"Samantha Who?" The Birthday (2008)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Dennie Gordon

Writer:

Donald Todd (writer)

TV Series:

"Samantha Who?" (2007)

Original Air Date:

12 May 2008 (Season 1, Episode 15)

Genre:

Comedy | Mystery | Romance

Plot:

Sam decides she's through sneaking around with Todd, while Andrea and Sam's mother fight for the opportunity to put Sam's birthday party together. |

Plot Keywords:

Secret | Best Friend | Telephone | Boyfriend Girlfriend Relationship | Insecurity

Cast

Christina Applegate	...	Samantha
Jennifer Esposito	...	Andrea Belladonna
Kevin Dunn	...	Howard
Melissa McCarthy	...	Dena
Tim Russ	...	Frank
Barry Watson	...	Todd
Jean Smart	...	Regina Newly
Kiele Sanchez	...	Chloe
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Melody Butiu	...	Nurse
Brian Catalano	...	Orderly

Directed by
Dennie Gordon

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Donald Todd		writer

Produced by
John Amodeo	....	producer

Cinematography by
Paul Maibaum

Film Editing by
Richard Candib

Makeup Department
Kimberly Greene	....	makeup artist: Christina Applegate ) (as Kim Greene)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kyle Hollingsworth	....	dga trainee

Art Department
Nicole Martinez-King	....	art department coordinator (as Nicole Martinez)
Meagen Minnaugh	....	art assistant

Sound Department
David W. Barr	....	adr mixer
Joshua Chase	....	sound effects editor
Mitch B. Cohn	....	sound utility
Steve Morantz	....	production sound mixer
Philip Rogers	....	adr recordist
Aaron Wallace	....	boom operator

Camera and Electrical Department
Bobby Thomas	....	key grip
Scott Toland	....	rigging electrician

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Craig Ames	....	costume supervisor
Jerry Jaeger	....	key costumer
Carla Shivener	....	set costumer

Transportation Department
Steven L. Alpert	....	transportation co-captain
Brian McQuown	....	transportation captain
Jim Oge Jr.	....	transportation
Robert J. Young	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Andrew Huber	....	production assistant
Correne Kristiansen	....	assistant to executive producer
Victoria Leskin	....	key assistant location manager
Michael Lisboa	....	production assistant
Nicole Markel	....	production staff
Jen Willis	....	production assistant
Wanda Armstrong	....	first assistant accountant (uncredited)
Marc Garcia	....	set medic (uncredited)
Gina Verble	....	payroll accountant (uncredited)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Cecelia Ahern		creator
Donald Todd		creator

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (2008) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

Other Companies

• Keep Me Posted  post-production facilities

The Birthday is an enjoyable enough season finale for the first season of "Samantha Who?"

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Turns out the end of the last episode was a cheat since Sam and Todd are still sneaking out at the bookstore (in the Military section, no less!) with Sam telling Todd to break up with Chloe or it's off. Todd agrees and says he doesn't want her to feel bad at her birthday party. Later, as Sam allows Dena to make the birthday party plans and Andrea reminiscences about her and "bad Sam" just getting hair and nails done, they see Todd and Chloe kissing through a window as all three hide under the table. When Sam confronts Todd about putting his "tongue through her mouth", Todd says Chloe's been having a hard time since her aunt went to the hospital. Sam, perhaps acting a little like her old self, says Chloe would be just fine there since there's "skimpy outfits and drugs" and leaves. Meanwhile, Andrea goes to Sam's house and tells her mom Regina that the party is going to be held in her apartment and not the house and "you can go if you want". Hubby Howard is actually fine with the switch since he may meet one of his favorite sportscasters there. Elsewhere, Dena finds out 21 people she invited to Sam's party "has jury duty" so that leaves her, Andrea, Regina, Howard, and eventually Frank, who comes because his wife thinks he's too hard on his daughter during "homework time". When she tells Sam about those 21, Sam remembers how she and Andrea used to talk about "sick aunts" to get out (or maybe into) dates. She then goes to the hospital hoping Chloe's story is fake too. While there's no Wendy, there is a Gwendolyn and while there's a dead old lady in her room, when Chloe comes in and is comforted by Sam, Aunt Wendy comes in a wheelchair looking alright! Before leaving, Sam offers TLC whenever Chloe needs a shoulder to cry on. Chloe comes to Sam the next day and asks for just that after Todd breaks up with her. Let's just say signals are mixed a little more before Chloe decides the two "deserve each other" and Sam decides to leave since she and Todd have too much history together. Back at the party, which now has some "Euro-partiers" that Andrea quickly called up, Sam seems very happy with her parents, best friends, and Frank celebrating with her when Todd comes in "introducing" himself and saying his number is on his balloon if Sam decides to call. As he leaves, Sam is even more ecstatic as we hear her narration for the last time this season...Not a great episode, but a little better than the last one and what funny exchanges between Sam, Todd, and Chloe! How nice to see Regina and Andrea bond a little over a certain issue of Good Housekeeping and to see Frank out of his doorman uniform. Christina Applegate has grown as an actress in portraying both the decent and devilish side of her (her previous role as the slutty Kelly Bundy on "Married...with Children" certainly helped) with the result of being funny and endearing at the same time. It's good seeing the whole cast together for this season finale. The fact that "Samantha Who?" usually aired after ABC's No. 1 show-"Dancing with the Stars" certainly helped its success. Still, I think its a good enough show on its own to merit that. So with that said, may this program continue its enduring appeal all the way through next season. Until then...