Freaktana
A Major Disappointment
Voxitype
Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.
Sarita Rafferty
There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.
wgunnelsiii
Both Mindy and Samantha really were as nice as Shirley Feeney should have been--and certainly as pretty as Shirley. Miss Dawber is unforgettable, reportedly as nice in real life as on both shows. It was nice to see her without Robin Williams' antics (no offense to a great comedian, but they did get a little distracting).What I really can't forget, a perfect warm-up for her charms, is the theme song, "Room Enough for Two." It was as warmhearted as the WELCOME BACK, KOTTER theme song--this time with a sweet show to match. I haven't heard anyone sing this song since SAM, but the words were among TV's sweetest.
Syl
The premise with Pam Dawber, Samantha Russell, as a successful San Francisco photographer who is reunited with her younger sister, Patti Russell, played by the late Rebecca Schaeffer. Supporting cast members include the wonderful Jenny O'Hara as Dixie, Sam's assistant, and Joel Brooks. David Naughton as a friend and neighbor. The show only lasted two seasons on network television but I bet it could have done well in syndication if given the opportunity. The sadness comes when you realize that Schaeffer was killed by a deranged fan. The case was prosecuted by Marcia Clark. Sadly, the show never really peaked or risen to the occasion. It came across in the midst of a sitcom frenzy on television in the era of the sitcoms. The premise may have been light but the show worked for the time it was on television. The cast was first rate and the writing was second rate but the show always tried harder to succeed.
mdcheek
This was a great series starring Pam Dawber ("Mork & Mindy") as a San Francisco photographer whose life was turned upside down when her teenage sister Patti (Rebecca Schaeffer) came to live with her. Samantha (Dawber) never really knew whether to treat Patti as a friend, sister, or child, and sometimes, she treated her as all three.The series premiered in 1986, and after mild success on Monday nights, CBS tampered with its schedule and moved it to Saturday nights opposite NBC's successful comedy lineup. Unable to find the show, its audience dwindled to one of the lowest on network TV, and CBS canceled it in mid-1988, after only half of the second season had aired.A little over a year later (July 1989 to be exact) Schaeffer, then a promising movie star ("Scenes from the Class Struggle In Beverly Hills") was shot and killed in her Los Angeles home by a deranged fan who had idolized her as the young, energetic character she played on "My Sister Sam." Contrary to popular belief, "My Sister Sam" left the air 15 months BEFORE Schaeffer was murdered. Not long thereafter, USA Network picked up syndication rights to the series, eventually running all 44 episodes (including those never shown on CBS).The show's writing was crisp, sharp and witty, and the acting, especially that of the young, never-before-seen Schaeffer, was top notch. Years later, the WB sitcom "What I Like About You" (2002-2006) re-introduced the premise with some success, but did not match the promise of its earlier sitcom cousin.It would be a joy to see this show again on DVD.
Jagger1966
This is a prime example of a show that started out strong and then plummeted in the ratings. It was a big hit in its first season airing on Monday nights and was a top twenty show. The second season CBS moved it to Saturday nights where it dropped to something like number 88 in the ratings. I can't help but wonder what would have happened had it stayed on Mondays. Pam Dawber and Rebecca Schaeffer worked so well together you forgot that the two actresses weren't sisters in real life. And yes, Rebecca died a year after the show was cancelled, it wasn't cancelled because of her death. I wish this show would be released on DVD.
