Samantha Who? is an American television comedy series created by Cecelia Ahern and Don Todd about Samantha Newly, a 30-year-old vice president of a real estate company who, after becoming the victim of a hit-and-run accident, develops full retrograde amnesia and has to rediscover her life, her relationships and herself.
The series aired in the USA on ABC from 15 October, 2007 to 23 July, 2009. There are 35 half-hour episodes in two seasons.
The series originally aired in South Africa on M-Net from 5 March, 2008 to 21 October, 2009. It later aired on DStv's M-Net Series channel and on TopTV's Top One channel. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Season 2 premiered on Top One on Sunday 30 October 2011, at 17h00. New episodes broadcast weekly. There are 20 episodes in the second season.
Season 1
What if you had the chance to start over, to do it all again?
For Samantha Newly, this fantasy becomes a reality after a hit-and-run accident leaves her in an eight-day coma.
When she awakens in the hospital, she is surrounded by family and friends. The only problem is that she has no idea who they are - or who she is.
In medical terms, Sam has retrograde amnesia, which allows her to fully function in the world but leaves her with no personal memories. Most people would deem this disorder a curse. But Sam may come to call it a miracle.
As she sets out to rediscover herself, Sam is forced to rely on the only people who can help her - an eclectic bunch of friends and family. Although now strangers to Sam, it's not long before she begins to get an idea of who she was before the accident.
Regina and Howard appear to be loving parents - when they're not downplaying the fact that Sam hasn't spoken to them in two years.
Her supposed best friend, Dena, is sincerely supportive, until her real best friend, Andrea, exposes Dena as a fraud who hasn't seen or spoken to Sam since the seventh grade. Andrea is a party girl who seems to have Sam's best interests at heart.
However in the midst of celebrating her return, Andrea neglects to mention that Sam's an alcoholic, is having an affair with a married man, and has a tendency for all-around morally questionable behaviour.
Sam's only seemingly trustworthy acquaintance is boyfriend Todd. But will that trust last when he discovers that she cheated on him?
Sam quickly discovers she was a horrible person. Vain, selfish and potentially surrounded by far more enemies than friends.
She makes a conscious decision to improve herself moving forward. She vows to make better choices, even though her instincts may not always steer her in the right direction.
She begins with Frank, the doorman at Todd's apartment building. Sam never gave him the time of day before, but upon actually saying hello to him, she discovers an incredibly observant and unlikely confidante.
Sam will need to continue to piece together things from her past to guide her in discovering who she is... or was.
After all, sometimes to get to the end of the story, the only place to start is the beginning.
Season 2
After a hit-and-run accident left Samantha Newly in an eight-day coma, she awoke with retrograde amnesia, which allowed her to fully function in the world but leaves her with no personal memories of her past.
As she began her quest to rediscover herself, she learned that she had been a horrible person. Vain, selfish and potentially surrounded by far more enemies than friends, she made a conscious decision to improve herself moving forward with the help of her eclectic friends and family.
In an attempt to reboot her life, Sam quits her job in order to find something that is more suitable to her "new" self, and moves out of her parents' home and back into her apartment - where ex-boyfriend Todd has been living, rent free.
She also feels it's time to move on from Todd and begin dating other men. But their feelings for each other are still strong, which could ultimately torpedo any possible romantic relationships they may find with other people.
Sam's mother, Regina, afraid that she'll lose touch with her daughter again when she moves, entices her to partner in a mother/daughter real estate team. But father Howard will still have to act as mediator when the mother/daughter dynamics go awry.
Changes are also in store for Sam's best friends Dena and Andrea.
Dena continues to date Sam's ex-boss - and Andrea's current boss - Mr. Chapman, but she so admires Sam's do-over in life that she will decide to make some changes of her own.
As for the self-centered Andrea, she will begin dating a professional athlete - a popular player at the top of his game and always in the spotlight. Andrea will, for the first time in her life, have to contend with the fact that she's not the centre of attention in the relationship and may actually be dating out of her league.
As for Frank, the doorman at Sam's apartment, he will continue to be her reluctant spiritual advisor and confidant.
Sam will continue to try and make better choices in life, even though her instincts may not always steer her in the right direction.
She will piece together things from her past to guide her in discovering who she is...or was. After all, sometimes to get to the end of the story, the only place to start is the beginning.
Seasons
Season 1 (15 episodes)
Channel: M-Net | Premiere: 5 Mar 2008 | Finale: 11 Jun 2008 | Wednesdays, 19h00
Channel: M-Net Series | Premiere: 31 May 2008 | Finale: 6 Sep 2008 | Saturdays, 20h00
Channel: Top One | Premiere: 2 May 2011 | Finale: 8 Aug 2011 | Mondays, 18h30
Season 2 (20 episodes)
Channel: M-Net | Premiere: 7 Jan 2009 | Finale: 21 Oct 2009 | Wednesdays, 19h00
Channel: Top One | Premiere: 30 Oct 2011 | Finale: 11 Mar 2012 | Sundays, 17h00