Last weekend, I had the pleasure of going to the Big Apple Comic Con, which was a whole lot less about comics and a whole lot more about meeting cool celebrities. Among said cool celebrities was Mike Hogan, who you may know better as Saul Tigh, the one-eyed, alcoholic bastard of a Cylon who has worked his way into many a fan’s heart. As a journalist, I found his acting experience intriguing and the way he developed his character unique. As a geek, I believe my only thought was “Oh my god, oh my god, I’m meeting Saul Tigh — this is awesome.” Talking to him about his work on Battlestar Galactica was indeed awesome, but what really threw me for a loop was the announcement that new Battlestar episodes may be coming our way, if The Plan, an upcoming movie that delves into the motivations of the Cylons, does well, that is. So go out and buy The Plan, and we might well get to see more Saul Tigh on the airwaves, “gods damn it”! For more swearing, drinking, and frakkin toasters, read on!

Our Favorite Cylon

30 NINJAS: Hey, it’s great to finally meet my favorite one-eyed, alcoholic Cylon.

MICHAEL HOGAN: I can’t see. Gods damn it.

30 NINJAS: So, my first question is a little personal: What’s it like playing an alcoholic?

MH: Well, I had to do an awful lot of research. And that was rough on me, but I saw it through. So I know what it feels like to drink now. I’m good at it.

30 NINJAS: Jack Daniels kinda of research?

MH: If I had to, I did, yep.

30 NINJAS: Were you a fan of the original Battlestar when they asked you to take this role?

MH: No, I wasn’t, and that doesn’t mean I didn’t like it, but that I never watched it. I have worked with Lorne Greene, but I think that was prior to him doing Battlestar Galactica. But once this job came up I deliberately didn’t see it because it would have just gotten in the way. My thought was: Why think of the original when we’re doing this one?

30 NINJAS: So what attracted you to the role then?

MH: Well, Michael Rymer was directing it, with Edward James Olmos playing Adama, so I knew it was serious.

30 NINJAS: So on that sort of note, you’re in The Plan, that’s coming up. What was it like acting under Edward James Olmos?

MH: It was great. He had directed quite a few episodes of Battlestar Galactica, so we knew each other very well by then. It was an absolute delight to be directed by Eddie.

30 NINJAS: Was it strange going back in time to your pre-Cylon Saul Tigh?

MH: No, not really. I mean people always ask me what are my favorite scenes of Battlestar Galactica, and I’d always say the flashbacks because [back then] I had two eyes and I could laugh. (laughs) And I was usually with Ellen.

30 NINJAS: So about the early days, how did you evolve the character to make it more interesting? How did you make Saul Tigh your own character?

MH: Once again, I’m going to have to go after Michael Rymer, who is the one who is responsible, ultimately, for the casting of the Battlestar Galactica, and he loves working with actors. We created the character of Saul Tigh together, and I have to say, [the experience] was great.

30 NINJAS: Oh so you had a hand in creating then?

MH: Yeah, basically they didn’t know where that character was going to go when we started out. I think if you watch it from the beginning, you’ll see that in a lot of characters. I mean, I think they knew who Saul Tigh was, but they didn’t know what he was made of and what he was going to do. A lot of the characters they wrote to the actors as the thing was developing.

30 NINJAS: Actually, I asked this of Aaron Douglas as well, but did you know that you were a Cylon from the beginning?

MH: No, I had no idea. I didn’t know anything until we shot the episode before that episode. But apparently Aaron Douglas knew, right?

30 NINJAS: Actually he said he didn’t know …

MH: Oh! Ok.

30 NINJAS: The wool is being pulled over someone’s eyes here.

MH: Maybe he didn’t, but I didn’t know. I was totally surprised and was not happy about it, but in the long run I’m honored that, as an actor, they chose me to be one of the final five, so I’m honored.

30 NINJAS:So was it difficult to evolve as Saul Tigh as a Cylon since you had such short notice to do so?

MH: No, because we had been … I’d been in the skin of Saul for so many years. I can’t say that it was easy, but I certainly would’ve had a bigger problem with it if it had happened earlier and probably wouldn’t have accepted it. By the time they had to make the decision, they put the burden on my shoulders. I can’t say it was difficult. It was fascinating.

30 NINJAS: So other than The Plan, do you think we’ll get to see more Saul Tigh and Battlestar? Because, on a personal note, you’re my favorite Cylon.

MH: Hey, you’re saying that on the air! Well, according to the network and Edward James Olmos, if The Plan does well, and if enough units are sold when it comes out, then the network will do more Battlestar Galactica.

30 NINJAS: Awesome! Thank you so much for talking with us!

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