Having been on Star Trek: Voyager for seven years did not win Robert Picardo a free pass onto The 4400, the USA Network show co-created by Rene Echevarria and executive produced by Ira Steven Behr. Although he had met the two writer-producers, who had been involved with both Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine, "I had to read just like any other actor," he said.

Picardo, who appears in a guest role on The 4400 on Sunday, explained to Zap2It that he plays an abductee returned suddenly to Earth with a modification that enables his saliva to accelerate human metabolism and weight loss. "I'm the first person to commercially market my special ability, but I do not lick people on the show. That's in the European version," the actor joked.

In the episode "Weight of the World", Picardo claimed that he plays "a good guy", though he admitted to being "a little self-centered and a little self-deluded. I am most concerned with taking care of myself and my daughter first." As to whether the character will return, he speculated, "There are only 4,399 returnees left now that we've exposed my identity...I'm thinking that by the year 2041, I'm going to be back on, and maybe sooner."

The actor is definitely reprising his recurring role on Stargate SG-1, which enters its ninth season this week. In two previous episodes he played Richard Woolsey, "kind of a military think-tank guy who stared out as a villain to threaten the leadership at Stargate Command." In his second episode, however, he discovered and exposed governmental corruption, "so I went from being this hatchet-man jerk to being totally redeemed."

Picardo's episode of The 4400 will air on June 19th, while no date has been announced yet for his return to Stargate: SG-1. These interview excerpts are from Zap2It.

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