Laurel's TV Picks for January 18th

by Laurel Krahn

Once and Again has been put on hiatus by ABC, won't air on ABC tonight as originally scheduled, won't return to their schedule until March. When it does return, it's going to air on Monday nights at 9pm. This article by Alan Sepinwall has details about how the show's number of episodes may be cut back for the season. Things aren't looking good for the show, many don't think it will survive 'til next season, some fear they won't get to make or air as many episodes as originally planned for this season.

Why should you care? Where does my pick come in? Lifetime reruns an episode of Once and Again (Lifetime, 10pm) tonight that aired last week on ABC. The episode is called "Gardenia" and it's great, I think it's one of the best episodes of any show I saw in the last couple of weeks. It's hard for me to put myself in the shoes of a TV viewer who hasn't seen the show before or who hasn't seen it in a while, to tell if the episode will work as well for someone who hasn't been watching the show this season. But if it blew fans of the show away, I should think it'd still look like an intriguing or good bit of TV to the unitiated. Well, I'd like to hope so. I wrote a bit more about the show in a message to the TV Barn mailing list.

It's a compelling drama about an unusual extended family. The characters have believable strengths and weaknesses, and the relationships are messy and complicated. A great cast and great writing make this show great. I'll really miss these people if this show goes away. (Here's a link again to a page about a campaign to try and save the show).

Anyway. Where was I? Give the show a shot tonight if you haven't seen it or haven't seen it in a while. If you saw it last week and wish you'd taped it (like me), you get another chance tonight if you've got Lifetime. __ www.tvpicks.net (January 18, 2002)

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