While at the Saturn awards, Robert Picardo spoke with IESB about his role as Richard Woolsey in Stargate: SG-1 and Atlantis.
Warning… the interview has mild casting-related spoilers for SG-1 Season 10 and SGA Season 3.
This transcript of relevant excerpts is provided courtesy of Elyse at sg1_spoilme. You may watch the video here at IESB.net as well. We find it amusing that Robert uses the term “stunt casting” in reference to RDA’s guest appearances on Atlantis. Though he uses it in a positive way, some fans haven’t. 
RP: “Oh yes, I”ve been to Atlantis a couple of times. In fact I just heard today that I’m going back to Atlantis. I did the two part opener and now I’m doing the mid-season two part(er). And I have quite a bit to do and it has some surprises that I’m not at liberty to divulge, for two reasons: I’m not suppposed to say and secondly I haven’t read the script yet, but I know it’s a BIG surprise. I know I’m the bearer of big news… My character, Mr. Woolsey, is sort of like the bad news guy. He comes there and he’s the guy you love to hate. He means well but he acts like a jerk, so I think I”ll be doing that again. But they kind of made me a little more of a human being. Made me a little nicer. I’m not gleeful in being a tough guy, but this time I come to deliver a big bombshell, I think.”
IESB talks about length of Stargate.
RP: “I think the 11th season for SG1, isn’t it? 10th. 10th or 11th, yeah, it’s up there. Yeah, I think it’s going to beat Gunsmoke [that ran 20 years]. Anyway, it’s a great show. The producers and the writing staff and the actors – they all treat me wonderfully, are happy to see me come back and I really, really enjoy doing it. I’m happy that they’ve given my character more and more to do and I think it’s going to be a really exciting new season. I’m privy to some of the secrets of the premieres of both shows, SG1 and Atlantis, and there are a lot of big bombshells in store, so I think you’re going to see a real spike in their viewerships come this July.”
IESB: It (SG-1) gets better and better and Atlantis has got its groove now.
RP: “I agree, and as far as SG1 is concerned, it’s a company of actors that know each other so well and are so comfortable around each other that it’s a pleasure to see them work together and their characters have gotten so much richer and deeper. I love the addition of Ben Browder to that show. And Atlantis… you know, most science fiction shows really hit their stride in the third season. I think it happened with Next Generation and I think it happened to an extent with Voyager in season three, and I think you’re going to really find that Atlantis this season really, really, hits a new level, because the excitement is there, the company of actors gets to know each other well and they’re also doing some really interesting stuntcasting, if I may be so bold, and of course you’ve heard the big surprise about RDA, right? – Richard Dean Anderson – He’s back. So, yeah. And I will have my first scene with him in a couple of weeks. I’m very excited about that because I’ve never – although I’ve met him a number of times over the years I’ve never actually had a scene with him in the show.”
IESB then talked with RP about Star Trek and the changes.