"Once and Again" (1999)TV series 1999-2002

Creators:

Marshall Herskovitz
Edward Zwick

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

21 September 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family | Romance

Plot:

A divorced father and a soon-to-be divorced mother meet and begin a romantic courtship which is always complicated by their respective children and their own life problems.

Plot Keywords:

Divorce | Single Mother | Interracial Relationship | Bisexual | Dating

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 7 wins & 28 nominations

Cast

Sela Ward	...	Lily Manning (63 episodes, 1999-2002)
Bill Campbell	...	Rick Sammler (63 episodes, 1999-2002)
Julia Whelan	...	Grace Manning (59 episodes, 1999-2002)
Meredith Deane	...	Zoe Manning (59 episodes, 1999-2002)
Marin Hinkle	...	Judy Brooks (57 episodes, 1999-2002)
Shane West	...	Eli Sammler (52 episodes, 1999-2002)
Evan Rachel Wood	...	Jessie Sammler (52 episodes, 1999-2002)
Susanna Thompson	...	Karen Sammler (48 episodes, 1999-2002)
Jeffrey Nordling	...	Jake Manning (47 episodes, 1999-2002)
Todd Field	...	David Cassilli (27 episodes, 1999-2001)

Runtime:

60 min (63 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Australia:M | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Bedford Falls Productions

Trivia:

David Clennon also played Miles Dentrell on "thirtysomething" (1987).

Quotes:

Naomi: Lily, we're not talking about muffins here. This is a gingerbread house from scratch, it's hard. Remember childbirth? This is harder.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Dialogue: An Interview with Screenwriter Marshall Herskovitz (2007) (V)

Without Question My Very Favorite Show of All Time

"Once and Again" is without question my very favorite show of all time. One of the show's greatest strengths is the writing. The writing is wonderfully crisp and natural and actually sounds like people talking for a change. It examines daily life in a very intricate, exquisite, and truthful way. The second greatest strength is its acting. I don't know if there has ever been a television ensemble this good. From Sela Ward's self absorbed and yet lovable Lily to Billy Campbell's conflicted Rick to Jeffrey Nordling's perpetual screwup Jake to Susanna Thompson's uptight but loving Karen to Marin Hinkle's resilient romantic Judy, all of the adults in the cast put in consistently stellar performances.

But perhaps the show's finest performances came from its younger actors. Julia Whelan was perfect as whiny teenager Grace,awkwardly trying to survive the hell of being an adolescent. Shane West touched our hearts as Eli, never quite sure of his place in the world, and Evan Rachel Wood lit up the screen as Jessie,blossoming in front of our eyes from a shy, insecure child to a beautiful, more confident young woman. All three of these young people have the potential to be stars someday soon.

"Once and Again" is a gem of a show that was never truly given the recognition it deserved. Nevertheless, it's a show that has touched my heart. I can't imagine television being any better than this.