Joseph Mallozzi at the SCI FI Press Event, June 2007

Joseph Mallozzi is probably best known in connection with both Stargate series, as he has been executive producer on well over one hundred episodes of Stargate: SG-1 and Stargate: Atlantis, as well as a writer of sixty episodes between the two shows.

Robert Picardo has an extensive list of credits to his name in both television and film. He has appeared on a variety of different television programs ranging from shows such as The Wonder Years to Smallville.  Picardo; however, is probably best known for his role in Star Trek: Voyager, for which he has also written and directed episodes.  Recently he has been known for the reccurring role of Agent Richard Woolsey in both Stargate: SG-1 and Stargate: Atlantis.  This season his character will have a much more important role in Stargate: Atlantis as Woolsey becomes the new commander of Atlantis.

Joseph Mallozzi and Robert Picardo recently spoke to MediaBlvd Magazine about the new season of Stargate: Atlantis.

Jamie Ruby> Can you tell us kind of in general what’s coming up story wise and for the teams this new season, and how it’s going to be different from previous seasons?

Joseph Mallozzi>  In previous seasons - I mean, season one was the set up and season two was the telling. And season three, I think, we’re stepping out and exploring more, sort of a variety of stories.  Throughout those first three seasons, though, we were always I guess securing resources with, SG-1 - be it a series or the movies and, as a result I guess it taught you - because of the time constriction, we weren’t able to really sit back and I think plan out the season quite as concisely as we could have which is what we did in season four. 

We realized okay, there is - there was an imbalance in, some of the stories being told. I mean, there were a lot of McKay stories but one of the things we set out to do in season four that we did in season five as well was, give each character a story and then, a spotlight and really focus on them, and give them a chance to really step up. 

And, we did that again - we did that once again in season five. And where in season four we wanted to deal with some of the, our standing villains.  We kicked off the Wraith/Replicator war. We got rid of the Replicators. We weakened the Wraith and now season five is kind of a step forward in a couple of ways.  One, in a big picture way we are introducing a couple of new races. We’re suggesting that with the Wraith weakened in the Pegasus Galaxy, there are a number of civilizations that are basically standing up and assuming power. 

So I mean, in a big, big picture way that’s what we’re doing. In another big picture way we get a - we have a new commander on the Atlantis expedition with Carter leaving.  What we said in season four was, with the threats that Atlantis is facing -- especially with regard to Wraith -- the military essentially flexed their muscles and wanted to exert some influence over the Atlantis expedition. 

So Carter was appointed as a compromised candidate. In season five, with -- as we said -- the Wraith, back on their heels the (IOA) in turn flexed its muscles and they appoint Richard Woolsey as the new interim leader of the Atlantis expedition.  And that will be a big and - a big change and frankly, it’s been a great change. We’ve been big Bob Picardo fans for years and, what started off as a - as, a couple of episodes in Heroes and through a recurring role which eventually when the opportunity presented itself, I mean, there was no hesitation.  We said, if Bob can do it, we would love to have him on the show and Bob was kind enough to, make time for us I guess.

Robert Picardo>  This is very interesting for me to listen to as well because I find out, all the secret things that the Executive Producer has in store. I was a little worried momentarily when he mentioned - when he made reference to a bit of a gender imbalance.  I thought that by Episode 20 perhaps he’d be given full reign to pull the feminine side - at least that he’d be, cross-dressing on the base. But I’m happy to hear that that’s not in the planning.

Robert Picardo

Robert Picardo>  Well thank you. I appreciate that. I’m looking forward to seeing how the, the dedicated fans of the show accept the new leader who is not nearly as cute as the previous two.

Joseph Mallozzi>  Some fans may argue differently. Sorry.

Jamie > What has been your favorite episode or scene to work on so far in either SG-1 or Atlantis?

Joseph Mallozzi>  Bob, go ahead, if you want to.  

Robert Picardo>  I think my favorite moment for the character prior to this season, prior to joining the cast as a regular, was an episode - it was a crossover episode between SG-1 and SG-Atlantis  where they went to the Pegasus - it’s called The Scourge. Now wasn’t that - that was a crossover?

Joseph Mallozzi>  No, the crossover was Return 1 and 2 with Rick.

Robert Picardo>  Oh, forgive me then. The Scourge was the one with all the giant - with the - it was the...

Joseph Mallozzi>  The bug...

Robert Picardo>  ...it was the Starship Trooper episode?

Joseph Mallozzi>  Yes.

Robert Picardo>  With the bug attacks.

Joseph Mallozzi>  Yeah.

Robert Picardo>  And it does feature Richard Woolsey running away from an attack of the bugs and seeing me run at a pace that I’m not aware that I could run  seemed right. To see me on camera running faster than I can actually run was a funny moment for me and it gratified me to see that.

 Now, to make an admission as a new leader, my favorite moment is when he’s running away from danger, it’s probably a risky thing to start out with. Having said that, I think that my favorite moment that we have filmed thus far is in Joe’s episode, Broken Ties - one of the comic moments that I’d rather not give away.

Joseph Mallozzi>  So did you say episode or moment?

Jamie> Episode.

Joseph Mallozzi>  I guess, I - for SG-1 it was definitely, I think, Ripple Effect, the episode with the countless SG-1 alternate universe team that basically visited the base.

 It was just a lot of fun, sort of trying to keep track and, having fun with the different, variations of personas. For this season or on Atlantis so far, I’d say over the past couple of seasons, I’d say its Broken Ties again, the episode that Bob mentioned.

Jamie> It’s called what?

Joseph Mallozzi>  Broken Ties. And, just because it has a lot of nice character moments for Ronon, for Teyla, but also for Woolsey. And, like I said, this is the first episode where Bob really demonstrates his comic ability and he reveals himself quite nicely.

Jamie> Okay. Thanks. And quickly, are there any guest stars that we should be watching out for this season?

Joseph Mallozzi>  In terms of big guest stars, I mean, it’s - the big guest stars are going to be Daniel Jackson in the midseason two-parter, Michael Shanks of course. And then during the latter half of the season, I mean, we’ve been talking about potential guest stars for 19 and 20 but we don’t have anything solid yet.

 I mean, we still have to sort of sit down and actually break the episodes. So I’d say stay tuned.

Jamie> For both of you - what’s both your most favorite part of working on the show and your least favorite part?

Robert Picardo>  I’m sorry, I didn’t get that.

Joseph Mallozzi>  Most favorite part and least favorite part of working on the show.

Robert Picardo>  Oh, all right. Let me see, I - I don’t mean to sound like a Pollyanna. I haven’t encountered my least favorite part yet. I would say, as I said, I’m now in - back in a jumpsuit so I find myself secretly comparing the Star Trek outfit to the Stargate outfit.

 Star Trek, for years, I had no pockets which was very difficult to deal with. There was more than one take where I had to eat a phone number right before because there was no place to put it.

 I almost sent a pencil into one of my castmate’s eyeballs by hiding it up my sleeve and then gesturing during the scene, and it flew out and hit them in the head. So there were all sorts of things that I hated about wearing that suit.

 Apparently, zippers don’t exist in the 23rd Century or 22nd Century. They’re all hidden. They all have hidden heads. So if we had a zipper head appear, we had to re-shoot the scene.

 Now, I’m working in the present and I’m allowed to - we’re allowed to have zippers. I’m even allowed to have pockets. So that’s one of my favorite things about my new job.

Joseph Mallozzi>  Zippers and pockets, that’s great.

Robert Picardo>  I can hide my script pages right on my body which is great and as I said, I haven’t really - I haven’t found the thing that I hate the most yet but give me time.

Jamie> Okay.

Joseph Mallozzi>  Yeah for me, I mean, I’ve often said - it may sound like a cliché, but I mean, it’s always the people. These individuals I work with, I spend more time with than my wife.

 I mean, I go - I’m in early. I’m, I leave late and, by the time I get home I spend maybe three, four hours with my wife before I’m, off to bed and, back with my extended family on Stargate.

 And, over the course of the years - I mean, you go year to year and it’s been nine years. And you develop friendships. And, I think more than anything that is the best thing about working on this show.

 It’s a well oiled machine. People get along and I mean, I think that’s, really important. As for the thing I least like about the - it’s hard to say.

 I would’ve said last season when I was off in Widgeon Park where I’d be - I’d have to wake up at 4:30 to get down to Widgeon Park to - as sort of an on set presence for the episode, Harmony.

 That was kind of unpleasant initially. But then after awhile, I kind of, grew to enjoy it. And I really - this is something, I’m talking about with a guy on the conference call who I’m sure gets up at 4:30, what is it every day? What time do you wake up, Bob?

Robert Picardo>  You mean every day when I’m shooting?

Joseph Mallozzi>  Yeah, when you’re shooting.

Robert Picardo>  Oh, it’s not that bad. It’s much worse when you have to wear a rubber head in science fiction. But no I mean, on a Monday you might have to get up at 4:30 or 5:00.

Joseph Mallozzi>  Right.

Robert Picardo>  But that’s as bad as it gets. It tends to get later as the week goes on. I forgot to say - I don’t mean to interrupt, but I wanted to mention one other significant difference in my new job versus my old science fiction job.

 It’s not a secret, I think that the Star Trek producers were kind of ivory tower producers who rarely came down to the set to see the actors. In fact, if the producers came to the set, the actors’ response was normally uh-oh, what did we do wrong.

 But the Stargate producers visit the set all the time and there’s a very relaxed, kind of easygoing atmosphere. They’ll pop down and say hello to us. They’re not located on the other side of the lot the way the Star Trek ones were at the other end of the Paramount lot, as far away from the sets as they could possibly get.

 They’re just upstairs in the - in our main stage, where the production office is. So I really like that - that it - what Joe described is, the extended family thing is much more apparent to me here because they really do, mom and dad really do come down to visit the kids on the set. And that’s, that’s - that makes it a very relaxed atmosphere.

Jamie> Can you tell me who your favorite people to work with are since you’re mentioning that?

Robert Picardo>  I get along very well with all the cast members and they’re all - they’re very unique personalities, so they all really - getting to know each of them has had its own joys already.    But as I said, David really cracks me up. David makes me laugh a great deal, so it’s always a pleasure to work with him. And Jason has his own very unique, bizarre sense of humor so he makes me laugh a great deal as well.  But Joe and Jewel, and the other - the recurring players - David Nigel is also a treat to work with. So it’s really - it’s been fun to get to know everyone and I, I really enjoy playing scenes with all the other characters.

Jamie> Thanks. What about you, Joe? Who are your favorite people?

Joseph Mallozzi>  I have to say - I mean, I really can’t take favorites. And to be honest with you, I mean, the first couple years I was on Stargate, I really didn’t go down on set just because, as sort of the new guys we were - we wanted to look busy and we were actually very busy because Paul and I would average about, seven scripts out of the 22 we would write every season.  So I mean, we were in our office either spinning, writing or re-writing. And it wasn’t until, I mean, in later years that I actually went down to the set.  And, here was a guy who had been working on the show for so many years, finally getting to come down and meet the crew. And, just - the writer/producers, everyone in the office is great, the actors are a pleasure to work with.  But particularly the crew who are, always the unsung heroes. There are a lot of, great personalities on the crew and these are guys who have been with the show, guys and gals who have been with the show for, sometimes there’s, almost like 12 years.  And, it - they’re also a real pleasure to work with. It’s - I don’t think I could actually specifically choose, any particular individual that I enjoy working with.

The fifth season of Stargate: Atlantis will premiere on Friday, July 11^th, on the Sci Fi Channel.