Transcript of CompuServe Conference with John DeLancie, June 1995 (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) Welcome to the show John!! (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) JD: Thanks for coming everybody! (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) John, so we have a refernce point...how old are you and where were you born? (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) JD: I was born in Philadelphia--I am 47! (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) When did the acting bug first hit you? (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) JD: I was 15 years old and a Mr. Biddle gave me a copy of Henry the V and told me that I would be performing it in two months... I was so good in the school play...my father encouraged me to become an actor! (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) Were you a fan of the original "Star Trek" series? (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) JD: No!... One...it came on , I was 16 , 17 years old and I had better things to do!... I'm a great sci-fi fan... but not a great TV watcher...the sci-fi I like is more hard-boiled... I don't like unicorns...I see a much more bleak future... I'm more in the area of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers..." "Alien"..etc. Trek was a little soft for me. (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) You are a baby boomer--what influenced you most from the showbiz/art world? (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) JD: I amuse people on the set with what they perceive as utterly remarkable lack of appreciation or interest of popular culture!!! The music I listened to until 18 years old was exclusively CLASSICAL!!! My enjoyment of books have been classics... I couldn't name or recognize any of the current people in the pop magazines... There's part of me that doesn't live in this century! (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) When you received the audition call for "Star Trek: TNG" ...what did you think??-- That it was going to be an exact sequel to the original series? (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) JD: I had no preconceived notions about it... I went in with no expectations...and just wanted to do as good as job as possible under the circumstances! (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) How much of "Q" is your own character interpretation and how much is the producer/writer's concept? (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) JD: The actor's job is to supply not only what is wanted...but what is needed... so that the actor's work isn't really fulfilled in a full-blown inspirational way until the actor supplies the "what is needed part." and sometimes what is needed is not necessarily what is wanted. I once played the role of a psycho...but they NEEDED a comedian... so I gave the psycho a sense of humor and it was very successful! The character needed on Star Trek was a puffed-up character so the lead character could deflate! But the questions that I asked were more relavant and required greater explanation than just simply being there to be...blown away. I've added humor...a sense of friendship...a sense of humanity... and then the writers respond by making this more of a collaborative event! % Moderator recognizes question #1 Jim Ogilvie (1) (#1,Jim Ogilvie) Good evening Mr. de Lancie. I want to thank you for all of your terrific work on Next Gen. The character that you have created of Q is definitely my most favorite guest character. What I would like to know is, would you be interested in appearing in a Trek feature film, and what is the best way for your fans to write to you? Through Paramount? Thank you, and thank you for being here! (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) JD: My interest in a TREK film...I am interested...but it's like asking me if I'm going to be invited to somebody's dinner party...I haven't been invited yet!!!...When and if I am... I will pursue it... People who write me at home must know I will not answer there... When you write me at Paramount...I will respond...but it takes forever... I think the audience would prefer that I spend my time acting then responding to mail. I'm not very good at writing letters. I hope you all understand. (#1,Jim Ogilvie) Godspeed, JD! Thank you. (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) JD: I am EXTREMELY interested in what the audience thinks...but answering my mail is a LOGISTICAL problem! % Moderator recognizes question #2 jan (18) (#18,jan) hi john. I was wondering, how much of Bartok's character (on Legend) is your own interpretation? (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) JD: Everything I act is my own interpretation... The job of the actor is to bring himself to the role... Hopefully the way I play it is very UNIQUE...anything less is not doing your job...while Bartok is a wonderful character... a scoop---- The show has been cancelled. You are the first to know...I found out just an hour ago. Please write to UPN if you want to help. (#18,jan) I'm sorry to hear it. I thought the show really had some possibilities. (#18,jan) I will write!!! (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) How about a new series "Macgyver and Cousin"??? (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) JD: (Laughing)...most of the good shows never even made it to TV!!! It's people in offices...far removed from audiences...who make these bad decisions. % Moderator recognizes question #3 Dennis Rayburn (15) (#15,Dennis Rayburn) John, first, I want to thank you for the enjoyment you have brought to all of us. From DAYS when I first saw you to Legend, your work has always been an enjoyment. My question is two fold: (1) Which of your appearances as Q was your personal favorite, and (2) Is there ANY chance of Q making Voyager a little lively??? (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) JD: Again, the issue about "Voyager" is like asking me if I will be invited to a dinner party... My favorite ws "Tapestry," because it really encouraged people to take a risk in life... The last episode...were the best...from an actor's viewpoint...they were most fulfilling for me and the audience! % Moderator recognizes question #4 Diane Williams (39) (#39,Diane Williams) Hi, John! Have you sold the black Jaguar we talked about last month? And if you have an interest in doing live Shakespeare, would you like to do it in Washington DC with the Shakespeare Theatre? (Michael Kahn's gourp?) (#39,Diane Williams) group? (Can't type tonight! It's past my bedtime!) (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) JD: hang on... No, I haven't sold my Jaguar... I haven't had a moment's thought... The minute "Legend" is finished... In July...I will be performing at the Aspen Music Festival... I did Julius Caesar with Stacy Keach and Richard Dreyfuss... for the BBC! Thanks!!! % Moderator recognizes question #5 Gary Katzer (35) (#35,Gary Katzer) I was wondering if you had a favorite Q quote (i always enjoied "John- Luck Pickard), if there was any truth to Q being on DS9, and could (#35,Gary Katzer) you settle an arguement: what is the name of the fish in Picard's ready room? I've heard it's Lexington, but that's been disputed The fish ...and all I know about it...is if it should be served pan fried or boiled...its name has never been of interest to me... (#35,Gary Katzer) do you have a favorite quote? (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) JD: "Welcome to the afterlife Jean-Luc...you are dead"--my favorite quote... YES... That's it!!! % Moderator recognizes question #6 Nash (42) (#42,Nash) Hey there, John Hery there, john ... nice to speak to you again (saw you in Charleston in '92.) I noticed you were in Fearless ... have (#42,Nash) you or will you do any movies since, and how's your son? (#42,Nash) (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) JD: "fearless" was not seen enough...but a great film... a fine filmmaker.]i.. Coming up is "Evolver..." a kid's movie... My sons are doing fine! (#42,Nash) Glad to hear it. Have a good one. (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) Have you ever been a political animal? (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) JD: Not really....the most political I ever became was that I went to Kent State University and was there during the shootings... otherwise...not at all. % Moderator recognizes question #7 Christopher Jett (6) (#6,Christopher Jett) First of all, I'll buy your jagaur. @nd, what is the most challenging role that you have ever played? 3rd, Do you enjoy perform in musical theatre? (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) JD: I don't enjoy musical theater... (#6,Christopher Jett) And lastly, have you been to any dinner parties lately. (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) JD: challenging role was Jack Tanner in George Bernard Shaw's "Man and Superman." If you read the play...you'll understand my view of life better than anything else that is written. % Moderator recognizes question #8 Stephen & Rachael (25) (#25,Stephen & Rachael) Hello. Rachael would like to know if you are married or not. Stephen would like to know what hobbies you enjoy in spare time, thanks! (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) JD: Yes I am married... I enjoy--the things that I am paid to do--acting....directing... teaching...and being with my children! % Moderator recognizes question #9 Nellie (43) (#43,Nellie) John, congratulations on your great success and competence. I was a good friend of Christina's at Shipley and wokay and would like to know how to get in touch with her. I don't have a phone number that I can give out here...but she lives in Manhattan and should be listed! % Moderator recognizes question #10 Karen Schulman (38) (#38,Karen Schulman) Hi John! I'm a friend of Jeri Taylor...have known her since before TNG days. Maybe I can suggest that she invite you to a Voyager dinner party (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) JD: That would be nice!!! % Moderator recognizes question #11 Q (33) (#33,Q) Do you see the character of Q as a permanent part of how people see you? and do you speak german? (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) JD: No I don't speak German ... JD: the character of "Q" as seen by many people will ultimately always have them see me that way...maybe not for others. % Moderator recognizes question #12 ROBERT REID (50) (#50,ROBERT REID) dID THE OLD TUCSON FIRE HAVE ANYTHING TOP DO WITH THE CANCELLING (#7,ELIOT STEIN-HOST) JD: No... nothing to do with it... why the show was cancelled... is a mystery....we might get a better answr in the next couple of days... The show was a critical success...80%-90% good reviews... The pilot and 3 episodes were shown during sweeps....and they decided they didn't want to buy anymore... we will finsih our contracted 13... the Tv audience is passive...most good shows don't even make it... if a show is too good...too topical... or too good of a script ... it will be cancelled... This is the age of mediocrity. ...the networks will continue to deliver what is good for the ...lowest common denominator.