Archived Spoilers for Season 2
BYLINE: Gail Pennington -- * Billy Campbell reported that "I haven't been naked yet" for the new season of "Once and Again" -- not entirely good news for the show's fans. By this time last year, Campbell, who plays romantic lead Rick, had spent an entire day in the buff with co-star Sela Ward.__St. Louis Post-Dispatch (July 20, 2000)
******* Shane West's manager confirmed that the actual band members of "Average Jo" will be on the episode where Eli tries to start a band, playing the friends he chooses to start the band with. And they will be allowed to play some of their own material. "Average Jo" is the band Shane plays in in real life.
Also, Shane's mother mother mentioned at the ABC message board that Shane has been told to report to L.A. to begin filming OandA's second season on July 24. He's still wrapping a movie, "Getting Over Allison" in Toronto, so he'll jet between the two sets for about a week, then he's in L.A. for good.
Audrey Anderson will appear in seven episodes next season of the ABC drama "Once and Again." Anderson, who recently wrapped the indie comedy "Larceny," is repped by Innovative Artists and Chris Brenner at Creature Entertainment.__Daily Variety (July 28, 2000)
[fansofonceandagain note: The Internet Movie DataBase does not appear to have any info about Ms. Anderson. Given the nature of and other cast-members in "Larceny", it is suspected that she's just starting out. Maybe another love interest for Eli? Or, depending on her age, a new boss for Lily, or a new client for Rick or a new member of his firm. Maybe even a new best friend to replace the disappointing Naomi! Or, possibly, even Rick's mother. The speculation is endless.]
Audrey Anderson's role: Another young face will be seen "Once and Again" next season on a primetime network show. Newcomer Audrey Anderson has been cast in a recurring role on ABC's second-chance-in-life drama starring Sela Ward and Billy Campbell. She will play a high school student and new best friend to Ward's daughter. Anderson, who stars in the independent feature "Larceny," is repped by Innovative Artists and Chris Brennar at Creature Enter tainment.__Hollywood Reporter (August 9, 2000)
Returning Favorites
"Once and Again"
Starts: October
Where We Left Off: After much chaos, Rick and his kids arrived at the Manning home for dinner.
Matt (Roush) Says: This emotionally absorbing series developed into so much more than just a romance between two love-wary yuppies. Each of the characters in their extended, fractured families -- especially their young but complex children -- is richly drawn and warmly acted, making it impossible not to care about what happens next.
The Big News: Executive producer-creator Edward Zwick hopes the last episode "promised something that is long awaited": the growing involvement of these two families "and the inevitable complications that arise."
Growing Pains: According to Zwick, things will get "increasingly dramatic" as the four kids are thrown together frequently. And Lily -- working for a dot-com -- will have to deal with the financial fallout of her changed marital status.__TV Guide (September 9 - 15, 2000)
Entertainment Weekly's Fall Revelations
The suffering of those who stayed loyal to Rick Sammler and Lily Manning -- two dizzy divorcés attempting to merge their complicated lives with all the grace of a train wreck -- continued off screen, as viewers saw their beloved series overshadowed on a weekly basis by its time slot competitor, CBS' freshman success ''Judging Amy.'' ''Once and Again'' may have led the fight for viewers ages 18 to 49, but by season's end, ''Amy'' appeared to be winning the war, attracting 14 million fans.''I'm not happy with the situation,'' says Marshall Herskovitz, who exec produces ''Once'' with partner and fellow ''thirtysomething'' cocreator Edward Zwick. ''I didn't like the fact that there were two shows at 10 appealing to the same audience. It doesn't serve anybody.'' His problem is not about to go away. This year, ABC will follow the same odd strategy it did last season: running ''Once and Again'' at 10 p.m. Tuesdays until January before replacing it midseason with ''NYPD Blue'' (''Once'' then moves to 10 p.m. Mondays).
''We were able to come up with a schedule where 'Once and Again' and 'NYPD Blue' were in originals virtually every week they were on,'' says Jeff Bader, ABC's head of scheduling, defending the musical time slots plan. ''It worked well last year.'' Herskovitz, meanwhile, is channeling any lingering scheduling angst into ''Once'''s original mission. ''I set out to humanize all sides of a dilemma that's very familiar to the American public: divorce,'' he says. ''That has been particularly challenging.''
''Once'''s first four episodes will be lighter on Lily stories, however, as the overworked Ward needed a bit more time for her off-camera family. ''Last season, Lily was put through all stations of the cross, and I was working a considerable amount of hours,'' says the recent Emmy winner. ''I was begging to have a little break to see my two very young children [Austin, 6, and Anabella, 2]. My son last season said he wanted to scribble all over [my contract]. Needless to say, that put a knife through my heart.''
Helping to pick up the screen time slack will be ''Once'''s teen brigade, as they endure more annoying rites of adolescent passage. Herskovitz feels especially blessed by the amazing ''depth of talent'' among his young actors, particularly Shane West, 22, as handsome screwup Eli and the surprisingly mature Julia Whelan as hypersensitive Grace. Try to imagine one of those Noxzema smeared babes at The WB saying this: ''I don't believe I have Grace nailed,'' says Whelan, 16. ''The luxury of TV is that a character keeps going. You never have it nailed. It's like a person. It just evolves with the changes.''
Campbell is looking forward to some character evolution of his own this season, specifically exposing some jagged edges underneath Rick's oh-so-sensitive Mr. Nice Guy persona. ''It was almost as if [Rick] didn't have too many problems of his own,'' says Campbell of his first year plotlines. ''He had a bit of an issue of not quite knowing how to parent his kids -- he wanted to be their best friend -- but that was it.'' This time around Rick will leave his wimp cap at the door, including when he goes toe to toe with manipulative Miles Drentell -- the transplanted ''thirtysomething'' client from hell.
Okay, but here's what fans really want to know: Will we be hearing wedding bells for Rick and Lily come May sweeps? Herskovitz won't spill the rice, but he does offer one tantalizing hint: ''I would say the idea of living together has come up.'' That must mean we can expect some more of those sultry -- and slightly awkward -- sex scenes, à la Rick and Lily's flesh filled episode 2 encounter. Will Ward give her Sprint ad fans a wake up call by following Campbell's bare bottom lead? ''You've just lucked out with Billy,'' she says with a laugh. ''I've had two kids. I don't think so!''__Entertainment Weekly (September 22, 2000)
Fall TV preview: 'Once and Again'
By Phil Rosenthal, Television Critic -- Easy on the eyes and hard on the heart.
If there's a problem watching the blossoming romance between enviably photogenic, newly single, fortysomething parents Lily Manning and Rick Sammler, it's that their sometimes awkward missteps too often mirror our own.
And therein lies the contradiction of ABC's "Once and Again": You can't help but care about these people, and you sometimes wish you didn't.
Each week, Lily and Rick (Emmy winner Sela Ward and Billy Campbell) must negotiate the modern-day obstacle course of courtship, from cell-phone static to custody schedules.
They sometimes stumble, fall, dust themselves off and go back to it, bruised but unbowed, often leaving us as frustrated and disappointed as they are.
This is familiar territory for series creators Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz, whose "thirtysomething" and "My So-Called Life" so perfectly captured how even those who seem to be most comfortable in their lives are not always comfortable in their own skins.
Things are not as simple here as they seem, and how often can you say that about a television show? But then, this is a show for and about adults, an unusual enough distinction.
Yes, there are Lily and Rick's hyper-aware kids, caught in the crossfire of their parents' failed marriages at a time in their lives that would be difficult even under ideal circumstances. But the kids' stories are told in the context of the grown-ups', giving both generations an emotional depth few TV characters can match.
At first glance, "Once and Again" might seem like pure soap opera, with beautiful people living beautiful lives in the affluent northern suburbs of Chicago. To watch for an episode or two, however, is to notice how its complexity and attention to messy details elevate it, make it richer and deeper.
Most shows, for example, would demonize Lily's soon-to-be-ex (Jeffrey Nordling) as the jerk he often seems to be or the mercurial client Miles Drentell (David Clennon, literally transplanted from "thirtysomething") for pushing and prodding Rick without letup.
Zwick and Herskovitz see to it that they have their redeeming qualities, just as their heroes have imperfections and blind spots--and the heroes and villains, such as they are, help define one another.
Nothing is simple or predictable in "Once and Again," although when Lily and Rick do manage to fall into each other's arms, there is usually something that feels good and correct about it.
Right up until something maddening happens to pull them apart, as it always seems to do.
"Once and Again" makes you desperately want things to work out for Lily and Rick and the kids. It keeps us glued to the set each week because we're not quite sure how things can possibly end happily ever after for them, and it makes us want to look away for fear that they just might not.
CAST OF CHARACTERS:
THE MANNINGS
Lily Manning (Sela Ward)
Soon-to-be-divorced mother of two whos become romantically involved with Rick Sammler and reentered the working world.Grace Manning (Julia Whelan)
Ultrasensitive 15-year-old daughter, struggling with the breakup of her family and insecurities about her own place in the world.Zoe Manning (Meredith Deane)
10-year-old daughter who is confused about the upheaval in her home but jazzed about possibly getting a sister in trade.Jake Manning (Jeffrey Nordling)
Screw-up soon-to-be-ex that Lily needs to move away from but not totally alienate because hes her childrens father--and hes running her late fathers restaurant.THE SAMMLERS
Rick Sammler (Billy Campbell)
Sweet, well-meaning guy who, divorced for a few years, fell for Lily in the dropoff lane at school.Eli Sammler (Shane West)
Cool 17-year-old on campus whos having trouble with his studies.Jesse Sammler (Evan Rachel Wood)
13-year-old girl whos still reeling from the divorce and now must add the difficulties of becoming a teenager.Karen Sammler (Susanna Thompson)
Ex-wife who, despite criticisms for Rick and concerns about Lily entering the lives of her kids, is not entirely unsympathetic.__Chicago Sun-Times (September 26, 2000)Once and Again
Debuts: October 24th
How it ended: The Mannings and Sammlers gathered at Lily's (Sela Ward) home for dinner.What you can expect: A more masculine sensibility to the show. "Last year was a crucible for Lily," says executive producer Marshall Herskovitz. "She had to face up to some deep issues about her personality. This year, they're going to be some deep issues Rick (Billy Campbell) has to face." Also look for complications to arise between the blending of the two families. David Clennon (thirtysomething) returns as Miles Drentell, Rick's arrogant client._Kevin D. Thompson, Cox News Service (September 30, 2000)
Pennington's Preview
Creators Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz promise to continue last year's efforts to showcase characters in addition to lovers Lily (Sela Ward) and Rick (Billy Campbell). But they'll have strong stories, too, as Lily copes with the financial fallout of her divorce and Rick buys a backbone, standing up to client-from-hell Miles Drentell. (David Clennon, who created the role of Miles on "thirtysomething" and continues it here, becomes a regular this season.)__Gail Pennington, St. Louis Post-Dispatch (October 1, 2000)
Jake
Lily and Rick spend the night together on a weekday, and it's very awkward when the kids find them out. Eli struggles with school and joins a band. And we learn that Jake isn't that into Tiffany. Looks like he's wearing a big, fat scarlet letter this season, which Grace finds out about before Tiffany does.__E!Online.com (October 2, 2000)"Insider" on Mark Feurstein
(article "snipped")
The "Rules of Engagement" actor next stars as Mel Gibson's sidekick in "What Women Want" and returns this season to his recurring role as Leo on ABC's "Once and Again." Although he says he's "proud" to be a part of the ABC drama, his experience on the failed sitcoms "Fired Up" and "Conrad Bloom" left him wary of participating in TV projects.
(rest of article "snipped")__Eddie Roche, TVGuide.com (October 2, 2000)
Judy and Sam
Q: Steven Weber generated major heat on ABC's Once and Again last season, playing a sexy (but married) love interest for Sela Ward's sister. Is he included in the show's fall plans?USA TODAY'S Columnist Lorrie Lynch answered:
That storyline is revisited early in the season but without Weber, 39. He's busy with his own show, a sitcom called Cursed, joining NBC's "must-see" Thursday lineup. Weber, best known for playing goofy Brian on Wings, is among the many well-known faces returning to the tube this month.__USA TODAY Weekend (October 8, 2000)
Judy
Judy changes the name of the store to Booklovers and sets up a matchmaking night. She also gets a love interest in the form of a cute blue-collar type who comes in to fix the cappuccino machine. She hires him to fix up the back patio, and when he calls her, she rips up old photos of her and Sam.__E!Online.com (October 9, 2000)Aaron
It looks like "Will & Grace"'s central gay character, Will is getting a leading man of his own: It's Patrick Dempsey.....Dempsey, meanwhile, will also reprise his role as Sela Ward's mentally disabled brother in the Thanksgiving episode of ABC's "Once and Again," which airs November 21.__TVGuide.com (October 25, 2000)
Snippets
From shully: Can you tell us anything about Once and Again? I can't wait for the premiere tomorrow.Wanda answered:
You should be excited--it's really good. Here's a taste of some upcoming storylines: Lily will have a pregnancy scare; Carla makes a move on Eli; and Grace goes out on a date with a doofy guy, when she's really interested in his best friend.__E!Online, Watch with Wanda (Week of October 23, 2000)More Snippets
Anything new on Once and Again?
Lily and Rick have a few major headaches ahead. Lily has a pregnancy scare and loses her job. Rick has to deal with Jessie's eating disorder and an accident where Grace crashes his car.__Watch with Wanda, E!Online (Week of November 13, 2000)Watch with Wanda:
Have we seen the last of Judy's cute carpenter on Once and Again? Nope. Will Gluck comes back.__E!Online (January 30, 2001)Patrick Dempsey
("snipped" from the article, "Will's Loverboy")
No stranger to challenging parts, he wraps up his recurring stint as Sela Ward's schizophrenic brother on "Once and Again" in early Spring.__"Insider," tvguide.com (February 1, 2001)Watch with Wanda: Jake and Graham
I miss Jake on Once and Again. Are they writing in any storylines for him?Big time. He's going to find out he's becoming a daddy, because Tiffany is pregnant. A few episodes later, he starts cheating on her behind her swaying back. Charming, eh?
Will anything more happen with Graham and Lily? I hate to admit it, but I like their chemistry.
You wash that thought right out of your head, missy. Like I said last week, Lily and Rick are taking the next step forward, getting engaged before the end of the season. But as for Graham and Lily, she has to work with him on a project--and eventually, they work out their awkwardness.__E!Online (February 6, 2001)
Watch with Wanda for "Standing Room Only" and beyond
Is that the end of any hope for a Lily and Rick matrimony?Absolutely not. In a couple of weeks, the happy couple announces a very real engagement to both their families.
They struggle with deciding on living arrangements, but from what I've seen, all signs point to wedding bells ringing--perhaps even by the end of the season.
You said Will Gluck's coming back. Is that true?
Yes. Later this month, Judy gets the creepy feeling that someone is stalking her. She thinks it's Paul, but it turns out Will Gluck is the suitor, and the stalkish behavior was unintentional.__E!Online (February 26, 2001)
Watch with Wanda: Jake and Will
From Debbie: Any news on Once and Again?In the next new episode, Jake tells everyone about Tiffany's pregnancy, and they are very much a couple again. But then, after he starts realizing his dream restaurant is completely unsalvageable, he turns into a big creep and starts cheating on Tiffany with another woman. Also, Will Gluck makes his triumphant return. It's the storyline I told you about: Judy thinks Paul is stalking her, but it turns out that it's Will Gluck, and the creepy behavior was unintentional.__E!Online (March 13, 200)
Watch with Wanda: Season Ending News
From freakygirl: What's up for Lily and Rick on Once and Again?A breakup--or close to it. In the final episodes, Rick narrowly escapes indictment, but his business reputation is ruined, and the whole ordeal puts a major strain on his relationship with Lily.
From shaggster: Anything more on Once and Again?
Ah! Almost forgot this juicy tidbit: In the second to the last episodes, two of the characters are going to try and run away together.__E!Online.com (April 2, 2001)
Watch with Wanda: Eli and Grace
From maureen: What happens with Eli and Grace in the finale?Eli is heartbroken because not only did he get jilted by Carla, he also finds a letter from her to Grace, saying she doesn't miss him at all. Right after he reads that in Grace's room, she comes in, and they have a very touching scene rip with flirtation. As soon as they move in for a kiss--that's right, a smoocharoo!--Grace's little sister barges in. And she has a surprise of her own: Rick and Lily's wedding is off.__E!Online.com (April 24, 2001)
