Robert Picardo plays the "Emergency Medical Holographic Program" on "Star Trek: Voyager."

Question: Robert what is it like being a actor in general?
Danielle

Robert Picardo: It is like having no real job skills and being rewarded for it. I love the vicarious thrill of examining other people's career choices that playing different characters affords me. Holographic medicine was not one that I had anticipated.

Q: Will the writers explore more with the situation of Mr. Paris in the Sickbay ? Will the role of the Doctor as a mentor to Seven continue? Is Captain Janeway's isolation incident in the "Night" show going to be recurring arc story?
snow

RP: I think Mr. Paris will continue to help the Doctor out now that he has no regular assistant. The Doctor's mentoring of Seven's social skills will continue this season. Ironic, though it seems. I don't believe that Capt. Janeway's isolation incident will be a recurring arc.

Q: How do I know if I am speaking to the real Doctor?
DThelen

RP: How do I know I'm speaking to the real DThelen?

Q: Is your real name Picardo or were you inspired by Capt Picard to find a stage name?
JM

RP: My real name is Picardo, but strangely, Capt. Picard was inspired by me, as I've been around longer. I am of Italian ancestory and it's entirely possible that Picard's family migrated to France from Southern Italy. Clearly, we share some of the same gene patterns.

Q: Rumor is that Paris will be busy with other duties this season, are they going to assign someone else for medical training?
Sonia

RP: I honestly don't know. However, Seven has assisted me in a couple of brief scenes in shows that we've shot for this season. She makes a more appropriate nurse figure in my humble opinion. Which character would you prefer to see approaching you with a rectal thermometor?

Q: You were THE star in First Contact. Will you be going for an Oscar in Insurrection?
Ben and Syl

RP: No, but I will be running the concessions booth at a theatre near you. And in all seriousness, I am not in "ST: Insurrection."

Q: What was the last/current episode you worked on?
CoW mAn

RP: Last night I was shooting "The Bride of Chaotica." Please don't ask me to explain that title.

Q: I'd like to compliment your performances on ST:Voyager. The Doctor is a joy to watch. From where did you get the inspiration for his attitude?
Cheryl

RP: I have remarked before that the Doctor is 10% Spock, 20% Data and 70% Dr. Smith from "Lost in Space." I believe I've also mixed in a few matre d' from restaurants I've visited and, incidently, seated badly.

Q: Mr. Picardo, can you tell us anything about the recent fire on the bridge set?
Caillan

RP: Contrary to rumor, I did not start it with a cigar. Our typist tonight has been spreading that rumor for several weeks and it's simply not true. It was caused by the explosion of a lighting globe that sent sparks showering down on a muslin scrim stretched across the top of the Bridge set. But the cigar story is more fun. When all is said and done, it will have taken approximately two and a half weeks to repair the damage.

Q: Will you being doing anymore "comedy" type episodes this season?
PJ

RP: Thus far, my two major scripts for the Doctor have been quite dramatic. Although each begins with a funny scene, and then the tone changes. Right away. I would love to do another script like "Message in a Bottle" but I don't know of any plans for a comic Doctor episode at the moment. Having said that, next week's script, "Drone" is, I believe, one of the best episodes we've done. Jeri Ryan is terrific in it, as is the guest actor who plays the 29th century Borg drone. Although the script is primarily dramatic the Doctor has some humorous moments that I thought worked quite well.

The drone, incidentally, is the offspring of the Doctor and Seven of Nine. However, this is not as exciting a story as it sounds. I voted for "missionary position" over "transporter accident" and lost.

Q: Are there any up in-coming episodes or story lines with the Doctor in a Romantic way?
snow

RP: I presume you mean "missionary position" winning out over "transporter accident?" I don't know of any that are planned, but I have hinted heavily that it has been over two years since the Doctor's date in that '57 Chevy. And, at the time, I was not aware that the Doctor was 'fully functional.' Now that I am, I'm ready for another date.

Q: Mr. Picardo, how do you react to critics who say the show hasn't yet found its creative niche? Do you agree?
Jason

RP: I think the show has found its creative niche and USA Today has simply changed critics... from one who loved Voyager to one who doesn't care for it. I think last season was our best story-telling thus far... and the shows that we've completed that have yet to air this season are very strong. So, I believe that we have found our creative niche. So there.

Q: How far in advance before shooting an episode do you get the script?
DFM

RP: About 8 minutes. The other day we got line changes for a scene we had finished shooting two hours prior.

Q: Are you planning to stay with Voyager until its finale?
Joe

RP: Yes. I am. And I hope that its finale is still off in the future some distance.

Q: Is there a specific writer of the staff you prefer? No disrepect for the others, of course!
Cristiano

RP: I think all of our writers are very strong. I am friendliest with Joe Menosky and Brannon Braga. I think Brannon in particular has a gift for rewriting and improving any script while under tremendous time constraints and I admire him for that. It's one of the reasons why our dialogue on Voyager has gotten leaner and far less ponderous than Star Trek dialogue of the past. Notice that my answers during this chat have not become less ponderous from the last one I did.

Q: Hello, Mr.Picardo. I was wondering how did you first start out acting ? Was it at an acting school ?
Heather

RP: I acted in junior high school as a way of meeting girls and avoiding organized sports. Now that my wife no longer likes me meetinggirls and I'm too old to get involved with organized sports I remain in acting through sheer inertia. I used to get free wardrobe from other shows but I obviously have no use for a space suit that I can't sit down in, much less eat a meal in. I suppose the root of my acting 'bug' was being a class clown. I'm convinced that any child who wears orthepedic shoes when he's eight years old will eventually go in to show business.

Q: Is it true your birthday is the 27th of October? because it's mine too!
Chief Ook

RP: Happy Birthday Chief Ook. It is indeed.

Q: Do you like working with Jeri Ryan?
Trevor

RP: Very much. Jeri has a great sense of humor and self-effacing attitude toward her beauty. She also lets me say virtually anything to her, which I appreciate since I wouldn't normally get to do that with a woman her age. Who looks as she does.

Q: Tell us about "In the Flesh", because the rumors about that episode are not complete. Please tell the "rumor spreaders" about that one!
Johnny

RP: Ray Walston's in it. But I have a very small part in it so I don't remember the story very well.

Q: who is tougher: Klingon or Kazon?
Hugh

RP: Boiled or baked?

Q: Totally not Voyager question. What's your favorite character on Fraiser? I've heard you really enjoy that show.
Janelle

RP: Niles.

Q: I saw a rerun of Alice playing on a TV at work; boy was I surprised to see you in a dress. Your my favorite character in the new V. Good job.
Eisher

RP: I haven't worn a dress since then... honest... really... it's too hard to find heels that fit me.

Q: What was the scariest or most exciting stunt you've ever performed, if any? Are you a practical joker on the set?
Ken

RP: I won't say it was scary, but, the 'falling off the cliff' at the end of the "Darkling" was a very uncomfortable stunt. I had to be hung in a harness from wires in front of a blue screen and -- how shall I put this tastefully -- my testicles and tonsils were side by side.

Q: Hi, Bob! How many cats do you have now?
Cristy

RP: Hello Cristy! I have seven cats and thank you for the fabulous candies. Your homemade truffles were extraordinary. Cristy, for the benefit of everyone else runs my webpage and co-publishes my fanclub magazine. I am very proud of my web page and would like to take this opportunity once again to than Cristy for all her hard work. And to Tracey Ladel for all of her hard work on fan club and magazine.

Q: How do you feel about fans of yours scrutinizing your life on a day to day basis? Or is this even an issue for you?
Junichi

RP: I don't feel that it's an issue. The fans have been very respectful and warm but not in any way intrusive. In my daily life.

Q: Coke or Pepsi, or are you more of a Sprite kind of guy?
Cpt Derfel

RP: Coke. and I mean Coca-Cola. Classic Coke. Now with 10% New Coke.

Q: Has being involved with Voyager formed any new close friendships with any of the crew or cast members?
DFM

RP: I am quite friendly with everyone in the cast, but I suppose I see Ethan Phillips the most, socially. I also enjoy smoking cigars with Roxann's husband, so I'm frequently over at their place.

Q: Will we be seeing more of Louis Zimmerman?
dottkomm

RP: In the January Playgirl, you will see absolutely none of Louis Zimmerman. But I had you going, didn't I? I don't know whether the Doctor's programmer will return. He was in an early draft of the script "Nothing Human", but he was taken out. At least he's still in the writers' minds.

Q: who is the bride in "The Bride of Chaotica" Janeway or Seven? Or even Torres?
snow

RP: I'll give you a hint... My veil is the most extraordinary lace that you can possibly imagine.

Kidding! Can't tell you, however... I know which department stores she's registered at.

Q: How do you find working on a big sci-fi show different from say "Alice?"
Eisher

RP: You have a strange obsession with "Alice" I think we should talk about that. Don't you know she doesn't live here any more? Ask me a question about "Golden Girls" - will you?

Q: What practical jokes have you played or had played on you by your co-stars? :-)
Alon

RP: Once Tim Russ' thong underware snapped during a briefing room scene. He was debriefed, so to speak, and the most ridiculous and amusing aspect to this story...

is that I am making it up as I go.

Q: Will you direct an episode this season? I loved "Alter Ego".
Alan

RP: Thank you.

I believed I was in the rotation for direction this season. But there are four actor/directors on the show and I may have to wait a bit later. I should know by the end of next week.

Q: I assume some of your input has been considered in many ways such as dialogue changes and even character dvelopment. What do you think, aside from performing, is your greatest contribution to that end so far?
CoW mAn

RP: I would say that I have had a pretty good success rate among comic line suggestions. I think that by season's end, I average at least a joke or two per show.
Also, it was my idea that the character be bald.
And that I play him.
And that they pay me.
And that they get me pretzels whenever I do these chats.

Q: How much money do you make, and how much more do you make for doing this?
Cpt Derfel

RP: I make nothing for doing this and somewhat more for doing that.

Q: Please request a convention in Indianapolis! No one ever comes. Except William Shatner 2 years ago.
Johnny

RP: I understand he's still in the airport. Naming his price.

I have been to Indianapolis. Where were you? I did a convention there Thanksgiving of '96.

Q: What time do you have to get up for shooting tomorrow? :^)
Junichi

RP: About 4:00 pm. I'm in the last scene of the day.

Q: Have you ever been to the Las Vegas Hilton and rode "Star Trek: The Experience" before?
Joe

RP: I have visited the attraction before the ride was operational. But I will be visiting it very soon. Sometime in November.

Q: Did you ever watch the classic show?
Anna from Poland

RP: No, but I think it's really cool that you wrote from Poland. I don't mean I never watch the Classic show, but I tend to watch it when my wife puts it on because she's the real fan of the original series.

Q: Wow, you have your own fan club? That's awsome. Does everyone on Voyager have one? Kate Mulgrew?
Stephen

RP: Yes, I have a fan club called CARPE. It stands for the Central Alliance of Robert Picardo Enthusiasts.

Q: Sorry to go backwards a step here, but what is the address of your webpage and how can we get your fanclub magazine?
Steve

RP: Perhaps Cristy or Tracey, if they're still logged on, might send in that information, which I don't have handy, in the form of one of the questions and we'll scan for it.

(Bob's website is at http://members.aol.com/rpicardo.)

Q: Who are the four actor/directors on the show? Robbie, you,Tim.....?
Dee

RP: Robbie, Tim, me, and Roxann has been training and is ready to go.

Q: Will we be seeing more of slipstream travel in the future?
Zach

RP: Yes. I assume you mean in the future of our show, and it does pop up in another script.

Q: was it hard working on the set when Roxann was pregnant?
Babyslime

RP: There was one scene I was involved in where she had to get knocked to the floor... and I believe my character had to help her up. I think she had told me she was pregnant but had not revealed it to the entire production at large. So I was quite concerned about her that day. But that's the only moment that I remember when I was particuarly conscious of her pregnancy. By the way, her baby has the most wonderful smile of any creature I have ever seen. I have described it to Roxann in this way: "Her smile attacks her face." And Roxann got a big chuckle out of that.

Q: Do people ever ask you for medical advice?
Disnerd

RP: I recommend Band-Aid sizes to my children. That's about it.

Q: Where can we get a copy of your Viacom Song?
Raistlin

RP: I respectfully disavow any knowledge of what you might be speaking about as I am in the same building as the offices of ViaCom consumer products. Try to ask me under other circumstances.

Q: Do you get swarmed by fans every where you go?
Tosk

RP: No. Can you fix that?

Q: Are you married my mom wants to know she thinks your cute
Jman

RP: Yes. Tell you mom that I am very flattered and very married.

Robert, thank you very much for joining us here tonight. And thank you all very much for participating in tonight's Special Event.

RP: Thank you. I really enjoyed this and I'm going to go now and search for my swarm of fans. Wish me luck.