TVG_Michael: Good evening! Charles will be joining us in just a few minutes. Please send in your questions for Charles now.
Charles: Hello everyone and thank you for coming to chat with me on this TV GUIDE chatline!
TVG_Michael: 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.
Charles: 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?
Charles: Wow...I really without wanting to sound "aw gee shucks", 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 got 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 ??
Charles: 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 US?
Charles: 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?
Charles: 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?
Charles: 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 goodbye 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?
Charles: 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?
Charles: 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 at 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!
TVG_Michael: We're chatting with Charles Shaughnessy of the Nanny and earlier on, Days of Our Lives. Ask your questions for him here.
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, that is if you've read any of it.
Charles: There are a number of fan sites. I know that Barb 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?
Charles: 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 CeCe. What is it like to work with the both of them?
Charles: 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 comediennes 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?
Charles: Heheh... 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?
Charles: I have and love directing theatre. It's a very different experience from directing TV.
I would love to direct theatre 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?
Charles: 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.
heartdreams: Have you done any feature films?
Charles: I did a movie 2 years ago called "Denial' that has recently been on Cinemax. I really enjoyed the experience and the movie and hope I get the chance to do more soon.
TVG_Michael: We're chatting with Charles Shaughnessy, Maxwell Sheffield, of The Nanny.
Snd_budd:What has been your favorite episode of the Nanny?
Charles: Boy...hmm....Obviously the pilot episode has a special place in my heart.
I thought the lambchop episode was one of the funniest. I liked the episode when we all changed places.
Sue1970: When will the final episode air?
Charles: No, no dates on the final episode as yet. Probably May, I think.
Affectionatelover: How different is it on the set of Nanny then it was on Days?
Charles: During the day, rehearsing DOOLS, 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?
Charles: Very strange! In life, you see your kids everyday so you don't really notice the difference. But when you see your children after a 3 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.
LauraTNZ: So there's absolutely no chance that the show will continue next fall? Not even if fans write lots of letters to CBS?
Charles: It never hurts to write or show your support. If only to draw attention to what was a successful and very funny show.
It's hard to get a network to change its mind, though not impossible.
We all appreciate your support and encouragement and we'll be as sad as you to see it go.
Kayweezy02: Charlie myself and my best friend are coming out to a taping on the 19th of March is there a possibility we could meet you and get your autograph after the taping? We are sure hoping so we are coming from the East Coast.
Charles: After the show there's usually a few minutes when we can sign some auto's and say hello to the fans. If you wanna be sure, give your names to the pages and they'll let me know you're in the house.
Pittbull_007: Sorry...did you see the storyline on Days with Kristen's sister and the Englishman? How authentic did you think it was......and do English pubs usually scatter around the country?
Charles: I didn't see the story, as I haven't been watching, but certainly it's true there are pubs all over the place. More numerous than McDonalds in America.
Paddyoz: Are you surprised by the global impact the Nanny has had, especially in Australia?
Charles: Yes! To be honest! It's not a story we thought would play around the world and thought it was particularly American.
But then we realized it was a universal story about 2 very different people falling in love and about a fish out of water. And everyone can relate to that from Brisbane to Birmingham.
Maru_boca: Second, It sounds weird but why do you keep changing wearing your watch on each arm???
Charles: You win the prize!!
Now watch to see which episodes I have mismatched socks!!
I have always worn my watch on my right hand and halfway through the run of the Nanny, decided it was time to stop being eccentric...and switched!
LauraTNZ: How was it like working with Madeline Zima outside of The Nanny, in the movie?
Charles: Oh, terrific! We did a movie called "Second Chances" and it was a lot of fun to see a familiar face.
I'm very fond of Maddie. She's a very good actress and a sweet girl. And she demonstrated a surprising talent as a horseback rider.
Sue1970: Who is the Director of The Nanny?
Charles: This season the director is Peter Marc Jacobson who is also one of the executive producers and Fran's husband.
The last season was Dorothy Lyman.
Charles: Thank you all for logging on and talking with me. If anyone is interested... I have a website The Official Charles Shaughnessy Website
I hope you enjoy the rest of the season of the Nanny. Please watch on Wednesday, Lynn Redgrave, Golden Globe award winner! She's the guest and is very funny.
Thanks again for chatting with me this evening. Love, Charlie. :)
TVG_Michael: Thanks for chatting with us tonight, Charles. Don't forget to watch The Nanny tomorrow night with Lynn Redgrave. And stay tuned for the final episodes.
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