Charles Shaughnessy's TV
Guide Online Chat (February 2, 1999)
TV Guide Online: Welcome!
Tonight's chat is with The Nanny's Charles
Shaughnessy. Thanks for joining us tonight Charles.
Charles Shaughnessy: Hello,
everyone, and thank you for coming to chat with me on this
TV Guide Online chat! I'm sure that you have plenty of
questions about The Nanny and other subjects, so
let's get started! :)
Lucho_M: Congratulations on
your page. I sent you an e-mail.
Shaughnessy: Oh, thank you!
It's up and running and I hope you enjoy it. I'll be adding
to it. Please forgive teething troubles, but it's there to
stay.
thumbi8: Who is your biggest
inspiration?
Shaughnessy: Wow...I really
&emdash; without wanting to sound "aw gee shucks" &emdash;
I'd have to say my wife, who taught a rather uptight
Englishman to get in touch with himself, and what there is
to be gotten out of life. So Susan is my greatest
inspiration. She has more integrity than anyone I know, and
integrity is more important than anything for a happy and
successful life.
ule841: Charles, do you enjoy
working on TV? Have you ever done stage??
Shaughnessy: I did a lot of
stage and would miss it if I could no longer go back on the
stage. But I also enjoy TV. Ideally, my career would
comfortably span the stage, TV and movies. Best of all
worlds.
clcstags: Are you as big a hit
in Great Britain as here in U.S.?
Shaughnessy: Unlike the patrons
at Cheers, in Britain nobody knows my name. The
Nanny has been on a satellite station so some do know me
from that, but it's not a major network and it's been 15
years since I've been on TV in England, so the short answer
is... No. :)
SIL_URU: From Uruguay: Have you
got some plan after The Nanny?
Shaughnessy: I'm going to
Disneyworld for spring break! Then I hope to branch out into
other parts of the business, like movies, other parts of
TV... a play in NY would be nice.
MarsBars_1973: What will you
miss most about working with the cast of The
Nanny?
Shaughnessy: The people. You
really do get to be a family, albeit a rather dysfunctional
family. And we've been through a lot together. The hope and
excitement of the early years and the high times of the
success of the show and those sorts of experiences draw one
close. It will be very hard to say good-bye and move on, but
in this business we're all gypsies and moving on comes with
the territory.
ule841: Are you still an
Englishman at heart or have you become more American? Still
enjoy cricket, Charlie?
Shaughnessy: Never really
understood cricket! I consider myself pretty well wrapped in
the Stars and Stripes, despite the accent, although I do
miss the soccer and the warm beer. But have high hopes for
America in the next World Cup and have developed a taste for
margaritas!
pittbull_007: I got in late, so
forgive me if this question has already been asked... but
back when you were on Days, I remember you saying
that one steamy scene with Patsy Pease got by the sensors.
Do you remember that particular scene... and can you tell us
about it?
Shaughnessy: It was something
that happened but it was so long ago.... Oh, I know! It was
early in Shane and Kim's romance, there was one scene where
we were making love in front of the fire... and it was shot
in such a way that Patsy's arched back and her head shooting
back at a particular moment drew a gasp from everyone in the
control booth. In reality, everything was above board, but
it certainly looked steamier than the real thing. It's hard
to describe, but it looked extremely graphic!
MarsBars_1973: Charles, now
that you are familiar with the Internet, have you visited
the web sites dedicated to the show? And what do you think
of The Nanny fan fiction &emdash; that is, if you've
read any of it?
Shaughnessy: There are number
of fan sites. I know that Bob has a terrific site and I
enjoy that. I browsed through some of the notice boards on
the Sony site. It's always fun to see and I've been tempted
to drop in a chat but so far have resisted.
Raccoon147: Is the show The
Nanny going off the air?
Shaughnessy: Yes, the show is
going off the air the end of this season, with a one-hour
special episode where Fran gives birth. How we raise the
children and who they sound like will have to be left up to
your imagination. :) Syndication will continue, of
course.
KickAssSuperSaucySailorMercury:
Charles, I really like The Nanny. It is so funny.
Especially the thing about Niles and Cici. What is it like
to work with the both of them?
Shaughnessy: They are terrific!
Danny Davis is an extremely talented and accomplished actor
who is finally getting to show his stuff to millions of
people at a time. Lauren Lane is one of the smartest
comedians I've worked with. I'm sure she will go on to do
many great things. She's also a lovely lady.
shakespeare_75: Have you ever
tried to write a screenplay?
Shaughnessy: Heh heh... as we
speak, buried in my final draft folder, is my embryonic
screenplay. Susan and I read it from time to time, laugh a
lot, are greatly encouraged and then can type no further.
One day I'm confident the muse will strike and we will
finish this screenplay and win first prize at Sundance.
;)
brenpappy: Do you have any
future plans to direct, like so many other actors?
Shaughnessy: I have, and love
directing theater. It's a very different experience from
directing TV. I would love to direct theater and suspect
directing movies would be exciting. I have no immediate
plans, but can certainly see it in my future.
Corinne_NY: Are you anything
like Maxwell Sheffield?
Shaughnessy: I think I'm not a
bit like Maxwell. I think I'm hip, modern, liberated and
fun. Fran thinks I'm exactly like that and that's why she
cast me! LOL! I think the truth lies somewhere in the
middle.
snd_budd: What has been your
favorite episode of The Nanny?
Shaughnessy: Boy... hmm....
Obviously, the pilot episode has a special place in my
heart. I thought the lamb chop episode was one of the
funniest. I liked the episode when we all changed
places.
Sue1970: When will the final
episode air?
Shaughnessy: No, no dates on
the final episode as yet. Probably May, I think.
affectionatelover: How
different is it on the set of The Nanny than it was
on Days?
Shaughnessy: During the day,
rehearsing DOOL, I was always laughing. Always in
hysterics. Of course things got serious when it came to
tape, but to keep our sanity during the material led to much
mirth. The Nanny, however, is more disciplined and
harder and more focused during the rehearsal. Ironically,
the outcome looks just the opposite. The Nanny looks
more spontaneous and funny, while DOOL looks more
serious.
stephmoore: How has it been
seeing your TV kids grow up?
Shaughnessy: Very strange! In
life, you see your kids every day, so you don't really
notice the difference. But when you see your children after
a three-month hiatus, it's shocking to see the changes. I
look at the pilot now and they don't even seem like the same
people.