Aaron Douglas: Dragon*Con’s mercurial sci-fi fan
Date: September 4, 2010
Source: CNN.com

Aaron Douglas: "Mom says that when I was a little kid I always used to say I wanted to be an actor, but I don't remember that."

(CNN) — Aaron Douglas, better known as “Chief Tyrol” on “Battlestar Galactica,” is a Dragon*Con veteran. Well known for being open with fans and the life of the Dragon*Con party, Douglas made a pit-stop at CNN to answer some of our BSG-fan questions.

Had you seen the original BSG before taking the role?

Absolutely, I grew up on the original BSG, I grew up on “Star Wars.” The great thing about “Battlestar” was that it was basically “Star Wars” but once a week, as opposed to waiting for three years for the movie to come out. I was a huge “Battlestar” fan.

Tell us about when you first auditioned for “Battlestar Galactica” — was it for the part of Capt. Tyrol?

No, no I originally auditioned for the part of Apollo (Capt. Lee Adama) which Jamie Bamber got, which is good because Bamber has to go to the gym and I never did. That was good for me. And my callback was for [the role of] Lt. Gaeta, which went to Alessandro, who’s great. He’s a great actor and he can do the tech talk really well. When they got to the end of the casting there was just no one for the Chief, this Tyrol character that they had left, and David Eick [one of the creators of the show] said, “Why don’t we get Aaron to do this?” because David had seen my auditions and quite liked me. So, they offered me this and it grew into what it was.

At what point did you find out that your character was a Cylon? [a robot]

Officially, the day before we started shooting it. But we shot that scene in December, and I had seen some papers that I wasn’t supposed to see over at [director] Michael Rymer’s house, in September. So I had to sit very quietly for three months, not say a word, furious the whole time. And constantly walking past Ron Moore and David Eick, who are the creators of the show, and say, “So, anything coming up for the Chief?” And they’d say, “Oh no, just fixing vipers, just the usual.” Just lying to me! So we finally found out officially and I got Ron [Moore] on the phone, yelled at him for five minutes and then he talked me off the ledge and convinced me that it was a good thing, and he was right.

Did you suspect that you might be one of the Cylons?

God, no. Absolutely not. I thought that the great thing about the Tyrol character is he’s such a human, and I guess if they want to humanize the Cylons there’s no better character to do it than him and Col. Tigh, but I did not see it coming. I thought it was going to be new people revealed, I didn’t think that it was going to be cast revealed to be.

Did you draw inspiration for your own character from having watched the original BSG?

No, my character wasn’t in the original BSG, and I don’t really know how I do what I do. I literally, I just show up and I say the words as simply as I can. I have a new show now called “The Bridge,” where I play a guy who’s a real-life guy. My character’s based on the life of a guy named Craig Bromell who was a cop for 12 years and then became head of the police association, so basically the president of the union for 85,000 cops. It was the decision to either play it like him or just play it as I see it, so I just play stuff as I see it.

What were your thoughts about the ending of BSG?

I loved it. Other than, what the hell was Starbuck? I still don’t know what Starbuck was. But I loved the ending, I thought it was a brilliant piece of writing, certainly Ron’s opus. There was no better way to end it. And I love the fact that the Chief just walks off and goes up to Scotland and lives alone. Yep, makes whiskey and builds castles and herds sheep. Yeah.

Was “The Bridge” your next project, then?

I literally wrapped the last day of Battlestar, I wrapped at 5 a.m. on Friday and on Monday I was on a plane to Toronto to start the new show. So, yeah, there wasn’t much of a break.

How would you compare the character you’re playing now to Chief Tyrol?

You know, they’re very similar guys. They’re both blue-collar guys, they’re both in charge of a group of people that they are fiercely loyal to, they will do whatever it takes to get the right thing done, they’re both very flawed, which makes them interesting to watch and interesting to play, they’re two guys that you could definitely go to a ball game and have a beer and make fun of people around you.

How did you get into acting in the first place?

My mom says that when I was a little kid I always used to say I wanted to be an actor, but I don’t remember that. I remember in high school thinking that I wanted to be a lawyer, and now I realize I saw that movie “And Justice for All” when I was a kid and thought, “That’s what lawyers do, and I want to get up and yell and scream in the middle of a courtroom.” I want to be a lawyer on TV is what I finally figured out. I fell into it late. I think I was 27 or 28. I was working with a sports nutrition company doing diets for athletes and I met a guy who was working on his nutrition and he was an actor. I eventually quit my job and went back to theater school and that was it, the rest is history.

Besides acting, what are your hobbies?

Sitting quietly and reading a book. I play hockey, I’m a goalie, so people fire pucks at me. And I like to golf and I travel, I travel a lot. But mostly I’m a pretty quiet guy. I just kind of go home and hide away.

I see you’re wearing a shirt that says “Chronicles of the Nerds.”

“Chronicles of the Nerds,” yeah! These are some friends of mine from Oregon that have a website, chroniclesofthenerds.com. I have literally almost 400 T-shirts, because everywhere I go the fans know I like T-shirts. So they’re constantly giving me T-shirts. So, any time I get a chance to plug one of my friends or plug a band or something like that, I like to wear their shirts. And the fans think it’s really cool. So when I’m at ComicCon or Dragon*Con I’ll switch shirts throughout the day, so people get pictures.

You were at Dragon*Con last year, right?

I’ve been at Dragon*Con, I think five of the last six years. I love coming here. It’s unbelievable fun. Last year I came as a fan. I snuck in. I didn’t do any panels except for the one that I crashed. I didn’t sign or do anything, I just wanted to experience it from the fan’s point of view, and it was really, really cool. I come here with, literally, like 25 friends and we take over an entire floor of the hotel and we just have a blast, it’s a great place. It’s like Vegas without the gambling.

What’s your favorite part of Dragon*Con?

The best times are usually in one of our rooms, where we’re all just sitting around having a drink and just laughing our faces off. It’s just hilarity for four or five days. It’s just hanging out with friends. I travel so much and I work so much and we’re all from such disparate parts of the country in different jobs. It’s hard for us all to get in the same place at the same time and Dragon*Con creates a good venue for that.

Anything you want to say to your fans?

Everybody, go to CNN.com every day! Every, frackin day!

FedCon XIX: our interview with Aaron Douglas
By: Peter Glotz (Pedda), together with Robert Vogel
Date: May 21, 2010
Source: CAPRICA-CITY.DE

His role in “Battlestar Galactica” started as a minor supporting character, but during the seasons, the “Chief” became more and more important. The actor behind the fan’s favorite mechanic, Canadian born Aaron Douglas, was among the many guest stars of FedCon XIX, held from April 30 to May 2 2010 in Bonn, Germany.

During the convention, he was kind enough to meet us for an interview. We talked about his time on board Galactica, the chief’s character development, and the possibility of a final five visit on “Caprica”. Also, he told us about his new character, Frank Leo on “The Bridge”, and what kind of beer he likes to during while visiting Germany.

You were one of the first actors from “Battlestar Galactica” to go to conventions. Did you spread the word to get your colleagues to go as well?

Well, they all know me as the guy who goes to conventions, so whenever they go, the first thing is they come and ask “So, what is this convention thing all about?”. I explain it to them and the people started to go. I always have a blast.

Are you going to continue to go to conventions, after the show ended?

I’ll probably slow down a little bit. There are a few that I’ve gone to recently just because I like going to those cities. I did one in San Fransisco and one in Calgary last weekend because I hadn’t done one in western Canada in a while. And of course, any chance to come here [to Germany], I’ll say yes.

This is your second convention in Germany. Do you already have a favorite German beer?

Oh, I like them all, but I was drinking Bitburger last night, and the local one, Kölsch. Those were really good, I like those a lot! The problem is you can’t just have one. It’s 4:30 in the morning, you’re having another one and you are wondering what the hell happened. When you come to Germany, you expect to have some fine beer.

During your time on “Galactica”, were you hired as a recurring character, or on an episode basis?

I was hired for the mini series just as a a day player actor. I don’t know if they had any plans what to do with this character. I think the original plan was that the chief dies somewhere at the beginning of season 1. I’m thankful that he didn’t.

What do you remember the most about your first day on set, and the last day?

You know, i don’t really remember the first day. I remember walking in and see the enormity of the set and go “Holy shit, this is cool!”, seeing all this kind of stuff and realizing that I’m on something that is much bigger than I am.

My last day? I don’t remember the last day so much, but I remember the scene that you see me last on the show, when the chief walks off to Scotland. I remember shooting that and then go back to my trailer, just standing there and thinking “That’s the last time you’re going to see this character, ever”. That’s kind of a weird thing. He’s gone, dead. Nobody is writing anything more about him. I have it in my head, what he did, but I’m not going to tell you about that.

After the first season aired, did you recognize that this Galactica thing grows more and more?

When it started to air, the fans really started talking about it and the critics picked up on it and started to write stories about how amazing the show is. It was a very small snowball that role down the hill and became gigantic by the end. At the beginning we had no idea what it’s going to do.

The Chief started as a minor character in the show. What happened that your character grew more and more during the series?

I don’t know. I know that the writers really liked what I was doing in the pilot. Then in season one, they started giving me a little more to do. And than they realized that I can actually act. So they gave me a little bit more, a little bit more. Ron started “Oh, I really like this character, there’s a lot of things we can do with this character and Aaron is a good enough actor to be able to do it.” So they started giving me more and more. And I could not be more blessed, I love the chief. If I had my choice of characters on the show to play, I’d pick the chief again.

How do you think your acting influenced the writers to write more about your character?

Well, they watch and see what you’re doing. If you’re giving a good performance, the writers will give you more to do. Because they know they can trust you, they don’t have to write around you. That’s what Ron talked about. He said he’s been on shows before where you had to kind of write around certain actors because they’re not talented enough to be able to do the material. They can write anything for anybody if they know they can pull it off. They see it, they trust you and they write some more. I also know that sometimes my performance was not what they had in mind, but they liked it better. They go “Oh, I never thought of that, let’s do this with him.” Yeah, they really put me through the years a little bit, those writers.

Is it a door opener? Do people recognize you as the chief on “Battlestar”?

Well, it gets you into a lot of rooms in Hollywood. They haven’t seen it but they certainly know that it was a great show and the actors are worth meeting and auditioning. It’s tough, though, because it’s the show that used to be on TV and they start to forget and ask “what have you done lately”?

During the days of the mini series, did you get any negative response from the fans of the original show?

I didn’t get anything because the chief wasn’t in the original. Had I played a boomer character or something like that, it would have been a different thing for sure. You get some people that come up and are upset about it, and they go all the way to tell you that they love the original and only the original and won’t watch your show. I don’t know why people feel the need to tell me they don’t like my show.

If you don’t like my show, fine, don’t watch it, turn the channel. It’s bizarre to me that people feel the need to do that. I just say “Okay, thanks, I won’t watch your show either”. The people who refuse to watch it, because they love the original… I love the original, too. I love them both, for different reasons.Too bad, you miss out on about 96 hours of great television. You’re missing out on some great stories and some great entertainment. If you’re that small minded, go frak yourself.

You played an union leader in season 3, and I talked to some actors who told me, Aaron is exactly the guy who’d create an actors union at our set and that’s how the writers got that idea.

Aaron Douglas (laughs): Yeah. I don’t like it when people are being threated unfair. And I have no problem speaking my mind.

Now that the series has ended, there has been one follow up, “The Plan”. Do you think there’s a big demand on more “Battlestar” related stuff? Or do you think it is finished for good?

I never say never. There’s too much money to be made. That’s what makes the word go round, what makes television happen. There’s some accountant sitting there somewhere going “look at all the money we made of this show. Why can’t we make another mini series, another movie?” I think the plan with “The Plan” was to make three, that one plus two others. But then they scaled it down to the one, just “The Plan”. I don’t want to see any more ofter the end of season 4, don’t go show what the chief is going to do in Scotland. Bu I think a back story ore stuff like this could be interesting. Or something from between “Caprica” and the beginning of our time line. There are 40-50 years, there’s gonna be something. But who knows?

Have you seen “Caprica”? What do you think of it. Do you think it would be a good idea to see the Final Five in “Caprica”?

I have not seen it, I haven’t had the chance. I haven’t been home very much. But I’m very excited to take a look. The crew that did “Battlestar”, those are the same guys that make “Caprica”. And I talked to those guys a lot. They said it should be really cool. Well, as far as the Final Five go, you know, I don’t understand that whole time line thing (laughs). We’re Cylons, we’re thousands of years old. I can’t really wrap my brain around that. I think it would be very cool for one of the characters to walks into a coffee shop, Michael Hogan sits in a corner, reading a paper. Tory is behind the counter making me an espresso. I think that would be very interesting. We’re not the Final Five, like, he’s not the chief but somebody else. That would thrill the fans for a week.

I heard rumors about a remake of the original “Battlestar Galactica” movie. What do you think, as a fan yourself, does it make sense?

I have no idea. I heard that rumor, too. Glen Larson and Bryan Singer going to do this thing. I do know that Bryan Singer is a brilliant film maker, I love his movies. I think he’s a great director and if he were to do it, I know it will be outstanding, it will be great. But why to remake a show that’s just been remade, I don’t understand. I’m sure those guy have a plan that it will all make sense.

Like you said, maybe there’s an accountant somewhere sitting at Universal thinking “‘Battlestar’ is popular right now, let’s make a movie!”.

Well, you know, NBC Universal never had the rights for a theatrical release, they only own the rights for TV. So Glen Larson still has the movie rights. So I think he wants to do something to put it into the theaters.

You recently told me that your new show, “The Bridge”, has been sold on the international market, so it is likely that it comes to German TV soon. For all those who are not familiar with it, what’s the premise of the show? What can the viewers expect? How did you get that role?

I got the role because somebody at [the Canadian station] CTV is a big fan of “Battlestar” and a big fan of mine. He thought that I would be great as this character, Frank Leo, who was a cop for 12 years and the he becomes head of the police union. So he’s in charge of 8000 men and women on the street. The story is about his life as a union leader and how he balances taking care of the membership and fighting with city hall. What happens when cops get in trouble, what happens when cops do bad things and how does he protect them? It’s a pretty dark show, something like what if Tony Soprano was a cop? This guy is a bit of a bad ass. Yeah, I quite like the character. It’s doing well in Canada and it’s waiting for CBS to air it, and then the rest of the world can get it. It has been sold to a hundred and thirty some countries. It’s just a matter of when they be allowed to put it on. We’re all just standing around, waiting a little bit. Waiting for CBS to put it on their schedule.

The last question: There’s another project that seems to be in post production hell for quite a while and I don’t know if it’s ever going to be released.

Is this “Blood: A butcher’s tale”? I have no fraking clue what the hell they’re doing with that. It’s all green screen, shot in a studio, smaller than this room we’re in, probably 15×15 meters. It was a weird thing to shoot. I haven’t seen it, and I haven’t heard of those guys in three years. I have no idea what’s going on with that show. I would be surprised if it suddenly comes out. I was paid, so, yeah, I passed the point of caring. Too bad for all this work, and somebody put millions of dollars into it. Vampires are popular right now. You’d think somebody would put it out, straight to DVD or something like that.I don’t know. Maybe it’s just awful. (laughs)

Okay, thank you very much.

Okay, see you guys around.

BLOG Aaron Douglas Battlestar Galactica interview
By: Kell Harker
Date: February 18, 2010
Source: SFX

It’s not 100% confirmed until my test results are in, but I may be a Cylon. At the very least, I’m a Cylon sympathizer. You could imagine my excitement then, when a comline was established with my favourite character from the series: Chief Galen Tyrol, played by the charming and hilarious Aaron Douglas. Lucky for us, Aaron was kind enough to take time out of watching the Olympic games on television to answer a few questions for SFX.

You’ll be in Nova Scotia this next October for HAL-CON. Have you visited the Maritimes before?

“I’ve been to every single province. When I was 14 years old our family drove all the way from Vancouver to Newfoundland and back. I’ve been all across the great land of Canada. I absolutely love the Maritimes and I’m very excited to go back, particularly in the fall when it’s one of the most beautiful places on Earth.”

Because you’re a sci-fi cult favourite, do you attend a lot of conventions internationally?

“I go to as many as I can, but sometimes it’s hard with my schedule. I love going to conventions and I love spending time with the fans, and going to parts of the world where I wouldn’t normally go. It’s fun doing the conventions and meeting people who love the show; just being able to hang out at the bar and have a beer with a fan and talk to them about football, and about Battlestar, and about life. That’s the really great part about being a sci-fi actor.”

What’s the strangest fan request that you’ve ever had?

“Signing boobs is always up there. I’ve also had, ‘Hold this teddy bear and let me take a picture.’ You know, you get some fans who try to go out of their way to do something silly so that it’s memorable… but for the most part people are just interested in talking about the show with me. 99.99% of them are very sweet. Although I do know that the female actors get it much worse than I do. [Laugh] Yeah, no one wants to see my boobs.”

BSG has really resonated with science fiction fans. Do you think it’s fair to say that Galactica is the most important sci-fi show of the decade?

“Wow, of the decade?! I really don’t like to compare one show to another but yes. Yes it is. Star Trek put sci-fi on the map and changed television, and Battlestar has changed it in another direction by making it a little more mainstream and acceptable to people who wouldn’t normally watch sci-fi.”

In the show there’s really no good guy or bad guy, but how did you feel when you found out that your character was a Cylon?

“I hated it at first because I thought that they were taking a character that the fans really loved, and making him someone that fans would really detest. I fought Ron Moore on it at first, but I love it now and I could not be more proud because it was a great story idea. The thing that ultimately made a lot of sense for that character is how he went on in his life with the world never quite making any sense, until he suddenly found out that he was a Cylon.”

The show did take a lot of risks with its characters, but I think that’s what made it so interesting…

“I completely agree. I don’t like shows that are predictable. I like it when you’re shocked and you have no idea who’s about to die.”

What’s your favourite memory of playing Chief Galen Tyrol?

“I have a couple favourite memories. I really like the scene in the bar when Adama bumps the Chief down to Private. But the greatest shooting day that I’ll never forget is at the end of the ‘Dirty Hands’ episode, and there’s a scene with the Chief and the President – that was about six hours of Mary McDonnell and I just sitting and talking. She is just the loveliest person on the planet, and by far the greatest actor who I’ve ever worked with. That’s a memory that will stick out for a very, very long time.”

You’ll be starring as police union head Frank Leo in the Canadian drama series The Bridge, which will premiere on CTV/CBS on 5 March. Can you tell us a little about your move from sci-fi to a drama series?

“Well, I wear a suit instead of jumpsuit. [Laugh] And I’m in a car instead of in a big giant spaceship. [Laughing] It’s interesting because The Bridge still deals with human drama and the struggle between people and relationships. I think it should be really good. I think people are going to enjoy it. It’s definitely a different thing because we shoot seven days a week, and five or six of those days are on location. We’re constantly moving around – we’re inside and also outside – whereas on Battlestar I was 95% filmed on the stage. It’s easier when you’re on a stage because you can control the weather. While filming in Toronto last year I got rained on a lot. Everyone told me it wouldn’t rain in Toronto! They obviously lied. Those liars. [Laugh]”

Thanks Aaron! It’ll be great to meet you in person at HAL-CON. in October.

“Oh wait! I forgot that I wanted to say, GO CANADA GO!”

Stand alert! Here’s some great questions submitted by SFX readers:

Battlestar Galactica’s Aaron Douglas, Veronica Mars and Flashpoint’s Enrico Colantoni
By: Kat Angus
Date: June 5, 2009
Source: TV Casualty

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending CTV’s UpClose party, where they had stars of all their fall shows mingling and taking photos with us regular schmoes. As if that weren’t enough, there was an open bar, a barbecue and, oh yeah, an ICE CREAM TRUCK. Best party ever? Possibly. The Degrassi kids were all there – they’re all, like, four feet tall – as was (bleh) Ben Mulroney, some Corner Gas people (double bleh), plus a few of the So You Think You Can Dance Canada people dancing on podiums. Except that the podiums were so narrow that for all the moves they could do, they might as well have just hired mediocre go-go dancers.

But. But! I did get to speak to two people who made me, on the inside, squeal like a little fangirl. (On the outside, I was, as always, the consummate professional.) I am speaking, of course, of Aaron Douglas and Enrico Colantoni. Douglas was there to promote his new show, The Bridge, while Colantoni was there with the rest of the Flashpoint crew. I have to say that Enrico is one of the most delightfully goofy men I’ve ever met in real life, though, as he later told me, it was probably just for show. So! For your reading pleasure, here are my interviews with both of those lovely men, including what Colantoni wants to see from any potential Veronica Mars movie (fingers crossed).

Aaron Douglas

How does working on The Bridge compared to Battlestar Galactica?

Oh, it’s so much work. With Battlestar, I was in a cast of 15, 16 people, so there would be weeks where I worked five days or weeks where I worked one day. Now, I’m working every day, all day 15 or 16-hour days. It’s long. It’s fun, but it’s long.

How did you connect with your Bridge character, Frank Leo?

That’s an interesting question. I don’t know; I don’t really go in for any of that method stuff. I just go in, say my lines and hope someone likes it. And I still have a job, so I guess I’m doing a good job. I like to think that if the Chief had been a cop, he’d have been Frank Leo. He and I have a stuff in common, too.

Like what?

We both like cigars and Scotch.

How did it feel to have The Bridge picked up by CBS?

Well, great. It’s CBS, the biggest network in the States. You can’t ask for much more than that, really.

Do you feel any pressure, since it is the biggest network?

Not really. Like I said, I just go in and say my lines and hope for the best. If people like it, great; if not, onto the next thing. I don’t waste my time worrying about how the show’s going to do, because what happens, happens. But CBS has been great.

Are you enjoying being on display at this party?

You know what? It reminds me a lot of the cons, except I’m not signing anything, which is nice. It’s nice to meet people who like what I do, and this way I’m not answering the same questions over and over again.

Which question do you get the most often?

“How did it feel when you found out you were a Cylon?”

…So I won’t be asking that question, then.

Thank you.

I’ve spoken to other Sci-Fi stars who say that at the cons, there will be tons of screaming and attention during the panels, but as soon as they go out on the floor, nobody will talk to them.

Oh, no, I get stopped. You can’t just walk through the floor, because people point and take photos and ask you to take pictures with their baby. It can take hours. But it’s great, you know, because these are people who just really loved the show and supported it, and to actually see the people who kept you working is great.

ECCC 09: A Conversation With Aaron Douglas
By Joseph Dilworth Jr.
Date: April 16, 2009
Source: Pop Culture Zoo

Over the last decade, Canadian actor Aaron Douglas has had several prominent guest-starring roles on many high profile television series. Six years ago the Vancouver, British Columbia native landed the role of Chief Galen Tyrol in the re-imagined version of Battlestar Galactica. We caught up with Aaron at this year’s Emerald City ComiCon in Seattle, Washington and he graciously agreed to chat with us about BSG and where you will see him next.

Have you been to Seattle before?

Yeah, I live in Vancouver, I come down for Mariners games and Seahawks games. I probably get down four or five times a year. I love Seattle, Seattle’s gorgeous. The restaurants are great, the people are lovely, obviously. Seattle is very much like Vancouver. Same kind of city.

BSG is done. That show had to have been a lot of work, a physically demanding, emotionally demanding, mentally demanding show.

Absolutely. Six years of getting put through the ringer day after day. Our writers are unbelievable. The stories mirror our real lives so much, a lot of it was really difficult to do, but exhilarating and fantastic. I’m really proud of the show, really proud of the work. It’s over, but it’s a good thing.

What did you think when you got the first script, where you familiar with the first Battlestar Galactica?

Oh yeah! No, I grew up on the old show. I read the mini-series and I thought that it could be really great. It’s a weird thing, you know, you read all kinds of scripts. I’ve read scripts that are fantastic, but the movie turns out to be a piece of crap and I’ve read scripts that are kind of so-so and, for some reason, it just works. You have no idea what’s going to really happen. It really depends on the actors, the crew, the director and then sort of tweaking as you go along. It’s a really interesting process.

Was it a little more appealing because it wasn’t hardcore sci-fi where you were going to be having pages of techno-babble?

Thank god I didn’t get the Gaeta role for sure! The techno-babble is tough stuff. The great thing about our show was it was really just a human drama that just happens to take place on a spaceship. So, it could be anywhere, on a battleship, it could be in a conference center, it could be anything. What’s so great about the show is the human drama and the interaction in the relationships. And that we don’t have green monsters.

Were you surprised or did you find out ahead of time that the Chief was going to be a Cylon?

They sat us down the day of the read-through before we started shooting that episode and told us initially. I didn’t like it at first, but I sure like it now.

It played out pretty well.

Absolutely, absolutely.

And in the finale episode the Chief gets to be the first Highlander.

That was my idea!

Excellent!

Yeah, Ron [Moore] wrote it to be Vancouver Island. The dialogue I think in the script was, “The last raptor out tomorrow is going to drop me off on an island off the northern continent.” My mind immediately went, “Scotland!” because I’m a Douglas and I’m fiercely, fiercely proud of my Scottish heritage. I called Ron and I asked if it was Scotland and he went, “Oh, ummm…” and I said, “Can it be Scotland?!?” He said he was thinking more of it being Vancouver Island as an homage and I went, “No, no, no, Scotland, Scotland!” So he sure, of course. I ad-libbed the part about the Highlands and a few other things and that’s what it became. I then talked to Bear McCreary and told him the island I’m going to off the northern continent is Scotland and so then he put in the bagpipes and the Celtic flute, which I just loved. I can’t hear that stuff without crying, it just melts my heart. It’s in my blood and DNA. Bear is such a genius and it was so wonderful of him to put that in. It was very, very cool.

As the show went on, I was starting to wonder if we’d get to the end and still like any of the characters. Every one of these characters did something reprehensible…

What the hell did I do?? What did the Chief do that was reprehensible?

He killed one of the Number Eight Cylon models to replace Boomer in prison so she could escape.

(pause) Ok, fair enough. (laughs)

And then she absconded with Hera!

Yeah, well that’s true. He didn’t know she was taking Hera, though. He just whacked some Cylon.

Has there ever been anything in the show where you were like “Guys, are we sure we want to do this?”

No, I love all of that stuff. The more difficult it is to watch or read, the better it is, because it just gives you more to play and it’s more interesting. I mean, people in life are really screwed up. It really mirrors life. Not everybody is good, everybody has sides of themselves that are good and not so good. That’s really what it was.

Especially in the situation that the characters were in, that seems how people would behave instead of being a merry crew.

And that’s what they wanted to match, they wanted to match real life.

You have a new show, The Bridge. You get to be a cop in that one?

I play a guy who was a cop for eighteen years and becomes head of the police union for six. It’s based on a real guy. So, it’s the story of him being a beat cop and then also being head of the union and dealing with all the brass, all the bullshit they go through. The pilot’s amazing. Fortunateky, I have the creator of the show also being the guy who I’m playing. He’s on set everyday and he’s a great resource.

So, it’s based on a true story?

Based on a real guy, yep. It premieres July 9th on CBS after CSI. Thursdays at 10:00PM.

You’re also working on Emissary?

Yeah, yeah, we won’t start shooting Emissary until the Fall. That’s going to be a direct-to-iTunes show. That’s with Phil Morris and Thaao Penghlis. It’s sort of a sci-fi thriller and should be really, really interesting. (pause) I play a cop in that too. (laughs) I can’t get away from being a cop.

Cool. Well, that’s all I have for you. I really appreciate you taking the time to talk to me.

Not at all, it was nice to meet you. Thank you.

Exclusive Final Five Interviews, Pt. 1
By: Bear McCreary
Date: February 13, 2009
Source: Bear McCreary’s BSG Blog

Note: The below is a copy and paste of just Aaron’s answers. To read the full interview, click HERE.

In the mid-season premiere, Sometimes a Great Notion, we learned remarkable truths about Earth, the Cylons and the Final Five. Now that the mutiny of the past three episodes is finally resolved, No Exit and next week’s Deadlock fill in the back story and details of the lives of the Final Five.

To pay tribute to these two Cylon centered episodes, I present an Exclusive Interview with the Actors Behind the Final Five! This week, I spoke with Aaron Douglas (Chief Tyrol), Michael Trucco (Sam Anders) and Rekha Sharma (Tory Foster).

Bear McCreary: How did the Cylon reveal change your approach to your character?

My acting approach is one that is quite different from other people I have spoken with. I really don’t make conscious choices about things, I just say the words. This time was different, I decided that the revelation to Tyrol that he is a Cylon was like an epiphany to him in terms of looking back on his life it suddenly all made sense. It was his “AH HA!” moment. “That is why all of that has happened, that is why I have been feeling out of place, etc”. I made that choice, the cosmic joke revealed as Bradley and David put it.

Bear: When and how did you first find out? What was your initial reaction? Were you as surprised as the audience when you found out you were a Cylon?

I was officially informed just before the read-through in December when we were shooting that episode but I had seen a piece of paper that I was not supposed to see in September and I had to keep my mouth shut for months before finally calling Ron and asking him, “What the FRAK?!?!” I initially really disliked the idea as I felt that they were taking a character that the fans really related to and had quite an affection for and were making him into something they would shun and dislike. I also realized that no one would humanize the Cylons more than the Chief so I appreciated the choice from that standpoint. After speaking with Ron for an hour on the phone, having him patiently listen to me and explain his side I was on board and eager to see what was coming in season 4, and I was truly not disappointed.

Bear: Has your character taken turns you ever disagreed with? Have you ever been frustrated or angry with your character?

No. I don’t think so. There have been things that I have questioned but Battlestar had the most gracious and open writing staff and producers that would take genuine time to listen to you and your thoughts and help you understand the path that your character was on and why Tyrol was doing what he was written to do. That and 9 times out of 10, if I found a piece of dialogue or action that I didn’t like I would just change it on the day. It is easier to get forgiveness than permission… ha

Bear: Do you feel sympathetic to the Cylon plight, or do you empathize more with the humans? In the same situation as your character, could you forgive the Cylons and join up with them?

I see both sides. It would be hard to choose. I could not join Cavil but perhaps the others. I could see my way into finding bipartisanship as it were and joining forces with the idea of a better future.

Bear: What has been your favorite scene to play in the series?

The scene with Mary at the end of the episode ‘Dirty Hands.’ I will never forget what it felt like to sit quietly with the most beautiful, lovely, talented, gracious, patient, wonderful actress I have ever met. She is an absolute delight. That will be with me all of my days.

Bear: In terms of your acting process, what was the most difficult scene for you to connect with emotionally?

All of the beginning of season 2. Unbeknownst to Ron and the writers my wife passed away on the hiatus between season 1 and 2 and for the first 4 episodes of season 2 someone was about to die, was dying or had just died and Tyrol was dealing with that. It was a tough few months.

Bear: What role in your career was the biggest stretch for you?

I think there have been many times when a director has had a very specific idea of what he wanted, that combined with the lack of trust or respect that Canadian actors get from most Hollywood directors has led to a stifling of my creativity that I just could not understand and had a very hard time dealing with. So often Canadian actors are looked down upon by people flying up to do a movie or an episode of a television show. That is the real stretch for me. Keeping my mouth shut and trying to figure out just what it is they are asking me to do. So often they have no ability or desire to communicate with actors so they just yell, say nothing or are so dismissive and condescending that you just give up and get out of the way. I think the greatness of Battlestar Galactica started with Ron’s writing, moved to wonderful casting and then to Ron, David and Michael giving the freedom to the actors they had, no matter their nationality, to create. It so rarely happens and it is so often overlooked.

Bear: Have the fans reacted differently to you since you were outed as a Cylon?

They all say, “Dude, it totally sucks that you are a Cylon.”

Bear: What’s the most memorable interaction with fans you’ve ever had?

I love the fans, I love going to the cons but my favorite thing is doing the Q&A panels and telling them funny stories and listening to them laugh and laugh.

Bear: What’s an interesting experience you’ve had hanging out with any other cast members?

Every experience is a study in fascinating idiocy. ha. My fondest memories are with Jamie and James either at James’ house or Jamie’s house drinking wine till the wee hours. Sitting down for the most interesting conversation combined with a spread created by Loretta that would rival anything from a King’s court. Tahmoh in Atlanta at Dragoncon. Relaxing by the pool with Tricia and taking care of her cats. Lunch with Katee on Sunset. My sweet extra long hugs from the very lovely Candice. Having Nicki pass me a screw everyday for years on end. Golfing with Rob, Greg, Ryan and the lads. Talking about the 70’s with Mary in NY. London Expo with Eddie. Sushi with Grace. Dragoncon with Hogan and Olmos, so say we all. The memories are many and too full to recount in one answer. It was a life lived in 6 years. It was all remarkable. My favorite times were with my Flamingo.

Bear: Aaron, do you actually have a talent for fixing machinery?

I could sharpen a pencil if you showed me how.

Bear: You and I are both big Elvis fans. How’d you get into the King?

My grandfather Walter “Bud” Douglas. Growing up he would listen to Elvis all the time and my brother and I fell in love with that music. I remember buying Time Life music of the 50’s and 60’s tapes off the TV when I was 13. I remember my friends parents telling me I was born in the wrong era. While everyone else was listening to the Eagles, Billy Joel, Alman Brothers, Meatloaf, KISS, ACDC, Michael Jackson, ZZ Top, etc I was listening to Elvis, The Rat Pack, Tony Bennett, The Byrds, The Four Tops, The Temptations, musical soundtracks, The Five Satins, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Sam Cooke, The Shirelles, The Delphonics, I could go on and on. But for me the greatest showman of all time will always be the King. TCB baby…

Bear: Any general thoughts on your time on Galactica and about the series ending?

The end of Battlestar Galactica, for me, is more than just the ending of a television program that will not only stand the test of time but, I feel will be looked back upon as a show that fundamentally changed the genre itself. It truly is lightning in a bottle. But is also a profound chapter in the book of my life. Although the filming is complete and those pages have been filled and turned this chapter will never truly be complete. It will have addendum’s, footnotes, pictures and more historical events written into it for the rest of my life. There are so many things that happened to me personally during this time that is really is the most poignant 6 years of my life. The story of the Galactica will soon be over, it will have run its course through the magic of television but the impact will never be forgotten, never fully be realized or described. It was a profound time for me, my cast mates and many fans. I am so very proud to have been a small part of something so wonderful, so transformational, so important and beautiful. My eternal gratitude will lie at the feet of Ron and David.

I’d like to extend an extra-special thanks to Rekha, Michael and Aaron for taking the time do these interviews. It means a lot to me and I know it does to all my readers out there too. Tune in next week for my interview with Mr. And Mrs. Tigh: Michael Hogan and Kate Vernon.

So Say We All!

-Bear

Aaron Douglas: Hail to the Chief
By: Bryan Cairns
Date: May 14, 2008
Source: Dreamwatch

Vancouver-born Aaron Douglas has played Chief Petty Officer Galen Tyrol since the first season of Battlestar Galactica, and the season three finale featured some dramatic revelations about the character. “Our last episode will be the most depressing show in the history of television,” he tells Bryan Cairns.

The season three finale was a jaw dropper. How did you discover the Chief was a Cylon and what was your initial reaction?

We shot that at the end of November/beginning of December. I actually saw a piece of paper that talked about that in maybe September, a paper I wasn’t supposed to see. The person whose house I was at quickly snatched it and said, “Don’t say anything!” I had a fit because I really didn’t like the idea of it. I thought they were taking a character fans really love and suddenly making them hate him and marginalise everything we’d done with him.

I had to keep my mouth shut so I would go months asking Ron [Moore] and David [Eick] if there was anything coming up with the Chief. Then I’d walk away going “Liars!” Finally, right before the read through, they took us in one by one and told us about it. I felt it was terrible, so I called Ron and spoke to him on the phone for an hour and a half. He explained his reasons for it and just asked us to trust him. By the end of the conversation, I had bought it and thought if you wanted to take a character that would humanise the Cylons, you couldn’t find anyone more humanising than the Chief. Seeing what we’ve done with it in season four really makes sense.

The Chief once struggled with the notion he might be a Cylon. How does he handle the truth now?

Interestingly enough, we have all been left to our own devices as to how we interpreted the lines. What I’ve done is [interpret it] as if this light bulb went off and the Chief goes, “Ooooo now I get it!” My choice has been to play everything as if he’s quite enjoying it, that it all makes sense now. It explains his life and gives him hope and interest in the future again.

How are these five Cylons different than the other models?

I don’t know how they are going to do that. They told us one thing and then another. I think we are essentially like them but we predate them by thousands and thousands of years. You don’t see multiples of us, I know that for sure.

So do the Chief and these other three Cylons all have the same goals?

No, not at all. In that last scene, you can see how people reacted to it right away. Anders completely denied and fought it. Tory was just confused and Chief accepted it. That carries into season four where we are all taking our original paths.

Did you form any theories on the identity of the last remaining Cylon God?

I was curious quite a bit but it was certainly a shock when I found out who it is. I never would have expected that person. It is revealed in the last thing we shot so if we don’t come back, that will be the end of the show.

What does all this mean for the Chief’s wife Cally and their baby?

That storyline hasn’t been told. The stuff that happens to Chief in season four is bigger and more powerful than anything that has come before. He embraces it but has to balance his wife and what it means for their child. He believes that now there is a second hybrid the fleet doesn’t know about, so there is a lot of interesting stuff with that.

With the Earth finally in Galactica’s sights, is this year lighter and more hopeful?

God, no! Absolutely not! It is dark, if not darker. It is painful to shoot and I am sure it is going to be painful to watch…If we don’t come back, where the show ends, our last episode will be the most depressing show in the history of television. People will be so angry because all of the struggles and trials and tribulations will all be essentially for nothing.

I think a lot of viewers were absolutely stunned when they announced this was the show’s last year.

I wasn’t shocked. I spoke to Ron about this in season two and said, “How long is it going to be?” He said, “It is a finite story which has a beginning, middle and end, like a book. I know what the ending is, I just don’t know how long it is between here and then. It will be either season four or five.” I thought it would be five, but a lot of it has to do with the studio and how they drag their feet.

How would you sum up the Battlestar Galactica experience?

It has been a hell of a ride, that is for sure. It has been some of the most challenging work of my career, both professionally and personally. I have loved it, met some wonderful people, and made some long lasting friendships.

I am pretty proud of this show and the Chief. It is a great piece of television medium that will stand up for a long time and something we can fondly look on and share with fans for years and years to come…People will look back in 30 years from now and go, “Boy, that was really fun!”

Battlestar Galactica is currently airing on the Sci Fi Channel.

Battlestar Cylons May Surprise
By: Cindy White
Date: July 11, 2007
Source: SciFiWire

Cast members of SCI FI Channel’s original series Battlestar Galactica told reporters that they weren’t happy at first to discover that their characters were Cylons, but they have come to terms with the revelation in their own ways—and hinted the Cylons may not be what they appear.

“I’ve always thought to myself—I don’t know if I said it out loud, I must have—that I sure am glad I’m not playing a Cylon,” said Michael Hogan, who plays Col. Tigh, in a news conference in Vancouver, Canada. “I’m not happy about being a Cylon at all. But I don’t imagine any of us who are being picked to be Cylons are happy about it. But the scripts and what we’ve been doing so far are great, and the only way that I can deal with it is as a human being. So far, that’s all I’ve had to do. And I’m not sure what’s going on.”

Hogan added that the new information about his character has added a level of complexity to his performance and challenged him as an actor. “For Tigh so far, it is like a mental illness,” he said. “It’s like the ringing in the years and visions and constantly wondering what’s going on. So [in] almost … every scene we do now, it’s that thing where you’re thinking, … if you’ve had a personal tragedy happen to you, then you’ve got to carry on with life: You kind of realize, ‘Isn’t this amazing that I’m actually talking to people?’ But this is all going on inside.”

Aaron Douglas, who plays Chief Tyrol, said at the same press conference that he came across the information by chance early on and has had a little more time to process the notion. “I found out months in advance, accidentally,” he said. “I found a piece of paper lying around that I wasn’t supposed to read, but I read it anyways. And I said, ‘What the … is this?’ And [director Michael] Rymer went, ‘Oh, you’re not supposed to read that.’ … So I kept my mouth shut until it officially came out, and then I phoned [executive producer Ron Moore]. ‘What the hell is this?'”

Douglas said he didn’t like the news at first. “Because I thought you’re taking a fan favorite, a character that’s very identifiable, very human, that the fans really, really like, and you’re really marginalizing him,” he said. “So Ron spoke to me for, like, an hour and a half on the phone, and he explained the whys and the wherefores, and I was convinced at the end. Now I’ve embraced it, more than Michael has, I believe. And I don’t mind going down in history as one of the Cylon gods and one of the 12 Cylon human forms.”

Douglas also revealed a detail about the final five Cylons that had previously been kept under wraps. “The differentiation between the seven and the final five will become more clear,” he said. “We’re not like them. In all seriousness. We’re Cylon, but we’re not connected to these guys at all.”

Aaron Douglas, The Human Side Of Battlestar Galactica
By: Lisa Christensen
Date: June 28, 2007
Source: MediaBlvd Magazine

SCI FI Channel held the first ever Digital Press Event this past week, inviting 26 journalists from 21 websites to the Vancouver sets of their most popular shows. The highlight of the two day extravaganza was a tour of the Battlestar Galactica sets at Vancouver Film Studios, and a panel discussion with the cast of the show, including Aaron Douglas (Chief Tyrol), Jamie Bamber (Lee “Apollo” Adama), Michael Hogan (Col. Tigh), Grace Park (Athena/Boomer) and Tamoh Penikett (Helo). SCI FI Channel Executive Vice President of Original Programming Mark Stern moderated, and Network President Bonnie Hammer was on hand as well.

Aaron Douglas has been part of the MediaBlvd family from the early days of the network, hosting his official website there, and moderating his own community forum. His generosity and accessibility to the fans (not to mention his amazing comedic timing) has made him a fan favorite on the convention circuit, though the character he plays on the show, “Chief Tyrol” started out in the mini series as a rather small and minor role. He did have a memorable scene in that pilot where he depicted the angst and soul of a crew boss distraught at the death of so many of his men in a fire aboard the ship. It was this, and many other such “human” moments over the next 3 years that made the story of this character so compelling. The writers’ choice to include him as one of the “Final Four Cylons” revealed at the end of the season 3 has been much debated on the web.

The entire production crew has been very tight lipped over what can be expected in the upcoming fourth and final season of Battlestar Galactica, but Douglas did let it slip at the panel interview that over the course of the season it will be revealed that the final 4(or 5) Cylons are different from the other 7 models, they are not part of the other group. “The final 4or5. We are the gods, we are the originals”] During the panel interview, Aaron also described how he discovered that the writers had decided that Tyrol would be one of the final 5. “I actually found out months in advance (accidentally) when I found a piece of paper lying around that I wasn’t supposed to read, but I read it anyways and I said, what the *(&%! is this!” He went to Michael Rymer and asked about it, and was told that he wasn’t supposed to see it, and shouldn’t tell anyone.

When the news officially came out to the cast, Douglas phoned Ron Moore to plead his case against Tyrol being marginalized in this way. “You’re taking a fan favorite and character that is very identifiable, very human, that the fans really like and marginalizing him, taking away all the human stuff.” After an extensive discussion with Ron, he was eventually won over to Ron’s vision, believing that this new revelation about his character would serve to enhance the show in this final season”But now I’ve embraced it, I wouldn’t mind going down in history as one of the Cylon gods, and one of the 12 Cylon human forms”

Later in the evening, Aaron met with MediaBlvd Magazine for a casual conversation, over drinks, about the show, conventions, and what he would like to do after Battlestar. Aaron says he would really like to try a comedy series. With his quick wit, and comedic banter it doesn’t take much of a leap to see him in that type of role. Aaron has honed his stand up routine at the many fan conventions he has attended as a guest in the last 4 years. This year alone he has been to conventions in Canada, the US, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. He describes them as “Pants Off” events (yes ladies, he wears a kilt in the traditional way) and a chance to meet and interact with what he describes as the best fans in the world.

Douglas is off to Comic Con next month to launch the sale of the Chief Tyrol action figure (shown at the left) by Diamond Select Toys and will be signing them for fans. He is quite pleased with how they turned out. The face was modeled at last years Comic Con. Those on his Christmas shopping list should expect to see them under the tree Christmas morning. He also talked about where they currently are in the filming schedule, and although he isn’t allowed to give out spoilers, he did say that they just finished filming an episode, and signed the cover page of the day’s script for a souvenir, promising to send the full script once the episode airs. The cover page say’s “Six of One”, Yellow Revisions, June 12, 2007 Written by Michael Angeli, Season 4/Episode #4.

Aaron also leaked an insider’s tip, that the hotel that was chosen for the journalists attending the online press event was also the hotel that many actors, writers, producers etc… stay in, while working in town. The previous night, nearly the entire cast and crew of BSG had been hanging out in the bar, while the visiting journalists slept in anticipation of the very early start for the press tour the next morning.

Aaron announced that he was meeting the writer and director of the episode they had just finished in the bar shortly, and suggested that MediaBlvd join them for a few minutes, and have them sign the script cover page as well. Michael Angeli also wrote several episodes from other shows that MediaBlvd features, and will be the subject of a future feature in this publication. Douglas also provided introductions to the director of “Six of One”, Anthony Hemingway.

“Grendy” goes drinking with Helo and The Chief!
By: GrendyKhan
Date: October 13, 2006
Source: Ain’t It Cool News

I interviewed Aaron Douglas and Tahmoh Penikett at DragonCon in Atlanta over Labor Day weekend at the fabu Trader Vic’s over some Mai-Tais and something called a Blue Hawaiian. I looked for Elvis, but instead I got a fascinating conversation with two of BSG’s stars, and some insight into what makes them tick. Without further ado, here we go…

Grendy – How are you dealing with, or noting the changes in the fans of the show, in between seasons 1 and 2?

Tahmoh – in England the first season aired, it was still to a really small audience. And now here, you’d never really see people all dressed up like that before here, and I’ve seen everyone, even from the old shows. They’re even in the flight suits that they’ve invented and with helmets.

Grendy – Yeah, I know, (at DragonCon) I’ve probably seen about 10 Starbucks, a number of folks in the blue uniforms and a couple of burly guy-types in halfway wearing orange jumpers with the requisite two-tank tops look. They even sported the dog tags.

Tahmoh – …And that stuff takes a lot of work, ’cause our stuff’s pretty fancy in the show.

Grendy – You can find some things online, but not most of this stuff.

Tahmoh – Exactly. We just had one woman approach us, and said she’s been making a lot of gear for people, and that she’d not even seen the show. I said “You better get on it!” (smile)…and she’s been overwhelmed with requests for BSG gear.

Grendy – I saw some nice Starbucks, and a rally good Roslin yesterday. Though with that all you need pretty much is a blue suit and a red wig and glasses. She (the woman dressed as Roslin) got to meet Kate Vernon (Ellen Tigh) and was all geekin’ out over it.

Okay, on to the questions:

Aaron, since it’s known you’re a fan of the original show, are you still as geeked out about it, not that you’re two seasons in, and the third’s about to start?

Aaron – I really still love it for what it is. And I literally do, often times, probably more then I should, sit and reflect and go “I’m the Chief” it’s a remarkable thing to me. When it first started I kinda wondered… does LeVar Burton go “I’m Geordie”? that’s pretty cool. I’ll go down in history as The Chief. I mean there are police detectives and chiefs, but in these people’s lives, for the rest of my life, I’ll be the Chief. And I think that’s a remarkable thing, and it’s flattering and an honour and I am pleased about it. (Canadian spelling in deference to the fellas).

Grendy – Do you like that Helo became such a fan favorite (his fans in the miniseries made it known that they liked him, so Moore et all brought him back for the series despite his being left to face nuclear holocaust, thus changing the whole storyline of the show) I mean, did you have to leave a job in order to start season 1?

Tahmoh – I knew when I was in the miniseries that I would be dying. I’d accepted that. I die, you know? I didn’t get to do too many scenes with the other actors. When I read the script I said wow… when I read the script, and I got to the part where I tell Sharon to leave me on the planet…

Grendy – The big sacrifice

Tahmoh – Yeah, the big sacrifice. I said wow, I gotta have this. It’s mine. But the door was closed for me. (after that, as he’d been left on-planet) I got a lot of nice compliments in the end. “I really liked your work.” etc… But the thing about this business is you don’t put any weight on that until you have your contract. And even then, a couple of days in, then you can start celebrating the fact that you’re there. The reality of it.

I had gone on after the miniseries and gotten a regular supporting lead on Cold Squad. It was huge, and I was really excited about it. So it finished, and I was in LA for pilot season. Funny story: I was in LA for pilot season. I had a terrible audition. One of the worst of my life, and the casting director was a complete dick. And I was going: I can’t believe I’ve been getting away with this for so long, because I can’t act. I’ve been pulling a fast one over everyone, it’s horrible. And I get home and get a call from the executive director of Cold Squad and it’s like “Sorry buddy, we’re done.” as the show had been cancelled. The only thing that made me happy when I had that bad audition was ‘well, at least I have Cold Squad’ and it was a week later that Ron Moore called me up and said he’s got an idea for the storyline. So I am a very lucky guy.

[Aaron pipes up with “Cold Squad is the original show that Cold Case ripped off. Just wanted to point that out. (insert tone of Canadian pride here)]

Grendy – Well, we Americans steal everything.

Aaron – And they won’t admit it!

Tahmoh – and since it’s about a police unit that’s been doing these cases since the 40’s it’s appropriate that it’s set in Vancouver.

Grendy – are you from Vancouver ?

Tahmoh – well I’ve lived there on and off for about 10 years, but I am from the Yukon. Born and raised Yukon boy. If you know where that is.

Grendy – I do. I am not an American with bad geography skills. It’s west of Edmonton, east of Alaska

Tahmoh – Yep. (slightly surprised)

Grendy – I told you, I know my geography. Aaron, do you think, despite all the protestations of the chief, that he might be a cylon? An outside chance? Similar to Dean Stockwell? Or do you just think, no way…

Aaron – is the chief a cylon? No, the chief is NOT a cylon.

Grendy – That’s good, ’cause that would be lame. Oh, Sharon ‘s a cylon and I am a cylon and we both didn’t know it.

Aaron – I’d be pissed. I would stake an episode-fee on it. He’s not a cylon.

Grendy – as people, or characters do you think anyone else is one?

Aaron – (super fast answer) No one is. It is my belief that we’ve seen all the Cylons that we’re gonna see.

Grendy – What about that black male doctor on Caprica? He was an ‘outsider’?

Aaron – I think all the cylons have been revealed. There are 12, but what you’ll find out in season 3… …cylon models get what you call “boxed”.

Grendy – Like retired?

Aaron – No, they just turn them off. They take every single copy of that model number and put them in a box and turn them off. You can turn them back on… but they get boxed. One of the cylon models gets boxed in this year.

Grendy – Very cool. (inside my head I am figuring odds on who it might be)

Aaron – The four or five remaining models that you haven’t seen; they’ve been boxed. I think that they’ve been boxed.

Grendy – Yeah, if you reveal two or three a season, after a few seasons, you’re done, no more to show. And no where to go.

Aaron – See, the thing for me, you’ve seen all these scenes on the cylon ships, or the gatherings of them and you’ve only seen these specific characters, so if you suddenly introduced a Chinese guy, you’d be …’Where the hell has he been?’ If there are millions of copies of this model where has he been? You’ve seen 20 copies of Dorils, and 15 copies of Sixes. And it’s a little chintzy if you go with or say more of the cast is cylon.

Grendy – But I am sure there are people who watch everyone’s moves. To see if they’re showing signs.

Aaron – That’s part of the mystery. The possibility.

Grendy – I would love if it was Kandyse McClure, (Dualla) personally.

Tahmoh – wow, really?

Aaron – yeah?

Grendy – There are some long takes, like PT Anderson does in Magnolia, or Boogie Nights, that linger on her. And you see her thinking. There’s a scene in the head with Gaeta that might be telling… man, if she’s a cylon. I told my brother, if I am right about this thing…then man, you owe me something.

Tahmoh – Well the show does go in unexpected ways. The show is so awesome, it’s so unpredictable.

Aaron – The audience nowadays is so much more sophisticated.

Tahmoh – I have one coming up now that I am just dying to work on. I want something juicy.

Grendy – Is it a Helo-centric storyline?

Tahmoh – It is.

Grendy – I’d like to bring up something about the show’s storylines that you’re not going to see elsewhere, (by this I mean that other shows would not tackle this topic) and it’s not pleasant. The storyline where Grace’s character was attacked and raped….a friend of mine finally saw that episode…and frankly her first sexual experience was being raped, and she saw that episode… (before I can even finish Aaron and Tahmoh have looks of horror and shock on their faces and Aaron says “oh my fucking god” …{this puts both of them in the – these guys are real human, feeling, people, so it’s a sure bet they’re not from Hollywood-category}…and that episode just wrecked her. And she said ‘Goddamn… that show. And she thought it was really well done. How it was handled. The empathy, the class in which it was handled. If you see someone in that situation, that’s how you react, if you’re human. Whether you’re in love with the person or not. Now I knew this about her, but it’s not at my forebrain all the time… but to have her say that made me stop and think… god, yeah… I can only imagine that there were thousands of women and men who saw that…

Aaron – There are women who don’t watch the show anymore. Because they were so horrified by that. It’s real life. I am sorry, but…

(at this point, since we’ve somewhat referenced Abu Ghrab, I apologized as an American for our current administration. This led into a very off topic conversation about the current Canadian Prime Minister and how he’s a conservative…)

Tahmoh – More importantly… when that scene was happening, is it rape if it’s a cylon?

Grendy – Yeah, where do you draw that line for your enemies?

Tahmoh – And she’s talking to Apollo (actually, it was Adama) and she says basically, “What, it doesn’t count as rape, because I am a cylon’? These parallels are obvious to what is happening today. We have a lot of separatism in religion and politics in the world.

Grendy – I am with ya on that one…

Tahmoh – It’s sad. The fact is that so much of the west is ethnocentric.

Grendy – (somewhat sarcastically) Why should they care about other cultures, when they’ve conquered them all and made them assume their McDonalds and Starbucks cultures and ways of life? (And then here was digression about Dr. Joseph Lowery and how I’d met him recently, and his lambasting of Bush at Coretta Scott King’s funeral and more drinks were ordered.)

Aaron – …and how often are you going to have dialog with the president? In Canada you have to show up to the parliament and take heat from the other side. The liberals have lost hundreds of millions of dollars in scandals and we could not, in good conscience vote for them again. (Tahmoh’s father was a member of a leftist party in Canada) Just so we know, it is a minority, right?

Grendy – huh?

Tahmoh – A minority government…

Grendy – oh yeah. no one I know voted for that guy.

Tahmoh – He had all the money

Grendy – and frankly, they (democrats) didn’t present a viable enough candidate last time. saying “I am not George Bush” just isn’t enough.

Tahmoh – and wavering on topics as well.

Grendy – if bobby Kennedy was still alive he could have walked right into the presidency…

Tahmoh – yeah, for sure.

Grendy – okay, sorry for the digression. Now, if it’s okay, I’d like to talk about you some more. (they smile). Aaron, do you think, as a person or a character that Tyrol took up with Callie because it was “easy”? It’s not having to having to deal with the grief over Sharon v.1, and she’s just ‘there’ you know?

Aaron – I think that Tyrol has a genuine affection for her. He always has. it’s just been more brotherly.

Grendy – but that’s creepy if you marry her.

Aaron – I still think it’s a little creepy

Grendy – I mean, we’re in the South and all right now…

Aaron – But, no, the Chief is past Sharon . in as much as you can be. you carry that around the rest of your life. but you’re not …it’s not in the forefront of your mind. yeah. it’s as over as it’s gonna be.

Grendy – well, it could make for compelling television (I then have an aside to Tahmoh, who’s giving directions to someone on the phone. “We’re in the Hilton, at Trader Vic’s.” See, I told you I went drinking with these guys!) …but to watch you pine every week would get boring. with such as “Oh, I am sad, I am angry…”

Aaron – oh god yeah. we need to get off the Sharon story. there are shows that do that kind of stuff, year after year.

Grendy – and it becomes a mockery of the original story.

Aaron – so I am glad that they got off it. I am glad.

Grendy – how was filming the Kobol stuff? it looked cold and crappy.

Aaron – that was a lot of fun. April in Vancouver . high 60’s, 70’s. we were in the rainforest, beautiful. wardrobe takes very good care of us when we need it. I remember it raining but it wasn’t miserable.

Grendy – must have been nice to be ‘off the deck’ and out of the studio.

Aaron – it is nice to be out sometimes.

Grendy – (in regards to spoilers. I said I don’t want to know too much and how I dislike that crap).

Tahmoh – it’s always surprising to me how many people do want to know.

Grendy (I mentioned television without pity’s website, and how it gives you a 4-5 sentence synopsis of the show, and someone can read it and think they know what’s going on).

Tahmoh – I hate that.

Grendy – you can’t see the looks of longing. or see the violence.

Tahmoh – (adamant) – you can’t appreciate the story. you know the ending. what’s the purpose?

Grendy – Well, I do know the ending to the Bible, and according to that, it’s all bad news. (this makes them both laugh)

Aaron – well it’s a good thing that that’s just a made up collection of stories and has no relevance in the world.

Grendy – I am with you on that. ’cause given my ‘druthers, I’d rather sleep late on Sundays… Can you let me know, especially since we just discussed spoilers…. can you let me know if Helo and Sharon v.2 find out that the baby’s still alive?

Tahmoh – do I know? Yes, I do know. and ya know, I think as an audience member it’s probably a safe bet that I’ll find out, right?

Grendy – yes. but then where does that character’s loyalty lie?

Tahmoh – which character?

Grendy – Helo.

Tahmoh – well I think it’s very clear he’s a man of strong morals. integrity. values. once he knows his child’s alive he’ll do anything he can to save his child. Baby Hera ( p.s… her name is changed to Isis by Maya, her adoptive mother. and on an IMDB note, Maya is played be the same woman who is Deputy Lupo on Eureka on Sci-Fi as well) is an integral part of several storylines in season 3.

Grendy – as I would imagine. I think it’s clever to have Roslin teaching at the begging of season 3 and keeping an eye on her right there.

Tahmoh – season 3 is a two part. two hours one week and then the 3rd hour the next.

Grendy – I just got a DVR this past march, and that’s so handy. since I have a lot of jobs and work in theatre I don’t have to freak out if I miss it.

Tahmoh – isn’t it? I love mine too. Just got it 5 months ago. I have it loaded up. fights, mostly.

Grendy – like boxing? my roommate is a middleweight boxer.

Tahmoh – is he? yeah, boxing martial arts. I have the utmost respect for fighters and I love it. I love it (becoming really animated.) I have been into it for years

Grendy – what do you do?

Tahmoh – Muy-Thai mostly. for the last 6 or 7 years.

Grendy – that’s badass. (this is where I flash to how tall this guy is compared to my 5’1 self and think: man, he could knock my block clean off my neck with a kick)

Tahmoh – I spar a lot and stuff, but hasn’t gotten into the ring too much, just a couple of fights.

Grendy – So didja like Ong-Bak?

Tahmoh – Ong -Bak was incredible to me. The reason it was incredible is because I respect and love muy-thai so much. the amazing thing about that film is they show these ancient styles of fighting. they had, as you can see, no cables of nothing. (aside to Aaron, who doesn’t seem to have seen the film. “this guy is the most amazing martial arts star that has ever been”) the thing about it, they’re showing it’s traditional roots in there. those crocodile kicks…

Grendy – yeah, you’re not going to see that in a competition. did you know he’s got a new film coming out, The Protector?

Tahmoh – Yeah, I can’t wait to see it. You’ll never see those moves somewhere else. they are the moves that Thais used to use when they fought the Cambodians. the Burmese have a similar style, they don’t have Muy-Thai though. this is stuff that they would use to the death. so a lot of the stuff they showed in Ong-Bak, those were the ‘finishing moves’

Grendy – when I saw it about 2 years ago at BNAT it was the 2nd to last film we were seeing. we’d been watching movies since noon the say before and it was like 8 or 9 in the morning. you know, the final hurrah… and I went ‘oh my god, my head is exploding!’ when I/we watched it.

Tahmoh – to be honest with you, there’s not a film that’s ever compared to that, in terms of action/stunts. there’s not a stuntman who can do that.

Grendy – there’s your Jackie Chan’s and stuff, but Jaa’s so good…

Tahmoh – (interrupting ) yeah but there’s not a guy who can hold a candle to him.

Grendy – yeah, and he’s what, like 23?!?

Tahmoh – well, older now, that was done in 2003 in Thailand .

Grendy – at BNAT we sometimes see things that don’t come out ’til way later. Like The Decent, for example. We saw that last December. Not too good if you’re claustrophobic.

Tahmoh – I just saw that! Michael Trucco (Anders) is like ‘you gotta see this!’

[A brief explanation to Aaron about the film follows, ending with…]

Grendy – bad things happen…

Tahmoh – oh yeah, bad things happen.

Grendy – is Tyrol going to be leading the rebellion, like a 5th Columnist? (reminding all of you that this was done first weekend of September, and I am in fact, not an idiot to ask this a week after the season premier) Or is it going to be Tigh?

Aaron – I would say Tigh is the head, and Anders and Tyrol are sort of the right-hand men.

Grendy – Do you think if the events on New Caprica get resolved that Tyrol would be content going back to being ‘just the chief’ after leading the union and any events that follow?

Aaron – umm, I think if everybody gets off the planet, that you have to take up your former post. it’s the military. and if you’re on the ship, you might as well fix planes, since that’s what you’re good at.

Grendy – were you personally upset that they blew up your nice ship like 2 episodes after you created it? (this is a reference to the episode titled: Phoenix in which Chief Tyrol starts building a stealth-ship and is eventually helped by many of the crew, only to have it lost in the next episode when Apollo uses it to bomb the Resurrection Ship and it’s blown out from under him)

Aaron – (simply) YEP.

Grendy – I mean, you just damn built that thing!

Aaron – I know. I know (slightly grouchy about it) it took me six days to build that fucking thing (laughs) Yeah. Yeah, although it’s a really interesting story, and I really liked that episode where it got built and all… it was pretty sweet. it went out with a bang and it was used well, so I’ll take it.

Grendy – I was wondering if he felt bad about that…

In the scene in which you two had to deal with Grace’s character getting attacked, was that especially hard to film? Because I would imagine it would be difficult to do take after take on it…

Aaron – what you saw, what ended up I in the show, is such an infinitesimal part of it. they shot the rape all the way to the end. and so you’ve got Grace getting hammered by this guy, and taking it and taking it…

Grendy – it must have been horrible to watch

Tahmoh – oh yes.

Aaron – and kudos to her she did a wonderful job with it. she’s a wonderful actress and wonderful person . so yeah, any time you’re dealing with heavy deep and real stuff it’s hard.

Tahmoh – I mean, we’re sitting there listening to it. we’re there in the hall, waiting for our cue. every take. we’re listening to it start, and progress…

Aaron – (interrupting) … you wanted to go in before your cue to stop it. you really wanted to beat those actors. it was just wrong. We really wanted to fight them.

Grendy – yeah…

Aaron – it was really hard to shoot. and that’s just us talking. and what Grace went through, all for the sake of truth. Like Tahmoh said before, this is what happens in life. and we have to show it sometimes.

Tahmoh – On Battlestar we’re not going to give you a fluffy, sugar coated parallel. at all. when we do stuff like that it’s the raw deal.

Grendy – in talking with Kate about the abortion storyline… (see previous interviews with Kate Vernon and Richard Hatch in AICN archives)

Tahmoh – how those choices are made…Kids should not be watching this show.

Grendy – you’re to going to see this kind of content on NBC (parent company of Sci-Fi Channel)…

Tahmoh – oh absolutely. they wouldn’t do it.

Grendy – I think it’s excellent. on shows were a girl doest get pregnant she always magically miscarries before she can/had to make a choice. I think it’s great that your writers, and the people who defend them get these shows on.

The chief’s suicidal thoughts, and the beating of Callie, do you think that jives, with where he was going as a character? or did you feel that it was out of left field? Because you didn’t see the build up to that as an audience member.

Aaron – no, you didn’t see the build- up. And I said the same thing! I called them (I assume he means the show runners or Ron Moore) and I said: where the hell does this come from? And they said: he’s been having nightmares and sleepwalking. And so.. I kind of like it. You don’t see people in life, people you know in life… I mean you read about stuff like: the guy next door murdered his wife and family and hangs himself and everyone goes ‘he was the nicest man in the world, a nice family’. So, it was ah… interesting. Because you see him at work all the time. but you never get to see him when he’s off work. So obviously the chief’s been dealing with a whole bunch of shit. And the preceding episodes I’ve had maybe one line here or there. So it makes you go, it makes the audience think… if you don’t see someone for a while, who knows what they’re up to? I liked the episode.

Grendy – I remember my first reaction to that was: where did that come from? And then I thought about it. And it’s okay that we didn’t see that happening like 4 episodes of him waking up in a cold a sweat every night, for like 30 seconds at a time. Just have him finally freak out 4 episodes down that road. That would have been sloppy writing, to me.

Aaron – Yeah, I agree.

Grendy – how is working with Dean Stockwell? I mean he’s been in everything.

Aaron – he’s been in 150 films. I said to him, you’ve been doing this a long time. He said: there are 4 people on the planet who’ve been doing this as long as me, Me, Mickey Rooney, Elizabeth Taylor and Robert Blake. and I said: that’s pretty good company. Two of those people are insane.

Grendy – and/or should be in jail!

Aaron – he laughed. And then he said “Who’s insane?” I mean you can tell by watching him he’s been around.

Grendy – I remember watching The Boy With Green Hair when I was a kid with him in it, on TV…

Aaron – he’s a wonderful actor and person. He knows his lines. It was very cool to sit across from him and work.

Tahmoh – I am glad you said that. When I first met him. He had this huge monolog written for him. A really nice piece of writing. And he did it. First take. And Michael’s like… (Michael Rymer, series’ in-house director) (digressing a bit) …Michael’s an amazing director. He’s probably the reason the show’s been so successful. And good as it is, he’s devolved such a relationship with it over the years now that’s great. And Michael… he likes to kill it too. We’ get like a thousand takes done, right? You know, he’s just that strict. And Dean hit it on the first take and it was like bang-on. He didn’t even know what to say to him. he had no idea. he said ‘Do you want to try something different. ’cause that was perfect.’

Grendy – will he make an appearances this season?

Aaron – he’s back in seasons 3 for sure. (of course, reading this now, we all know what a rat-frackin’-bastard he is) he’s very important.

Grendy – I am glad that he’s willing to do another sci-fi show.

Tahmoh – he loves it. loves the show.

Grendy – he’s got a fan-base from Quantum Leap that may being new people to the show’s audience. speaking of other stuff… I would love to know and confirm that Eddie Olmos is not as full of gravitas as he is on the show. that maybe he smiles once in a while?

Tahmoh – oh! he does.

Aaron – as soon as you yell cut he’s giggling, and poking your belly. (yep, this is the same mental picture I am sure we all have of Tyrol and Adama’s interactions. though, maybe in yours you don’t here obsequious porn-like music in the background. Kidding!)

Grendy – because he’s got such a stately bearing an all.

Aaron – as soon as you yell action, he’s there. it’s like me, the chief’s always walking around scowling and pissed off. seemingly. he’s a goofball off-camera.

Grendy – any good practical jokers amongst the cast/crew?

Aaron – not really. no one really does that. we all have fun, it’s certainly not what the cast of Stargate SG1 does, or other shows I’ve been on. (which Aaron was on previously) like someone will Vaseline all the furniture in someone else’s trailer. that kind of stuff. or to pour liquid heat into costumes.

Tahmoh – we like to laugh a lot. sometimes we’re dealing with really heavy scenes. I remember being younger and being on set with older actors and being so nervous, so wound up that I couldn’t enjoy it. do every take. do it right. the first time I got onto Cold Squad I saw Matt Benning (on BSG he plays Doril) and he’s very tough and talented. and he’s dealing with a pedophilia story, and it’s really heavy… and right in the middle of it they’re making jokes in between takes. they’ve been working together for 4 years straight…

Grendy – …they’ve got a rapport

Tahmoh – a great rapport. and I am going ‘ how do they do that, joke around?’ and right up to action they’d be screwing around right up ’til the cameras went on. and you grow to realize that you can do that. you have to, that’s how it works. for these serious scenes you know? you have to.

Grendy – do you think Helo will be fully trusted again?

Tahmoh – no. never. you’re dealing with racism. prejudice. history and nature. there’s a certain animosity there. he’s never be trusted by certain individuals. but the fact is, those who know him, you know, will trust him. you get to see where he’s coming from. the Helo Sharon story is very much Romeo and Juliet.

Grendy – does Grace get to come out of the cage in this season? I mean I am sure it’s boring shooting in there all the time.

Tahmoh – uh. yeah. she does. Definitely. here’s a little spoiler. it’s not much of one. you actually get to see some tender moments with Sharon and I. I really fought for them. it got to the point where you … I actually said to David Eick, at the end of last season that you’ve got to show why they’re together. what actually keeps them together.

Grendy – … it has to be more then the baby.

Tahmoh – more then just screaming and yelling. and more then the baby. always fighting for each other’s lives you know. so this year. it’s great. I think everyone’s going to be really happy. I mean, they love each other so much…

Grendy – Explaining in a book or on film it’s really hard to show why these people are in love. It’s like you meet and 30 minutes later you’re in love.

Tahmoh – Exactly. You really have to show it.

Grendy – (When asked about Aaron’s party-guy rep. he said he didn’t know why he’s gotten this. I mentioned that Canadians in general (those I’ve met) are the most beer-drinkinest, pot-smokingest people I’ve ever met).

Tahmoh – Its true. When hanging out with our American friend James the last two nights, we’ve been going out and getting annihilated. And he’s all pissed, going ‘ fucking Canadians. I hate you. ‘

Aaron – He’s testing me all day long with ‘I hate you. I fucking hate you’ and I respond with ‘one more night buddy, one more and we’re all done here.’

Grendy – Well, in the wintertime, all the Canadians do is drink beer, be funny and play hockey. We had no hockey (the year of woe as some of us call it)… my friend Liz equated no hockey to PMS. She was cranky and moody and wanted to hit things all the time. I know we ‘only’ have the thrashers…

Aaron – They’re a great team

Grendy – In Florida, in April I took time out from visiting my 103 year old grandmother to visit the Stanley Cup when it was on display.

Tahmoh – You did?

Grendy – Hell yeah, I have pictures. But I wasn’t allowed to touch it as I am from a city that’s not yet won it. It’s weird; I work at a playhouse theater that you have to like Beastie Boys, NASCAR and Hockey to work there. And NASCAR is not just turning left at 200 mph I’ll have you know.

Tahmoh – Oh racecar drivers of that caliber, you have to be skilled… its way too fast. That’s rugged.

Grendy – There’s a term: “rubbin’s racin'”…it still counts.

Tahmoh – That’s some kind of theatre you work at.

Grendy – Yeah, we’re the most ‘butch’ theatre in town. (They laugh at this) (I also mentioned the improvised-wrestling show (B.R.A.W.L.) that we had just finished a run of, and how the Iron Sheik was at Dad’s Garage Theatre 3 weeks prior to him being at Dragon Con).

Tahmoh – We saw him! We were trying to do a radio interview and he was screaming! It was quite loud.

Grendy – Are you getting more recognition on the streets of Vancouver ?

Aaron – Not for me. There might be a bit of whispering and pointing, but they’re not going to come over to you. In America… it’s more space-invasion-y. Whereas in Canada… there’s so much shooting there it’s not like that. It’s like ‘hey Chief, love your show’ and “Thanks, man.”

Tahmoh – There’s definitely been a change.

Grendy – Like a quantum shift in audience size.

Tahmoh – It’s always very respectful and polite which I love. It’s my hometown. It’s funny, I’ve had two experiences in the last little while where I have had very large men, and I mean large men…come up and scare me. I was in LA and there was this like 280 pound man and I’d noticed him, because his back was so large. Michael Trucco (Anders) was on the phone with his back to me, and this guy comes walking up to me, really aggressively. And I go Jesus Christ, look at that guy and he comes right at my face. I am wearing shades. And he’s all: “Are you Helo?!?”, and I go: Jesus, yeah I am. (Sigh of relief)

Grendy – But you could bust out your amazing martial arts on him…

Tahmoh – But it’s hard when he outweighs you like 80 pounds and his back was the size of … (I say, “A Cadillac?”)… Oh my god, literally. Not fat, just pure muscle. It was cool, though. A good experience.

Grendy – (And after this it was time for the fellas to go to a dinner date that surely had more drinking involved (sorry, James). I have to say, Aaron and Tahmoh were very gracious with their time with me, especially after a day of panels and autograph sessions with hundreds of people. I saw Tony Jaa’s new film about a week after this interview, and I kept wishing I had seen it with Tahmoh, so we could geek out about how damn cool that guy is. These guys were pretty damn cool to hang out with too. Watch them fight the good fight against their robot overlords every Friday on the Sci-Fi Channel).

~peace out, GrendyKhan