Samantha Newly (Christina Applegate) awakens from a coma with retrograde amnesia and must reconnect with friends (Tim Russ) on tonight’s premiere of Samantha Who? on ABC.

ABC

Samantha Who?

Mondays, 9:32 p.m., ABC (Ch. 5, 6)

Basic story: What if your entire life were erased in an instant and you had to start over from scratch? That’s where Sam Newly (Christina Applegate) finds herself after a hit-and-run leaves her with a case of retrograde amnesia. With the help of her boozy mom (Jean Smart), her disconnected dad (Kevin Dunn) and her sugary-sweet boyfriend (Barry Watson), Sam is horrified to discover she was quite the shrew — so much so that her “accident” might have been anything but. Now, with a clean slate, she’s determined to make better choices, but a gossipy gal pal (Jennifer Esposito) wants Sam to revive her naughty, snotty ways.

What it faces: Comedy competition includes Rules of Engagement (CBS) and The Game (CW). Samantha also faces dramas K-Ville (Fox) and Heroes (NBC).

What you’ll like: In a word: Applegate. She may never live down her role as trashy teen Kelly Bundy on Married . . . With Children, but this Jekyll-and-Hyde role gives her a chance to flex her considerable comedic chops.

What you won’t: Sandwiched as it is between a pair of unscripted series (Dancing With the Stars and The Bachelor), the series has the potential to get lost. And the underlying soap-opera premise could run out of steam early.

Bottom line: It’s not groundbreaking comedy by any means, but this season you could do a lot worse.