In a new interview with AfterElton, ONE LIFE TO LIVE head writer Ron Carlivati talks about the Kyle/Fish and Nick storyline and much more.
AE: There’s been a lot of talk that at the other networks there was a lot of interference on what they could do and how they could tell the story. Why do you think you haven't had that problem?Carlivati also credits the Luke and Noah story on AS THE WORLD TURNS with helping to pave the way for the OLTL story.
RC: I think there's always a little bit of hesitation and nervousness. You don't know how the whole audience is going to react to a story like this. We have a lot of conservative viewers who may not want to see a story like this. I'm writing a show for them as well. I try to be sensitive to that. I'm not going to push any kind of agenda, political or any kind.
I always say, at heart, this is a love story like any other. I just try to write the story like I would if this was a straight couple. Obviously, some other issues become a part of that story. We did take on this gay marriage issue, but essentially, again, we tried to write it from the standpoint of a love story, not a political story.
AE: There have been other gay storylines such as Luke and Noah on As the World Turns. Did they influence you at all with what you did with your story?
RC: Not so much influence, but I feel in a lot of ways I wouldn’t have been able to do my story if they hadn't done theirs first. I feel like those stories really did pave the way for me to be able to tell a gay story on our show. I'm obviously very grateful for that. The network has been really supportive and fantastic about the story. I just kept writing it waiting for the day when they'd say, "Okay. That's enough." [laughs] But it didn't happen, so they've been great.