Showtime's Hit Comedy Series 'United States of Tara'

What It's About: Tara Gregson (Toni Collette) has recently decided to treat her dissociative identity disorder (can you say "split personality"?) without medication. In doing so, she's opened herself up to once again randomly passing between several distinct identities, or "alters," at the drop of a hat: rowdy teenager T, violent war vet Buck (a man) and morally old-fashioned housewife Alice. Tara's two teenage children struggle to cope with a life of randomness, while her ultra-patient husband Max (John Corbett, otherwise known as Aidan from 'Sex and the City') deals with -- among other things -- not being allowed to be intimate with any of the alters.

The Buzz: Created by Steven Spielberg and 'Juno' scribe/overnight Oscar winner Diablo Cody, 'The United States of Tara' has been Showtime's stud, averaging 2.1 million viewers and outperforming other network hits like 'Weeds,' 'Dexter' and 'Californication' in its premiere week. It was renewed for a 12-episode second season just four weeks into the first.

Who's In It: Toni Collette, John Corbett, Brie Larson, Keir Gilchrist

Why You Might Like It: Oscar-nominated Collette is a chameleon of an actress and more than worth the price of admission as four (OK, now five and counting) completely different characters residing within the mind of one woman. She gives a series-making performance as Tara; viewers wonder how the next "alter" transition will come about while at the same time hoping that somehow Tara and her family will be OK.

The Pitch: It's kind of like 'Grace Under Fire' meets 'Me, Myself, and Irene.'

How You Can See It: Catch the last of new season 1 episodes of 'United States of Tara' Sundays, 10PM on Showtime (or watch it On Demand) and be on the lookout for season 2 in early 2010.