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GATECON
August 21-24, 2008

Richard at Gatecon

Richard Dean Anderson appeared as the very special guest at the Gatecon Family Reunion held at the Sheraton Wall Centre in Vancouver.

Other guests at the convention weekend included Cliff Simon, Corin Nemec, Alex Zahara, Dan Payne, Gary Jones, Dan Shea, Steve Bacic, Garry Chalk, Garwin Sanford, Bruce Woloshyn, Andee Frizzell, David Winning, Dean Aylesworth, and Dean Haglund. In addition, several other Stargate guests dropped by to share the weekend, including Amanda Tapping, Peter Williams, Tom McBeath, Jan Newman, Michael Greenburg, Paul McGillion, Fulvio Cecere, and Kaj-Erik Eriksen.

The weekend focused its charity fundraising activities in support of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, and Captain Paul Watson of SSCS shared the stage with Richard on Friday during a very special day of activities which included panels and presentations by members of the organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of marine ecosystems and species.

Below are some pictures, media, and summaries from the event.

Friday Panel - August 22nd
Captain Paul Watson of Sea Shepherd shared the stage with Richard during his first Gatecon panel. They shared information about the work of Sea Shepherd in addition to taking questions from the audience.

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Saturday Panel - August 23rd
Allan Gowen of Gatecon comes on stage to introduce Richard's next panel on Saturday.

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Allan Gowen:
Please give a huge round of applause for an absolutely fantastic person who's come along to see us this weekend, Mr. Richard Dean Anderson!

[There is roaring applause as Richard comes out on stage. He waves to the crowd in greeting.]

Richard Dean Anderson:
[He tests the mike.] Is this thing on? Um... Hi!

[The audience responds, "Hi!"]

Richard Dean Anderson:
I tucked in my shirt just now because it comes down to here, and I realized people might think I was trying to hide the fact that I've gained about 35 pounds since retiring. [There is scattered applause as he untucks his shirt again, then he comments on the loose effect:] Maternity. [laughter from the audience] Well, it's new and I don't think I've washed it yet, so it hasn't shrunk. Any other questions about that?

Voice in the Audience:
Can you take it off? [Cheers and applause]

Richard Dean Anderson:
You don't want that! All the images you have left over from the old days, let's just keep them in the old days. Actually, I don't think my daughter is here right now, so I can say this, but since I have kind of "quasi-retired," let's just call it that, since I've taken a little respite from public life, I guess, I did gain a little weight because I had a couple of... just pour out my soul here... I've had a couple of surgeries. Two surgeries on one foot, that [right] foot, and the other one needs to be done as well, and they're trying to piece back together some injuries that have transpired over a long life of collision sports, and working on "MacGyver," and things like that, other collision sports. So I spent some time rehabbing and reconstructing a bad gam, and had some other things going on. So anyway, part of that, that's what I'm wearing here [pats his tummy] this extra stuff. When I went down to Comic Con, last, whenever it was... [scattered cheers] Thank you! I saw Charlie Cohen down there. Do you all know who he is?

[There is a brief interruption as a stage hand sneaks in from behind and leaves a can of Red Bull energy drink on the table. Richard gives a charming "hello" to her, then turns and notices the Red Bull that "magically" appeared and addresses the can as well.]

Richard Dean Anderson:
Oh, hell-o!! [laughter] [He holds the mike as if he is interviewing the can of Red Bull.] And you? [laughter] [He turns back to the audience.] Excuse me. [He takes a long drink.] I missed coffee this morning. It's the only addiction I have left over. Where was I?

[The audience calls out "Charlie Cohen!"]

Richard Dean Anderson:
Oh, yeah. I walk into Charlie Cohen, we were sitting at a table not too unlike this one, with Brad Wright and... somebody else famous. And they were all sitting at a table, and I walked in. I had just come in from California, I guess, and I went downstairs before the events were starting, and I just came up to Charlie and... Do you know who he is, by the way?

[Voices in the audience call out "no"]

Richard Dean Anderson:
Oh, I'm sorry. Charlie's the head of MGM. He's kind of the guy that pulls the trigger on any future projects that "Stargate" may have, in other words, to regenerate its life, or continue its life in the movie world, or straight-to-video movie world as it were right now. But he's the one that green-lit "Continuum" and... the other one...

[Voices in the audience call out "Ark of Truth"]

Richard Dean Anderson:
"Ark of Truth," thank you. That was Robert's movie. We were Brad's movie. So anyway, I walked into Charlie after we know that these two movies are going to be very very successful... especially "Continuum"... [loud cheers] Anyway, I walked into Charlie... I'll get to the punchline in a second... And I went like this: [slaps his tummy] "Well, Charlie, if you give us an order for a third movie, I'll lose this!" And he said, "Okay, you've got an order." [roaring cheers and applause]

Richard Dean Anderson:
I don't think I was supposed to say that. [laughter] Yeah, I talked to Brad, it's not official, but it feels real good that there may be another SG movie down the road. [cheers] Don't tell anybody! For God's sake, don't go out of here and say anything to anybody. Just keep it to yourselves, and I'll call you when it's official. Leave your numbers with Paul Brown, whom, by the way, I should thank before I go any further. I don't know where he is, or what he does, or what he doesn't do, actually. Do you all know Paul? [applause] Well, I'll embarrass him again later on sometime when he's within eyeshot, but he's the one that got me here, basically. [applause] As maybe most of you know, I'm a little reticent to come out and play in real life. I go crawl under my little rock in southern California. I've been building a house, and raising a child, and I'm doing a good job at both, I think. [cheers and applause] If Wylie was here, I'd ask her to come up, and she'd just say, [shyly] "No, Dad."

If I seem to be shining a little inordinately, it's because I was playing Wii. Are you guys familiar with Wii? [voices call out "yes"] Good Lord! [He pantomimes taking a few powerful swings] ...And the ball just tinkles away... Anyway, I worked up a huge sweat. That's what this is all about. That, and I'm just nervous. [audience awws]

[He nods his head yes, then pauses, then shakes his head no, another pause, then nods yes again in a routine reminiscent of Eddie Izzard.]

Richard Dean Anderson:
An Eddie Izzard bit. Anybody like Eddie? Yeah, he's the best. I just saw him in Los Angeles, down south there, and he was just insane. I watched "The Riches." I'm just going to vamp here for about an hour and a half! Unless somebody wants to... Should we ask questions? I've never done one of these, so I don't know what the format is, if there's protocol, if there's anything I shouldn't... No swearing, I take it, right? No alcohol... I don't drink, I forget what the protocol is. [looks at his watch] 10:43. Ah, the old days... So, should we ask questions? Is that what we should do? Okay! Number 1!

Question:
Hello.

Richard Dean Anderson:
Hellooo...

Question:
I was just wondering what you find more rewarding, the acting side of it or the behind the scenes parts of it, since you did both?

Richard Dean Anderson:
Behind the scenes?

[A stage hand peeks out and another Red Bull magically appears on the table. The audience laughs at his reaction.]

Richard Dean Anderson:
I didn't want to come out here alone. [He takes a sip and lines up the two cans on the table.] A little advertisement here. Maybe they're watching and will send me a case. What's more rewarding - coffee or Red Bull? [voices call out both "coffee" and "Red Bull," then "water," as he takes another sip] Thank you! [referring to Red Bull] The winner and still champion! [he laughs] That was fun...

Uh... What's more rewarding, behind the scenes or acting? Well, it depends on what I'm doing behind the scenes, of course. [laughter] Hello hello. I had a ball being one of the producers on "Stargate." In fact, it was at a point in my career where I had done, not "enough" acting, but enough acting to be comfortable in my skin when I was taking on roles. [little burp] Excuse me. Stuff backs up on you. So when "Stargate" came along, I knew I needed to be a part of the production crew, you know, that end of it, because I just needed to keep busy more than anything. I get in trouble if I'm not doing something. So MGM was kind enough to allow my production company, Mike Greenburg and I, to be on the production end of it. So I stayed real busy, got real tired, a little cranky sometimes, and then I realized at the end of eight years, I guess I was there, that my next job should just be an actor for hire. I should just have the luxurious life of an actor and just do that. And again, it's going to depend on what role you're doing, if you're just satisfied acting, or doing both. I might try just producing, behind the scenes someday. I haven't gotten there yet. Right now I'm just lazy. But I like both. Acting's more fun, though, I've got to admit.

[He glances at the two big screens at each side of the stage which are projecting his image to those in the back. He turns away, then quickly and suddenly turns back to the screen.]

Richard Dean Anderson:
I keep trying to catch myself. [The audience laughs as he tries repeatedly to turn quickly enough to see his own face on the screen.] Close, isn't it? [Finally the one screen shows the reverse camera angle, allowing him to look at himself as the audience laughs.]

[He turns to the next question but chooses someone who is waiting for a mike rather than one of the numbered paddles which indicate where the mikes are located.] Yes, sir. Yes, sir? [He realizes there is no mike.] Oh, I'm supposed to use numbers, apparently. Do you have a number? [The man calls out "I'm a free man!"] Mass confusion down there. I'm going to go to number two over here. We'll come back when you can steal that number one out of that girl's hand. Number two!

Question:
Hi! Good to see you. This is on a subject that's close to our hearts, close to Jack's heart, close to yours. We were wondering what your favorite "Simpsons" episode is.

Richard Dean Anderson:
D'oh! [laughter]

Question:
And what Jack's favorite "Simpsons" episode is.

Richard Dean Anderson:
Say the end of that again?

Question:
What Jack's favorite "Simpsons" episode would be?

Richard Dean Anderson:
Well, let me think on my feet here. I think Jack's favorite episode was when the guy that played MacGyver... [interrupted by loud cheers and applause] That was a ball, by the way, as a little tangential... It was like... When Dan Castellaneta came up and did an episode for us, we, kind of as a fantasy, just threw out the casting invitation, and he bit. And he came up here very graciously and was just miraculous to work with. But we got to talking, and he just blurted out at one point... First of all, I had to warn him that he was going to be inundated with a lot of slobbery obnoxious behavior, because the crew and the cast are all just massive fans of the "Simpsons." So he just asked if I would ever be interested in doing an episode of the "Simpsons." They revived me, and I said yes! It was kind of like a little boy's dream come true, as most of you know.

Well, let me add to this scenario now as well, because I was that close to meeting Seth MacFarlane at Comic Con. And he's become... I know I'll lose some fans here... but "Family Guy" has become a new little security blanket. [scattered applause] [in a teasing voice] Some aren't applauding... [laughter] Objections to the show, anybody? This whole row was pretty dour about that. It's got an edge to it, I understand, but I'm thrilled I got to do the "Simpsons." What do I like most about the "Simpsons" is... [unclear] It is early. Does that not answer your question?

Question:
Thank you!

Richard Dean Anderson:
You're welcome. Number one!

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Question:
When you were shooting "Continuum," I hope I got this story right, you were locked out of the hooch, the little hut, in the Arctic. If I understand the story, either you were locked out of the hooch, or there was some adventure that time. If I'm wrong about that, just tell us something about what your experiences were up in the frozen wasteland.

Richard Dean Anderson:
Oh, in the Arctic? Are you trying to tell me that I was locked out?

Question:
I understood this happened. I just heard this story. Brad was telling the story.

Richard Dean Anderson:
[He addresses the crew working the sound system] Yeah, fix his [mike] too, because he's all muffly.

Question:
Oh dear, sorry...

Richard Dean Anderson:
The Arctic experience was spectacular. It was one of those things... It makes you... Truth be told, I wasn't necessarily going to be part of "Continuum." [audience awws] Well they didn't know if I would, you know, whatever... And Brad called and said that he didn't see doing a movie, a "Stargate" movie, without me in it. [cheers and applause] You all know, I adore Brad Wright. He's become a very dear friend over the years. And I was a hard case early on. I was easy to get along with, but I was just "mad." The poor guy didn't hear one word he wrote. [laughter] So, after my apologies, I realized that I was being a little rude, I acquiesced and would say his words, while he was in the room. Then he'd search for them again in the editing room. And... What was the question?

Question:
What happened in the Arctic?

Richard Dean Anderson:
Oh, in the Arctic! I lost my memory! Truly! [laughter] Well, actually, there's a serious side to this Arctic thing, so I won't talk about it... [pause] ...Kidding!!

I did find out... First of all it's cold up there. Did you know that? Very, very cold. In fact, the day I flew in, the plane... You know most planes fly in like this, and land like this [pantomiming a direct head-on approach]. We flew in like this, actually it was like this [pantomiming a sideways approach] because the wind was so strong. And I'm sitting in the passenger booth, and so I'm watching, I'm sitting like this, as we're landing that way. And the pilot's, you know, got his arm out the window, he's very casual. And I'm watching the wind going sideways across, just whipping all over the place. And finally we landed, opened up the door, and it was like 62 below zero. Martin Wood came running up to the door, and I had no idea who it was, because this is what we saw [covering his face with his hands to represent a hood with fur, and making whistling wind noises]. And then I got locked out of the bathroom. Is that it?

No, actually, if any of you have been to the Arctic... Anybody? [looking around the audience] There's one... two... three... Oh, you've all been there, I know you have! We had a situation because, bless the Navy, they were helping us out. They let us borrow their nuclear submarine. Nice of them. Our tax dollars at work. They came up through the ice for us and we utilized that in the film. Oh, I realize, you guys have all seen the film? [cheers and applause] Oh!! So I don't have to explain anything!

So anyway, the ritual that you have to go through to go to the bathroom was... Do you guys mind me talking about bathroom stuff? [voices call out no] Going "number one" was fine. For the men they had a pole, out, like, about 50 yards outside the camp, and it was just a pole with like a rim of snow around it, and you would... The pole was there for you to hang on to, lest ye be blown away while you were... watering the lawn. [laughter] And "number two" was another situation altogether. Trying to keep this very... Kids? [looking around to see if kids are in the audience and notices a few] Uh, "number two"... Usually you had to brush off at least three inches of snowdrift off of the seat. And the remnants... [A voice from the front row calls out "Eeww!" and gets his attention as he turns directly to her.] Too much? [loud laughter] I can take it back. We needn't go there! Needless to say, when it's like 60 below zero, it just becomes a rock. You know, nothing special... it didn't move... it just sat there. [laughter throughout] I think I'll leave this story right there. [laughter and applause] But anyway, if there was any moisture at all on the lock, which was just one of those hook and ladder things, if you spent too much time in there... [directing his attention back to the woman in the front row] I know you probably would... you like outhouses, I can tell... take you on that next trip... Everything got done rather quickly. Unlike this answer to that question... Let's move on! [looking for the next question indicated by paddle #2] Yes... Number two! [laughter at the double meaning] Timing!

Question:
O'Neill! O'Neill! [The questioner is wearing a brown "Stargate" costume, and Richard, straining to see against the lights, gives a surprised reaction, to laughter.]

Richard Dean Anderson:
You're in brown, and you're number two...

Question:
And I'm Kim Fox.

Richard Dean Anderson:
What?

Question:
My name is Kim Fox. We actually met on set four years ago. But this is actually Skaara's costume from "Children of the Gods." [Richard gives a little laugh.] And I just wanted to ask, what is your relationship, O'Neill and Skaara? How did you characterize that relationship?

[There is a pause and laughter at his confused expression. Then Michael Greenburg walks on stage from behind Richard, to loud cheers and applause.]

Richard Dean Anderson:
He can tell you.

Michael Greenburg:
He's clueless, are you kidding?

Richard Dean Anderson:
I haven't the slightest idea. He's right. This is Michael Greenburg, ladies and gentlemen. [cheers and applause]

[Michael and Richard talk between themselves.]

Richard Dean Anderson:
How are the kids?

Michael Greenburg:
Kids are okay.

Richard Dean Anderson:
You guys leaving?

Michael Greenburg:
Yes.

Richard Dean Anderson:
Tell me your phone number again. You got the keys to the car?

Michael Greenburg:
It's my car.

Richard Dean Anderson:
Oh, right.

[They continue to talk in muffled voices off mike about the kids and the keys to the car.]

Michael Greenburg:
Is that okay? I'm just checking with you.

Richard Dean Anderson:
Yeah. What are you guys going to do? What's your number again?

Michael Greenburg:
My number is 22...

Richard Dean Anderson:
555...

Michael Greenburg:
...at Tulane.

Richard Dean Anderson:
Michael's backtracking to an old joke. It's about as old as they come. It's older than he is. His number was number 22 when he played for Tulane University and he dropped a pass.

Michael Greenburg:
Yeah, quite a few.

Richard Dean Anderson:
Anyway!

Michael Greenburg:
It's fun talking to Rick, isn't it? Don't ask him tough questions about "Stargate," or "MacGyver." "Legend," he'll probably answer. [cheers]

Richard Dean Anderson:
What's that?

Michael Greenburg:
It's the Ernest Pratt one, you know, the ink-stained wretch of a drinker, womanizer... Can you relate to any of that, that character? Remember?

Richard Dean Anderson:
[thinking] Nah... It's not coming to me...

Michael Greenburg:
[to the audience] Good luck, guys!

Richard Dean Anderson:
Michael Greenburg, ladies and gentlemen! [cheers and applause as Michael leaves]

[Richard again looks at the big screens and turns in different directions to get different perspectives. Someone calls out from the audience as he turns for a rear view.]

Richard Dean Anderson:
Oh, I don't have any butt left. In fact, when I had my back surgery, way back... I'll just talk about my maladies, again. I had back surgery back in... '85? Anyway, when I came out of anesthesia... [speaking in a quiet, serious tone] It was a major back thing, and I was just all padded up with this gauze, and the surgeon brought all his entourage of students by to show the aftermath of this surgery I had had. This entourage is very austere, and he had done a great job, and he wanted to show everybody just how great it was. And he rolls me over a little bit and shows all this gauze and stuff, and there's about eight of these students there, and he's pointing out the gauze and where the scars are, and I said, "Doc, can I see what you're looking at?" So he gets a mirror, and he shows it to me, and I said, "Could you lower the sheet a little bit?" And I'm looking, and looking, and my next words were... "You cut off my ass!" [roaring laughter] "Where's my butt?!" Absolutely true story. And the first time I stood up, it went straight to the floor. There was no, "that" anymore. [gesturing] Well, "THAT!" Come on! But seriously, in fact, I think it even went in a little bit, it was so... Apparently the nature of the surgery was that he sliced some things, and then everything just DROPPED. And so, my bum was at my knees. [laughter throughout] Somebody's got to stop me or I'll keep going! Some people know this. You know this. [turning to next question from the audience, where someone is holding up a bandana] Yes, hanky with... snot on it... What?

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Question:
[speaking without a mike] I was a member of Rick's Convention Virgins at Avalon.

Richard Dean Anderson:
Convention...? Oh, virgins.

Question:
Remember?

Richard Dean Anderson:
I remember.

[The questioner holds up the bandana and continues to speak without the mike as Richard strains to see through the lights.]

Richard Dean Anderson:
I can't read what it says, though.

Question:
It says, "Rick's Convention Virgins."

Richard Dean Anderson:
Nice! Are those for sale?

Question:
My question is, if you had to choose between eating lutefisk, lefse, or Spam, what would it be?

Richard Dean Anderson:
Put them all in a blender, and DRINK it! I have nothing but... I have not had any one of those, except Spam, when I was, you know, when we were kids, and they forced that... Actually, that was the rich kids' meat. I mean, I didn't grow up poorly, but I just know the neighbor kids always had this Spam stuff, and we had, like, what was it... Braunschweiger. It was that liverwurst braunschweiger stuff. And my mom has recently been reminding me that we used to have... "poop on a shingle." I'm cleaning it up. It was a piece of white toast with creamed chipped beef... [scattered applause] Because the toast became bread, and then became mush if you didn't eat it real quickly, but it was the worst stuff. Some of you have been reminiscing about some of the stuff that we ate as kids. My father taught me how to eat sugar as a salad dressing. Take a little iceberg lettuce and sprinkle that sugar right on top. That answers a lot of questions about why I drink sugar free stuff. [taking another sip of Red Bull] Enough about me. Tell me about you... [turning for the next question] Wait, let's go to, or no, let's do the gentleman in the front who's been fighting...

Question:
Good morning.

Richard Dean Anderson:
Hello.

Question:
I got to meet Chris Judge a couple of years ago at a luncheon, and he was a hoot, talking about some of his behind the scenes antics. What are some of your favorite antics that you had behind the scenes? Practical jokes.

Richard Dean Anderson:
Like I would remember... Do you...? Honestly, apparently I have a reputation for a little misbehaving along the way. But part of it is just the fact that I like spontaneity. I like there to be a playfulness around the set. Professional attitude, get the job done, make sure you know your lines and all that stuff, but make sure you're doing it with, if not a smile, if not laughter, then with your agent next to you, to negotiate a new contract for some other show. I don't, I don't know... I'm not big on formal practical jokes, you know, like butter in the earlobe of the guy that's napping. None of that stuff. I used to hang out a lot with that Thor. [laughter] How is he? I haven't seen him lately.

[Voices in the second row call out, "He's over here!" and someone holds up a "life sized" stuffed Asgard doll.]

Richard Dean Anderson:
That's not Thor, is it? [voices in the audience call out "Loki"] Who? [misunderstanding the voices] Lougheed? Named after the highway? I'm not familiar with "Lougheed." I know Thor. Thor and I go way back. WAY back. In fact, people were wondering about our sexuality. [loud laughter] I can't speak for him, but... I have a daughter. I guess we're going to find out about him later. But I had fun playing around with him... or "her." But I wouldn't formally joke around. There are probably other people, like, Kate might be able to enumerate... enumerate?... reference a couple of those moments, but I honestly don't know. But you get the feeling, though, that in conversation with me on set, maybe running lines, that things could go off somewhere else, and come back a long distance correctly. Maybe? But Chris was fond of saying he was always wondering if I was going to come back. A serious question with the cast. Sorry. [to the next question] Yes, number three.

Question:
Hi.

Richard Dean Anderson:
Hello.

Question:
Good morning.

Richard Dean Anderson:
Good morning.

Question:
What was your favorite "Stargate" episode? I thought of this question before Mike came out and warned us not to ask you about "Stargate." I didn't have any poop on a shingle questions.

Richard Dean Anderson:
Are you apologizing? Well, this is cheating, but my favorite... what was it... Stargate? Stargate! My favorite "Stargate" episode is... the next one. [cheers as he raises his arms in victory and yells, "Thank you!"] Mike Greenburg's correct. I can't for the life of me remember the titles of any of those things. I can remember some of the experiences if I'm reminded and somebody starts talking about, "you remember this and that," and I'll start getting vague little visions of what had happened, and my involvement in that thing that had happened. And at the end of somebody telling me a great detailed story with insight and all that, I'll go, "Oh yeah! Yeah, I remember." Or, more often than not, "Nah, I don't remember that." As far as the episode titles, I got to play a hundred year old man at one point... [applause] It was a lot of fun. Four hours of makeup, which start out to be a fun adventure, and then after the fifth day it was not so much fun anymore. Unfortunately, I think the show got edited to pieces, so to speak, and I don't think it did justice to the potential of... at least as an actor, I don't think it had the... I don't want to name names, but... Jonathan Glassner wrecked it. He tried to wreck a lot of things, but, he didn't. So, [to the audience] Title! Quick! [voices call out "Brief Candle!"] That's right! [laughter]

Question:
Rick, welcome back to Vancouver.

Richard Dean Anderson:
Thank you.

Question:
Out of all the parts, MacGyver, Legend, O'Neill, what is a part that you went up for, that you wanted, and you wish you could have done, another show or movie, that you watched and you were like, "I could have done that!"?

Richard Dean Anderson:
That I auditioned for and didn't get? [thinking] [scattered laughter] What? I think I was up for, there was a Superman... No, it wasn't Superman. I quite honestly don't know that there's anything that I went out for that I didn't get that I wanted. [applause] You better figure that sentence out first before you applaud. At one point I think I had been out on an early, early audition for Sam Malone, you know, from "Cheers"? [audience ohs] Yeah! I don't know if I would have survived in that world, but, you know, HE had fun. He's verrry wealthy, too. And the thought of doing a sitcom has crossed my... My best friend, he's a writer, and he's written for and produced "Friends," and, from that point, I guess, down. And we're motorcycle buddies and scuba diving chums, and he keeps, you know, we keep pitching ideas back and forth. He said, "You should do that one," and I said, "No, it means getting up early." [laughter] "I'll wait. Wait until I'm in a wheelchair." [coughs] 'Scuse me! Yes, number three. What happened to number four?

Question:
Hi.

Richard Dean Anderson:
Hello.

Question:
I have two questions. I'd like to know who came up with the idea to golf through the stargate? [applause]

Richard Dean Anderson:
I wonder! [laughter] Well, I think it was on a long list of things, because, wasn't that part of a sequence of things? [audience answers yes] Like, what else happened in there? [audience calls out parts of the sequence as he reiterates] I was bicycle riding... juggling... I was making pottery... I was?? Kissing who?! [laughter and cheers] I honestly don't remember who. It might have been any one of a number of people. But I don't know if we, because I lost track of it in the editing process, back when I was producing and editing, and I can't remember if... Because it was my idea to show the other side of that, which was, a stargate out in the country in some other galaxy, and a ball comes out. [laughter and applause]

Voice in the audience:
Chris said your ball was CG, that you couldn't hit it.

Richard Dean Anderson:
My ball was CG?? [laughter] Interesting notion! [suddenly indignant] What do you mean, I couldn't hit it?! [laughter] I nailed that sucker! Who said that?!

Voice in the audience:
Chris Judge. He said your ball was CG.

Richard Dean Anderson:
That little dick! [laughter] Where is he?? That is SO not true! In fact, he hit the side of the wall! He didn't even get it through the first time. [imitating the moment as the ball bounces off the wall] "Dink!" "Want me to throw that through for you?" [laughter] But it was my idea for the knickers, though. That was mine. [cheers and applause] If you're going to do it, do it big! [to the next question] Yes, m'am.

Question:
Good morning. Thank you for coming. My question is, besides the "Simpsons" and "Family Guy," do you have any other comedic influences or favorite comedians?

Richard Dean Anderson:
Influences?

Question:
Or is this just you, naturally? [laughter]

Richard Dean Anderson:
Or what?

Question:
Or is it just you, naturally?

Richard Dean Anderson:
[in a voice suggesting it's obvious] ...Yeah...? [laughter] I don't know about influences. I mean, I've mentioned Eddie Izzard. Any specials that have, like, Ricky Gervais, or Eddie Izzard, or any of the Brit comics, I'm just a massive fan of, always have been. [scattered applause] In fact, my dad taught me, or showed me, about Terry-Thomas, now that's a long time ago... Anybody? [applause] Yeah! Is it "Little England" or...? [audience calls out "Little Britain"] "Little Britain!" [laughing to himself] "Little England"... [as if talking to a baby] "Come here baby..." "Big America"... [laughter] But shows, I don't know. I like the original "Office." The new one, I guess it grows on you. [thinking] Um...mmm...uuh... influences... I honestly can't tell you. Is that the question, really? What influences have I had on my life, or on my acting, or...?

[A voice from the audience calls out without a mike referring to favorite Eddie Izzard skits.]

Richard Dean Anderson:
"Cake or death." Yeah, "Cake or Death." In fact, he didn't do that routine in Hollywood last month. But they were selling cups in the foyer, and T-shirts that said, "Cake or Death, Cake or Death." Now those of you who don't know Eddie Izzard, you must run out and... Google him, that's what you do! First go out and buy a computer. [laughter] And then google Eddie Izzard. You'll see what we're talking about. He's a very bright, smart, historically referenced comedian. Oh, he's also a transvestite, by the way! [turning to the next question] Yes! No? [feigning indignance] Are you on the phone??

[A mike runner calls out to the person on the phone, "Don't make me beat you with the paddle!" The person tries to speak without a microphone but cannot be heard.]

Richard Dean Anderson:
Just yell!

Question:
Hello. I loved Continuum, but I thought there was something missing, and I have a question for you. Are we ever going to see any closure between Jack and Sam? [loud cheers and applause]

Richard Dean Anderson:
[definitively] No. [laughter and applause] I'm not quite sure what that means, first of all. What would "closure" mean? I mean... [imitating a gesture from the questioner] What's this? [continues hand gestures suggesting various stages of "closure" as the audience laughs] I can't go any further... Um, closure for Sam and... Jack... I'm Jack, right. Um...

[A baby in the back of the audience is calling out, and Richard responds in a sympathetic voice.]

Richard Dean Anderson:
What's the matter, baby? It's okay. It's okay! It's alright. Let it out! [soothingly] Yes, yes...

[The baby calls out again, and Richard responds in baby talk as the audience laughs. The baby babbles again, he responds with babbling.]

Richard Dean Anderson:
Woodywaddywodoo? She's beautiful!

[The baby calls again, and Richard responds, suddenly serious.]

Richard Dean Anderson:
Don't talk back to me! [laughter] What was the question?

Voice from the audience:
Sam and Jack!

Richard Dean Anderson:
Oh, Sam and Jack, yeah. Uh... No. They don't know what to do. I mean, seriously, it's unlikely that, I mean I don't want to... Anything I say, you can't believe. Just as, you know, a follow-up to everything I've said. So consequently we really don't know what to do. We've shown respect to the Air Force and not had them shag... er... [laughter] Is that a proper word? It was carpet in my world. [laughter] "Did you shag on that shag carpet?" So consequently, I know it's been kind of titillating, and we're dangling and all. I didn't write it! But we honestly don't know quite what to do. Didn't she get married or something? [audience calls out a definite no] Geez! I'm a little behind! Okay. So, we'll come back to that question. Yeah... sure... What do you want to happen? [voices in the audience call out, contradicting each other] Have a baby, you said, right? I don't think I can. [laughter] I'll try! Talk to the writers! We'll come back to that. [to the next question] Yes, number one.

Question:
Hello. We've all seen these awful TMZ videos on the internet, and I just wondered how you deal with the paparazzi and the intrusions in your daily life?

Richard Dean Anderson:
Thank you for asking that! [dripping in sarcasm as the audience laughs throughout] I love them! I embrace them as my own! Paparazzi - my life! They're kind, considerate, polite, always thinking of your privacy, they allow you... They won't take a picture if you just say "no, please," or if you're getting into the car with your mother on Mother's Day, flashbulbs are...

[The monitor holds up a sign to signal that five minutes remain in the session. Richard interrupts his thought in mid sentence and directs his attention to the monitor.]

Richard Dean Anderson:
Whatdaya mean, five minutes?!? Get outta here! [laughter and applause] I love ya! I'll stay here for... nine more minutes! I don't care what you say! [laughter]

I've had... I can't even call them run-ins... There's one guy, and this is years and years and years ago. I was at Madison Square Garden. I was watching a hockey game, a Ranger game. And I was sitting on the aisle, and this guy comes down with a camera with, I swear to God it was one of those last, big, Sylvania flashbulb cameras, the ones that go, "Fwoom!" [gesturing a huge flash in the face] Blind for the rest of the day. And he comes down behind me, or comes from behind, down the stairs, and taps me on the shoulder real hard, and I kind of turn around, and I've got a scowl on my face, and, forgive this language, well, I won't use the language, then. He just sticks the camera up to his face, and the other end in my face, and he says, "Call me an A-hole!" It's just like, [acting out the encounter] tap tap tap tap tap, "Call me an A-hole!" Fwoom! He got my picture as I'm going like this, [imitating a look of surprise and confusion] "Wha--??" [laughter] Which I saw in several magazines for years afterward. [imitating the Dexter-like expression again, to much laughter] It wasn't until after he left that I was able to call him that! "What-just-happened?? [pause] You A-hole!" [laughter] Come back here with that flashbulb.

Where I live, they're hiding everywhere. I went to Ralph's Market the other day. Ah, Ralph's, brings back memories. I think it's a Ralph's, I'm not sure. Anyway, I'm going through the parking lot, the place where people park cars, and I was walking along, and there are cars all about this height, and all of a sudden [laughing to himself] "all of a sudden," I swear, eight identical looking guys with cameras all pop up like this and go, "Fwoom!" And I looked back, and they were gone! [laughter] And I THOUGHT I had seem them, but apparently not, until I turned around and there they were, and doing the same thing. And finally I said, [sing-songy] "Come out, come out, wherever you are!" Come on, guys, show your faces! I'm showing mine. And so they all kind of came out and we started chatting, and I said, "Why don't you guys just ask?" You know, just be polite and just say, "Do you mind if we take your picture?" And I'll say, "Get the hell out of here and---" [laughter] No, on that level, I kind of have that relationship with the guys that are showing up in M---, where I live. I almost said it. It's not that I wouldn't want you all over at my house, but I just cleaned the rugs. [laughter] So I haven't had too much trouble with paparazzi.

I do see some behavior down there where it's pretty obnoxious, very, very obnoxious, and I can't tell you how... I mean it was the Britney Spears thing... She was hanging around my neighborhood... looking for me... [laughter] ...and I was wearing my disguise, and mustache, and dark glasses, and wigs, and she didn't recognize me... So I was able to watch the way she was being treated, and it was just absurd. I can understand why she's, at least perceived as being a little... off center. Because I've never seen another human being be treated that rudely or that insensitively. You know, the girl's got problems, but boy, they sure don't help. And it's everywhere. It's unrelenting. You know, I wish I was her for just a day. [pause] No, I really don't! [laughter] But if I were, I would just say, "Come on, guys! Just ask me if you want to take my picture, and we can work something out..." [he laughs to himself, knowing that such an approach would have no effect] Anyway, Pierce Brosnan's funny, too. He hangs around a little bit, and he just goes like this... [imitates Pierce Brosnan with a serious expression, holding up his hand and shaking his head no to indicate that he doesn't wish to be photographed] "Get away from the car." [laughter] Nice guy, Pierce. [he laughs] You want to know more about paparazzi stories? [next question] Yes, number three!

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Question:
What did you like better doing, "MacGyver" or "SG-1"?

Richard Dean Anderson:
Yes! [laughter and applause] Two different eras, completely. Loved what "MacGyver" afforded me, which was an education and survival, basically, after awhile. Seven and a half years of, you know, non-stop... It's how I learned how to get up early and be responsible to a job, at 5:30 every morning. I lived in Vancouver for the duration, basically, never knew where I was going, never knew where I was at one point, because I had a cup of coffee, face in the newspaper, and I'd look up and we'd be in Steveston or something. But I loved doing "MacGyver" up here. It was, you know, well, it was what it was, but it was a show that was fun to do. I just can't say anything else about it.

The whole experience with "Stargate," in a different way, was just as rewarding because I was surrounded by a cast, a supporting cast, that let me put my feet up once in awhile and rest, or edit, as the case may be. And working with a constant cast, members, we all became friends. We didn't have much of a social thing going, but whenever we were at work, that was my social life, so I consider them my friends in that. Anyway, we had a great time. It was, let's see... [mumbling to himself] Did I like that better? ...Or worse? [to the audience] I liked it better! [pause] No! Worse! I liked it worse! [laughter] [pause] Better! I liked it better.

[Once again the monitor holds up the sign indicating that the session is over.]

Richard Dean Anderson:
Go away!

[There is laughter, cheers, and applause as the moderator walks sadly away.]

Richard Dean Anderson:
I didn't hurt your feelings, did I?? Just a few more, okay? Just two more. Three more? Two more! Okay. [as if ordering a dog] Sit!

[The monitor returns to her seat by the stage to cheers and applause.]

Richard Dean Anderson:
Okay. Rather quickly, now, because I know there are other people that need to come, you know...

Question:
Okay. Very quickly.

Richard Dean Anderson:
Yes, go ahead.

Question:
Hi Rick. Wylie's turned ten recently...

Richard Dean Anderson:
Yes. August second.

Question:
Has she watched any of the SG episodes, and if so, what does she think? And what do you think, watching her, watching you?

Richard Dean Anderson:
Keep going... [laughter] You've got the idea... We found out the other day, because she's staying during the day, kind of hanging out with the Greenburg family, and Mike's got all the, unlike Wylie's father, Mike has all the episodes of "Stargate," er... that other show... "MacGyver." But in conversation the other day, we realized she had never seen a "MacGyver," and she sheepishly said that. And "Stargate," she was actually up here for two years. She was born in Vancouver. So she's Canadian-ish. [scattered cheers] And she's proud about that, too, by the way. She loves saying that she's from Canada. She really does. So she was on the set, and she hung out with Thor a bit, too. We had to pay him a dollar and a quarter babysitting. But, I don't know, she... I'm not going to push her... It's like, I don't want, you know... If you want to watch it, fine. But at least she knows I had a job at one point. [laughter] But recently she's a little curious about what I do. "Honey, I built you a house. You see this house? It's a big house, and it's yours. [pause] No, it's mine, actually. You can live there, with me."

She's actually quite interested in... I don't want to say "show business." She had the lead in a musical this last summer, earlier in the summer. She played in an adaptation of "Oliver." It was called "Jennifer," and she played Jennifer. [applause] Oh, my God, she was just great. She had a ton of dialogue, and tons of music, and she's... The only thing that I've forced her to do now, because she loves to dance, she's taking ballet and tap dance... The only thing I've really kind of urged her to continue and do as best she can, you know, forever and ever, is tap dance. Anybody who has a kid that is young, small, who is tap dancing, I don't care how good or bad they are, there is nothing more adorable than to see a kid hit a time step, or to shuffle off to Buffalo. And Wylie's got the aptitude for that. She remembers steps, and physically can handle it all. Her instructor's asked her to come to the more advanced class, and she's, "No no no, I want to be the best in the class, so I'll stay down here." [laughter] And I said, "Get up there...!" [pretending to shove her forward] So she's just having a ball doing that. And she's singing, and... singing and dancing, basically.

Question:
And how's Andy doing?

Richard Dean Anderson:
Andy's good! Andy's my new Australian shepherd tri-color. I've had blue merles my whole life, and Andy's a tri. The breeder that I got her from lives just down the road apiece, so I got to, at one point... There were two litters from which to choose, and they both came to... they what... they came to "fruition," no, they... I could see them all at one time, in other words. So the breeder put them all together in one enclosure about the size of this stage, and at one point I had 19 puppies. [audience awws] I was splayed out, and they were just everywhere, and it was just a little bit of heaven. But out of all those 19 came this one that made her play for me, and I watched her. She'd keep her distance a little bit while all the other foolish dogs were making fools of themselves, licking me and loving me. She kept her distance and said, "My time will come." [laughter] And eventually it did. Just, suddenly, I mean, there were moments, literally, where I'd just get up and wipe the dirt and the saliva from my... own saliva... and I looked down and here's this little black and white thing, like a police car... [he is distracted by the print on the shirt he is wearing] This shirt looks like it has hay on it. But anyway, yeah, she reached out and grabbed... I've always let my dogs choose me. I've never, like, said, "I want that one because he's the prettiest." I've always gotten these dogs that wanted me because... I was the prettiest. [laughter and applause] Uh, airplane, over there... [looking for the next question] I guess one last question, okay?

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Question:
Did you bring your skates up this weekend?

[The question is being asked by Dan Shea, who is seated in the audience, but Richard is distracted by the image on the screen as the camera is trying to adjust the picture.]

Richard Dean Anderson:
Camera! [laughter as the camera is adjusted] Thank you! Uh, what was the question?

Dan Shea:
Did you bring your skates up this weekend?

Richard Dean Anderson:
No, as you know, DAN SHEA... [cheers and applause] [in an encouraging voice to get him to come up on stage] Come on, Dan, come on up, say hello...

[The audience cheers and applauds as Dan Shea joins Richard on stage. As they move to shake hands, Dan offers his fists instead, then they shake mostly from the fingertips. Richard remarks on the peculiar handshake.]

Richard Dean Anderson:
This is Dan Shea shaking hands. He just doesn't want his palm to touch yours. Come on! [attempts a real handshake] You all know Dan Shea! [cheers and applause] He, too, sings and dances! Dan is our... or was... is... What are you doing? All right, let's ask him! Because I haven't seen Dan in, what...?

Dan Shea:
Five years?

Richard Dean Anderson:
Ten minutes or so?

Dan Sea:
Just kind of living in a shack beneath the bridge, the Burrard Street Bridge in some box shared with my family.

Richard Dean Anderson:
So, things are looking up! Better! [laughter]

Dan Shea:
Yeah, thanks for returning the calls. [laughter]

Richard Dean Anderson:
Call. Nothing plural about your callS.

Dan Shea:
Did you bring your skates?

Richard Dean Anderson:
I didn't, as I started to say...

Dan Shea:
Before I interrupted?

Richard Dean Anderson:
You know very well that I've retired my skates. I had to, because I kept getting passes from Dan IN my skates. Those of you who play hockey know that's a terrible pass.

Dan Shea:
Let me show you an example, back in "MacGyver," why the producers would never ever let me play hockey with Big Boy. He would be skating up the side like this, big, long, beautiful strides [demonstrating], Minnesota boy, nice leg extension, nice balance, knee bends, beautiful hand set, nice aluminum stick that the Christian guy gave him, he'd be wide open, waiting for the open net right there, and I'd pass the puck, right in the skates, and he'd fall over right in his face... [laughter] He dislocated his clavicle, his sternocleidomastoid, and both of his knees. So that was the reason the producers said, no more hockey with Dan Shea. [laughter]

Richard Dean Anderson:
Dan Shea, ladies and gentlemen! [cheers and applause] A true story!

[The monitor holds up the sign that now says negative 15 minutes, indicating that they have run over time by 15 minutes.]

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Richard Dean Anderson:
Fifteen minutes, it says! Oh, MINUS fifteen minutes! [laughter] Ladies and gentlemen, Richard Dean Anderson!

[Roaring applause and cheers as Richard waves and prepares to leave the stage, and Allan Gowen returns to the stage to close the session.]

Allan Gowen:
Richard will be back to join us again tomorrow. And he was actually showing off some dogtags, some Gatecon dogtags that he has signed for us, and we will have those in the dealers' room a little later on.

[The session comes to a close.]

Saturday Auction - August 23rd
On Saturday evening, Richard and the other Stargate celebrities participated in an auction that raised $28,000 for the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Among the items being auctioned were a unique autographed MacGyver poster, and one of Richard's random doodles that says, "Oceans make me wet" that went for $4000. A few minutes of video from the auction can be found in the Video Gallery.

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Photo and Autograph Sessions
In addition to interacting with fans in the Question & Answer panels and the auction, Richard also signed autographs, posed for photo ops, and took occasional breaks with his "favorite people."

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Sunday Panel - August 24th
During Richard's final panel, Amanda Tapping crept in from behind and surprised Richard while he was on stage. Then the two of them together took questions from the audience amid much laughter and celebration.

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Closing Ceremony - August 24th
For the closing ceremony on Sunday afternoon, the celebrities and organizers gathered on the stage, and Richard's daughter Wylie joined her dad as the Gatecon weekend came to an end.

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Photos courtesy of Paja, Daniela, J. Hitchcock, Denise, Eric Cheng, and Gateworld. Thank You!