Bob plays "The Doctor" on "Star Trek: Voyager" and appeared in "Star Trek: First Contact" as the same character.

Question: Hi Doc, did you study do be a real doctor?
Joel

Robert Picardo: I was premed at Yale but organic chemistry scared me away, so it would be a huge stretch to say I studied to be a real doctor.

Q: Hi, Bob! Which Voyager episode are you proudest of... "Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy," in which you starred, or the upcoming "One Small Step" which you directed?
Christy

RP: I would have to say "One Small Step" even though I'm very proud of "Tinker, Tenor, Doctor, Spy." I will say the briefing room scene with our three female stars coming on to the doctor was one of the most pleasant experiences I've ever had.

Q: Do you think EMHs will exist in the future?
louise

RP: Yes, I do. But you'll be assigned a EMH by your HMO. I'm going to come back after this shot...

Q: If you could write a script for a Doctor based Voyager Episode, what would you make him say and do (what would the story be like)?
Regina

RP: I have always wanted to do an episode in which a medical emergency demands that the doctor have a qualified co-surgeon for a delicate procedure. And the doctor's program is installed twice. The doctor assists himself in surgery. However, the season 1 doctor -- arrogant, self-rightous, terrible bedside manner -- is assisting our new, improved, adapted doctor who knows all of the crew by name. And our current doctor is humiliated by the behavior of his early self. And the new doctor thinks the current doctor is foolish and basically a waste of time for having such trivial concerns as people's feelings.

Q: Bob, the new alternate lyrics for "La donna e mobile" sure sounded like you might have written them. Did you?
Cristy

RP: No, they were written by Joe Menosky but he did accept a couple of changes from me that I felt fit the melody better. For example... "Paris, if you don't mind, a hypospray you'll find," became "Paris please find a way to load a hypospray."

I should end this by saying that I love and admire Joe Menosky since he's enough of a computer nerd to read this chat. In fact, I had hair like him back when I was younger. Now, on to the next question.

Q: hi i will like to ask you if when you where a child did star trek have any influence on you?
david

RP: Yes, it chased me away from the television screen. I have admitted on numerous occasions I was not enlightened enough as a young man to be a Star Trek fan.

Q: What do you think will happen to the Doctor when they reach home?
Amy

RP: I would hope that Janeway and the other senior officers would encourage the Starfleet powers that be to maintain the doctor in his present state of program-enhancement. Enlightenment, perhaps. To delete all of his acquired knowledge and experience would be very sad, but I suppose Janeway would have to argue on his behalf since he is a relatively new technology in an unprecedented situation.

Q: Mr. Picardo I just wanted to say I really enjoy the audio tape of "STV: Caretaker". How long did it take to read all that. Have done more audio books, as well, my wife who is blind said you have a very good voice.
M. Thompson

RP: Thank you and thank your wife for the nice compliment. I believe I recorded "Caretaker" over the course of two days and the only other audio book I've done is Jeri Taylor's "Pathways".

Q: How did you film the scene when you sketched Seven of Nine nude? Was it a dummy? Scantily clad?
Gene

RP: I was nude myself and then they digitally added my clothing. I'm kidding, of course. I must first of all blow my own horn and say that that was my own idea. The writers asked what some of the doctor's fantasies might be and I think that was the first one out of my mouth. Of course it was shot with great dignity and Jeri was completely covered up, much to my dismay, so to my mind, she'll owe me the complete nude sometime in the future. Just kidding! Besides, I would lie to protect her dignity, no matter what actually happened. But what actually happened was completely uneventful. But it sure looked great on film.

Q: FIRST OF ALL,I THINK YOU MAKE THE PERFECT DOCTOR.VOYAGER WOULDN'T BE VOYAGER WITHOUT YOU.NOW,I WATCHED TOTAL RECALL,AND DIDN'T YOU PROVIDE THE VOICE OF THE ROBOT TAXI-DRIVER ON MARS IN THAT MOVIE? 'CAUSE IT SURE LOOKED LIKE YOU.
Arnold

RP: Yes, that was me and the Mars driver was a special effects puppets that was molded on my own face. So I like to think I got to Mars long before I shot "One Small Step" for Star Trek.

Q: Do ya'll keep track of the bloopers? If a video was to come out on "Star Trek- Voyager...Never Before Seen Bloopers" I GUARANTEE you, every fan would rush out to get it
Marketing

RP: We actually do not keep track of our bloopers. I don't know if there's a secret blooper reel but to my knowledge there is not a blooper reel. In about two minutes I'm going to move into the make-up trailer. I'll do one more first.

Q: Why does the Doctor pick on Tom Paris so much?
Rosie

RP: Because it's fun. I've actually been asked by fans if I dislike Robbie McNeill because my character picks on him. Which is, of course, ridiculous. I like Robbie very much and it is only a tribute to my skill as an actor that I can treat him so badly on film with such conviction. I'll be back in less than 60 seconds.

(Bob is on his way to the makeup trailer where he will continue the chat.)

RP: I wear contacts on the show just so I can focus my eyes on the actors who are standing close to me. If I don't have the contacts in I tend to look a little like a poster of a serial killer at the post office.

Q: Do you know anything about a new STAR TREK series that could be coming out in the near future?
Ethan

RP: Yes, it's called "Star Trek: EMH" and all 11 regular characters are played by me. Except of course for my two or three love interests every week.

Q: One of them Jeri Ryan?

RP: No, they're played by various women including two of our makeup women. That of course is not true. I know nothing about a next series, but this answer seemed much more fun.

Q: You have a great singing voice, as does Jeri Ryan, were did you learn to sing?
Goval

RP: I studied singing briefly when I was at Yale with a wonderful teacher named Benjamin DeLoasche I've learned to sing mostly by singing along to the radio and to records.

Q: -> question for robert picardo: -> "the doctor is one of my favorite characters on 'voyager'. i love the way you portray him. just one question: do you think he should have hair? why or why not? (ok, two questions)
catia

RP: Well, if I suddenly had hair, all of my action figures would look silly. So I think we leave things the way they are. If I ever want to have hair, they can simply reprogram me. It hasn't seemed important up to this point.

Q: Will you be hosting UPN's "Star Trek" special?
BORG

RP: Is UPN having a "Star Trek" special? I think that answers your question.

Q: Bob, when will we see Voyager get home, if ever?
Nick

RP: That's a question I can only speculate about. I do know that our producer, Brannon Braga, has said that our being lost in space is the defying element of our show. So perhaps we will remain lost.

Q: How does one get a walk on appearance?
B Mason

RP: I'm sorry but I don't know how to advise you.

Q: All-in-all.......what is your favorite part about acting on VOYAGER?
Ryan

RP: I think the fact that my character can be used in many comic situations and can be equally enjoyed by the audience in a very dramatic situation. That freedom to move back and forth freely in the role is the part I enjoy the most about it.

Q: Are you planning on directing any of this season's episodes?
Xeran

RP: I have directed the Voyager episode that will air Nov. 17th. It is entitled, "One Small Step" and it is a very moving tribute to the heroic astronauts of early space travel. I'm very proud of how the show turned out and am anxiously looking forward to the response of our audience. Roxann Dawson also directed her first episode this season entitled "Riddles" which will air Nov. 3rd. She did a splendid job. So hopefully, along with Robbie and Tim Russ, we are giving actor/directors a good name.

Q: Is being directed by someone that acts on Voyager (e.g., Robbie McNeill) different that when someone else directs? Is it more fun, demanding, etc.?
Rosie

RP: I would say it's more fun because you're working with someone that you know well and like and respect his acting skills. All of that in addition to the fact that he's a very talented director. Robbie watches with both an actor and a director's eye so he gives nice performance notes to you that are quite helpful. And subtle.

Q: Robert, I loved your recent Voyager episode tinker, tenor, Doctor, Spy. it was great. Are there any more humorous episodes scheduled this season?
Doug

RP: As a matter of fact, we begin shooting another humorous Doctor episode Oct. 25th which I believe will air in early February. It involves more singing and the Doctor discovers the painful fickleness of celebrity.

Q: In "China Beach" you played a serious character, one without much humor. In "Voyager" I see that same seriousness, but now you have much humor in your character . Do you you prefer humor over drama? P.S. I think you are great on "Voyager."
Larry

RP: First of all, I would like to contest your assumption that my China Beach character didn't have much humor. I prefer what I have been given which is to play a character with great humorous possibilities in a primarily dramatic show.

Q: what is the name of the episode that they are filming today?
Joel

RP: It's called, "Blink of an Eye". And I wear my first prosthetic on my face. And I'm just now having it removed, as we speak.

Q: How many Holographic Doctors does it take to change a light bulb?
Picards Hair

RP: None. They're already a photonic projection.

Q: Will you ever have a name on Voyager?
Tiggy

RP: I would like to be Dr. Vardaman. I don't know anymore. I'm tired of lying... I just don't know.

Q: What was it like working with Marina Sirtis?
Jason

RP: Well, I really enjoy the time I've spent with Marina at personal appearances all over the place but I regret I didn't get to work with her in any scenes in the recent episode she guest starred in.

Q: How do you feel knowing you are now part of the "Star Trek Universe" at large?
Deoris

RP: It's awe-inspiring, having an action figure and it no longer makes me nervous to see my young daughters sleeping in Voyager t-shirts like it did the first couple of seasons. I suppose we have accepted and even embraced the fact that Daddy is now a small footnote in pop culture.

Q: Which do you find more challenging... acting or directing?
Becky

RP: Directing, by far. Not that acting isn't challenging, but I've been doing it a lot longer. When you play a role for a long time on a series your biggest demands are learning the dialogue for the day. As a director there are a million decisions you have to make in advance and you have to visualize everything. I visualize everything more slowly than a more experienced director.

(Bob has now finished in makeup, and is heading back to his trailer. He is going to call us from there.)

(This is the sixth telephone Bob has called us from in an hour...)

Q: will there be anymore episodes that deal with improving Seven's human skills?
Jodie

RP: I think that the formal training of the Doctor for Seven's social graces kind of reached a conclusion in "Someone to Watch Over Me." However, our formal mentor/student relationship will continue. I also think they are keeping alive the Doctor's feelings for Seven. But she'll be learning her new social lessons with many men, I'm sure. The Doctor is just a holographic link in her chain.

Q: What was your favorite daydream the doctor had?
Christina & Dixie

RP: I think it's between sketching Seven and Torres, Janeway and Seven all throwing themselves at the Doctor in the briefing room. I'd have to do each of the fantasies several more times to decide.

Q: Who decided that your enemy for Tinker Tenor would be Mr. PotatoHead?
Aamin

RP: I've always been a great fan of the Mr. Potato Head game because it has rules I can understand and grasp and I was delighted to work with a Potato Head on Voyager. They have aPeel.

Q: Does it feel, well rewarding to have an episode based on you?
Bilana

RP: Yes, it does. And I particularly enjoyed working with this director, John Bruno, who did his first episode of Voyager with "Tinker, Tenor..." First episode directed by an Oscar winner. He won an Oscar for "The Abyss."

Q: Are you going to be attending the creation star trek and sci-fi convetion in Portland Oregon with Robert Beltran?
srpa

RP: I have been invited to it and believe I am. But I haven't formally accepted yet.

Q: How much do conventions differ internationally ? Do you enjoy the chances you get to sight-see ?
Ozycomms

RP: I've enjoyed every international convention I've had and yes I enjoy the opportunity to sightsee. And even when I find myself flying to Europe for 4 days which can be grueling I find I take home more than 4 days worth of memories.

Q: Bob, you've said that for "Darkling" you enjoyed being able to sexually harass your female co-stars and get paid for it. So, for "Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy"... did you enjoy being paid to BE sexually harassed BY your female co-stars? :-)
Cristy

RP: I would say, yes. I hadn't thought of it quite that way, but I suppose I really owed it to them.

Q: You and Jeri Ryan have such great onscreen chemistry do you have that kind of chemistry off screen as well?
JJS

RP: Yes, we get along great. I'm very fond of Jeri, I appreciate the extensive humor she has about her extraordinary appearance and we have a lot of fun working together. I'm still hoping for the screen kiss someday. So, write your letters. And send them to the production company.

Thank you very much, Bob, for taking the time to chat with us today.

RP: I enjoyed it. It's my first chat while I've actually been working and it was challenging and just a bit silly.