Log of America Online Conference with John DeLancie, June 1995

OnlineHost:     Welcome to the Hollywood Online Coliseum!
:       This evening, Hollywood Online wraps up its Save 
:       "Legend" Tribute Weekend.  Our guest this 
:       evening is actor John de Lancie, who plays Janos 
:       Bartok on "Legend", and was quite memorable in 
:       his role as the omnipotent "Q" in the show 
:       "Star Trek: The Next Generation."
:       This event will begin at the top of the hour!

OnlineHost:     Our guest this evening is actor John de Lancie from the show "Legend." 
Our guest is having phone line difficulties, we hope he will be online soon.  We are sorry
for any inconvenience.

OnlineHost:     Your Emcee for tonight is LindaSG.

OnlineHost:     This evening, Hollywood Online is very pleased to 
:       have actor John de Lancie as our guest.  John de 
:       Lancie is well-known to television viewers from 
:       his role as "Q" in "Star Trek:  The Next 
:       Generation", de Lancie has also appeared in 
:       episodes of L.A.  Law, Matlock, Murder She Wrote 
:       and Civil Wars and in such mini-series as "The 
:       Thorn Birds" and "Captains and Kings."

OnlineHost:     Film audiences are familiar with de Lancie's work 
:       in the recent hits, "The Hand that Rocks the 
:       Cradle" and in "The Fisher King" with Robin 
:       Williams and Jeff Bridges, and "Fearless", also 
:       with Jeff Bridges.  He also appeared in "Bad 
:       Influence," "The Onion Field," and "Missing 
:       Pieces."

OnlineHost:     On stage, de Lancie has appeared in the Mark 
:       Taper Forum in "Terra Nova" and "Aunt Dan and 
:       Lemon" and the Seattle Repertory Company in 
:       productions of "Saint Joan," "Taming of the 
:       Shrew," and "Lion and the Portuguese."  With 
:       the South Coast Repertory Company, de Lancie was 
:       seen in "Man and Superman," "Childe Byron," 
:       and "Golden Girls."

CSEmcee1:       Welcome Mr. DeLancie!

JdeLancie:      Hello!

JdeLancie:      How are you doing?

CSEmcee1:       Fine thanks, and happy to have you here!

Question:       Richard Dean Anderson is also one of Legend's executive producers. How
does that affect your relationship as actors? How difficult is it to work with an actor whose
mind is occupied with production matters?

JdeLancie:      Very good question!  There are times that I have had had to just remind Rick
that we have a scene to play.  He is probably the most knoweledgable actor\manager that I
know.  He knows more about film production than any actor I've ever worked with and I
think its difficult to wear two different hats. And when I have had to remind him, he has
graciously thanked me becuase as everybody knows, production is for an actor.. we might
spend 16 hours a day filming but only an hour of that is really spent in from of the camera.

Question:       From what I've heard, you would rather read a book or listen to classical
music than watch action adventure on TV. How do you justify working on shows you
wouldn't choose to watch?

JdeLancie:      Another terrific question!  Television, for me, or movies, or even plays are a
bit of a busman's holiday.  I know too much of what is going on outside of the frame to
relax. So for me the idea of being able to relax with a book or listen to classical music truly
means relaxation.  And I have to qualify that.. in the world of classical music, I grew up
with it because my father was with the Philadelphia orchestra.  And even then when I listen
to classical music, I am not able to turn off my critical mind.

Question:       I understand you and Richard Dean Anderson have different working styles:
you like to be well prepared for a scene, he prefers a more spontaneous approach. How do
you resolve this when working together?

JdeLancie:      Gosh.. these quesitons are terrific.  I think that its a misconception. 
Actually, its a misconception that Rick originally had.  I like to have an idea of where the
beginning, the middle and the end *could* be.  But the points on that bark, I keep in the
area of spontaneity.  Its just that so that I can be assured that the scene has momentum, and
that my acting within the scene has a momentum that I'm going to something. I don't like to
just tread water, I don't think that's good for a scene.  So, it isn't really about needing to
know everything about the scene and plotting it out and planning it.  It just needs to know
what the target it.

Question:       How do you feel about your history with Star Trek?

JdeLancie:      Well, that's kind of a general question and I assume what is being asked is
"how do I feel about my asosciation and the fact that so many people know me because of
that show.  I feel good about it.  It is a good show.  Generally, people ask me whether I am
concerned about typecasting or things of that nature and my answer is:  I do as good a job
that I can in every show that I do, and if some shows have more of a visibility or are more
appreciated, I am delighted!

Question:       Will Ramos get a chance to shine, or will he always stay in the background?

JdeLancie:      We are starting tomorrow morning a new episode, and I am very pleased to
say that it is Ramos' episode.  It is the last episode that we might be shooting, and it is his
episode.

Question:       Would you share one of the funny stories from behind the scenes on Legend?

JdeLancie:      Wow... To be quite honest, I'm so inundated right now with the enormity of
the work that is involved.. the hours.. the endless hours we're putting in.. far in excess of
any show I've been on that THAT comes more into mind than funny stories at this point. 
This is a very arduous story show to do.  Where most television shows are 30 scenes per
episode, we're shooting in the vicinity of 60.  Where most shows are shown in contr0lled
environments, we're on location.  To give you an example, I got at home on Thursday
morning at 4, having started at 6. I'm sure that as time goes on, the fun stories will come to
mind. But for now, the grind of it is mostly what I'm feeling.

Question:       I loved you in Days of Our lives as Eugene..why did you leave???

JdeLancie:      Before I answer this, the most question I have is if I'm going to be on
Voyager.  My answer is "I don't know."  Its akin to being asked if I'm going to be asked to
a dinner party.  I don't know if I'm going to be asked :>  AS for DOUL, I left for a couple
of reasons.  The world of soaps can be a trap.  Unfortunatley while there can be many
wonderful actors who work on soaps, the industry gives them NO respect whatsoever.  I left
also because I feel that I've accomplished as much as I could.  I asked the writers to not let
me be funny and let me spoof soaps, in general.  Unfortunately, they left me funny and it
gave me less and less room to manuever.  I did something that most actors have not done.. I
saved my money and made a pact that I would only stay for 3 years.  I've stayed pretty
much to that commitment as I've stayed 3.5 years.  But my work with Eileen Sorkin was
probably the most fun I've ever had as an actor, and I've always derived a great deal of
pleasure from the time I was on the soap.  I probably learned more on the soap than I did
while studying at Julliard. 

Question:       John, what role did you play in Captains and Kings?  that was a wonderful
production...

JdeLancie:      I don't remember.  It was too long ago.  It was when I had first moved out to
LA and was under contract with Universal, and it was one of 36 or so roles that I played in
a 2 year period, and I just can't remember the name of it.  Or, frankly, what I even
did. 

Question:       What was your favorite show to play a part on?

JdeLancie:      Well, I'm lucky enought to say that I have a number of
favorite shows.  I played Byron on stage.  I've played Jack Tanner on stage.  I've played
Humphrey in a production of Common Pursuit.  I played Eugene.. I played Hugh .. and now
I'm playing Janos Bartok.  These are just wonderful roles.  They are very complex roles. 
And probably what has always been the best opporutnity for me is that if people leave me
alone, I tend to do better work.  And in all those incidences, I brought more to the role
becuase people hired me for what I could do instead of tailor what I did.

Question:       Whose idea was it to put in the line "Engage" in a recent episode of Legend? 
The line was written "engage".  Whether that was Michael Piller's line or Bill Dial's line, I
don't know. It was my idea to give it that Star Trekky quality with th hand gesture.

Question:       Mr. de Lancie, having worked with Richard Dean Anderson in MacGyver do
you feel that gave you an edge getting the Professor Bartok role in LEGEND?

JdeLancie:      No.  Not at all.

Question:       Why is it important to watch Legend this Monday? :>

JdeLancie:      Its important to watch Legend this Monday because the show
has, for all intensive purposes, been cancelled.  Michael Piller, who originally wrote the
show with th Trek audience in mind, which ever writer and actor who writes, acts or
director has an audience in mind, was able to convince the fledging network (UPN) to move
the show into a slot where its intended audience could see it.  He is convinced, as are we all
who work on the show, that the values of this show LEgend are commiserate with the
audience of Star Trek.  If Piller is right and the ratings for Legend go up substantially, then
Legend will be given a 2nd chance.  I feel personally that the network is working on the
principal of "sink or swim".  If they REALLY wanted it to work, they would have given it
that time slot for the next 3 or 4 episodes.  Instead, they've given us the time slot of just on
THIS COMING Monday. Its like telling the little kid that he can be part of the football team
if he can kick a field goal from the 50 yard line.  Of course, the kid says that he has the
opportunity to be a part of the team although things are stacked against him.  If we really
want television to be other than these ATROCIOUS moronic afternoon talk shows, and if we
want tv to more than these stupid sitcvoms or a constant diet of violence and tripe, we're
going to have to as a general public, fight for them.  And we're hoping that the audience out
there will do just that.  I'm not saying that Legend is the greatest show tha has come down
the pike, but I'm saying that Legend is a show that I will watch with my children.  My
children will derive interest at their level, and I will, mine.  Its VERY unusual to have that
from a family show. Trek is a family show, Legend is a family show.  In this world of crass
and outrageous, the gentle and subtle sometimes need a littl protection, and a little bit of a
boost.

Question:       Which do you like to be more; villian or good guy

JdeLancie:      Villian or good guy isn't how I look at a role.  Its whether the story is good. 
Whether the puzzle is difficult to solve.  I will work as hard at playing a good guy as at
playign a villian, and I think the success I've had in my career has alot to do with the
fact that I tried to combine the two.  I don't think that everyone in this world is
always good, and I don't think anyone is always villainous.  The characters I play, I always
try to give a good mixture to.

Question:       Question. Mr. DeLancie, are you performing on Broadway anytime in the
near future?

JdeLancie:      No.. I'm not.  My next job in July is going to be at the Aspen Music Festival
and I am going to be narrating Beethovan's "Fidelio", as well as teaching acting.  My next
project after that is that I being a series of classic science fiction narrations for audio with
myself and Leonard Nimoy and probably Rene Aubergenois and Armin Shimmerman, and a
host of others.

Question:       How did you get involved in the stage.. I'm an aspiring actor

JdeLancie:      I was very fortunate as a terrible student in school, and one who was
constantly flunking.  When I was in school, people felt that I was maybe had some sort of
mental deficiencies.  A teacher by the name of David Biddle came
into the classroom one day.. I think I was in the 6th or 7th grade.. and threw Henry V in
my chest with a certain amount of force and told me that I had 2 months to learn the role
of Prince Hal, and I did.  And to everyone's surpirse, maybe even moreso to my own, I was
good at it.  And my father, thinking any port in a storm, began to encourage me to become
an actor.

Question:       Have you directed any episodes?

JdeLancie:      Of Legend?  No.  Legend is a very difficult show to shoot, and we've had a
few directors here.  One in particular who, not having quite the technical skill that is needed
which is really alot, really got eaten alive.  Its not an easy show to shoot at all.

Question:       WHat do you think of those who try to compare Bartok andQ?

JdeLancie:      Well, I don't have any opinion of the people who try to compare it.  I can
tell you that the most apt comparison is that its the same actor who is playing them.  I come
from a tradition where it is fun for an audience to come in and see their favorite actor play
yet another role.  As a audience member of ACT in San Francisco, we all enjoyed following
the actors playing different roles of the repretory productions that they were in.  I know in
the commerical theatre, that doesn't work sometimes because people feel that they're
typecast.  But I'm out there to break the mold a little bit, in that I think my audience
is hip enought to realize that its John deLancie playing another character.  The best
comparison is that John de Lancie is bringing himself to yet another character.

Question:       where are some of your favorite places to relax??

JdeLancie:      I would say that my favorite place to relax is on a sailboat with Wild Turkey
Bourbon in my hands.  At the end of the day, of course.  
JdeLancie:      One more thing about the Bartok and Q comparisons.. I have been informed
that the reason why people compare the two characters is because of a comment made by
Michael Piller here on Friday, where he said that he had envisioned an episode of Star Trek:
TNG that would have Riker sending an away team BACK in time to meet Bartok, who looks
like Q.  One of the great reasons to be alive is to give it imagination that Piller just
exhibited.  When you shut an episode down after 3 or 4 shows is that you end up quashign
that imagination.  Its a GREAT idea.  Its the first I've heard of it. But as far as I know,
Monday starts our last episode unless things change.

Question:       How did you get the part of Janos Bartok?

JdeLancie:      I auditioned.  I guess the fantasy would be that I would have been given
the role, but the truth of the matter is that I auditioned.

Question:       do you like opera...if so what singers?  what opera stories? My favorite
singer is placido domingo my self..la traviata...Sheila Rector

JdeLancie:      My favorite singers right now are Barbara Direcksen, Kiri Te Kanawa.  I do
like opera and my contribution to opera is during the summer time in As[en when I try to
help opera singers act a little better.  We all know that they sing great, and we all know they
don't act so well.  So that's my contribution.

Question:       I understand that you are appearing in conventions.  And was wondering, if
you enjoy doing this.  

JdeLancie:      I enjoy doing them.  I am not going to kid anyone. They should know that its
a business and I do them for their business aspects, but the part that I probably enjoy the
most has to do with the fact that, for me, its an opportunity for me to meet my audience and
have a conversation with them.  I take very seriously what they say, not invidiuvidually, but
as a group. So when I go back and form what they had to say, I take what they say to mind. 
Its not unlike taking off theatrical makeup and going backdoor and meeting people who want
to talk about the show.

Question:       With all of your many roles, have you ever played a character that you felt
really said something about your own personality and outlook on life?  

JdeLancie:      Yes!  If that person is interested in reading George Bernard Shaw's Man and
Superman, they would probably learn more about me than any other source.

Question:       John, I really liked your sense of humor on Star Trek and now carried over to
Legend.  Are any of those lines ad libs?

JdeLancie:      Star Trek, there are very few lines that are ad libbed.  They run a very tight
ship.  HAHA.  Legend, many more lines are ad libbed.  My sense of humor has always
come out of being both the physical and my little sense of the absurd.


Question:       Are you married? My Mom is but she thinks your Qute

JdeLancie:      Yes, I am married.

Question:       Your father was with the Philly Philharmonic... what instruments do you play
and was there ever an interest on your part to be a musician?

JdeLancie:      I don't think there was ever an interest for me to be a musician. I'll never
forget the experience about 2 months into my oboe lessons, my father was the solo oboe
player with Philly Phil, my father announced to me one day that I'd NEVER be a
professional musician, and that I needed to find other gainful employment.

Question:       I know that you have done a few books on tape.  Any others
on the way?

JdeLancie:      Yes.  As I said before, Leonard Nimoy and myself are working towards
producing a number of books on tape under our own company name and we hope that they
wiill be received well because we're doing it really with a very specific audience in mind. 
And we choosing books that and stories meant a great deal to us as children and young
adults.

Question:       i was wondering who comes up with the inventions used in Legend?

JdeLancie:      Those inventions are in the hands of the writers.  They come up with it. 
Ther eis a gentlemen by the name of Eric Potter who was the scientist engineer of McGuyver
and I believe he has a hand in these as well.  The first drafts of the scripts will open say
(TECH), which indicates that the particular device is to be loked at by Mr. Potter, who I
think lives in NY. And he will come up with something.

Question:       Do you actually go UP in the Legend balloon, or is it done with matte shots?

JdeLancie:      The actual Legend ballon when you see it is called CGI (computer grapic
illustration).  What we go up on, however, is the gondola which is attached to a marco crain
and we go at least 50-60 or 100 feet up in the air, and they will CGI out the cable and insert
a balloon that holds the gondola.  Crane, too.

Question:       You are a very versatile actor..is it hard to shift personalities around..you've
played characters that are at opposite ends of the spectrum?

JdeLancie:      It isn't difficult for me.  I work on the premise that the audience must be
allowed at least 50% of the work.  If you have a story and a character within that story and
the audience is with you, they will fill lin the gestalt. All you have to do is give them a taste
of the character and the events, and if you do it honestly and truthfully , because that's the
one thing that audiences are most saavy about, they are willing to go with you. After all if
Marcel Marceau can walk across the stage pulling an imaginary dog, I can play Janos
Bartok.


Question:       John, I remember first seeing you in Onion Feild; how was it working with
the young James Woods and John Savage?

JdeLancie:      Unfortunately, my one scene in Onion Field did not include them. It was a
great film and I had a very little part in it.  I appreciated being in it.  A bit of trivia about
that..  I had the year before played a role on "POlice Story", which was also written by the
writer of "Onion Field".  And I played a role of a rookie cop.  A year later, I auditioned for
Harold Becker for "Onion Field", and it only occured to me while we were shooting it that I
was playing the same role of the sketchy television show of the same story.

Question:       What would you do if you could not act?  Is that the only thing you ever
pictured yourself doing as a career?

JdeLancie:      I teach, but I teach acting.  I direct, but I direct actors.  I think I am
inherently theatrical, and it would be hard for me to be involved in other things although I
think I would be quite good in running a business and I must say that I was extremely
envious of Schwarzkopf when he had his moment in the sun.  I enjoy people who are really
involved in what they love.  And I'm lucky enough to be involved with what I love.

Question:       You are an incredibly gifted actor - able to play quite a range of characters. 
Are there any roles out there that you would really want to play, given the opportunity?

JdeLancie:      I am asked that question alot.  It breaks down into 2 areas:  if I were in the
classic theatre, I could turn to a list of classic plays and say "Its time for me to do Lear.  Its
time for me to play Richard III."  But I am in the commercial end of acting, and everything
is in the future.  Nothing is known. On December 22, I was getting ready for Christmas. 
On December 23, I had the role of Bartok.  That's what the commercial theatre is about, and
until I move back to the repretory, I cannot answer that question.

Question:       WHo's idea was the line "Red alert" that Rick delivered in the Legend Jr.
episode.

JdeLancie:      That was MIchael Piller.  GIVEN THE CHANCE, there will be many more
of those ;> Let me explain the episode a little that is coming up: The episode that you will
see on MOnday night is called "The Gospel According to Legend."  There are lots of
omages in this episode. There are lots of issues.  The most prominent issue is the one of the
Bible being used as a weapon.  There is an homage to Frankenstein with the villagers with
torches, who come to burn down the laboratory.  My laboratory.  There is a speech that I
make where I talk about tolerance in America.  Bob Englund, who played Freddie Kruger, a
very trained and VERY wonderrful actor, plays the evangelist.  Its a show that will be
funny, it will be poignant and it will be about something.  So when you finish seeing it, you
can actually have a conversation with the people who you watch with ABOUT the show
whether than how cool it was on how one car landed into the other.  Or how horrible a
depiction of human values where people backstab or, in some way, cheat and steal from one
anoter.  the shows we are tyring to do are about ideas, and we're trying to make them
entertainment and literate.  And there are gadgets, but they're mostly for the enjoyment. 
They are there just as the same was as Star trek there. You zap here, you zap there.  But
each story has a point.  And that's what I like about th show and what I"m proud of is that
its about extraordinary people doing extraordinary tyhings, and not a show about the
neuroses of whether or not you got your parking space today.  And I hope that people will
watch because I believe that we need to support shows like this.  If we are REALLY serious
about having some impact on those things that we see, just as I think we should be serious
that we should have impact on what we read and listen to on the radio.

OnlineHost:     All good things must come to an end. Time is up for this event.
CSEmcee1:       Thank you so much for being here tonight.
CSEmcee1:       Let's hope Legend will continue!
JdeLancie:      Let's hope so!  Watch tomorrow!  And thanks for letting me come here.
CSEmcee1:       It was a great pleasure to have you here in Center Stage.
CSEmcee1:       Thank you for joining us audience.
OnlineHost:     Hollywood Online would like to thank John de 
:       Lancie for being our guest this evening.  This 
:       wraps up our Save "Legend" Tribute Weekend.  
OnlineHost:     Hollywood Online would like to take the time to 
:       thank Shari L. Kaufman and Barbara Macintosh for 
:       helping us with event, and to Michael Piller and 
:       John de Lancie for taking the time out to write 
:       letters and for appearing with us for this event. 
:       We would also like to thank Jennifer05 and the 
:       Center Stage staff for generously contributing 
:       their time to help us put on this event.  
:       Goodnight America!