Photo: ABC/Matt Sayles; Inset: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
An executive producer of ABC’sThe Wonder Yearsis speaking out followingFred Savage’s exit for alleged “inappropriate conduct.”
Saladin Patterson opened up aboutSavage’s departurein an exclusive interview with PEOPLE atThe Wonder YearsFor Your Consideration panel at the Academy Museum on Sunday.
“It was very heartbreaking, but I have to trust the process,” Patterson told PEOPLE. “Disney does a very good job making sure that everyone is treated equitably, and we’re just going to focus on moving forward and doing a great show. It’s bigger than any one person. It’s bigger than me.”
“So the show will go on, and the show will continue to be great,” he added.
(A rep for Savage has not responded to PEOPLE’s request for comment.)
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On Friday, ABC announcedThe Wonder Yearswill return for asecond season. Patterson teased what fans can expect from the comedy’s sophomore run, adding the show’s season finale — which airs on Wednesday — will end on “a bit of a cliffhanger.”
“I don’t want to spoil it, but it opens up the world for the Williams family a little bit for us to explore season 2, a little bit outside of Montgomery, Alabama, although that’s still going to be where we’re rooted,” he shared.
He continued, “But we get to see them experience the country and the world in a little broader sense and then bringing those experiences back and I’m looking forward to how that mixes things up a little bit.”
Patterson added that while ABC kept the cast and crew waiting on the renewal news, they are “excited” for the upcoming season.
Fred Savage Says He’ll Remember His First Kiss on The Wonder Years Set ‘Forever’: ‘I Was So Scared’.Getty Images
Earlier this month, Savage, 45, was fired as executive producer and director ofThe Wonder Yearsdue to allegations of misconduct, a spokesperson for 20th Television confirmed to PEOPLE.
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On Friday, a source told PEOPLE that the former child star was “taking a break” following the accusations ofon-set misconduct.
“People thought he wasn’t treating people well, there were a couple complaints. But now he’s taking a break,” the source said. “Instead of him being like, ‘Screw you for saying this to me,’ he’s like, ‘OK, well if that’s how people are feeling, I need to figure out what I could be doing better.’ "
The Wonder Years' season 1 finale airs Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
source: people.com
