As for possibly appearing in another [Star Trek Voyager] episode or a subsequent Star Trek series: Having done an episode as a guest, as much as I would love to be a regular on a Star Trek series, it is a tough job. They work long, brutal days. And God forbid you're in prosthetic make-up, in which case you're adding hours to that. It's not easy material to learn. It's filled with lots of technobabble. A lot of it is special effects work, which is very detail-oriented and slow-moving. A lot of it is smoke-filled sets. A lot of it is uncomfortable, especially the costumes. It is a bit of a gruelling job. The fantasy of watching it is great. The doing of it is very hard, and I tip my hat to everybody who has done it. But, boy, it would be a blast to do one of the films! I don't begin to pretend that I have the know-how to direct anything that is as specifically technical as Star Trek, but I would go play on their sets any time! If they want to put me in a movie or another episode, I am easily tempted. |
Jason Alexander has been a very keen Star Trek fan since the days of [TOS], a show which he considers to be the greatest of all time. William Shatner (who plays Captain Kirk) is his acting god and his performances contain myriad Shatner-esque inflections and mannerisms. I didn't even want to be an actor. I just wanted to captain the Enterprise! (Just like thousands, maybe millions of people! : Janet.) I thought that was a wonderful career goal. And I was very influenced by Shatner's style. Through Star Trek I really started to think of television as more than something that you clicked on and off. There was something about Star Trek itself and the chemistry that the cast of the original series had that made me start to look at actors and acting. Outside of becoming a complete convention/Trekkie geek kind of guy, Star Trek has been a major influence.
As for his role as Kurros in [Think Tank], with its rare "story by Rick Berman (and Brannon Braga)" credit, the episode features Jason Alexander as the spokesman for a think tank that offers to help the Voyager crew resolve its conflict with Hazari bounty hunters, but only in exchange for Seven of Nine (played by Jeri Ryan). From the beginning to the end, I thought the episode came out really well. It was a trip. What's so amazing for an actor, particularly in film and television, is that you have partial illusion all around you. On 'Seinfeld', it looked like we were in an apartment, but it had no fourth wall. The amazing thing about doing Voyager is, first, you get into this make-up job that is so good that as you look into the mirror from two feet away you can't tell that it's make-up. It was mind-blowing to be in the make-up. My kids (he has two) came to visit the set and the greatest compliment my oldest son (who is seven years old) gave me - after looking at my make-up - was, 'Dad, you look like snot.' I said, 'Thank you, son. There's the craft service table. Be gone now.'
Then, to walk onto the set... when you close the outer doors (of the sound stage), you are on a ship. The corridors all lead to rooms. The rooms have four walls and ceilings and floors. If you look out a window there's a starfield moving by. It is a complete and perfect illusion. For an actor - and we're just big kids with big toys - this was the greatest playground that you could imagine. Because you were surrounded by illusion it was really, really easy to get into character and to stay in character. That part of it was just a great, great experience. The cast was wonderful. The crew was terrific. Everybody made me feel very much at home and welcome.
Behind-the-Scenes article: [Think Tank]