From the Cleavers to the Huxtables to the Pritchetts, the American television family has evolved (or devolved, in the case of the Kardashians) faster than a fish next to a nuclear power plant. On April 15, 2002, ABC ended our relationship with one of our favorites, the Mannings and Sammlers of Once and Again. The complications, joys, and heartaches of blending two post-divorce families had never been told in such a relatable manner.

For show creator Marshall Herskovitz, who along with Ed Zwick created other iconic shows such as My So-Called Life and Thirtysomething, it was the cast of Once and Again which made the show so special. “When you do a TV series, you can’t have a lot of dysfunction or life will be miserable [on set],” he tells Snakkle in an exclusive interview. “We have always felt that it was right from the beginning to make sure that the dynamics were honest, open, and respectful. There was a way that both Sela [Ward] and Billy [Campbell] set the tone for the show in such a wonderful way. It really was a family.”

Ten years later, we’ve teamed up with Herskovitz to remember why we loved Lily, Rick, and their complicated, unified family.