The Joe Lando Web Page - Chat with Joe on Yahoo

Joe's Chat on Yahoo Official Version Monday, May 17, 1999

TV Guide: Joe Lando, Jane Seymour and the cast and crew from Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, CBS's six-year-running series about one of the first female doctors to practice on the American frontier, have reunited in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman: The Movie. The story follows the adventures of Dr. Mike (Seymour) and her loving husband, Sully (Lando), as they, together with the townspeople of Colorado Springs, search for their kidnapped daughter, Katie. Welcome Joe, glad you could join us tonight.
Lando: This is such a new idea. I am completely computer illiterate, believe it or not. But let's give it a shot!
SiL_e_LiLy: What's with that long braid? Are you ever going to get rid of that scraggly thing?
Lando: Sorry you weren't paying attention, but about the fourth year when I married Michaela, I cut off the braid. The braid was there in the Native American culture. Very often times in the Native American culture, when someone passes away you grow a braid like that in honor of them. That scraggly braid was in honor of my wife and child that passed away.
jra_jra28: Why does your wig look blonde in some scenes and dark in others?
Lando: I'm not quite sure what you're talking about. In case you are talking about the hair I used to have, as opposed to the movie of the week coming up, where I wear a wig, that a lot of people haven't seen yet.
sarahp3: Jack is almost a year old now, how are you liking fatherhood?
Lando: Best thing I've ever done in my life.
Robanukah: Who was your greatest inspiration?
Lando: Hmmm. My son. He's the reason why I get up in the morning. And I can't wait to be with him everyday, I'm missing him terribly now while I'm in New York.
lou51950: Are you doing any promotion for the DQMW movie besides this chat and Regis & Kathie Lee?
Lando: Doing a whole series of satellite interviews tomorrow for radio and I believe TV. And I've done the whole gamut of electronic press from CNN to ET to Access Hollywood to this chat, etc.
Devin_119: At what point did you realize you wanted to be an actor?
Lando: At about 5 or 6. It was the first point where I was conscious enough as to what the whole process was. So at 5 or 6 I think I was aware.
Slapjack1999: What was it like stepping back into the role of Sully?
Lando: Felt a little strange at first because when the show was cancelled in my mind for my own emotional protection I decided to put it to rest and move on.
silkenmist23: What have you been doing since the close of the series?
Lando: I did a couple of episodes of JAG, another CBS show. I did a pilot for a friend for a children's show called, Cindy: The Continuing Adventures of Cinderella's Daughter. And that's kind of like a Barney or a Mr. Roger's type of kids' show. And I started working on the pre-production of my new series, very, very tentatively titled Cliff Hangers.
LavenderJazz: Can you describe the character you'll be playing in Cliff Hangers and is he single?
Lando: He is divorced, a former Wall St. executive, who is now recovering seven years sober, he was a former cocaine and heroin addict who had two overdoses before he decided to straighten out his life. And he will be a counselor at a school for children who are at high risk.
carol_anne_m: When do you move to BC and how long do you think you'll be there? Do you realize Jack will grow up saying "eh"?
Lando: Yeah, we've joked about that, my wife and I. Especially if I'm up there as long as we hope to be, our second kid will be Canadian. But as of right now, we have an order for 22 episodes. We begin shooting in late July and that will carry us on to February or March 2000.
carol_anne_m: Can you tell us about your new series. Does it have an official name yet? Will it be "issue driven" or an "adventure drama"? Is there a leading lay? If so, who is the actress? Will you have a *love* interest in the show?
Lando: Cliff Hangers is just our working title, and we hope to have about 70 percent issue driven shows. Dealing with the kids and the counselors relationships, and about 30 percent action, Big Sky adventure. Getting me out into the great outdoors of British Columbia which I love. I will have a love interest. My ex-wife does come back and try to re-enter my life. And as far as who the actors will be playing on the show with me, the casting process will begin later on this month, and for the most part will take place in Canada.
cspotrun_97: Do you think that your experience on DQ helped you get this new outdoor series?
Lando: I definitely not only think, I know for a fact, it was the world wide appeal of my character and the way I related to the children on my show that interested Paramount Studios and the other producers in having me be the lead actor.
silkenmist23: Is Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman based on the story of the female Lutheran doctor who practiced in the western territories?
Lando: That's a question, Beth Sullivan, the creator, would best answer.
Wedge_98520: Is it true that Jane Seymour now has short hair?
Lando: No, that's not true.
Devin_119: Are you and Jane friends off screen as well as on?
Lando: Yes, we are.
Devin_119: What is the premise of this movie?
Lando: That our child Katie is abducted because of a decision Sully has made to prevent a very powerful mining company coming to town. Then we go searching for my daughter in hopes that she's still alive and to bring her back home.
SnuggleBunnyII: Where was the movie taped and how long did it take?
Lando: It was a 19 day shooting schedule and we shot it all over southern California, from Paramount ranch to two other ranches further north that were supposed to be Mexico.
Vickie11_11: Will you be able to work around your new TV series' schedule so that you can do another DQ movie if the opportunity arises?
Lando: That's my hopes, to definitely be able to free up the time so I can do another Dr. Quinn if we're lucky enough to get a second chance.
shealex: If CBS were to pick DQMW up again, would you return as Sully?
Lando: CBS I could almost give a hundred percent positive answer that they would never pick up Dr. Quinn again as a series. But even if they did, I now am committed to another show contractually. And so no, I couldn't do it.
drquinn4599: If this movie goes well do you think that there will be another one that will follow?
Lando: Well, if the movie does really well, it has to do better than just well, then we've already discussed what the story would be about and where it would take Sully and Michaela on another adventure.
jra_jra28: Where will your new show be seen and how soon will it be seen?
Lando: It'll be seen in Europe first. But as of right now, it is still being shopped in the US market. And if a network like CBS was to buy it, you could see it as early as January of next year.
carol_anne_m: Was it good to be back playing Sully? Did you find it hard to get back into character or was it like you'd never taken the year off?
Lando: It was great to be Sully again, I always enjoyed my character, and I feel that in this particular movie of the week, it was a chance to show even more of Sully and what he's all about. Once we started and I put on the buckskins, it was like we had never left.
flysap14: What has your favorite episode been?
Lando: I'd have to say this movie of the week that's coming up. Because I had a larger part that I normally did on the series, and it involved a lot of emotional and physical challenges and we had more time to shoot it. As opposed to the normal seven day schedule. This felt like are a real movie.
Orca_17_99: You are my number one fan! I wish I could have met you with your long hair but your short hair looks cute too.
Lando: I've always loved being your number one fan! And I appreciate your being kind about my short hair because there were a lot people who liked me with long hair and weren't afraid to tell me to the point of sometimes insulting my new look, and truly hurting my feelings.
Riggsme: Any chance of growing that hair back out a little?
Lando: Yes, I wouldn't mind some day having long hair again, but at this time in my life, short hair is going to be the way I'll look for a while.
Devin_119: Were your parents an integral part in your acting career?
Lando: Absolutely not. Acting was something that I wanted to do, it was a personal desire, and I didn't tell my parents that I was going to become an actor until after I went off to California and started studying, then I told my parents about it. And they humored me in hopes that it was just a passing phase. But now they're very proud of me. And feel comfortable saying their son's an actor, not a doctor or lawyer or Tool and Die man.
TV Guide: Where did you grow up?
Lando: Chicago, and you can hear it in my voice once in a while.
LindaC_SF: According to Reel.Com, you were in a movie in 1980 called Mother's Day. Is that true?
Lando: In 1980 I had just graduated high school and hadn't even begun an acting career yet.
Slapjack1999: What did you miss the most when DQ wasn't on the air?
Lando: A steady paycheck. It might sound a little superficial, but...
tab23_98: Will you consider coming back to One Life to Live?
Lando: I just visited the set of OLTL today and although I told the producers I would love to come back for a short stint, meaning like an appearance or two, I don't see it happening anytime in the near future. But my start in the business really was on OLTL, and I'll never forget that. That's where my roots are.
Devin_119: Who has helped you the most on your successful career?
Lando: I don't think anybody has helped me but me, it's really a personal thing. It's you who when they say, No, they don't want you, have to get in your car and tell yourself that you're not going to quit, that you're going to go back out there again and give it another shot. But there was a man named Vincent Chase who was my first and only acting coach. And my first agent, Claire Miller who I have to say stuck by me for the first five years of my career, and pushed me to keep going.
Devin_119: Who is your favorite actor/actress?
Lando: Lauren Bacall. Meryl Streep. As far as actors, Steve McQueen, Brando, Paul Newman, Robert Duvall. And the list goes on and on and on and on for men who have inspired me. And I think Mel Gibson and Harrison Ford have careers that I will be forever envious of.
Heather_BK: I've been a fan for a long time and I was just wondering if any fans recognized you in public?
Lando: Not as much now that I have the haircut, but people often recognize me by my voice. Whatever that means!
LindaC_SF: In L.A. last month, I saw your hair was a little longer in the back. Are you growing it some for your new series?
Lando: I'm actually just letting it grow since I have another couple of months before we start shooting, and as I research my character more, I'm trying to figure out just exactly what he'll look like. Whether it'll be short, long, blond, black or grey I don't know. But I'm experimenting right now with it.
carol_anne_m: Will Cliff Hangers be filmed on a closed set or will visitors have access? In other words, can we come visit?
Lando: It won't be in a National Park like Dr. Quinn was. Dr. Quinn was very unique in that respect. When we're shooting outdoor scenes, of course, people can watch, but locations will vary from place to place. And when we're in the studio, live audiences are not allowed unless you're a sitcom.
Vickie11_11: When will production for Cliff Hangers start and end, and when will you be moving to Vancouver?
Lando: Next Saturday when Dr. Quinn premiers, which is May 22, I will be on the road in the suburban with my wife Kirsteh, my son Jack, my two dogs, Billie and Emma in hopes of arriving in Vancouver on the 26th giving ourselves plenty of time to acclimate before beginning production on July 20.
SnuggleBunnyII: I'm a big fan of yours. Thank you and the rest of the cast for many dedicated years of acting on this excellent program!
Lando: Well I'd like to thank all the fans for being so dedicated, and I always felt an honor to be part of Dr. Quinn. And hopefully on my new show we'll be giving people something that they'll enjoy as much as Dr. Quinn for as long as Dr. Quinn, and entertain them.
TV Guide: Joe, we appreciate you taking the time from your schedule to chat with us tonight. Best of luck with everything you have going on.
Lando: Goodbye and God bless to everyone!

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