Place an ad today!

Typhon Station is a very fastpaced PBeM RPG with skilled, experienced players and a warm sense of bonding and community. We play at the turn-of-the-century, 2400, and are located in the Typhon Expanses, bordering the Neutral Zone, proximate to the Romulan Empire, and near the Iconian Digs, and are on the first warning route of the original Borg Incursion. We have three stations to post from, SB 185, USS Odyssey, and USS Wraith. They all have general and particular storylines and all interact. This game is not for the faint of heart! The writing is superb and comes hot and heavy. We have some open spots and also we will consider character suggestions. So, longtime RPGers and novices, check us out. See if you want to make Typhon Station your home away from home. (0 comments | Add) Babylon 5 lives at B5TV.COM! Visit the premiere B5 site, with exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes articles, DVD details, and more. Plus, join our friendly messageboard! (0 comments | Add)

Posted: 00:29:39 on September 14 2002
By: Steve Krutzler
Dept: People

Written for TrekWeb by Jacqueline Bundy, edited by Steve Krutzler

It's been a busy and professionally satisfying year for Robert Picardo. This past May, exactly one year after VOYAGER came home, Picardo took to the boards in Los Angeles starring in "A Class Act", the biographical musical production of "A Chorus Line" lyricist Edward Kleban.

In this production Picardo played not Kleban himself, but rather Kleban's ghost, who materializes during his 1988 memorial service reliving his life in an attempt to prove to the mourners that it wasn't as bad as it seemed.

Robert Picardo talked about "A Class Act" and what's up next for 'the Doctor' at the recent Las Vegas Bridge Party Event. Working in the production was a "glorious experience", said Picardo. "I received the best reviews of my professional career."

"I've never done anything so vocally demanding. I had to learn to pace myself and to carefully warm up my voice." Picardo added that he believes that the experience he gained singing at conventions helped prepare him for the very demanding role of Edward Kleban: "I was on stage almost continuously and sang 16 songs every night."

The production of "A Class Act" closed on June 16th but the rewards of the project were more than merely professionally satisfying. "My daughters were at every performance, either in the audience or watching from the wings."

Next up for Picardo is an episode of THE PRACTICE, which starts shooting this week. "I play...surprise--'a doctor'," Picardo announced excitedly. "It's bound to be a controversial episode, it's about stem cell research."

Other projects include commentary for the "Inner Space" DVD, "Looney Tunes Back in Action" and consulting on a new theme park in Breman, Germany. The park will have a number of rides including one with a STAR TREK theme where the Doctor is your guide: "It's always been a big ambition of mine to be a theme park attraction!"

One question an actor on STAR TREK can always count on hearing when fans have an opportunity to ask questions is “What is your favorite episode?“ At the recent Las Vegas event Aron Eisenberg ('Nog') had no problem citing his favorite DEEP SPACE NINE episodes and why he thinks they are special.

“A favorite of mine to watch is ‘In the Pale Moonlight’ because of Avery Brooks' performance,” Aron replied. “It was inspired I thought to have Avery speaking directly to the camera in that episode. It was an extremely powerful episode.”

DS9 never hesitated to explore themes and issues the other series could not. “Valiant” was another good example of that for Aron. “In ‘Valiant’ Nog let his ego get in the way of his morality. Part of him knew that what they were doing was wrong but he did it anyway.”

Another favorite for the character actor is “The Visitor” because of the “phenomenal performances by both Tony Todd and Cirroc Lofton.” “Little Green Men” also stands out because it was, in his opinion, “an expertly crafted episode”.

Eisenberg spoke of how proud he was of the episode “It’s Only a Paper Moon.”: “I felt honored to be given that episode,” he said. “It was an opportunity to play Nog differently. The experience of losing his leg forced Nog to face his own mortality. That episode was the biggest challenge of my career and I think that I grew as an actor from the experience.”

“I was very worried about one scene when I knew I had to cry and just let the emotions flow. Anson [Williams] was directing and he was really pushing me during that scene. Anson kept asking for a retake and I began to get really worried that my performance wasn’t up to par. We’d do the scene again, and again he’d call for a retake. By now I’m starting to get upset and on the next take all the rage and frustration I was feeling just came pouring out. After that take everyone on the set, even the crew, started clapping.”

Join our monthly e-mail newsletter!