Holden resident hits Hollywood to save show by Ria Megnin
Holden – Karen Ramsey doesn't watch much television. That's why she'll go the extra mile to save the one show she never misses: ABC's critically-acclaimed "Once and Again," produced by the creators of "thirtysomething," "Relativity" and "My So-Called Life."
"I'm not a TV fanatic," Ramsey says. "There was just something about 'Once and Again' that just grabbed me." The show is about a couple in their forties who married after being divorced, both bringing children to their new marriage.
"A lot of it is dealing with teenagers. My husband and I, having raised three teens, can identify," Ramsey says. "I think most people who have watched it have been able to connect with it in some way. It's one of the best reality shows there is."
Ramsey began watching "Once and Again" when it debuted in September of 1999. ABC had just created an online message board for fans of its shows, and Ramsey began posting. "It's become like a book club, where you meet every week and talk about aspects of the show," Ramsey says. "You get a perspective from a lot of different angles. There are people on the board from Australia, France, Germany, England and Brazil — so it's not only North America. It seems like it's really become worldwide."
Those fans rallied when they learned the show was at risk of being cancelled last season. "We came together to help save it," Ramsey says. "The time-slot has been moved seven times, so we're saying that's why it hasn't been able to gather a committed audience. It was renewed, though I'm not naive enough to think it was because of us. There are 19 new episodes scheduled. Ratings will determine whether or not the show continues."
So a campaign began in January to get the word out about the show in time for its return to the airwaves March 4. Ramsey and others spent several hours each week on projects to earn attention for the show. "We want to make it difficult for ABC to cancel it, that's our goal overall," she says.
"We banded together and raised $3,300 for an ad in Variety that appeared Monday and $2,800 for an ad in The Hollywood Reporter January 29," Ramsey says. "Probably 250 people contributed. We've been sending paperback books to [ABC President] Susan Lyne to show our support. We sent valentines in February. We've been doing an e-mail derby to sponsors, critics, entertainment reporters so they'll remind viewers to watch. We have postcards online that we're asking people to download; they say 'I'm not a Nielsen family, but I did watch "Once and Again." All this is to get ABC's attention and let them know that we are watching this show."
If you can make it here…
Then the big news came. "Back in October, five of us were planning a visit to Los Angeles," Ramsey says. "One of the campaign gurus who lives in Newton talked with the show's publicist, who contacted me and asked if we'd be interested in being interviewed by [cable network] E! Entertainment. We said, 'Why not?' So we were interviewed by E! about the campaign on the set of 'Once and Again' along with the actors."
The five fans visited the set three days during their week in Hollywood.
"It was like a dream," Ramsey says. "These rooms come into our living rooms every time that show is on. To actually be standing there was surreal, it was awesome. We got to meet all but one of the actors. They were the nicest people, very down to earth, obviously supportive of what everyone has been doing. It's like a close-knit family to them. They'd love to continue working together."
Ramsey says the interviews went well. "They asked us why we were doing this campaign, and our basic response was: because we really believe in the values of the show, and if you're going to watch TV, you might as well watch something that's good."
Airing tonight
The "Once and Again" segment is scheduled to run on E! News Daily tonight, Thursday, March 7, at 6:30 p.m. on E! Entertainment. [note: the segment is now scheduled for Monday, March 11 at 6:30 p.m. ET on E! Entertainment]
Also during February, one of the fans in New York e-mailed "Good Morning, America" and asked if the group could get tickets for the Monday, March 4 show. "It just happened that some were available," Ramsey says. So six fans traveled to Manhattan on Monday to hold signs in the "Good Morning, America" audience about "Once and Again" returning that night.
"Yesterday was just the icing on the cake," Ramsey said Tuesday morning. "They were very accommodating. We ended up in the front row, and Tony Perkins did interview us, Maggie [the group's spokesperson] got about 10 seconds of air time. We had signs and we got a little bit of airtime in the beginning when they panned the audience."
What gets lost if the show is cancelled? "I guess ABC's credibility, because they've said they want to take the high road in family dramas," Ramsey says. "We're just hoping that ABC will keep on a good show.
"A lot of people think I'm crazy for doing this, but I've always told the kids to stand up for what they believe in," Ramsey says. "I truly believe this is one of the best family programs today on TV."
"Once and Again" airs Mondays on ABC (Channel 5) at 10 p.m. For more information on the "Once and Again" campaign, visit the following web sites at
http://www.oandafans.com,
http://www.geocities.com/saveoanda,
https://www.angelfire.com/tv/onceagain and
http://www.petitiononline.com/OandA/petition.html __ The Landmark (March 7, 2002)
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