THE SUMMER OF SELA WARD

By Don Kaplan --
SELA Ward, the sexy, fortysomething star of "Once and Again," is the breakout personality of the young season.

Ward plays Lily Manning - a divorced mother of two who is awkwardly getting back into the dating scene.

In real life, the rave reviews and high ratings come after a 20-year career in which Ward usually played the bridesmaid but never a bride.

"Certain people are late bloomers," said "Once and Again" co-creator Ed Zwick ("thirtysomething," "My So-Called Life"). "They reach the peak of their powers at this moment in their life."

"When someone like this finally lodges in the public's imagination, it's kind of like a pebble in a pool," Zwick said. "The ripples grow larger as it grows outward."

Until now, Ward's most notable performances were in supporting roles - as Harrison Ford's murdered wife in "The Fugitive" or part of an ensemble on the ratings-shy NBC drama "Sisters."

Despite leads in several made-for-TV movies - most notably as the tragic NBC anchor Jessica Savitch in 1995's "Almost Golden" - Ward has yet to become a household name.

Until now.

Just last week she was a guest on "The Rosie O'Donnell Show," "Live with Regis & Kathie Lee," and appears in the October issue of Esquire magazine. Features in TV Guide and Entertainment Weekly are also reportedly in the works.

ABC's "Once and Again" - and Ward in particular - have been receiving rave early notices all summer from critics who got a sneak preview of the show back in July.

The feel and subject matter of the show - about two recently divorced parents trying to start over again with each other, balancing loyalties to children with the possibilities of romance - seemed to strike the right chord this season. And viewers responded immediately.

More than 16.8 million people tuned to the debut of "Once and Again" last week, which makes it the biggest new show for ABC so far and a heavyweight in a season dominated by dramas. It ranked a close second to NBC's "West Wing," which drew about 16.9 million viewers' and handily beat CBS' "Judging Amy," which scored about 13.5 million viewers.

"That which was always there in abundance has come together for Sela in a very particular way in this part," Zwick said.

"She has discovered these aspects of herself that are so emotional, funny and joyous - she would be the first to say what a moment this is for her."

It also didn't hurt that "Once and Again" airs in the time slot usually reserved for "NYPD Blue" - Tuesdays at 10 p.m.

It has been slated to jump to Monday nights, after the "Monday Night Football" season ends in December.

But now it's a hit, there is talk that ABC is trying to keep it on the air during football season in another timeslot.

ABC officials would not comment. __The New York Post (September 28, 1999)