscher, Eli's brother Nate on "Eli Stone," is the man Kitty met in the park on "Brothers & Sisters." He was also Burton on "The New Adventures of Old Christine" and Gavin on "Good Morning Miami."

Mark A. Sheppard is the FBI agent Tanaka on "Dollhouse." He's Nathan's rival Jim Sterling on "Leverage" and Romo Lampkin on "Battlestar Galactica."

Jeanine recognized Patton Oswalt was software millionaire Joel Mynor on "Dollhouse." We've seen Oswalt this season as Max's friend Neil on "The United States of Tara" and I'll always remember him as Spence on "The King of Queens."

M.C. Gainey was the drunk patient on "ER." He's Tom on "Lost."

Amanda Foreman was the woman who thought her baby was still alive on "Private Practice." She was, of course, Meghan on "Felicity," Carrie on "Alias," and Ivy on "What About Brian." Jamie Thomas King was the patient with cancer. He's Thomas Wyatt on "The Tudors." Jana Kramer was his girlfriend. She played Smash's girlfriend Noelle last season on "Friday Night Lights" and she's Portia, one of the students Naomi is trying to befriend on "90210."

Question of the Day

Okay so we now know the President's daughter is up to no good on "24" and that she's leaking stories to the press. But I still think she is also in cahoots with Jonas Hodges. Do you?

Ask TV Gal

Do you know what pilot Lennie James (JERICHO) will be in? Thanks much, Amanda

Lennie James is starring in the AMC remake of "The Prisoner." Ian McKellen and James Caviezel also star in this six episode series. In "The Prisoner," a man (Jim Caviezel) wakes up in a mysterious place known as the Village with no memory of how he got there or who he was before. It's slated to premiere on AMC later this year. You can watch episodes of the original at www.amctv.com

Is Reno 911 coming back with new episodes or did it get canceled? Kelly

"Reno 911" returns for a sixth season next Wednesday, April 1 at 10:30 p.m. on Comedy Central. Jonah Hill returns for the premiere and Ian Roberts and Joe Lo Truglio join the cast. Sixth season gueststars include Carmen Electra, George Lopez, Patton Oswalt, and Rachel Harris.

Would you have any clue about who is going to be written off in House by the end of the season? A couple of friends and I read that one major character was let go. Anne.

It has been widely reported that a major character will die on "House" before the season is out. I don't know who won't live to see another season but let's discuss. When I spoke to executive producer Katie Jacobs last month she said the show did have a surprise coming up towards the end of the season and it was something that would rock House and make him wonder "am I on the top of my game?" That makes me speculate that perhaps House won't be able to save someone he works with. Couple that with the fact that the cat who "predicted" deaths was watching Taub at the end of the episode and I'm worried about Taub. I know many of you are hoping it's 13 but I doubt it is. Who do you think is going to die on "House?" Talk about it below.

That's all for today. I'm back on Friday to get an early start on next week with a look at the return of "My Boys" and quotes of the week. Have a question? Seen a familiar face? Want to nominate a quote of the week or a topic for discussion? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com. Talk to you on Friday.

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