"NYPD BLUE" BEGINS 8TH SEASON; "ONCE AND AGAIN" NOW ON WEDNESDAY

BYLINE: Gail Pennington --
Once again, ABC has toyed with us, splitting the 10 p.m. Tuesday time slot between "Once and Again," seen there since fall, and "NYPD Blue," which returns tonight to begin its eighth season.

This time-sharing is a good thing, the network insists, benefiting both shows and also their fans. See, this way we get a full season of "Once and Again" (which moves to 10 p.m. Wednesdays) as well as a full season of "NYPD Blue," minus disruptive midseason reruns.

Well, OK. But instead of being appreciative, most viewers seem mainly annoyed -- some that "NYPD Blue" got such a late start, and others that " Once and Again" is moving.

Admittedly, tuning in at 10 tonight expecting a poignant drama about contemporary families and instead finding a gritty cop show could be unsettling. So here's a little guide on how to tell them apart.

"Once and Again" -- horny divorced people looking for love. "NYPD Blue" -- horny detectives looking for love.

"Once and Again" -- trademark black-and-white soliloquies. "NYPD Blue" -- trademark bare-backside scenes.

"Once and Again" -- dialogue using words like stress, self-esteem and closure. "NYPD Blue" -- dialogue using words like perp, prick and skel.

"Once and Again" -- evil Miles Drentell. "NYPD Blue" -- evil Internal Affairs.

"Once and Again" -- daughter with eating disorder. "NYPD Blue" -- son with blood disorder.

When last we visited the "NYPD Blue" squad room, way back in May, Detective Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) was frantic over little son Theo, who was suffering from something that might be leukemia. Tonight, almost six months have passed, and Theo is approaching a final test to determine whether he'll need chemotherapy.

Last spring, the squad was also deeply involved in a case that personally affected Detective Jill Kirkendal (the departed Andrea Thompson). Jill's drug-dealing ex-husband had caught her up in his sleazy business, leading to the kidnapping of their son and to a risky police sting to bring the bad guys down.

Tonight, the sting comes back to bite our heroes when Internal Affairs launches an investigation. Meanwhile, perps and skels abound.

In other words, it's business as usual at the old precinct, which looks and even sounds the same despite the departure of executive producer David Milch, who had masterminded the writing in recent seasons.

If you've loved this stuff for going on eight years, there's no reason to believe you won't love it still. On the other hand, if you've found the show too soapy of late, there's no relief in sight. The new season's first two installments include plenty of suds, devoting lots of time both to the fate of little Theo and to romantic romping.

I have mixed feelings about the whole thing. The newest additions to the cast, Rick Schroder's Detective Danny Sorensen and Henry Simmons' Detective Baldwin Jones, are strong and interesting, although Simmons could use more to do. And I like the romping.

But the story-telling, as the years go by, seems increasingly predictable, even trite. Surely police work in the Big, Rotten Apple offers a wide variety of crimes that can be investigated in fresh, innovative ways. Week after week, "Law & Order" manages to come up with surprises, and heaven knows "Homicide" always did, but it's been a long time since "NYPD Blue" has genuinely surprised us with a plot that doesn't personally involve the regulars.

Ratings were strong last season, however, so gazillions of fans apparently enjoy "Blue" as much as ever.

Smaller in number but perhaps even more passionate are fans of "Once and Again," now in its second season and trying out yet another time slot as of this week.

Last January, ABC moved "Once and Again" to 10 p.m. Monday, a time period just vacated by "Monday Night Football." This year, however, the show moves to 9 p.m. Wednesday, opposite "Law & Order," while "Gideon's Crossing" takes the Monday slot as of next week.

Again, ABC contends that the shift will help both shows. "Once and Again" attracts women, who aren't likely to be "Law & Order" fans, the thinking goes. "Gideon's Crossing," the medical drama starring Andre Braugher, could do well against Monday's estrogen-heavy "Family Law."

That theory is full of holes, of course, starting with the fact that plenty of women are devoted to "Law & Order" and that men do appreciate "Once and Again." (Three of the most devoted fans I know are male.)

Beginning as the love story of Lily (Sela Ward) and Rick (Billy Campbell), "Once and Again" has evolved in two seasons into the rich, messy saga of their families as well. Those who don't enjoy the show often complain that it's "too real" (read: depressing), but regular viewers find just the opposite - uplifting, often exhilarating treatment of very real issues in modern life.

This week's remarkable episode is no exception, as Lily confronts Rick with a possible turning point in their relationship. Another turning point comes for Rick's teen-age son, Eli (Shane West).

As the story goes on, many are still wondering about the fate of the "missing episode" pre-empted in the presidential election aftermath. Some of those who called KDNL (Channel 30) say they were told (incorrectly) that the episode wouldn't air. In fact, it's set for Jan. 24; the plot is relatively self-contained and shouldn't disrupt the continuity of the show, an ABC publicist said.__St. Louis Post-Gazette (January 9, 2000)