The name Melissa McCarthy doesn't ring a bell? No, she's not Jenny McCarthy's sister (she's her cousin). You probably know Melissa under the name Sookie St.James, Lorelai's best friend on Gilmore Girls.

This gifted actress has appeared in over 20 different TV and movie projects in the past 10 years but mostly devoted her time to Gilmore, appearing in more than 150 episodes of the series.

The 37-year-old actress from Plainfield, Illinois, first performed on stage. She started her acting career by doing stand up and improv in New York. She attended The Actors Studio, where she studied drama. This led to a bunch of acting gigs in stage productions. When she moved to Los Angeles, the actress joined The Groundlings as a main cast member of this improv and sketch troupe.

(S01E12) "Your friend. I want her. Make it happen." - Chapman

If ABC hadn't decided to air 15 episodes of Samantha Who? this season, this episode could have served as a season finale. It not only sent Sam in the unknown (she quit her job at the end of the episode) but the episode also ended with an important kiss that could have Todd rethink his decision to give Chloe a chance and have us wonder for months what his decision would be. But, thanks to SW? being popular, we will get answers to these questions before the season ends and will get a new set of questions to ponder on all summer long.

(S01E11) "Marry me." - Winston Funk to Sam

This week's episode of Samantha Who? ended up being quite satisfying and I'm not just saying that because the stable boy kissed the amnesiac heroine (which surely pleased the 52.5% of people who voted for "Sam & Todd forever" in our last poll). We were treated with crazy Regina, romance novelist wannabe Dena, teenager with a huge crush Andrea, and smitten with a potential son-in-law Howard. What more can we ask for? Especially after that "look at what you made me do" kiss!

(S01E10) "I love you." - Todd to Chloe

First, I must thank ABC for the fun Samantha Who? marketing campaign they did these past two weeks or so. I know that the fun ads during which Samantha and her mother talked about a song that meant a lot to Regina, or during which Samantha presented her boyfriend, er, ex-boyfriend, Todd, had an effect on some non-watchers (a few of my friends asked me what the show was about and planned on watching the show this week). Let's hope more join the fun.

Secondly, our favorite amnesiac is back on TV! Yay! This cutesy series is definitely one I enjoy watching a lot thanks to Samantha's duality (evil-Sam versus good-Sam), very well played by Christina Applegate, and thanks to Jean Smart and the devilish Andrea, played by Jennifer Esposito.

That said, let's get to the important part of this post: the review.

Hear that sound -- a nearly inaudible rumbling coming over the horizon? Everyday it is getting louder and louder. Soon, the stampede that is the return of scripted series back from the depths of the WGA strike will overrun our televisions and computer screens, bringing overwhelming joy to our lives.

Okay, that statement may be a little flowery, but the sentiment is still there. After a very long dry period a good many of our favorite comedies and dramas are returning to the television landscape. We've had a taste of it these last few weeks with the return of shows like The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Dirt, The Riches and Smallville. That was just a preview of what is to come. Over the next few weeks we will see the return of The Office, Scrubs, Ugly Betty, all of the CSIs, Battlestar Galactica, and Lost, among others.

It's so nice now that the WGA strike is over and all the shows are coming back, isn't it? It's like we're suddenly inundated with presents galore. Just the idea of new shows puts a smile on my face; let's hope it's still there once the shows air!

ABC has announced that Samantha Who?, their most promising new sitcom of the season, will be returning with six new episodes on Monday, April 7 (at 9:30). But maybe the network's biggest news is a time shift. Starting April 24, Lost will commence five new episodes at 10:00, rather than 9:00. Also on April 24, Ugly Betty and Grey's Anatomy both return with five new episodes each.

ABC decided to use the expected end of the writers' strike to announce the renewal of nine shows for the 2008-09 season. The list of returning series are mostly those you'd expect to see: Grey's Anatomy, Brothers & Sisters, Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty, and Lost are the veteran shows on the list, joined by rookie shows Pushing Daisies, Samantha Who?, Private Practice and Dirty Sexy Money. Unchanged is the speculation that most of the newer shows won't have a spring return, as ABC will hold them for a more publicized fall re-launch.

It's a shame that the Golden Globes ceremony was cancelled in a year when so many talented comedic actresses received nominations. For the first time since 2004, the category of Best Actress in a Television Musical or Comedy includes none of the Desperate Housewives cast. The housewives have dominated the category over the past few years, and their absence has made room for some fresh faces in 2008.

I couldn't be happier that this category looks more competitive than ever. The fact that I had so much trouble predicting a winner is a very good sign. I'm also pleased that each nominee represents a different style of comedy--and there's not a cranky suburban wife or over-the-top diva to be found. The five characters that these ladies play are likeable, genuine, and hilarious.

...Four TV shows you should be watching

Let's not beat around the bush -- television is a humongous, bloated wasteland. Granted, it's a humongous, bloated wasteland that I adore and worship any chance I get, but it is a humongous, bloated wasteland nonetheless. Due to the copious amount of crap that is placed on the airwaves many good shows are pushed aside, waiting for an unknowing viewer to tune into them and get hooked. Sometimes, these shows grab a few people, develop a following, and become a hit. Other times, they disappear down the television toilet, never to be seen again.

So, in order to save them from the Great Flush, here are four (plus a few more) shows that you should be watching.

... Six welcome returns.

Every fall season I get stoked about all the new shows, with cool new premises ("A guy travels through time trying to make right what once went wrong!"-- Journeyman not Quantum Leap), and all the big changes in store for existing shows. But it's equally exciting to see which beloved actors will be returning to television. Brad Garrett coming back to television in 'Til Death last year? Cool! Patricia Heaton and Kelsey Grammer both coming back to television ... together? That's gotta be awesome, right? Jerry O'Connell on Carpoolers ... well ... ? I like the guy, but I'm not scheduling a 'Welcome Back' shindig for him.

Half the fun of a new television season is the return of great actors and actresses to the small screen. And while I could have easily done 10 or even 20 of these, I've narrowed it down to the six talents who were most welcome back in my house on a weekly basis this past year. I've even been so bold as to rank them. Feel free to agree, disagree and present your own lists in the comments.

(S01E09) "Without you, I would be nothing." - Sam to Regina
"You wouldn't be nothing; you'd just be less." - Regina

This week's episode was important in Samantha's life: she slept with a man (thus ending her "virgin" status), she learned to express her feelings and said "I love you," she suffered her first post-accident break up and she learned to be a better boss.

(S01E08) "Having amnesia is like an obstacle course." - Samantha

I never suffered from amnesia but from what we've been seeing for now eight episodes, amnesia does seem to be like an obstacle course or, as the cast picture on the right shows, a maze. Samantha has to overcome obstacles put in her path because she doesn't fully know herself or the world she lives in. She must make her way through life without having a map to guide her. It's trial and error. This week, Samantha had to decide between lying and telling the truth and how it would affect her father.

(S01E07) "Everyday with me is an adventure." - Samantha

That's how I feel when I watch Samantha Who?, one of my guilty TV pleasures. We never know what to expect every week because the lead character doesn't know herself. The series has been one of the most popular new comedies of the season partially because of its lead-in (Dancing with the Stars) and its star (lovable Christina Applegate). I'm not ashamed to say that I enjoy it for its bubbly storylines (we all need a few series in our weekly watch list that don't require us to think too much), its lead character/actress, the devil/angel parts played by Andrea and Dena, and for Jean Smart!