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Episode #1: "Busted" originally aired September 28, 2001.

Sneak Peek

Synopsis: In the season premiere episode, "Busted," Rick, Lily and their kids struggle with their new living situation, while Eli gets in trouble with the law and seeks Grace's help in dealing with his struggles.__ABC Network

Play it again -- with sizzle: blended families stir it up in ABC's `Once and Again'
By Allan Johnson

Things have calmed down considerably in the Sammler/Manning household in the third season premiere of ABC's "Once and Again."

Well, there is still some calamity taking place (9 p.m. Friday, WLS-Ch. 7). It's not on the scale of last season, when Rick Sammler's (Billy Campbell) career was crumbling in the wake of that failed industrial facility his architectural film developed that was the brainchild of demented millionaire Miles Drentell (David Clennon).

The turmoil seen Friday, created by Rick finally marrying Lily Manning (Sela Ward), is typical when two separate families are blended into one.

It's especially the case when divorced singles marry and bring their children -- and relatives, friends and, in many cases, ex-spouses -- with them.

But "Once and Again" was created with the idea of Rick and Lily getting together with their significant others in tow, Ward says.

"It was always Marshall [Herskovitz] and Ed's [Zwick] intention to do a show about a blended divorced family," says Ward, 45. "It just took them the third season to get to that. They have tons of material just on that subject to keep it very interesting."

That should silence those who think that whenever two characters attracted to each other get together, it ruins things.

"You can't stay in that state of bliss and sort of honeymoon phase forever," says Ward, who won an Emmy last year for playing Lily, and is up for another one in a few weeks.

"Even if they don't get married, the reality of life sets in," Ward says. "The honeymoon period is over, and then where do you go from that? It's not real. So you can't sustain that even if you didn't have them get married. So I think it's going to be very interesting. And I think it will still be just as much fun and just as sexy."

Rick and Lily certainly keep things sizzling in Friday's premiere, trying to have a little fun in bed despite Lily's daughter Zoe's (Meredith Deane) interruptions because she and Rick's daughter Jessie (Evan Rachel Wood) are bickering about sharing a room.

It is Rick's son Eli (Shane West) who is at the center of a major controversy, and not just because he gets busted with drugs in his car.

Eli, who is bypassing college, spent the summer playing with his band instead of finding a job, which vexes Rick's ex-wife Karen (Susanna Thompson). It is Lily, who finds she has job problems of her own, who comes to Eli's defense, irritating Karen.

"Eli and Lily end up having this great rapport," Ward says, "and some great scenes, where Lily comes off as a really cool step-mom. And that's fun."

Rick is caught in the middle. It's a situation he was in a lot last season, making him come off a little too wishy-washy for Campbell's taste. And he hopes Rick develops more of a spine this season.

"There are things about Rick that I don't like so much," the 42-year-old Campbell says candidly. "Feeling sorry about himself, but also being so compliant and kind of passive in his relations to women. I think he'd just be far better off if he was sticking up for himself and having firm opinions of his own." __ Chicago Tribune (September 27, 2001)

SEASON PREMIERE - BUSTED

The insightful third-season opener finds newlyweds Rick (Billy Campbell) and Lily (Sela Ward) coping with the angst of his beleaguered 18-year-old son Eli (Shane West), who's busted for marijuana possession.

The pot's not his, but Eli's arrest nonetheless raises a red flag for Rick's ex-wife, Karen (Susanna Thompson), who determines that the teen needs "structure in [his] life." And that means employment. Thanks to a twist of fate---and Lily's persuasiveness---Eli lands a job at a recording studio. But the prospect of a son in the music biz doesn't sit well with Karen, whose intervention sets the stage for telling confrontations.

Cast: Billy Campbell, Sela Ward, Shane West, Evan Rachel Wood, Meredith Deane, Julia Whelan, Susanna Thompson, Jeffrey Nordling, Marin Hinkle, Jennifer Crystal Foley, Kay Lenz, Adam Brody __TV Guide (September 7, 2001)

Rick And Lily Adjust To Married Life And Their New Family, When The Third Season Of ABC's "Once And Again" Premieres -- And Moves To A New Night -- Friday, September 21

"Once and Again" returns for a third season this fall as Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz, creators of "thirtysomething" and "My So Called Life," continue to bring their singular vision of modern life to television with a Golden Globe-nominated drama series about two families brought together by the second marriage of Lily Manning (Sela Ward) and Rick Sammler (Billy Campbell), who have discovered another chance at love and genuine commitment after divorce. Their relationship, however, has not been without challenge; parenting, divorce, infidelity, financial hardship and even death have pushed them to the limit, both as a couple and as individuals. Against all these forces, Rick and Lily now have their love, their family and their new commitment to sustain them. They must continue to confront their own flaws and struggles, as well as those of their children, in order for their new family to survive and to fully embrace this rare second chance at happiness. "Once and Again" premieres FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 (10:00-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

In the season premiere episode, "Busted," Rick, Lily and their kids struggle with their new living situation, while Eli gets in trouble with the law and seeks Grace's help in dealing with his struggles. __ABC Network (August 23, 2001)

Cursed No More
From Wanda's Fall 2001 Tipsheet--

Steven Weber reprises his role as Sam Blue on Once and Again this season, filling the love-interest shoes vacated by Mark Valley (Will Gluck), who'd apparently rather wine and dine the rich and famous than be Judy's shirtless handyman. Some nerve. As for the kiddos, look for big fights between the new stepsiblings, more romantic tension between Eli and Grace and a shocking storyline involving Jessie and her mamacita. Once and Again returns September 28 on ABC. __msn.eonline.com (September 2001)

'Once and Again' will lighten up
By Robert Bianco, USA TODAY --

PASADENA, Calif. — It looks like ABC's Once and Again may have a brighter future.

The plan for the show's upcoming third season, besides moving to Fridays at 10 p.m. ET/PT, says producer Marshall Herskovitz, is to add a bit more humor and provide a better balance of light and dark stories and episodes. First and foremost, it means that while the show's central couple, Lily and Rick, will still argue, they will no longer question whether they belong together. They're not just married; they're happily married.

"This is a very good marriage, and there's a lot to explore in a good marriage. There can still be conflict between them, but they will face this year together as a team."

As for Billy Campbell, the actor who plays Rick, he is pretty happy these days. He's just back from a two-week vacation on a Norwegian tall ship, which was involved in a race across the North Sea. But Campbell wasn't lounging on a deck chair reading a book. The strapping actor, a devotee of Patrick O'Brian's seafaring novels, worked as part of the crew — climbing the rigging, hoisting sail, and having a great time. So if anyone's thinking of turning O'Brian's books into a movie, give him a call.__USA TODAY (July 25, 2001)

Cast call: Lily, Rick, Eli, Grace, Jessie, Zoe, Karen, Jake, Judy
Guest stars: Jennifer Crystal Foley as Christie Parker, Adam Brody as Coop, George Tasudis as driver, James Martinez as cop no. 1, Pedro Shanahan as long hair no. 1, Jeff Russo as long hair no. 2, JF Pryor as Drummer, Kay Lenz as Stephanie and Robert Vernon Eaton as cop no. 3
Writers: Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick
Director: Dan Lerner

Ratings:


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