Contrary to reports on other web sites, Phil Carey (Asa Buchanan) has not officially parted ways with One Life to Live. A show insider tells Soap Central that talks between the actor and network executives are still ongoing.
News of Carey's possible exit first emerged around the first of the year when the actor revealed that he had not yet been approached by anyone to re-sign his contract. That led to speculation that the long-time One Life to Live fixture was going to be taken off contract.
Buchanan's contract with One Life to Live ended on February 25th. At that time, he and the network had not come to terms on a new contract. Because of this, sources say that Carey's character had been written out of all episodes taping after February 24th. His absence from the show will not be explained, but it is believed that scenes could be taped out-of-order and, if Carey should renew his contract, inserted into the proper sequence to prevent any storyline holes.
A show insider tells Soap Central that Carey initially rebuffed the network's first contract offer, however, the network is since said to have made a second offer.
"Phil Carey is an extremely valuable member of One Life to Live, and we sincerely hope we can come to an agreement with him," an ABC spokesperson said in a statement.
Carey, who has opted to keep silent until things are resolved, joined the cast of One Life to Live in 1980.
