TCA Nominations Are Out! Thoughts?

The nominations for the Television Critics Awards came out today. Unlike the Emmy's, the TV critics tend to know what they're talking about and it's always interesting to check out which shows they think are a cut above the rest.

You can see the full list here but here are some stats worth mentioning.

- HBO miniseries John Adams earned three nominations. That may not sound like too many but there are only 9 categories. The show may not win for program of the year but Paul Giamatti will probably walk away with the award for Individual Achievement in Drama.

- Christina Applegate earned a nom for Individual Achievement in Comedy for her work on Samantha Who. Applegate outshines this show. Without her, it probably wouldn't have made it past the Writer's Strike.

- Breaking Bad is off to a great start, with a nomination for Outstanding New Program. I hope this praise means Emmy will shine on this gem of a show as well. Bryan Cranston was superb as a dying teacher and Meth-maker.

-Flight of the Conchords earned a few nominations as well. The boys may walk away with an Emmy this year and I can't wait to hear their acceptance speech.

Samantha Who? In The What Now?

Remember Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead? That was a sweet movie. Christina Applegate did a great job playing a bad-ass teenager with some serious maternal instincts. Now, she's older and playing a bad-ass grown up who has retrograde amnesia. Let me just say, the plot about the decomposing old lady was more convincing.

"Samantha Who" premiered tonight on ABC. The half-hour comedy follows a young woman who is involved in a hit and run, slips into a coma for eight days and comes out of it with retrograde amnesia. Applegate plays protagonist, Samantha Newly (Get it? Newly? Amnesia?). The pilot introduced us to Samantha's parents (Jean Smart is making us laugh again and I love it) her slutty best friend Andrea, former boyfriend and her old friend Deena (Melissa McCarthy, Gilmore Girls) who conveniently rekindled their friendship while she was in the coma. The primary goal was set up tonight as we learned pre-coma Samantha was a cheating, alcoholic, hussy. Eight days in a coma transformed her personality completely, and now she is out to change her ways and be "new Sam." Think My Name Is Earl for the Sex And The City set.

The first episode was quick, witty and pretty fun to watch. But by the end of the episode the jokes were already growing a little stale, and the whole situation is kind of difficult to believe. Christina Applegate is perky and smiley and considering the show's circumstances, it doesn't always make sense. If the writers can make her more dynamic, the show on the whole will be more tolerable. Regardless, if you don't come with high expectations, you won't be disappointed.