May Sweeps Scoopapalooza

                   ONCE UPON A TIME

PRE-FINALE EPISODES | ABC's fantastical drama opens its sweeps run April 27, with an episode that "answers an enormous amount of questions," cocreator Eddy Kitsis promises. Among them: Who cast the new curse and why? And what else is Hook hiding about his remembered year? And though the Storybrooke heroes seem to have the Wicked Witch's time-traveling agenda figured out, "There's an additional surprise element to what's coming," says cocreator Adam Horowitz. "It becomes more than it appeared at first blush." On May 4, the episode "Kansas" serves up more Oz-based mythology (and iconography) as well as introduces us to the show's take on Dorothy. All of that, Kitsis says, "will open the door to a new adventure that leads to the two-hour finale." Exclusive bonus scooplet: Someone you thought you'd seen the last of puts in one more appearance, and soon.

MAY 11 SEASON FINALE (2 HOURS) | The double pump of "Snow Drifts" and "There's No Place Like Home" is "not just two episodes crammed together in one night," says Kitsis. "It was written as a two-hour movie, and it will not only complete the arc of this season, but it will absolutely set up next season" - akin to how last May, the gang set course for Neverland. "We're not getting on a boat this time," Horowitz quips, "but seeds for Season 4 are planted." As is a ring on someone's finger. "There will be a wedding," Kitsis affirms, adding... well, nothing. (But we tried!)