Robert Picardo on Bringing Characters to Life with Special Guest Host Dave Fernandez

Beyond the Mic with Sean Dillon

If you're a Sci-Fi enthusiast, there's a good chance you've encountered the legendary Robert Picardo. Famous for his iconic role as the holographic Doctor on Star Trek: Voyager, his career spans stage, screen, and voiceover work. In this Beyond the Mic Short Cut, guest host Dave Fernandez guides Picardo through his career, from his early work to today.

The conversation touches on Picardo's role as Johnny Cab in Total Recall (1990). Despite not being physically present on set, Picardo's voice brought the character to life. He had proposed a joke for Arnold Schwarzenegger, but director Paul Verhoeven rejected it. Interestingly, the Johnny Cab model was created using a mold of Picardo's face, highlighting his ongoing collaboration with makeup effects expert Rob Bottin.

Picardo's adaptability is evident in his discussion of the cowboy hitman character from Innerspace. Working alongside industry giants Steven Spielberg and Joe Dante, he had the liberty to improvise much of his performance, effectively blending humor and menace to create a memorable character.

The interview also covers Picardo's involvement in the crowdfunded project "Space Command: Redemption," directed by his friend Mark Zickory. The film explores artificial intelligence and humanity, with Picardo playing a rugged human character interacting with a sentient drone, delving into the story's emotional and philosophical aspects.

As a Star Trek enthusiast, Dave inquires about Picardo's return in Star Trek: Prodigy's second season. Picardo mentions reuniting with former co-stars Robert Beltran and Kate Mulgrew and hints at new developments for his character, the Doctor, without revealing specifics.

Whether you're a long-time fan or new to his work, this episode offers a captivating glimpse into Robert Picardo's career. Thanks Dave for taking Robert Picardo, Beyond the Mic.

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