TVSquad

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.

Of course, creative strides don't count as much as the Nielsens. Let's face it, Pushing Daisies is a brilliant show, but the dismal ratings could kill it. The Obama infomercial beat it last Wednesday. Fortunately, Samantha Who is Monday's second most watched sitcom; Two and a Half Men is numero uno.

Therefore, ABC didn't have to make a hard choice about a full season pick up (like they might with Pushing Daisies). Still, here's one show I won't have to worry about still April or May when ABC decides whether or not to give it a third season.