Shore Leave: Saul Rubinek & Eddie McClintock Part 2

Sunday right after Brent Spiner was the final talk for the duo. Unlike the first talk, they started and ended together. There was a lot of overlap so only one story got retold (Rubinek on Star Trek). Saul decided to open by talking about some of what goes into filming a TV show.

Most shows film outside L. A. proper for budgetary reasons. Directing a pilot is an incredibly sought after job because you set the tone and establish a pattern for an entire series. Every future director must follow what you did. Somewhere in here Eddie’s wife called. He had to pick up and tell her that he was on stage and would call her later.

I’m not sure how this quote came to be but it must me shared: Eddie: “I’m gonna do some interpretive dance to In A Gadda Da Vida.” Saul: “Can I leave?” The fans started asking questions and Eddie insisted on running into the audience and using his mic rather than the one set up in the crowd. It was great.

When asked about his favorite Pete and Myka episode, McClintock said it was the body swap episode and the Noir episode. He enjoyed switching from Noir speak back to regular speak for the entire episode. For body swap they acted each scene as their characters and then the other would come in and follow that. Both were really good exercises as an actor.

The telenovela episode they’re filming right now is entirely in Spanish. They have to learn what their lines mean in English so they can give it a proper inflection and emphasis in Spanish. They also must speak it like they’re fluent. The director is fluent so he catches when it doesn’t sound believable.

McClintock’s favorite artifact isn’t actually seen but is captured in a line of witty dialogue: “I once put on Abe Lincoln’s hat and had the irresistible urge to free Mrs. Frederick.” When someone had a Saul question, he pouted and either went back onstage or catcalled form the audience. When Rubinek retells the story about Star Trek and gets to the part where the little person tried to off himself, Eddie asked “Was it the script?” McClintock also pretended to snore.

Since Spiner and Rubinek are reunited in season 4 of Warehouse 13, they threw in several lines of dialogue for the fans from their episode of TNG. I now must watch that episode of TNG and that season of Warehouse close together.

McClintock got to tell the story of how he got the role of Pete since it was already cast by the time Rubinek auditioned. He was stressed since he hadn’t had an abundance of success and his wife had just had their second kid. For Warehouse they called in 6 Petes and 6 Mykas. By lunch half were eliminated which is incredibly hard for an actor to come thisclose and then be cut. McClintock is getting stressed and starts ranting and freaking out while they’re all sitting and waiting while the other actors do the scene.

Joanne pulls him in and tells him to breathe and just talk it out. They go in to read together next and it’s a scene from the pilot. Joanne turns to him and butchers the line calling him a “showbot.” McClintock starts doing the robot and ends with a little Michael Jackson move and a ‘hoo-hoo.’ They finish the scene and as they’re walking out Joanne punches Eddie in the arm and says “Dude!” The casting people just look at them and go “That’s the show.” From an actor’s worst fear of butchering a line came on of the best roles in her career. She still calls him dude BTW. McClintock just got a text from her saying “I love you dude.”

The next fan question was from a man announcing the name of the 12^th Doctor. You could hear the room gasp from the hallway outside. McClintock announced himself before the real new Doctor. Rubinek talked a little about being an actor. It’s what his daughter is looking into doing and “The biggest talent you can have is to get up once you’ve been kicked down.” He likes acting for TV since “some of the best work is on TV: the best comedies, the best dramas, the best stories.” He and Eddie are looking into doing a show with Brent Spiner.

At the end the staff of Shore Leave came out to give them their bunnies. Rubinek’s had a Data uniform on so he finally collected Data. McClintock promised to do his best to work the bunny into one of the final 2 episodes of the series. Now that is love for your fans.

I think what I liked so much about these guys is that they’re not high on themselves. Once I heard Shatner talking I suspected he didn’t really care about the fans, he thought he was above us. We were there to adore and be amused by him. I never got that sense from Saul or Eddie. They wanted us to have the best experience with them as possible. They appreciated us and related to us. They enjoyed us which is part of what made them enjoyable.

Music: Something I Need by OneRepublic

Shore Leave: Saul Rubinek & Eddie McClintock Part 1

I saved the best for last: Warehouse 13’s Eddie McClintock and Saul Rubinek. They spoke on Saturday and Sunday. This is Saturday. I’m splitting this into two entries because these guys were very interesting.

They did a combo of talking and questions. I liked how they asked “Do you want to hear us talk about X?” The answer was always yes, like how he got the role of Artie. They were having trouble casting him and Rubinek said why during his audition: Artie wasn’t on the page yet. Rubinek said he saw Artie having a love/hate relationship with the Warehouse and had a bit of darkness rather than a Willy Wonka sort of character they had on the page. He made sure he liked the role because he didn’t want to be stuck playing a character he didn’t like. Saul said it was the most fun role of his career and the best job he’s had.

Warehouse 13 has recently been canceled and they’re filming the final episodes. When asked why, Rubinek replied “Cause you liked it.” It was part of SyFy’s rebrand and reach a wider audience. It had the best numbers in the history of the network but then they moved a family show to 10 PM. They also only counted live viewers and ignored streaming and on-demand numbers.

Another well known role for Rubinek was the villain who wanted to collect Lt. Commander Data in TNG. Saul was in town to visit a friend who directing a few episodes. The person who was supposed to be the villain was a little person who attempted suicide (he eventually succeeded in taking his own life within a year). Rubinek got the call at 2:30 AM (much to his host’s chagrin) to replace him.

The villain was seriously evil and the bigwigs wanted Saul to tone it down. He said that he’d love to talk to them about it but they refused to meet him or call him. Saul didn’t want to tone it down, Spiner didn’t want him to tone it down, his director friend didn’t want him to tone it down. Rubinek wanted to make enough effort to talk it out before he could say “fuck ‘em.” The character was very memorable but neither he nor his director friend were asked back.

Somewhere in here Eddie stuck his head in and started booing and blowing really loud raspberries. It was funny and shows the relationship they had on the show. When he was told he could bring props home from the show, he said no. He wanted his memory of the show to be about family. What he really wants are accurate TV ratings.

Other memorable things he’s stared in was SG1. I’ve never seen it but I remember him being really happy it was extended into 2 episodes rather than condensed. He was also offered a role on the Outer Limits in a Holocaust episode. He was offered it as his friend was talking to him about turning it down. Rubinek’s parents were Polish Jews who hid for 2 years. The writer’s parents were in a camp. He liked how the episode was handled.

Around when Saul was talking about his favorite Claudia moment Eddie joined him. Rubinek met the actress for Claudia and she is 1 year younger than his daughter. He was really impressed with how professional she is and thinks of her more as an equal than a daughter. One of his favorite bloopers were with “this monkey over here” pointing at Eddie and “I don’t make mistakes.”

When you make mistakes during filming the crew laughs with you for the first 3 takes. By take 9 it’s like laughing in church. Eddie said sometimes he just has to go “dead puppies, dead puppies, dead puppies.” They don’t have too many on-set pranks save for Eddie being really gassy.

Eddie was very funny. One of their big advertisers was Cialis. Someone once told him “Your audience doesn’t have trouble getting boners; they have trouble getting chicks.” He’d been at Shore Leave before and said that he took his bunny mascot and snuck it into one of the holiday episodes. Both agree that they like they’re leaving us wanting more rather than dragging on to the point where we’re waiting for them to just finish it out. I think the show wasn’t there yet but I could see shark jumping happening in season 6 or 7.

One of the unused artifacts they talked about using was Hitler’s microphone. It would have captivated, and probably brainwashed, its audience. I think the writers and producers were a little scared to touch it but given the right treatment, it could have been a fantastic episode. They also had 3 different types of acting: Acting (normal acting), Schmacting (green light acting), and facting (lots of exposition). You see all in every episode since you need background on the artifact, the characters have to interact, and the artifact has to do stuff.

Saul talked about how they didn’t want Warehouse to be a procedural drama. That was Eddie’s cue to use his glasses to do the CSI: Miami thing. He even did the “Yeah.” Eddie talked about characterizing Pete. He wanted to make Pete similar to himself so Pete liked comic books and he’s sober (Eddie’s 13 years). He also wanted to honor the military by making Pete a former Navy Seal. McClintock was a wrestler, the high school jock, so hearing from an astrophysicist “I love your work” is a huge compliment.

A woman asked about actors who turn their nose up at sci-fi. Neither Rubinek nor McClintock knew anyone who did this. Rubinek said “Actors want to work” and had some stats to back it up. 90% of SAG members make less than $5,000 a year acting, 9% make less than 50,000 leaving 1% making good money off this. “You don’t choose acting; it chooses you.”

This lead to Eddie talking about the cancelation and the creation of the show. Warehouse had to up the humor and down the violence to get more women to watch and it worked. Women actually started bringing their husbands and boyfriends to the show. I’m doing it once I get Boy Toy caught up on a few other nerd staples. Saul said “We have to make them want what we can give them. They will always make crap if it continues to sell.” Eddie chimed in with “Snooki, Kim Kardashian, Bieber. Hey, who are we to judge?”

Once Saul left, Eddie said “We’re gonna tell dick jokes and talk about poop for the next 30 minutes.” He did better than that and talked about how inclusive Warehouse 13 is. Women outnumber men, there are a variety of races and they added a gay character who became a regular. “I wanted Pete to be the coolest straight man I’ve never met.” He briefly touched on the issues in Russia and how he loved the acceptance of Warehouse 13 and the fan community.

McClintock loves fan run cons like Shore Leave. Suits are what canceled his show and this way he gets to meet more people. “I feel like the mayor of Warehouse 13.” That’s why he paid us a tribute by sneaking Gene Rodenbunny into an episode. He talked about his favorite fan encounter. It was a veteran from Afghanistan and Iraq who had done 3 tours total. He stepped on IEDs in both places mangling his legs and earning him 2 Purple Hearts. He told Eddie, “I spent 3 years in the hospital. Your show kept me alive.” He gave McClintock one of his purple hearts. “I can’t accept this.” “Take it. I’ve got 2.”

A woman was getting a text from her absent friend to ask Eddie something. He starts rambling while waiting “I’m Irish. It gets cold. I’m a grower, not a shower. Oh, that’s not the question. These are not the droids you’re looking for. Move along.” He then goes up to the phone and says “Hi Barbara” on the video the woman is filming.

One of the final questions was about any roles he feels he’s not getting proper consideration for. “African American porn actor. I would like to do a great, impactful war film.” He’s looking into possibly doing a movie with Kevin Sorbo but “it won’t be as good as Sharknado.”

I was leaving that as I saw him and asked him for a picture. He was so nice. I think he really does enjoy the fans and seems like a guy I’d love to be friends with. Boy Toy and I could totally double date with McClintock and his wife. This is entry #1 because there are still more fun stories to come…

Music: I Will Wait by Mumford & Sons

Shore Leave 2012

This is an annual science-fiction con in Baltimore County that I attended. It’s fan run and awesome so this entry is long. Deal. 

They had panels about The Hunger Games, Warehouse 13, Sherlock Holmes, Game of Thrones, steampunk, zombie preparedness, and, of course, Star Trek. They had a board game room and a couple of dealers rooms. I got a fabulous chain mail choker and bracelet in Caps colors.

The guests of honor were LeVar Burton and Kate Mulgrew with a few other notable guests. Burton and Mulgrew did signings, photos and talks. I have some details for that below.

Random Quotes from myself and others around the con

“We’ll either get back or die trying.”

“I don’t want to die.”

“Well that’s not exactly Plan A.”

“So it’s Plan B?”

“It’s one of those things we’ve been conditioned to say.”

“It’s been shampooed into us.”

“You know you’ve had a hard night of partying when you wake up next to a gorn.”

Context: There was a fake scarecrow-looking gorn in the lobby. My friend took a picture looking like she’d zonked out next to it.

“Are you saying Klingons are Polish?”

“Plurple.”

Context: About eight or nine of us were playing The Game of Things in the game room. Everyone except the reader puts down an answer for a topic and the players have to guess who put in what. We all had very inappropriate and dirty minds e.g. ‘Klingon orgy’ as something you shouldn’t photograph. I forget the thing but plurple was the answer. Despite all the things we had to euphemize for the kids in the room, this word was what had us laughing so hard we were in tears and couldn’t breathe.

“When you go into the unemployment office, do you say “I used to be an elephant jacker-offer?”

Levar Burton

I came in a little late to his talk and they were already asking questions. My friend who was there for the whole thing said that he had more to say but people wanted to ask questions. He was funny and pleasantly sarcastic to some of the askers. At one point he got the entire crowd to sing the Reading Rainbow theme song. He was very pleased it was coming back to TV because of how important reading is for kids. He talked about the visor. Apparently, they used screws to press the inside to his head so it would stay in place. After several hours “It really starts to smart.” He also said that he had to learn to navigate the stage without being able to see his feet.

On when Star Trek will return to TV: “Do I look like Mr. Paramount to you...They do not consult Kunta on such matters.”

On doing Roots: “I was 19. I was in college. I didn’t know shit.”

Woman: “Read any good books lately?”

Burton: “Do you like science fiction?”

Context: Where was this talking taking place? If you still don’t get it, give up now.

When asked about how to jump start the space program: “You know I’m not really an engineer, right?”

At the end of his talk, they auctioned off a bear and a book that was read on the original Reading Rainbow for charity. It ended up selling for almost $1,000. One of the bidders looked a lot like Patrick Stewart. Upon seeing him Burton said: “Have you been drinking sir? I feel like I have.” He kept playing that up saying the guy who wanted to be Patrick Stewart, Patrick Stewart’s lover, etc. It was great!

Kate Mulgrew

Captain Janeway was one of my heroes so I was very excited to hear her talk. She was such a huge role model for so many girls. She talked about being the keynote speaker at a gathering of young women in science at the Clinton Whitehouse. Hilary Clinton told her Voyager “is the only show Chelsea and I watch together.” Mulgrew was trying to write this long speech that she described as “total bullshit.” When she got up there and looked into the future of women in science she said that she was going to do everything to make them proud to be in that field.

A woman who was 25 and getting her PhD in astrophysics didn’t ask a question. She just thanked Mulgrew for letting her know it was possible and there was nothing she couldn’t do. Mulgrew said that made her feel incredibly proud to do that for so many young women.

A couple of questioners later a young man in a Star Trek uniform came up. I forget how it got here but it was revealed he didn’t have a girlfriend. She called up the astrophysicist and did thumbs up and thumbs down questions. “Do you like Star Trek? Do you like science-fiction? Do you like math? (He didn’t).” Then she had them say they would see each other at the party later and they’d save each other a dance. Mulgrew played matchmaker and it was awesome!

Several people asked her about the party and if she was going to go. Mulgrew asked: “I didn’t get a formal invitation. Will there be liquor at this party? (cheers) Will there be dancing at this party? (cheers) Will there be kissing at this party? I don’t want to go if there’s no kissing.”

Another girl thanked her for making her a lesbian. Mulgrew said she’d take it since she doesn’t hear that from men. One of the final questioners thanked her for making him a lesbian. So funny.

Mulgrew also talked to the girl who dressed as a borg. She asked what provoked that part of her imagination. Mulgrew really engaged the audience and asked questions back. She was really interested in learning more about her fans. Kind of made me love her more.

When asked which set was crazier, Voyager or Warehouse 13, Voyager won hands down. She said that while Eddie McClintock is wacky, a set full of men beat out Warehouse 13. I didn’t realize it until she said something but Mulgrew got herself a supporting role on a show that has a lot of strong female characters. I’m glad some things never change.

One guy came up and asked a question and said he was there with the love of his life. Mulgrew said it was very brave and romantic for him to say that standing on stage to an auditorium of full of people.

On seeing LeVar Burton: “The men appear ageless which makes me want to shoot them.”

On being the first woman captain:

“You want me to have sex with Commander Chakotay? Who’s going to run the ship?”

“You called me in here to talk about my bosom? Patrick Stewart didn’t have these problems!”

“Have you ever seen a character with so many differeny hairstyles? We were lost in the Delta quadrant with 165 crew but I’ve got time to do my hair?”

On being lost in the Delta quadrant: “Next time I will ask for directions at the nearest gas station.”

To a guest: “It’s not every day a woman gets into an elevator and turns to a man and he bursts into song. At first I was concerned but then I was delighted especially once I realized you were on pitch.”

“We’re all going into oblivion. Why rest in mediocrity until we get there?” 

That is something I would like to keep quoting her on. I won’t comment on her views of the afterlife since she was raised Irish Catholic but she makes a good point.

My friends and I chilled in the game room after dinner but we did make it to the much talked about party. They had a really good DJ who played Maroon 5, Rob Zombie, Tron Scores and a variety of other nerd favorites and contemporary hits. We did the Macarena to the Imperial March and I did the Time Warp with 2 Klingons and a Storm Trooper. Definitely my kind of party. I will be returning next year and I may get a room at the hotel so I can party harder next time.

Current Jams: The Geeks Get the Girls by American Hi-Fi