ET Host: Next up, we have Tim Russ from "Star Trek: Voyager."

ETQuest: How did you like directing your first episode? Will you direct again this season?

Tim Russ: I definitely enjoyed the experience. The thrill of directing is about being able to see what you envision come to life on film and the satisfaction, the joy in it comes from accomplishing something that's very difficult to do. Almost like running a marathon or climbing a mountain. The process can be rather painful at times, but a lot of fun. I don't know if I will direct this season or not because there are others who are looking to having their first opportunity as well.

ETQuest: How does it feel to portray the first full-blooded Vulcan on any series?

TR: Well, the shoes I had to fill were pretty large because of what had been established by Leonard Nimoy's character. So, I think it's kind of an honor in a sense because this character had such an impact on the show to begin with and there hasn't been a Vulcan full-time on Star Trek for a while. I feel that it was something that was sort of a privilege, it was an honor, and somewhat of a challenge to fulfill it.

ETQuest: How long have you been playing music and do you enjoy music or actingbetter?

TR: I have been playing music for 25+ years and I enjoy them both agreat deal. I might favor music a little more in terms of performance because it is a lot of fun to play. But I do enjoy both quite a bit so they're very close.

ETQuest: Do you have plans to appear in any more coffeehouses anytime soon?

TR: Oh yes. I'm appearing at a coffeehouse called Anastasia's in Santa Monica August 9th for about an hour, and I'll be playing probably back at Common Grounds out in Northridge in about a month or two- I will be out there again. So I will continue to play- absolutely. I also in addition will be producing a CD single in about a week or two.

ETQuest: What can we expect from your character this season?

TR: I think that we may explore some aspects of Tuvok's character that may open up his understanding of human beings a little bit more. You may see a bit more of a compassionate side to him from time to time. We've already done a couple of scenes involving that sort of thing- as far as a Vulcan can be compassionate.

ETQuest: Who are your acting influences?

TR: I would say there were several. James Earl Jones would be one. William Marshall, Peter O'Toole. Those are the three off the bat that I can think of who I really enjoyed their work.

ETQuest: How might your life be different today if you had been Geordi?

TR: I would be farther ahead in my career at this point if I had gotten that job then. I like this character more. I think I enjoy playing this character more than I would've enjoyed playing Geordi. But then having a lot more accomplished by now because I would've started earlier. It would've been very different. ET Host: Thanks so much Tim! Next we have Jeri Ryan from Star Trek: Voyager!

ETQuest: Did you watch the original series? You're too young to have seen it when it was first on the air...

Jeri Ryan: Not faithfully, I've obviously had seen different episodes like everybody has and I was certainly aware of Star Trek, it would be hard to be born in the latter half of the century and not be aware of it, but yeah, I've never been a faithful science fiction watcher. But you have to love the "tribble" episode, how can you not love the tribbles?

ETQuest: How does it feel to have caused such a ratings boost for Voyager?

JR: Nothing would delight me more to take credit for that, but in reality, the writing vastly improved last season. They wrote a terrific character which gave all of the other characters a lot of terrific stuff to do. And to be perfectly frank, Robert Blackman's costume didn't hurt either. But it feels pretty good, I've had a good time.

ETQuest: Did you know that you are in the running for "The Queen of Outer Space" on the TV Guide Web site?

JR: Yeah, I actually heard from my fan club that I am. It's flattering, everything I've encountered in the last year since joining Star Trek has been pretty surreal, the website thing, the action figures, so I guess this is another stepping stone to the world that is Star Trek: Voyager.

ETQuest: How does your son feel about his mom being an action figure?

JR: My son actually found it at Toys 'R' Us, and was looking for something else and saw it and said, "Oh that's Mommy, I want that one," but now he's completely over it and won't even touch it. He thought it was a novel concept right off the bat and now he's completely over me.

ETQuest: Can we expect any changes in your character this season?

JR: We're just finishing the fifth episode. So far there haven't been any huge, huge leaps character wise. She's maybe getting more of a sense of humor, but the most important thing for me is that she keeps the edge, and stays aloof from the rest of the crew and remains the outsider, keeps conflict going in some way.

ETQuest: How do you get along with the rest of the cast?

JR: They're great! They're really fun. A bunch of psychopaths. So we laugh a lot more than we actually work.

ET Host: Thanks Jeri! Our next chat guest is Robert Picardo from "Star Trek: Voyager."

ETQuest: Can we expect anything different from the Doctor in this new season of Voyager?

Robert Picardo: Well, in episode 2 Seven of Nine and I have an offspring together. Unfortunately, it's from a transporter accident rather than the traditional way of parenting which I am slightly disappointed about. I have my first really big episode beginning tomorrow, in the first show that I really carry as the Doctor. It's a dramatic show. And the idea is that if Dr. Mengele had been one of the doctors that my program was based on. Part of my database of information came from a doctor who used unscrupulous and unethical means of making medical discovery, so it's really a show about "do the means taint the information itself". It's a very interesting story. One of my closest friends, David Clennon, will be playing this doctor and it will be the first time we've worked together since Joe Dante's 'Matinee.'

ETQuest: Will you have a cameo in the next Star Trek movie? We loved you in 'First Contact'!

RP: I do not have a cameo in the next film, because they felt that they had already done that joke once before. But I do have an on-camera appearance in 'Small Soldiers' because of my longtime friendship with Joe Dante.

ETQuest: Are you going to direct any episodes this season? Did you enjoy doing that before?

RP: I very much enjoyed the episode I directed. And my understanding is that I may direct one of the final ten episodes of theseason because our executive producer Rick Berman has assured me that I am on the schedule. But I think only the first 10 or 12 directors have been announced, so it will be in the second half of the season. Since our executive producer is busy doing post-production for the movie and working on Deep Space Nine and Voyager, we tend not to pester him. He's told me that I'm on the schedule so I'm going to take his word for it unless I don't show upin a few weeks-- then I will resort to pestering him.

ETQuest: How was your hiatus?

RP: It was very nice and I spent a lot of time with my family and we visited Australia. I didn't do too much work, I did a guest star on Showtime's "The Outer Limits." I was offered a lead in a play at ACT, which I very much wanted to do, but I could not work the dates out. So I resorted to doing personal appearances for Star Trek which I very much enjoy.

ETQuest: Will you be the 'Johnny Cab' in the next 'Total Recall' film?

RP: Well, I think that since Jonathan Frakes is directing the movie- and if he's reading this right now, I certainly should be. However, Johnny Cab was a puppet with my voice, he was not an on-screen appearance. So I guess what I'm saying is- I don't think that my future career will be determined by whether or not I do 'Total Recall 2.'

ET Host: Great, thanks Robert Picardo!