Last week, AW's Charles Keating (Carl) created an uproar among his fans when he released a statement on his Web site announcing he was fired from the show. Since then, Keating's admirers have been bombarding both AW Web sites and the show itself with mail and phone calls. The attack has been so relentless that NBC execs in Burbank and at the Brooklyn studio have had their phone numbers changed.
"I am reeling from the response," says Keating. "I'm overwhelmed. The impact has hit me in the heart in a way that I had no idea. You don't relaly ever expect to pick up your morning paper and read about your firing in Liz Smith's syndicated column.
"You know me, I'm a working actor," he continues. "That's what I love, I knew the character was popular, but the audience seems to have taken (him) to its heart. I'm literally reeling from it. I'm just trying to stay quiet: it's the only gentlemanly thing to do.
"Needless to say, it's very diffucult for Victoria (Wyndham, Rachel),"Keating reflects. "By doing this to me, they're doing a lot to her, too. We're wonderful acting partners, and I really enjoyed that."
A rumor surfaced on the Internet recently that Victoria Wyndham (Rachel)had quit and will leave AW in July to spend time with her family and pursue other projects, but she denies it. Wyndham spoke to New Jersey fan "Jodi B.," asking her to post the following message on the NBC message boards: "Vicky Wyndham did not quit. She doesn't know where the story came from, but it wasn't from her. She and Charles would like to thank everyone for their love and support. They are both very touched by the fans' efforts."
Keating and Wyndham will attend the Another World Fan Club luncheon on April 18, along with the entire cast, where Keating plans to give a speech stating that he is not bitter about being let go and encouraging fans to support the show. AW's producers, who annually attend the event, will not attend.
Enraged fans on the Internet are also encouraging luncheon attendees to wear green ribbons - representing Keating's Irish heritage - and black armbands with a slash across the letters "C.S.", for Charlotte Savitz, AW's executive producer.
According to Mary Alice Dwyer-Dobbin, the executive in charge of
production for Procter & Gamble's three soaps (AW, ATWT and GL), Carl's (and Keating's) exit was a necessary evil that may leae to a future storyline for Keating. "I certainly respect the fans and their great devotion to Charles. He's a wonderful actor and has done some fabulous work," says Dwyer-Dobbin. "Decisions are made for a variety of reasons, and they aren't always easy. We had our reasons, and the material has been written. But what we've said all along is that this character will continue to be a force in Bay City. No one knows what the future holds. If the story is such, we would hope to use Charles Keating as Carl in the future sometime."
While Dwyer-Dobbin didn't specifically address the phone furor that's tied up AW's lines in recent weeks, she did say the most constructive way for fans to express their opinions about the show is in the form of a well-written letter. "Letters definitely get delivered and opened, and if there's a stack of 10 or 20 or hundreds of letters, that makes an impression," she explains.
As the furor rages on, there is one thing AW fans should know: The show has been renewed for another year.