Stan Kirsch's first Chat on AOL March 28, 1995 --------------------------------- OnlineHost : Copyright 1995 America Online, Inc. OnlineHost : Good evening! Tonight, OMNI Online is pleased to : present Stan Kirsch, who portrays Richie Ryan on : the popular syndicated series "Highlander." Richie : is a fast-talking street kid who was taken in by : the Immortal Duncan MacLeod (The Highlander of the : title) in the series' first episode. Last season, : Richie discovered that he, too, is Immortal, able : to be killed only by beheading. OnlineHost : Stan Kirsch's first acting experience was a : Campbell's Soup commercial when he was four years : old. After high school and modeling and acting : jobs, he attended Duke University as a political : science major and performed summer stock. Upon : graduation from Duke, he moved to New York, and : within 6 months, he signed with an agent, got his : Screen Actors Guild card, and moved to LA. Stan : has made guest appearances on the ABC daytime : drama "General Hospital," FOX's "True Colors," : and the ABC pilot "The Streets of Beverly Hills." : Welcome, Stan! StanKirsch : Thanks! Glad to be here...Fire away! Question : Do you have any film or television projects set : for your hiatus? StanKirsch : Yes...I've just taped an episode of "Friends," in which I play Courtney Cox's boyfriend The episode will air Thursday, May 8th, at 9:30 on NBC. StanKirsch : Today I wrapped an Afterschool special for ABC that will air in the fall. Question : Do you see Richie as having grown measurably as a character this season? What do you Question : attribute that growth to specifically? StanKirsch : The strength of the relationship between Adrian Paul and myself continues to grow : and feeds the producers with plenty of storylines. Question : Hey Stan,Richie is the reason I watch the show is he going to get any heads this season? StanKirsch : Thanks! Be sure and let the producers know you feel this way. StanKirsch : Quick hint: I still have my head, and I am a bit stronger... ErinM : We have a nice comment from an audience member: Comment : I just want to say, Stan, that I've really enjoyed the way Richie's character has matured : through the three seasons. I think you are doing a fantastic job. StanKirsch : Thanks (again). Just keep watching :) Question : Which episode was your favorite and why? StanKirsch : Thus far, "Shadows" and "Line of Fire" have special significance for me. ErinM : Can you tell us a little bit about why? StanKirsch : These are episodes in which my character is an integral part of the story. :) : We not only see Richie functioning as MaCleod's friend, but we also have an idea about] : what's going on in his own life and mind. Question : I've been delegated to settle a bet: Stan, what's your birthday? ;) StanKirsch : July 15th -- Cancer. Question : Is television your chosen medium or would you rather be doing stage or film? StanKirsch : Acting is my passion, be it on a stage or in front of the camera. Question : On the show, MacLeod obviously feels Immortality is not something to be desired. How do : you think Richie feels about it and how do you convey that to the audience? StanKirsch : Good question. Richie is just beginning to understand that immortality is something : he must deal with every second of his life. : With every decision he makes, he must take this into account. : The recent motorcycle storyline deals with this -- Richie is naive about the fact that : he can disguise his immortality, and he ends up paying. Question : I know that originally in the pilot, Richie was supposed to become immortal, but that this : was postponed. My question is, was there any time during the first season that the producers : were considering having Richie remain permanently mortal? StanKirsch : There were lots of things being questioned during the first season. : The show had not yet come together and found it's throughline. : Everything was a possibility. Therefore, to answer your question, yes. Question : Hi Stan! I look forward to you every week on Highlander. My question is: do you think : Richie is going to get a love interest? StanKirsch : I certainly think he could use one. : Let Bill Panzer know how you feel. Question : Can you tell us of any particularly funny bloopers? StanKirsch : There was a gag played on me during the first season, : when a crew member dressed in a lion costume emerged from the forest : during the campfire scene in "Band of Brothers." : I jumped about ten feet. Needless to say, Adrian and his cohorts got a big kick out of it Question : How do you think Richie's role on Highlander has changed since the series began? StanKirsch : He is more mature, and has learned to channel his energies in positive directions (for the most part). : He is not as much of a wise-ass. He is a true friend to Duncan and looks for the good in : everybody. Question : We understand that many of the cast & crew will be filming in Scotland. Are you also : Highland-bound? And would, hypothetically, Richie Ryan insist on or avoid wearing a great kilt? :j StanKirsch : This is the first I've heard of filming in Scotland, but I think Richie would look awfully : cute in a kilt. Question : Do you personally practice martial arts or sword work on a regular basis? I would *love* : to see some scenes of Duncan and Richie just working out! StanKirsch : I practice swordwork on location, for the most part. Question : Where do you see Richie Ryan going as a character over the next few seasons? StanKirsch : I wish I knew. It's really not up to me. But I would like to explore the darker and : more self-destructive aspects of the life of a young immortal. Question : Where are you calling from tonight, Stan, and is this your first time on-line? StanKirsch : I'm calling from Los Angeles, and no, this is not my first time on line ;) Question : Kirsch, do you really ride the motorbikes in the show? and have you ever gotten hurt on : the set? StanKirsch : I do ride, but there are some excellent stuntmen in Vancouver as well... : And outside of a few nicks here and there, I've never been really injured on the set. Question : Your lines are often the funniest on the show. Do you get to adlib or improvise? I'm : dying to see outtakes! : ) StanKirsch : I do lots of adlibbing -- Adrian's running joke is that my lines are consistently : the farthest from the original script. : Lots of the outtakes are on a gag reel, which was played in Denver. Question : How can we get our :) feelings towards you and the series in general to the producers?? StanKirsch : Thanks! Write to Bill Panzer and David Abramowitz. : "Highlander", c/o SSA 16027 Ventura Blvd., Suite 206, Encino CA 91436 Question : Will we see more of Richie's past? StanKirsch : That's unlikely, as Richie never participates in flashbacks. However, I hope we see more : of Richie in the future, and learn more about what make this guy really tick. Question : Some day Dick Clark may drag out your old Campbell's Soup ad. :j Which spot was it, by the : way, and how long did they run it? StanKirsch : It was one of those "Mmm, mmm, good" spots -- I was four years old, and I don't : quite remember how long it ran for. Question : In SHADOWS, we finally see Duncan's deep affection for Richie (in his horror over hurting : the lad), and Richie's for Duncan ("I cannot kill you, Mac!"). To Richie, is Duncan more of a : father or a big brother? StanKirsch : He's more of a big brother, but really, an all-encompassing mentor. : As Richie did not have many positive role models in his life prior to meeting Duncan, : his older immortal friend has big shoes to fill. Question : How do you prepare for a role that is so different? Science fiction is one thing, but to : play someone that is immortal? (hopefully) !! :) StanKirsch : Because Richie still lives in the world as we know it, and must not give away : his immortality, it is important to play the character in a very human fashion. However, : there are situations that these characters get into in which they are able to display : perhaps an extraordinary amount of confidence as a result of their immortality. : As an actor, it's fun to play as if you have this gift. Question : Do you see a Highlander feature film with the TV cast in the future? StanKirsch : I think this is an excellent idea. There are constantly instances when, with more time : and money, we really have the chemistry and the knowledge to make this an excellent : project. Question : We love the "Highlander" series, but the past couple of weeks, all we've seen are reruns. : Are you done for the season or are there more coming? StanKirsch : There are more coming, four episodes I believe, beginning sometime in the near future. Question : Do you have any hobbies or special interests you can share with us? StanKirsch : I have very little free time. Most of it is spent with friends, family, going to movies, : and going out :) : However, my passion is my work, and the line between work and play is very fine for me. Question : I think you are doing a great job on Highlander. I think the chemistry between Ritchie : and Duncan is great and wondered if It was only professionaly that you get along or if you got : along as well off the set? StanKirsch : First, thank you very much. And no, it is not only professional. Adrian and I : are very lucky because we are good friends and it's quite easy to translate : this friendship to the screen. Question : How do you feel about the fan attention you are getting now, i.e. doing conventions, : getting fan letters, etc? StanKirsch : I love it! : Write more, and let's have more conventions. And by the way, : for those of you who do engage in letters to yours truly, I appreciate your : ongoing attentiveness and support. Question : Having worked in both Paris and North America, do you find any difference in the way : Europeans and Americans respond to the show or your character? StanKirsch : Not really. Although I think the Europeans take to the snide aspects of the character : a bit more. Question : Do you think Richie is playing it smarter in his first couple of years as an immortal than : Duncan did? I get the feeling Duncan survived his early years by pure, dumb luck! StanKirsch : Perhaps. But of course, Richie has the benefit of Duncan's guidance and friendship. Question : How does he end up paying for that innocence you mentioned a few questions ago? I saw at : least one of the related episodes, but nothing like that. StanKirsch : It wasn't exactly innocence, but naivete about the all-encompassing aspects of immortality : What I mentioned about the motorcycle storyline will be played out in the episodes to come : this season. Question : I know that you were a political science major in college. How did you switch from that to : acting? They're certainly two very different fields. Kind of. StanKirsch : Exactly. Kind of. As far as I'm concerned, politicians are some of the most ambitious : yet least talented actors around. As a young man, I did and still do take a strong : interest in politics. Question : Do you have your own Watcher or does Dawson pull double duty. This question has been : batting around on-line for awhile. StanKirsch : Good question -- and perhaps an interesting storyline for next year, as the answer : is yet to be addressed. Question : Who taught you more about swords, Adrian, Bob Anderson or F. Braun McAsh? StanKirsch : Adrian is very busy. Bob taught me the fundamentals of working with the sword and : making it part of you. : With F., I have experienced more speed and accuracy. Question : Will you be having a regular account on AOL and do you have a fan club yet? StanKirsch : I don't have a fan club, per se. : As far as AOL goes, I'll have to see... Question : Stan, how did you feel about Tessa's exit from the show? StanKirsch : Mixed -- because I really liked Alexandra as a person and as an actress, although : her departure from the show has certainly opened the door for more stories for : Adrian. I do miss her femininity on the set, I must say. Question : What other roles have you played? StanKirsch : The most interesting role I've ever played was that of a very successful young British : actor who explores many areas of his sexuality. Question : I understand a flashback of Richie's "death" was filmed, will it ever be shown? StanKirsch : It was filmed -- perhaps, but I would tend to doubt it. ErinM : Another nice comment from an audience member: Comment : I just wanted to tell you that I hope you stick around for the entire run of Highlander. : It's gotten to the point that I would be just as devastated if you left the show as if Adrian did : -- and I think a lot of other people would too. StanKirsch : Thank you very much -- this means a lot to me. Question : How much training did you have to endure to handle the sword(s) you use for the show? StanKirsch : While engaged in swordwork in a particular episode, I will spend most of my time : off the set, rehearsing the sequences. Question : There has been some discussion among fans in regard to a spinoff series featuring Richie : as an Immortal in his own right. How would you feel about this? StanKirsch : Great idea -- let's run with it... Question : If you had the opportunity to become Immortal, would you take it, and why or why not? StanKirsch : Probably not, because this would be quite limiting as an actor :) ErinM : Well, we've lost Stan, so we're going to wrap it up here. :) : Thanks to Stan for being with us tonight--at least until now-- : and to all of you for coming tonight. OnlineHost : Copyright 1995 America Online, Inc.