B5 Online: Welcome Rick!
Rick at B5: Good to be here! Ready for your questions!
Question: Now that Franklin has resigned from Med Lab, what does that mean for the character? The War council, etc?
Rick at B5: More emotional, sexual, spiritual dimensions through other relationship other than Medlab.
Question: How are the pens working?
Rick at B5: The pens are working WONDERFULLY, and thank you.
Question: What will Franklin be doing while away from his position? Possibly a Ranger, I hope!
Rick at B5: A love interest. No, Jason is not available.
Rick at B5: Trying to find himself. Franklin is trying to come to terms with who he is.
Question: Do you find working on B5 similar to experience working on Soap Operas?
Rick at B5: No, B5 is more relaxed... more challenging. Soap Operas are very easy to do compared to Babylon 5.
Question: For Rick: Judging from last episode, you're in great shape. What do you do to work out?
Rick at B5: What do I do... hmm. I try to stay away from the Snicker bars and go to the gym a lot.
Question: Hi! This is Jennifer from South Carolina. Do you find Sci Fi audiences much different from Soap audiences. We would love to see you back at Celebrity Softball soon!
Rick at B5: Hey! How ya'll doin down thar in S. Carolina? Soap Opera friends are crazy, wild... on the edge. SF fans are more cerebral.. more "Lets sit down and talk about the future."
Question: just wondering if you did any research for the addiction-thing....
Rick at B5: Yeah... I tried to do some reading, research. I tried to talk to people who have a problem like that.
Question: Do you have any special way of memorizing your lines?
Rick at B5: I did a lot of theater and that kind of gets me through. What I do is I have people volunteer to read my lines to me over.. and over.. and over again - they hate me.
Question: Who's going to take over as Medical Chief of staff now that Franklin is gone?
Rick at B5: They are all very capable - they are the best. They can do just fine without me, Im sure.
Question: Rick...were you an athlete in high school, and if so, what sports did you play?
Rick at B5: In High School i sat on the bench.. 2nd string football. I broke my knee.. my arm... my shoulder.
Question: I'm an amateur actor who is interested in pursuing a professional career. How did you get started, and what do you recommend for someone who hopes to?
Rick at B5: High School drama is where I started.. and college theatre. Probably recommend theatre, theatre, theatre!
B5 Online: So, your saying theatre, Rick?
Question: what shows did you do before babylon?
Rick at B5: Days of Our Lives.. Gary Shandlings Show, Three's A Crowd, Three's Company.
Question: Will Dr. Franklin find himself in time to help when Shadws attack B5?
Rick at B5: No and Yes.
Rick at B5: They attack, but he's not back yet.
Question: any future non-B5 projects coming up?
Rick at B5: There are some things in the air, but nothing's really sticking yet. Theatre, Movie of the Week - a lot of stuff but nothing firm.
Question: Richard, when you saw the resignation scene, knowing JMS penchant for offing characters, did you fear for your job?
Rick at B5: Sure! Yeah. Especially with the fact that anyone can go at anytime. If it happens, it happens.
Question: How do you expect your characters father to react to the addiction plotline?
Rick at B5: I hope the situation comes into play with boththe addiction and the secession storylines..
Rick at B5: A lot of people have asked me that - I hope Joe listens.
Question: Hi Rick...it's me, your old fan club prez, Janice! Are you still teaching acting in Sacramento at John Robert Powers?
Rick at B5: Hi Janice! No teaching there, but other places.
Question: Which scene or episode have you found most diffcult to prepare for?
Rick at B5: An episode coming up that was very emotional. It was very draining.
Question: Richard, How did you get involved with Babylon 5?
Rick at B5: My agent called and sent me on the audition. I went through 4 callbacks and I got the part.
Question: Marcus! When are they going to bring you back to "Days"? I'm a little off track on the topic here. . .just wondering. I thought you were great.
Rick at B5: Marcus at a medical convention in Los Angeles racking up a hell of a hotel bill right now.
Rick at B5: No plans to get back.
Question: The arc is so serious now, how do you and the other actors lighten things up around the set?
Rick at B5: We hang out with Claudia.
Question: What direction would you like JMS to take your character, and how would you compare this role to Marcus on "Days"?
Rick at B5: Comedy. You can't really compare the two roles - they are two totally different people.
Question: Do you like working sci-fi and did you have to get used to working with "aliens"?
B5 Online: Hey! I resemble that remark!
Question: Good Evening. I was very pleased with your performance on b5. It was the first time i really have seen drug addiction dealt with on a major sci-fi show.
Rick at B5: Thank you.
Question: Have you been online before?
Rick at B5: All the time. I have a computer. Im listening to what you all are saying when you talk bad about me.
Question: Will we see any interspecies dating for Dr Franklin?
Rick at B5: GOOD Storyline! I see the Dr. falling for a cute .. i dont know.. are there any female Vorlons? Hmmm
Question: Have you worked with any of the B5 cast members before?
Rick at B5: No, but I've worked with people behind the scenes on other shows.
Question: Which character would you like Franklin to interact more with?
Rick at B5: Vir. Ivanova. I think both of them are very sharp and intelligent and there would be some really great dialogue between the two.
Question: After B5, would you like to do more sci-fi, or pursue a different genre of acting?
Rick at B5: I think I would kind of like to go and do something else. More theatre or feature film.
Question: Have you had much experience with British b5 fans? Since the show is so popular over there are they at a different intensity level than US fans?
Rick at B5: They certainly enjoy the show and follow it more intensely and they appreciate it. They don't have to see the reruns as much over there. They see all the shows at once.
Question: Who have you learned the most by working with on the show?
Rick at B5: Probably John Flinn, the cameraman.
Question: Rick, from a rather minor character, you have built Franklin into a charaacter with many dimensions. Did you konw that would happen when you signed on?
Rick at B5: No, but that was my objective with him. Coming from the soap "one dimensional" character I was determined to make him three dimensional.
Question: Where did you go to school, and did you have any formal acting training?
Rick at B5: Yeah, I went to USC for 6 years. I had Classical Training.
Question: How do you feel about the portrayel of blacks in the B5 Universe?
Rick at B5: Lack of? If you can clarify I would appreciate it.
Question: Hi from British Columbia. What's the funniest thing that has happened on the set
Rick at B5: The funniest thing was Majel Barrett walking into a door without it opening and smacked her in the face.
Question: What do you think of the new uniforms?
Rick at B5: I like them a lot better, they look rebellious.
Question: rick.. just wondering how you feel about the merchandising end of entertainment. do you think B5 should be more active? how about dr. franklin action figure.....
Rick at B5: Hmmm
Rick at B5: I say go for it! How about a B5 cartoon? A B5 lunchbox maybe?
B5 Online: I want to thank everybody for joining us tonight with our conference with Rick Biggs of "Babylon 5." I would like to invite everyone to the Eclipse Cafe for some munchies... and of course downloadable videos of the 2 parter!
B5 Online: Thanks again Rick! Rick at B5: Keep watching and Ill see you at a convention some time! Thanks!