Stargate Atlantis - SciFi.com: Video: Robert Picardo Q & A Part 2

At SciFi.com:



Robert Picardo Q&A - Part 2

Stargate Atlantis Q

Robert Picardo (Richard Woolsey) answers fan questions from the Forum in this special Q&A series.

Stargate Atlantis - MGM Stargate: Video: Robert Picardo On His Character Richard Woolsey

At MGM Stargate:

(Please follow the link to view the video in its original format.)



Robert Picardo On His Character Richard Woolsey

4:11 12.4MB

Robert Picardo discusses his role as Richard Woolsey!

Stargate Atlantis - Video: Richard Woolsey - Characters We Love

A SciFi Channel promo commercial for Stargate Atlantis, The Characters We Love series, this time with Richard Woolsey (Robert Picardo). Also, a reminder that Stargate Atlantis airs at 9pm beginning tonight, October 10, with 'The Lost Tribe,' guest starring Michael Shanks, David Nykl, Christopher Heyerdahl and Mitch Pileggi.

Stargate Atlantis - Cinema Spy: Robert Picardo Interview

At Cinema Spy:

(Please follow the link for the complete three-page interview.)



Interview: Robert Picardo

On 'Atlantis' and playing a cross between Mr. Rogers and Hannibal Lecter

By Robert Falconer | Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Brilliant, neurotic, irascible, funny, brave...musical. These are all characteristics embodied in the performances of Robert Picardo. What's amazing, however, is that the actor brought each of these traits to a single character—that of Star Trek Voyager's holographic doctor (EMH), whom Picardo played every week for seven seasons between 1995 and 2001. This versatility caught the eyes of Vancouver's Stargate producers, who in 2004 hired Picardo to play the recurring role of International Oversight Advisory (IOA) member Richard Woolsey on both SG-1 and Atlantis, ultimately leading him to take command of Atlantis in the series' fifth (and now final) season.

Yet despite his extraordinary versatility, Picardo is about as relaxed and disarming on set as any journalist could hope for, in some ways belying the true range of his acting ability. During a recent press day, CinemaSpy had an opportunity to sit and chat with him about a variety of topics, from contrasting Voyager and Atlantis, to playing a rather weird cross between Mr. Rogers and Hannibal Lecter in his latest film, Sensored.



A brief excerpt:

Question: Was there any trepidation about jumping into another sci-fi show? Do you even think about that?

Robert Picardo: I've been able to do a number of different things since Star Trek ended. I've done several stage shows; Star Trek got me singing again, so I've done three musicals...and I've guest-starred on a number of kinds of shows: sitcoms, procedural dramas—CSI, Cold Case, things like that. I'm happy for the fact that I started outside genre material. China Beach and The Wonder Years were both in very different ways successful, mold-breaking shows, yet not genre shows. It helps you as an actor if you establish a certain credibility before you start working in genre. On the other hand, if it's your first job, then often that can be limiting. I personally think it's unfair that people have a prejudice against science fiction television. Patrick Stewart did a lot to change that. He's such a respected actor; he was just nominated for a Tony for his brilliant performance in MacBeth. So he did a lot to raise the bar as far as perceptions of sci-fi actors are concerned.

Having said that, a sci-fi audience is incredibly loyal. They will follow you elsewhere, wherever you are. They'll come see you on stage, or follow your website to see where you going to appear next, or watch you on other television shows ... so I think that science fiction has been very good to me, and I enjoy doing it, and the season is short enough that I still have the freedom to do other things. At the beginning of this year I did a horror movie. I haven't done a horror film since The Howling. And I just played the lead in a movie called Sensored, that I'm really excited about and that I have a very creepy role in. He's like your neighbor down the street who seems like Mr. Rogers, but who is torturing people in the basement...or maybe he's not. You don't know whether I'm a CIA deprogrammer, or whether I THINK I'm a CIA deprogrammer. Or imagine if Hannibal Lecter ran your local Jamba Juice. I'm a quirky guy who seems like just your regular old neighbor ... so it's a great role, because while I usually play the guy you love to hate, I don't usually play the guy who is going to kill you. And it's the first completed film on a brand new technology called the Red camera, which is getting huge attention, and will garner this film huge attention industry-wise...

Stargate Atlantis - iO9: Robert Picardo Video Interview

At iO9:

(Please follow the link to view the video interview.)



Robert Picardo Tells io9 About Replacing Trek's Data And Stargate's Tapping

We were lucky enough to catch up with Robert Picardo, who's joined the cast of Atlantis full-time as the obnoxious Richard Woolsey. He told us what it's like to take over command from Amanda Tapping's Samantha Carter. We also talked to Picardo about working with notorious comedian Andy Dick on Star Trek: Voyager, plus the differences between his holographic Trek character and Data the android.

Stargate: Atlantis - TV Guide: Robert Picardo Q & A

From the new print issue of TV Guide for the weeks of August 11-14 '08, from page 63:



(Click photo for a larger size)

STARGATE: ATLANTIS - FRIDAY, AUGUST 15 - 10/9C, SCIFI

Q & A Robert Picardo

"I [still] remember that TV Guide cover that said, 'Forget Star Trek. Now Stargate is the Most Popular Sci-Fi Show on TV!"

One of the best parts of Stargate Atlantis' fifth season has been the unlikely ascent of Robert Picardo's uptight Richard Woolsey to team leader. Woolsey is a stick-in-the-mud, but Picardo's good humor about his eclectic career (China Beach, The Wonder Years, Star Trek: Voyager, etc.) proves he's quite the opposite. - GJ Donnelly

Describe Woolsey.

He's a bureaucrat trying to reinvent himself as a leader. We've seen examples in various governments where that hasn't always succeeded. He's a Monday-morning quarterback who is now on the field.

How does Atlantis compare to Voyager?

Trek is probably more cerebral and philosophical. Stargate does seat-of-the-pants adventure and humor better. Having done both, it's great to be a part of more freewheeling storytelling.

Any pet peeves about space?

[On Trek], my pet peeve was there were no zippers. Or pockets! On Stargate, I not only have pockets, but I have four or even six! [Laughs]

You have a great series track record. A favorite?

China Beach. It was a tremendous responsibility to try and heal some of those Vietnam wounds.

Stargate Atlantis - GateWorld: Audio Interview - Brave New Woolsey

From GateWorld:



BRAVE NEW WOOLSEY

GateWorld Talks with Robert Picardo

The character who began as an in-your-face, pencil-pushing bureaucrat is now the newest commander of the Atlantis base. I.O.A. agent Richard Woolsey, once a thorn in the side of Stargate Command, is ready to take charge of the expedition -- and veteran actor Robert Picardo is more than ready to play the part.

In GateWorld's exclusive interview, Picardo talks about how he originally came to be cast as Mr. Woolsey five years ago, and how a seemingly flat antagonist became a recurring character. He also discusses Woolsey's need to reinvent himself now that he has taken command of the Atlantis expedition. Finally, the actor reflects on why he loves Stargate, comparing it to his years on Star Trek: Voyager.

GateWorld's interview with Robert Picardo runs approximately 30 minutes. Listen online at your leisure, download it to your MP3 player, or subscribe to the iTunes podcast! The full interview is also transcribed [at the link above].




A brief excerpt:


GW: It's one of the greatest stories in drama. The antagonist going protagonist. That journey to get there is one that is probably going to take most of the season.

RP: I agree with you. I mean, it's all about him discovering why he has this ambition and how he can rebuild himself brick by brick to succeed.

Whenever you play a character that's older than your target audience -- because I think science fiction tends to have a younger male audience -- they do hook into a character of any age who wants to reinvent himself. I think that's a feeling that you have in every phase of life. You know, graduating high school and going off to college and saying, "You know what? I don't want to be called Bobby anymore. I want to be Robert. Or Rob." Or I'm going to just change myself. Whatever I didn't like about the way I was interacting. I'm going to try to make, try to present myself as a new individual and see how I can grow into that image."

Stargate Atlantis - SciFi.com: NEW Woolsey Desktop & IM Icon

At SciFi.com's Stargate Atlantis section, they have a new desktop wallpaper and new IM icon of Richard Woolsey (Robert Picardo):

DESKTOP



Available in four sizes

IM ICONS

Stargate Atlantis - SciFi.com July 12 Updates

SciFi.com's Stargate Atlantis section has been updated to include:

SEARCH AND RESCUE Synopsis

THE SEED - Episode Photo



CAST - Richard Woolsey (Robert Picardo) biography


GALLERY - Season 5 Photos

(Please follow the link for the original full-size, high resolution photos.)

Including some new photos from "Search and Rescue:"












GALLERY - Woolsey Photos

(Please follow the link for the original full-size, high resolution photos.)









(Still no Keller photos)

ALEX LEVINE'S BLOG (Stargate Atlantis' script coordinator) - 5th Season

Stargate Atlantis - SciFi Wire: Atlantis' Picardo Isn't Obvious

From SciFi Wire:

(Please follow the link for the complete article.)



12:00 AM, 03-JULY-08

Atlantis' Picardo Isn't Obvious

Robert Picardo, who joins the regular cast of SCI FI Channel's original series Stargate Atlantis, told reporters that he likes that his character, the abrasive bureaucrat Richard Woolsey, isn't the obvious choice to command the city.

Woolsey takes over command from Col. Samantha Carter (former regular cast member Amanda Tapping, who is leaving to star in SCI FI's upcoming Sanctuary).

"[Woolsey] is an unexpected choice for this job, and that is what, I think, the viewers will hopefully respond to the way I have," Picardo said in a conference call. "I think that it was a bold thing for the producers to pick a guy like this who doesn't seem to be necessarily the first choice for a leader, but to have him try and make himself into one. And that is the interesting and creative choice."

**snippage**

The fifth season of Atlantis kicks off July 11 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. -- Mike Szymanski

Stargate Atlantis - GateWorld: Picardo: 'I'm definitely an oddball choice'

From GateWorld:

(Please follow the link for the complete GateWorld article.)

Picardo: 'I'm definitely an oddball choice'

WEDNESDAY, JULY 2 (ACTORS)

Actor Robert Picardo reflects on Woolsey and his new full-time cast member status.



A brief excerpt:

When Amanda Tapping decided not to return for Season Five of Stargate Atlantis due to her commitments with new series Sanctuary, it didn't take long before a new successor for the role of expedition leader was chosen.

And while Robert Picardo's Richard Woolsey may not have necessarily been the top-of-mind choice with fans to take over in Tapping's absence, the actor feels that his character's presence full-time will be a good thing for the series.

**snippage**

Stargate Atlantis - GateWorld: New Robert Picardo MGM Publicity Stills

From GateWorld:

http://gateworld.net/news/2008/06/robert_picardo_photo_gallery.shtml

(Please follow the link for the complete article and to view the publicity stills.)

Robert Picardo Photo Gallery



Sunday - June 15, 2008 | by Darren Sumner

The first official Season Five cast photos have arrived exclusively at GateWorld -- more specifically, gallery shots of new cast member Robert Picardo.

**snippage**

Stargate Atlantis - Newsarama: Robert Picardo Interview

From Newsarama:

http://www.newsarama.com/tv/080609-picardo-stargate.html

(Please follow the link for the complete Newsarama interview.)

TV

Robert Picardo - the Newest Star-Gatekeeper

By Bryan Cairns

posted: 09 June 2008 09:53 am ET




Some individuals are natural born leaders while others should never, ever, be out in a position of responsibility over anyone else. Richard Woolsey is one of those men. A pain in the ass bureaucrat whose frequent assessments have scrutinized both Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis teams, Woolsey’s intelligence and quest for the truth are only matched by his lack of tact or people skills. Nonetheless, when Colonel Samantha Carter is suddenly reassigned in the upcoming fifth season of Stargate: Atlantis, someone has the brilliant idea of making Woolsey the new commander of the otherworldly expedition.

“Frankly, when they hired me for the job, I went ‘Oh God, that's interesting!’” recalls actor Robert Picardo on the Stargate: Atlantis set. “Of course I love working here. I love the company. I'm treated beautifully and I love coming to Vancouver. So all the outside things were like ‘Yes, yes, of course I want to do it!’ Then there was a little voice going ‘Wait a minute! You've set this guy up as kind of an annoyance, a bit of a prig. I come in and evaluate you so you all better watch out and be on your best behavior! I'm going to find out who screwed up!’ Now suddenly he's the guy in charge and he's a briefing room guy. He's a think tank personality. Woolsey is not a leader. He evaluates other leaders. He's got a terrific legal mind, he knows the military rule book, knows all the rules about protocol, eliminating collateral damage, and acceptable losses but he doesn't make decisions. Woolsey just comes in and tells you how you screwed up.”

**snippage**

Stargate Atlantis - NEW Photo of Robert Picardo in SGA Uniform

From Joseph Mallozzi's blog update for May 20, 2008:

http://josephmallozzi.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/may-20-2008-major-hollywood-star-attacked-by-rabid-turtles/

(Please follow the link for the complete blog update. NEW Stargate Atlantis season five photos at the site -- in their original full-size, high-resolution format at the link above.)

May 20, 2008: Major Hollywood Star Attacked by Rabid Turtles

**snippage**

Back at the office today. Watched a director's cut of The Queen and a Day 1 mix of The Seed, dropped by stage 2 where Will was shooting the inserts and missing shots for Whispers, had Bob Picardo drop by the office to say hi and bye enroute to his convention in Italy, chatted with a familiar face from the SG-1 past at the lunch line, beat out the tease and first two acts of the tentatively titled Remnants, exchanged emails with Lou Anders who is in Hong Kong, SF Signal's John DeNardo who was kind enough to put the word out regarding the upcoming Book of the Month Club guest authors, and authors Jeffrey Ford and F. Paul Wilson who wrote very nice things about the time they spent with us.

**snippage**

Stargate Atlantis - SciFi Wire: Atlantis' Picardo Is Reluctant Chief

From SciFi Wire:

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0&id=54550

(Please follow the link for the complete SciFi Wire article.)

12:00 AM, 21-MAY-08

Atlantis' Picardo Is Reluctant Chief



Robert Picardo, who joins the regular cast of SCI FI Channel's original series Stargate Atlantis in the coming fifth season, told SCI FI Wire that he initially had doubts about playing the new base commander.

"When I got the phone call, there was a little voice going, 'Wait a minute,'" Picardo said in an interview on the show's set in Vancouver, Canada, last week. "You've set this guy up as kind of an annoyance, a bit of a prig. And now suddenly he's the guy in charge?"

**snippage**

A lot of Woolsey's screen time in the new season is devoted to learning that things are different when you're in the big chair. "From the very first episode I'm featured in, Woolsey learns that he cannot simply go by the rulebook," Picardo said. At the end of the first episode, Picardo said, Woolsey tells Sheppard (Joe Flanigan): "I've basically violated five different protocols already in my first crisis."

**snippage**

Stargate Atlantis - MGM Stargate: Close Up: Robert Picardo

From MGM Stargate:

http://stargate.mgm.com/news_detail.php?id=81

(Please follow the link for the complete article at MGM Stargate.)

Close Up: Robert Picardo



Photo courtesy of MGM Stargate

May 20, 2008 (Actors)

One of the biggest shake-ups for Stargate Atlantis’ season five is the introduction of Richard Woolsey as the base’s new civilian commander. Actor Robert Picardo talks about the character – and just how he’s going to fit in...

A brief excerpt:

Robert Picardo is no stranger to science fiction television, having spent seven years playing the holographic Doctor in Star Trek: Voyager. He first made an impact on the Stargate universe back in Stargate SG-1’s seventh season, when Woolsey arrived at Stargate Command in the wake of Janet Fraiser’s death. It’s fair to say that the character didn’t endear himself to the SG-1 team – but Picardo obviously made himself popular with the show’s producers, because it wasn’t long before the one-off character was back for more. And from that point on, Richard Woolsey was on the road to character recovery.

“I’ve enjoyed not only playing the character but the experience of working with both casts,” says the actor, taking a break during the filming of episode five of the new season. “The writer-producers have treated me very nicely and I think rather amazingly they’ve rehabilitated a character that was originally introduced, not so much as a villain, but as an unpleasant bureaucrat. I think the producers kind of liked me,” Picardo laughs, “and they thought, ‘Well this guy’s not so bad, why don’t we try to bring him back?’

**snippage**

Stargate Atlantis - GateWorld: Picardo: Woolsey reinvents himself

From GateWorld:

http://gateworld.net/news/2008/04/picardo_woolsey_reinvents_himsel.shtml

(Please follow the link for the complete GateWorld article.)

Picardo: Woolsey reinvents himself



TUESDAY, APRIL 15 (ACTORS)

Actor Robert Picardo tells GateWorld why he was excited to take on the mantle of leader of Atlantis.


A brief excerpt:

Many fans, some who were just beginning to adjust to the absence of Elizabeth Weir , are now mourning the departure of Samantha Carter from Stargate Atlantis. In four seasons the base has already had two leaders. Now, Season Five, it will take on a third, most unlikely candidate: Richard Woolsey.

"The [International Oversight Advisory] decides to replace the military commander because it was always going to be a science expedition," Robert Picardo told GateWorld. "In the interim I become the commander while they're basically head-hunting. I'm doing a sufficient-enough job that I get to stay on."

**snippage**

Richard Dean Anderson - Stargate Atlantis - "The Return, Part 1"

Airing this weekend (March 15-16 '08) in US syndication, a repeat of Stargate Atlantis' third season episode, "The Return, Part 1," which guest-stars Richard Dean Anderson as Maj. Gen. Jack O'Neill and Robert Picardo as Richard Woolsey.





Please check your local listings for channel, date and time.

Stargate Atlantis - First Photo of Picardo in Uniform for Season Five

With many thanks to actor David Nykl, who posted two new photos from the set of Stargate Atlantis on his blog, "Letters From Pegasus" (a full-sized, higher-resolutioned photo available at David's blog site):

Actors David Nykl (Dr. Radek Zelenka), Robert Picardo (Richard Woolsey) and Paul McGillion (Dr. Carson Beckett)

Stargate Atlantis - Woolsey to Command Atlantis in Season 5

From NBCU:

http://www.nbcumv.com/release_detail.nbc/scifi-20080205000000-people039schoice.html

PEOPLE'S CHOICE WINNER 'STARGATE ATLANTIS' BEGINS PRODUCTION ON SEASON 5

Published: February 5, 2008

Robert Picardo To Join Cast

Show Will Hit 100th Episode This Season

SCI FI Channel's recent People's Choice Award winner, Stargate Atlantis, will begin production later this month on its fifth original season. The new 20-episode season will include the series' benchmark 100th episode. Produced and distributed by MGM Television, Stargate Atlantis is filmed in Vancouver, Canada.

As Atlantis speeds toward its centennial episode, the Stargate universe promises new and surprising developments. The status quo is shaken following the events of season 4 (currently airing on SCI FI, Friday nights at 10pm) – some cherished friends are lost, others are found. New alliances are forged while new races are introduced.



Robert Picardo, whom Stargate fans will recognize as International Oversight Committee rep "Richard Woolsey," joins the Stargate Atlantis cast this season as Woolsey assumes command of the Atlantis expedition. The team, led by Lt. Colonel Sheppard (Joe Flanigan), Dr. Rodney McKay (David Hewlett), Teyla (Rachel Luttrell), Ronon (Jason Momoa) and Dr. Jennifer Keller (Jewel Staite), must adjust to his unique leadership style.

Fan favorite Paul McGillion, will return for five episodes to reprise his role as the beloved "Dr. Carson Beckett." Amanda Tapping ("Colonel Samantha Carter"), who remains a fixture of the Stargate universe, will appear as a special guest star in several episodes this season and Stargate SG-1 star Michael Shanks ("Dr. Daniel
Jackson") will appear as a special guest in episodes as well.

Stargate Atlantis follows the adventures of an intrepid team of military and civilian explorers who travel the distant Pegasus galaxy by means of a Stargate, a portal created long ago by a highly advanced alien civilization called the Ancients. In their never-ending quest to seek out other technologies left behind by the
Ancients, the Atlantis team encounters alien cultures – some friend, some foe.

The series is executive produced by Brad Wright, Robert Cooper, Joseph Mallozzi, Paul Mullie, Carl Binder, and Martin Gero. Mallozzi and Mullie share the reins as showrunners.


SCI FI Channel is a television network where "what if" is what's on. SCI FI fuels the imagination of viewers with original series and events, blockbuster movies and classic science fiction and fantasy programming, as well as a dynamic Web site (http://www.scifi.com) and magazine. Launched in 1992, and currently in 93 million homes, SCI FI Channel is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies.