Interview with Stargate's Gary Jones, www.gary-jones.net Options

[Arcady]

Recently, Gary Jones, who plays Walter Harriman (aka: "Chevron Guy") answered some of our questions. Stargate Information Archive's Linz asked him about being recognized on the street, his promotion in Season Nine, and if he ever thought about going through the Stargate himself. Read on for the entire interview.

[Arcady]

Interview with Gary Jones:

1. Is it strange being such a huge part of the Stargate Universe?

only in that it's gone on 9 years. i was talking to another local actor the other day and we both spoke of how rare this is to get a recurring gig that goes on for that long. and after that length of time, i just become part of the stargate universe and i becomes normal.

2. Do people stop you on the street recognizing you from the show?

yes. the strangest, latest one was when i was late for a connecting flight in new jersey and i handed in a form to the homeland security guy and took off and he called me back and said, "hey, aren't you on sg:1?" then i had to stand there and chat with him about the show while secretly freaking out that i was going to miss my flight. i made the flight, by the way.

3. Do you understand everything that you say in your role including some minor technobabble?

absolutely. not. the writers always come up with some jargon that either means the gate is down or being repaired and i usually deliver this jargon. it's a stargate. i guess the closest thing to repairing one would be working on a ferris wheel. anyway, my challenge is to deliver all this techno jargon as if i did this stuff every day. like i was replacing the air filter in my car. the more "every day" i can deliver my lines, the more believable it will be for fans.

4. Did you wish that Walter could have gone to Atlantis? (That Atlantis gate tech didn't turn out to do so well though... heh)

at first i wished i could've gone but yeah, now i'm happy i'm still at home at the sgc.

5. Any tidbits on where your character is heading in season 9? Promotion maybe? Off to another planet for a mission?

you're asking about season 9 which has already wrapped shooting which means that i've taken way too long to answer this. i do get a promotion at the beginning of season 9 to CHIEF MASTER SERGEANT. which means that i must now be addressed as either "chief" or "walter." i don't go on any missions but it's always a dangerous mission to go into general landry's filing cabinet.

6. Hearing about the Stargate video game so often lately, can you tell the fans if your character will be appearing in the game? If so, did you get to record voice clips for the game? or model? Are you excited about it? Will you play it?

yes, i have my voice on it. also a couple of other "grunts" or soldiers on it. i don't have the game and no i won't play it because i'm not a video games guy.

7. With all the convention appearances you have made in the past year or so, what is the weirdest thing that has happened to you at one? Do you enjoy the stage time and meeting the fans? (Did you know you had so many?! We love you!!!)

yes, i'm finding out that i have so many fans. at first it was odd but now i've accepted it. and it's really nice. i'm a low-key guy as far as fame goes. i act and being recognized is a part of that. but when you come to conventions, that's where there's a concentrated group of fans so it's a way different deal to somebody having seen you in a movie. one of my favourite memories was being at dragoncon in atlanta and getting on the elevator with a regular businessman who had nothing to do with the con, and an elf. me, a business guy and an elf. hilarious. and normal.

8. What has been your favorite episode of Stargate that you have been in and why?

probably HEROES because the writters had fun with me opening and closing the gate. fans refer to this ep all the time.

9. What is it like to work with the new actors this season? Any juicy gossip? Who do you think Walter liked working with the most? Hammond, O'Neill or the new General?

zero juicy gossip. i go to work and come home. but we do have fun. beau bridges is a really nice guy. when you're on set with a famous movie star, it's exciting for about 10 seconds and then it becomes very "everyday." suddenly we're both talking about the price of gas or something. normal stuff. how's THAT for juicy gossip?

10. How about your strangest experience on the set? Or most memorable.

we had a couple of actual american fighter pilots come to the show because they flew up some f-18's to be filmed in teh background. one of the pilot's gave my his name tag which said simply, "dude."

11. Any future projects coming up besides Stargate? Are there plans for you to do any improv shows?

not doing any improv shows. maybe some corporate ones but they are few and far between. i'm doing more writing. my writing partner and i are constantly trying to get our own projects off the ground. i'll keep you posted.

12. A less serious question, have you ever had dreams about dialing up the Stargate and going through to another planet?

always. imagine sitting there for 9 years and seeing everyone come and go through the gate but you. it's a desire in the back of my mind but i keep it to myself because i'm so grateful for the job i have. and besides, if i'm the gate guy, who's going to send me and bring me back? oh, maybe i could set the gate on a timer like setting a flash on a camera for a self-portrait.

Finally a few little one or two word answer questions:

Favorite food?

anything free at a limitless buffet.

Favorite city?

vancouver. but i've got a hankering to visit copenhagen.

Favorite movie?

godfather's 1 and 2.

Favorite tv show?

dennis leary's dramedy, "rescue me."

Favorite type of music (or band)?

french cafe accordian music. or jazz, with the likes of stan getz, bill evans, oscar peterson.

Walter verses Jay Felger in a fight, who would win?

walter. right after i yank his glasses of and let him flail around and tire himself out.

Who could you see in a romantic relationship with Walter?

any woman who organized a free, limitless buffet.


(Note: These questions were sent to Gary before the news about the Stargate video game cancellation was known.)

[Dafmeister]

Nice. He seems like a down to Earth guy. The best answer to a question:
Who could you see in a romantic relationship with Walter?

any woman who organized a free, limitless buffet.

[ha'tak]

wow an interview with Gary that was cool

was that actually typed out how he responded cause there were a few typos in there.

Good questions though:

Walter verses Jay Felger in a fight, who would win?
walter. right after i yank his glasses of and let him flail around and tire himself out.

[Arcady]

was that actually typed out how he responded cause there were a few typos in there.

Yes. His replies were kept just as he typed them.

[ha'tak]

Yes. His replies were kept just as he typed them.

Well lets just say he's sure a better actor then he is with his grammer
this one was just bothering me for a little bit

one of the pilot's gave my his name tag which said simply, "dude."

I had to look at that for a while before I could make sence of it

This post has been edited by ha'tak: Feb 8th 2006, 6:36 PM

[maddie]

so, you can spell. but can you dial a gate? THOUGHT SO!

[Hack-Slash]

I dont remember him being promoted

[Dafmeister]

He was promoted between season 8 and 9. In 'Avalon' he introduces himself as Chief Master Sergeant Walter Harriman. He wasnt Chief Master Sergeant in season 8.

[Invisible Painting]

He was promoted between season 8 and 9. In 'Avalon' he introduces himself as Chief Master Sergeant Walter Harriman. He wasnt Chief Master Sergeant in season 8.

They could have mentioned that a little more! I remember reading that he was going to get promoted and was waiting for it to happen. They should have mentioned it slightly more then that. I mean they didn't ever say his first rank in the show how we supposed to know he got promoted.
They didn't exactly make everything clear in season 9 though so what's new... Well congratulations to him

Cool interview, when were the questions sent off to him then, and how did this all come about?

[Dafmeister]

Weve seen the rank on his arm a couple of times. Im guessing he was a Senior Master Sergeant before season 9.

EDIT: In 'Children of the Gods' he was a Master Sergeant, I guess he recieved a promotion to Senior Master Sergeant at some time between season 1 and season 8.

This post has been edited by Dafmeister: Feb 9th 2006, 3:36 PM

[Linz]

Cool interview, when were the questions sent off to him then, and how did this all come about?

I emailed Gary the questions back in May through his official site/messageboard after he agreed to doing a mini-interview and then just recently in late January he responded. Obviously he felt bad for taking so long but I'm sure we all understand since they were filming and he's a very busy guy. I was just happy he took the time out to answer the questions. And what an amusing guy he is! If any of you all get a chance to see him at a convention, DO IT!

[linda_lol]

Ah, everyone loves Walter. It's impossible to hate the guy.

Walter verses Jay Felger in a fight, who would win?
walter. right after i yank his glasses of and let him flail around and tire himself out.

Heck yes Walter would win! Yank his glasses off? I can actually see this happening.

[Dagda]

Great interview Walter still has one of my fave. SG-1 scenes (Although I haven't seen any of the latest series due to a packed schedual ) If I remember correctly it's the 100th episode when he's talking to the interviewer and boring him with how he spices up the seventh shevron by saying "locked". Still cracks me up.

[Auntie Em!]

No, "Wormhole X-treme" was the 100th episode. You are thinking of S7 episode "Heros".


Linz I would have been squealing like a stuck pig when I got his email! Did you jump around or yell?

[Dagda]

No, "Wormhole X-treme" was the 100th episode. You are thinking of S7 episode "Heros".

I knew that I remember the story-line for both but somehow they just got connected together in my head. Not the first time, and probably not the last time that it will happen

[Invisible Painting]

I knew that I remember the story-line for both but somehow they just got connected together in my head. Not the first time, and probably not the last time that it will happen

Ok I'll just clear up this mess, heroes was the 150th episode. So that's where the confusion came from (also the formats do have some similarities)

But yeah I would have been exited if I got his email. It's cool that he sent it back. Not a lot of peolpe would.
He does have a blog on gateworld as well if anyone wants to read that.

[Agent_Dess]

He does go off-world lol... Watch Episode 7x01 - Fallen..... He's standing next to Hammond when there at the base camp off-world preparing to attack Annubis. He's just not wearing glasses ;)

[Raxor]

Nice interview

[I'm a janitor at the SGC 7150]

this guy is hilarious....i just listened to him and peter delousis on the audio commentary of the season 7 show Evoloution pt.1 and those 2 would make a great comedy team

[Xichekolas]

Well lets just say he's sure a better actor then he is with his grammer
this one was just bothering me for a little bit

I had to look at that for a while before I could make sence of it

I'm amused at the irony of you complaining about grammar and then spelling the word 'grammar' incorrectly. ;)

Someday, Walter will be the only guy unaffected by some crazy foothold situation, and he will truly shine!

[Protoziggy90]

Someday, Walter will be the only guy unaffected by some crazy foothold situation, and he will truly shine!

That would be cool... Like picture him outside the SGC one day and when he comes back everyone is infected with something and laying helplessly on the floor or something wierd like that...

Walter to the rescue!

[avnrulz]

Linz, you didn't ask him if his character is based on Walter 'Radar' O'Reilly from M*A*S*H. I had been wondering about that, because of the name and his similar look.

[Bodhimundi]

Well lets just say he's sure a better actor then he is with his grammer
this one was just bothering me for a little bit

I had to look at that for a while before I could make sence of it

Also misspelled... "sence". It's sense, LOL.