christinaapplegate

ABC has given an air date to Samantha Who?'s swan song. The network will begin burning off the seven remaining episodes of the show Thursdays at 8 p.m. starting June 25.

As we mentioned last week, even a petition set up by star Christina Applegate couldn't save Samantha Who? from the axe. It's a shame. Applegate has turned into such a magnetic and charming comedic actor. Here's hoping she gets another shot at her own show or, like Jason already suggested, a long-running guest stint on HIMYM or maybe The Big Bang Theory.

ABC is also making room on its summer schedule for the final eps of Cupid and In the Motherhood. The sole remaining ep of Cupid, which shared the same fate as the 1998 show it was based on, will air June 16 -- if the NBA Finals don't make it to Game 6! (That's another slap in the face from the network to Cupid creator Rob Thomas). In the Motherhood's final three eps will begin airing June 25 at 8:30 p.m.

First, it was Ethan Suplee petitioning to save My Name Is Earl. Not to be outdone, Christina Applegate set up a petition to save Samantha Who? after it got canceled by ABC last week. This could be a very worrying trend. Now any time a show is canceled, can we expect a big brouhaha online with some cast members setting up petitions or urging fans to send something to the networks? Then it slowly becomes standard operating procedure. "Somebody call the warehouse and tell them to make room for the bobblehead campaign, we're pulling the plug on The Office."

The networks will start covertly spearheading the campaigns themselves to try and drum up fake publicity for their struggling shows. They'll "cancel" the show, fake up a massive petition and give the show a reprieve. "See how glorious and magnanimous are we?" In the case of Samantha Who?, I don't see how a petition would help anyway considering it was an economic decision. "This is nice Christina, but I don't see anywhere on here how you're going to shave a million dollars off of each episode."

Looks like Samantha Who? won't be making it after all. They were negotiating to reduce costs on Christina Applegate's sitcom to try and keep it on the air, but apparently that didn't work out. I really thought quality-wise Samantha was one of the stronger sticoms on the air. I can certainly think of quite a few that are still hanging in there that couldn't come close to matching it.

This does mean that Christina Applegate is available for other work now, though. What a revelation she's become as a comic actress. We've known she's had chops (and other assets) since her days as Kelly Bundy and even on *ahem* Jesse she was charming, but she really came into her own with this show. I hope she doesn't stay absent from our screens too long. Maybe she could be the mother on HIMYM? Or get together with Alyssa Milano on a new show and watch all the guys who grew up in the '80s and '90s squeal in unison like little girls. It wouldn't even matter what it was about, but I recommend something on a beach.

Samantha Who?, the little ABC-sitcom-that-could may be looking at a production overhaul if the network decides to stick with it into a third season. The big change would be shifting from the single-camera format it currently uses to a much cheaper multi-camera format. How I Met Your Mother is an example of a show that uses the multi-camera format, albeit without a studio audience, to great creative effect, so Samantha should be able to keep a lot of its quirky charm.

Cost cutting is a huge part of the network's plans this season as they mull over continuing with existing series. If switching to multi-camera on Samantha Who? can save $500,000 per episode, it might be worth doing. Samantha is one of those rare comedies these days that just works. It's funny without being provocative or shocking in anything it does. One could almost argue, but not very convincingly, that it's even good wholesome family entertainment ... with sex and alcohol and stuff.

There's a reason why when you watch The Mentalist, there are always subtle close ups of Simon Baker's eyes or of his mouth when he's talking. The producers know he's hot and they know women are watching. Between him, the cast of Friday Night Lights, and a whole other list of DILF's, there's a lot of male eye-candy on TV right now. But what about the women? Of course television is filled with hot chicks, but who do other women like to watch?

There are certain female characters who, when you watch them, you just want to hang out with. Either you think she'd be a good friend, or exciting to have around, or maybe you just kind of want to be her. This, my friends, is a Girl Crush. Here is my list of Top Ten TV Girl Crushes.

I like Samantha Who? I think it's a quirky and fun show with a pretty clever premise. What I don't get about it is Tim Russ' character. Don't get me wrong, I like Tim Russ. As a sci-fi geek, I think I'm pretty much required to. After all, Star Trek: Voyager came on while I was in college (I know, I'm aging myself here), and I'm glad to see him getting the work. I'm just not sure what the point of his role is.

As Frank, the doorman of the building Sam lives in, he has a working knowledge of what kind of a person she was pre-amnesia, but only Dena really didn't know "bad Sam." Samantha didn't seem to have any sort of special relationship with Frank then, and the writers haven't developed one now.

Did they just forget about him, or quickly realize they didn't know what to do with him? It's a weird thing on an otherwise solid show. Can you think of any other cases like that?

Guest stars can be good and guest stars can be not-so-good, but this one sounds like a winner to me. EW's Michael Ausiello has an exclusive report that Florence Henderson will be on Samantha Who?

And if you think Christina Applegate kind of looks like she could be related to Florence, you're not alone. The Brady Bunch veteran has been cast as Samantha Newly's grandmother, Jean Smart's mama. And if that's not blonde goodness and potential hilarity for you, TVGuide.com has another exclusive; Christine Ebersole will play Sammy's aunt. In the very same storyline!

I can't say I've been thrilled with some of the announced pick ups for the remainder of the season. NBC's faith in Knight Rider, for instance, has me scratching my head. Here's one that I can get behind: ABC has given Samantha Who a full season pick up.

The Christina Applegate single camera comedy -- which includes Jean Smart's Emmy-winning supporting performance as Sam's alternately attentive and annoying mother -- has had a terrific sophomore season thus far.

I'm not talking about the ratings, although ABC is pleased that the show has been doing a good job holding onto the strong lead-in from Dancing With the Stars (although this is not a scintillating edition of Dancing). For me, Samantha Who is just as funny as last year, but now things are getting more complicated and interesting.

Just last week, for instance, Sam was given an experimental drug to -- hopefully -- help her reclaim lost memories. Through flashback flashes we learned a lot more about Todd and Sam's relationship and how they've gotten to where they are. The episode was packed with emotion and funny bits of business, and yet in the end we were still on that precipice, waiting for Sam to remember that she loves Todd.

Over at the L.A. Times, Tom O'Neil has put together two teams to predict the Emmys. One consists of writers who cover TV, including our pal from AOL, Maggie Furlong. The other is filled with award nuts, like O'Neil. The teams found a lot of common ground, with overwhelming agreement on Mad Men for Best Drama and 30 Rock for Best Comedy. They also seem pretty set on Glenn Close (Damages) for Best Actress, Drama and Alec Baldwin (30 Rock) for Best Actor, Comedy.

Those all sound like reasonably safe bets. Things get a little more interesting when you look at some of the other categories. Best Actor, Drama looks to be a three way race between Jon Hamm (Mad Men), Hugh Laurie (House), and James Spader (Boston Legal). All solid choices, to be sure, but the most surprising part of the category is that Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), who should win, only garnered one vote. Read on past the jump for more of the categories.

"Every time I go to [an event], I try to find [a dress] that's different and new. That's sort of how I live my life ... it's always about never repeating myself."

AOL TV talked to 'Samantha Who?' star Christina Applegate shortly before she revealed she'd been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Applegate, a former Emmy winner and current nominee, underwent a double mastectomy and plans to resume shooting her series this month.

As she prepares to appear on 'Stand Up to Cancer,' we share her thoughts on lighter topics, like fashion, good Sam/bad Sam and the chances of a Bundy reunion.

When it was revealed to the media recently that actress Christina Applegate had cancer, it was a shock. She is only 36 years old, but as anyone whose life has been touched by cancer, this disease touches the young and the old and everyone in between.

Today, the star of ABC's Samantha Who? was on Good Morning, America to explain what's happening with her, and Christina declared that she is now cancer-free. "Absolutely 100 percent clear and clean. It did not spread. They got everything out, so I'm definitely not going to die from breast cancer."

In an exclusive, candid interview, she revealed that three weeks ago she had a double mastectomy to remove all traces of breast cancer. She will have reconstructive surgery over the next eight months to replace her breasts.

I really admire Christina Applegate. I've liked her a lot on Samantha Who?, but to do what she did today makes me like her even more. She didn't have to face the media and talk about her cancer. It takes courage to share your story.

And having a positive diagnosis, to be able to say you're cancer-free, doesn't make it any easier to talk about the fear you face when you were told that you have cancer and must undergo a difficult surgery or chemotherapy or radiation.

Christina Applegate, star of ABC's Samantha Who?, is battling breast cancer. According to a statement released by her rep, the cancer was detected early and is not life-threatening. "Christina is following the recommended treatment of her doctors and will have a full recovery," Ame Van Iden said.

The news comes just weeks after Applegate earned an Emmy nomination for her work as an amnesiac trying to undo her past misdeeds on Samantha Who?. In addition to continuing to work on her series, Applegate is also scheduled to appear on the Stand Up To Cancer telethon on September 5th. The telethon, which will be simultaneously aired on CBS, NBC and ABC, will also feature Meryl Streep, Sally Field and Jennifer Aniston, among others.

Since the cancer was detected early through a doctor-ordered MRI and Applegate is continuing her work schedule, hopefully the cancer will be easily beat. Here's to a full and speedy recovery.

As the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences tries to whittle the submissions down to actual nominees, it's interesting to take a look at who has made it to the semifinals. It's not a nomination, but it's one step away. Today comes word of the finalists for best comedy actress and best supporting drama actor. There are some surprises.

Chief among those for me is Sarah Silverman. I honestly hadn't even considered her in the running. I'm not much of a fan, but I do like that she is being considered for the simple fact that the base the nominees are drawn from can always use some expansion. And if she is the most surprising inclusion, the most surprising snub just might be Teri Hatcher. Eva Longoria, Marcia Cross, and Felicity Huffman all made the cut, but not Hatcher. Ouch. The rest of the finalists, and the supporting actors from a drama, after the jump.

Fans of Full House mark your calendars! Famous twin Mary-Kate Olsen, who recently appeared in a few episodes of Showtime's Weeds, will guest star on ABC's hit sitcom Samantha Who?

The 22-year-old actress will appear in one episode of the good-versus-evil series starring Christina Applegate this fall. Right now, there are no plans to have the actress return for more episodes.

Slight spoilers about Mary-Kate's role on SW? coming up!

Even if he is taking time off between his past TV Guide gig and his new job at Entertainment Weekly, gossip columnist Michael Ausiello took a few minutes to post a little casting scoop on his personal website. According to his trusted sources, cutie Men in Trees actor James Tupper will continue to charm the ladies during the next TV season; fans of the actor will be able to see him in at least three episodes of ABC's hit comedy Samantha Who?

Slight spoilers about the role coming up!