Scott Evans, Brett Claywell out as OLTL's "groundbreaking" Kish
Posted Wednesday, March 10, 2010 5:35:40 PM
Updated Friday, March 12, 2010 8:01:52 PM
by Dan J Kroll
ABC has announced that it's made the difficult decision to bring to an end one of its most-talked about storylines. Brett Claywell and Scott Evans are out as the "groundbreaking" couple of Kyle and Oliver. The pair will remain in Llanview, but their on-screen time will come to an end in April. A spokesperson says the door is open for their return.
It's the end of the line for one of One Life to Live's most popular couples. The ABC soap has confirmed that
Brett Claywell (Kyle Lewis) and
Scott Evans (
Oliver Fish) will exit the show next month. The news comes only a few days after Evans denied talk that he wanted out of the show.
"We are concluding the story that we set out to tell with Kyle and Fish," executive producer Frank Valentini said in a statement. "We are very proud to have broken new ground with a same-sex couple on daytime."
Earlier this week,
soapcentral
.com first reported on the rumors stating that Evans was looking to leave the show. Evans, who has reportedly auditioned for at least one primetime project, took to Twitter to let fans know that he did not want to leave the show. Ultimately, though, Evans acknowledge that the decision was out of his hands.
"I have no plans to leave OLTL, everyone," Evans tweeted. "It's not even really in my hands!"
The pairing of Kyle and Fish -- known affectionately as Kish -- has helped to raise One Life to Live's visibility since their journey began last year. The two former frat brothers' blossoming relationship helped draw new viewers to the 41-year-old soap, viewers who might not have previously watched a soap, but tuned in because they were intrigued by a storyline that dealt with a topic they hadn't before seen addressed on daytime television. Mainstream gay and lesbian publications, including the
Advocate and
Instinct, also featured regular coverage of the story.
However, network officials reportedly were concerned that the couple did not catch on with a larger audience. TVGuide reports "the decision to drop the duo didn’t come easily."
In future story, Oliver will learn on March 29 that he's Sierra Rose's biological father. Oliver will eventually get custody of the infant, and he and Kyle will start their family together... off-screen. The pair is expected to last air sometime in mid-April.
"The groundbreaking Kyle/Fish relationship on One Life to Live was embraced by fans both as a great story and a fair and honest reflection of the LGBT community. We’re glad their story resonated with the audience, and understand the fans' disappointment now that it has concluded," a One Life to Live spokesperson told
soapcentral
.com in a statement. "The show has a history of bringing LGBT stories to the screen -– earning two GLAAD awards in the process -– as well as returning popular characters when they serve the ongoing story. These great characters remain in Llanview, and while there are no immediate plans to advance their story, the door is always open for their return."
Evans has been on recurring status since he made his One Life to Live debut in January 2008. Claywell, a contract player, bowed the following month, on February 24, 2009.
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