Who am I? What TV series was I in?
May 20, 2011 5:27 PM   Subscribe

Which TV series featured a man with amnesia as its protagonist, following him as he tries to figure out who he is throughout the course of the series?

I'm sure I've seen this trope used before, but my knowledge of TV history is spotty at best.

I'm not interested in books or films (Bourne, etc) but just in narrative television. Many thanks for your help!
posted by np312 to Media & Arts (26 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
Best answer: John Doe?
posted by onetime dormouse at 5:30 PM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]


The Prisoner is sort of like that.
posted by bonobothegreat at 5:35 PM on May 20, 2011


This isn't precisely the scenario, but could you be thinking of Nowhere Man?
posted by cnc at 5:36 PM on May 20, 2011


A Man Called Shenandoah.
posted by hot soup girl at 5:37 PM on May 20, 2011


The 4400?
posted by kellyblah at 5:44 PM on May 20, 2011


Best answer: John Doe is on Hulu.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 5:47 PM on May 20, 2011


seconding The Prisoner (watch the British version, not the AMC remake)
also maybe John From Cincinnati
posted by at the crossroads at 5:59 PM on May 20, 2011


That's not what The Prisoner is about. Still watch it, though, because it's great.
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 6:01 PM on May 20, 2011 [2 favorites]


TV Tropes also suggests Kyle XY.
posted by nightwood at 6:03 PM on May 20, 2011


The Pretender?
posted by juv3nal at 6:06 PM on May 20, 2011 [4 favorites]


The Prisoner knew who he was, he just wasn't telling.
posted by RobotHero at 6:31 PM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]


The Fugitive. Also made into a movie.
posted by Bron at 6:38 PM on May 20, 2011


The description is pretty sparse, but I'm pretty sure you're thinking of John Doe. I only watched it because it came on before Firefly.
posted by gerryblog at 6:54 PM on May 20, 2011


Amnesia is used so much that about half the tropes on TVTropes's list of memory tropes involve amnesia.
posted by anaelith at 7:16 PM on May 20, 2011


Yeah, I don't think there's much need to reach for things like The Prisoner when the obvious answer is John Doe.
posted by Justinian at 7:20 PM on May 20, 2011


Now And Again - man, that was a good show.
posted by Flannery Culp at 7:41 PM on May 20, 2011 [1 favorite]


Quantum Leap?
posted by LouMac at 8:01 PM on May 20, 2011


I think maybe you are not thinking of "Quantum Leap" with Scott Bakula - ? He had a spotty memory and was trying to get home.
posted by Ink-stained wretch at 8:03 PM on May 20, 2011


Oops, sorry LouMac! You got there first.
posted by Ink-stained wretch at 8:04 PM on May 20, 2011


As Nowhere Man got further into its only season, it picked up themes about this, as the character started to doubt his memory.
posted by Hactar at 8:48 PM on May 20, 2011


John Doe is the first thing that comes to mind.
posted by Giggilituffin at 9:07 PM on May 20, 2011


ha! Let me be the first to say Coronet Blue!
posted by TWinbrook8 at 9:36 PM on May 20, 2011


Life on Mars? (The was an American remake, but please watch the British one.)
posted by m1ndsurfer at 4:41 AM on May 21, 2011


The Fugitive didn't have amnesia.
posted by gjc at 6:12 AM on May 21, 2011


Seconding The Pretender.
posted by King Bee at 6:45 AM on May 21, 2011


12 oz. Mouse did this, as well. In a baffling sort of way.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 8:32 AM on May 21, 2011


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