Blurb Reviews for Chance of a Lifetime

John Doyle's Short List, Toronto Globe and Mail:
This is the end of Once and Again, a series that has been on the brink of cancellation for months and has stirred outrage from fans of the show. However, the fuss goes beyond the diehard viewers. The case of Once and Again has been cited as an example of the chaotic confusion of network TV in general and ABC in particular. The Monday at 10 p.m. timeslot has been occupied by the show for the past four weeks only. It's been the seventh timeslot for the show since it began in 1999. The show began as a fairly simple story - single parents Lily (Sela Ward) and Rick (Bill Campbell) meet at their children's school and feel an immediate attraction. They begin dating but their children's lives and needs always seem to interfere. Lily's daughter Grace is a particular worry, as she struggles at school. But Rick and Lily carry on trying to forge a relationship and realize that they must overcome their embarrassment at being in love and learn to blend their families' needs with their own. Since then, Lily and Rick married and formed one family with their children. When the series ends this week, they contemplate a situation that might force them apart again - Rick has a job offer in Australia. Once and Again was always a critical favourite but never a truly "cool" show. It seemed too darn sensitive. Still, it was always better than much of what passes for drama for grownups. What truly odd is that ABC says it wants more "family fare."

Today on TV, Sunspot.net:
As badly treated as Once and Again was by its network, at least it gets a chance at a true series finale episode. Tonight, Rick is offered the career opportunity of a lifetime, but it's on another continent. Lily also has some exciting news. The couple faces yet another life-altering decision, but this one could displace the entire family.

AICN.com:
A Final "Once and Again"
10 p.m. ABC. The series finale of the latest show from the folks who brought us "thirtysomething," "My So-Called Life," and "Relativity" is surprisingly moving, even to those who didn't catch every episode. Forget the four troubled kids; tonight's installment focuses tightly on Rick, Lily and their exes. What TV Guide isn't telling us: Be prepared to endure a growing feeling of dread as Lily grows sicker and sicker as the episode wears on. There's also a unique two-minute coda as the actors break character to talk about the show. 3.5/5 stars

From TV-now:
"Once and Again" (The Series Final Episode) on ABC, 10:00pm - 11:00pm ET. While Rick (Billy Campbell) is offered the career opportunity of a lifetime, it's on another continent. Lily (Sela Ward), for her part, also has some exciting news. The couple face yet another life-altering decision, but this one could displace the entire family. Goodbye kind friends.

Matthew Gilbert, Critic's Corner, Boston Globe:
All things must pass, including''Once and Again,'' which takes its final bow tonight at 10 on Channel 5. A moment of silence, please, for one of TV's very best dramas.

From Cheryl Everette, Gist.com:
The series' run comes to an end after a valiant three-year struggle. The finale finds Rick (Billy Campbell) and Lily (Sela Ward) facing life-altering decisions. For Rick, it's a job offer that could take him out of the country. Lily, meanwhile, has her own job offer to consider. And Jake (Jeffrey Nordling) decides to marry Tiffany (Ever Carradine). According to published reports, the cast will address the audience at the end of the episode.

From Zap2it.com, Best Bets:
Creators Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz knew that their critically acclaimed show's third-season finale might also serve as the series ender, so they prepared. As a result, "Once and Again's" loyal fans -- which ABC deemed too few in number -- will get a proper, if lamented, end to the series. Rick (Billy Campbell) and Lily (Sela Ward) have tough career choices to make after Rick gets a job offer in Australia and Lily has a chance to syndicate her radio show. Herskovitz and Zwick also promise a hint at what the characters' futures might hold

From Kimberly Potts, TV Scoop, E! Online:
Once and Never Again: It has the best young talent on the tube, it has garnered an Emmy, a Golden Globe and a People's Choice Award--and Once and Again's worst episode is better than most other dramas on the air. Still, because ABC has decided to go with less "edgy" fare and concentrate on more of the innocuous (yes, that means more According to Jims and fewer O&As and The Jobs), it's the end of the line for the Sela Ward drama. Once and Again gets its send-off Monday (ABC, 10 p.m.) with an episode that, at least, will leave most of the fiercely loyal fans of the show with a bit of closure.Like all the best installments of Once and Again, the finale is a mix of sweetness, heart and the subtle revelations that have made many episodes Kleenex mandatory. The end, in fact, means new beginnings for the Sammler-Manning crew, with Rick (Billy Campbell) and Lily (Ward) both getting life-changing career opportunities and the long-suffering Karen (Susanna Thompson) cautiously taking steps toward happiness--literally with her physical therapy and figuratively with her physical therapist. Lily's playboy ex-hubby, Jake (Jeffrey Nordling), surprises everyone with his proposal to girlfriend Tiffany (Ever Carradine).

By the way, the diehards at a Once and Again fan Website are not ready to throw in the towel just yet. "Save our show" organizers from the site are planning a fan protest for April 15, outside the ABC offices in Burbank. Meanwhile, Lifetime, which has been running the "repurposed" episodes of Once and Again each week after their original ABC broadcast, is planning a Once and Again marathon for this summer.

From TVGal, Zap2it.com:
ABC has been promoting the heck out of the series finale of "Once and Again" (Monday, ABC, 10 p.m.) This last minute support is bittersweet. This final episode does promise some closure, because the creators Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick assumed it would be the series finale. Spoiler alert: At the end of the episode, the actors will talk to the camera, not as their characters, but as themselves. It is described as "kind of a thank you to the audience." They may want to thank us, but I want to thank them for three great years of amazing television.

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