DB: Greetings and salutations. Don't ever take the last cookie. It's great to be here.

Question: How do you and the rest of the cast get along on Harsh Realm?

DB: Frighteningly well. Scott Bairstow is the nicest guy I ever met. If you ask me the same thing about C-16, I would have given you the same answer.

Question: Did you find your profession (acting) hard to tap into? How do you keep a positive attitude with so many other actors out there?

DB: It is a very tough profession to crack into. It can be difficult when you really want a part and get rejected, or worse, when they don't even let you audition. The actors that everyone is talking about get offered the best parts. I try not to make it the most important thing in my life. I'm interested in other things.

Question: Will The Weekend ever show in the US or go straight to video?

DB: The Weekend was screened last night in Los Angeles for distributors. It is being screened in New York and London. There are already a few bids out there. They are looking for the best deal so that everybody can get free cannoli.

Question: How long have you been acting?

DB: When I popped out of my mom, I actually tried to pretend I was a vacuum cleaner salesman and tried to go back to sleep. I guess you could say I was acting from the very beginning.

Question: What actors inspired you as a child?

DB: Well, Steve McQueen, Humphrey Bogart, later on Harrison Ford, I love Ed Harris. The actors I follow now are Ed Harris and Gary Sinise. I also love Peter Gallagher. He has the curse of a too-perfect face. Too perfect.

Question: What are your other interests, if you say acting isn't your priority?

DB: I said I have other interests. I love to play hockey at least 5-6 times a month. I'm an open ice whore. I'll go out on ice shows if she give me ice time. I have a site for winecabinet.com. We own that furniture company. We own it with two friends. We've grown 10 times already. We have a factory, and we sell to retailers including Pottery Barn and Eddie Bauer. It started as a goof, but it's now a really successful business. I spend a lot of time on that.

Question: What does D.B. stand for?

DB: When I'm on the golf course it's a Double Bogey. In England it's Dangerous Bloke. My mom and dad think it's Daniel Bernard. There are several other unprintable versions of it.

Question: Do you like the TV or movie world better?

DB: I look at it this way. The worst weekend is better than the best Monday. I'd rather be on TV with Chris Carter, the best writer on TV, than be in a movie with Pauly Shore. There are certain movies I'd love to be in, like The Sixth Sense. The distinction between TV and movies has blurred over the last 10 years.

Question: What drew you to doing Harsh Realm?

DB: Chris Carter's name and his involvement. The other two shows I did were Strange Luck and C-16. Unless you have Carter, John Wells, David Kelley or Bochco, you need strong writers. The networks take care of the good writers. Millennium was on for three years because of Carter. I'm not saying it wasn't a good show, but it lasted long by Carter's involvement.

Question: Do you have a significant other?

DB: Yes. I have a girlfriend actually.

Question: who is your biggest inspiration?

DB: Personally my family is the most important inspiration. And professionally it's Mr. Rogers. I just think the work he's done for children is inspiring.

Question: Hi D.B., Just wanted to know if you did all your own skating in The Cutting Edge? (P.S Montreal loves you!)

DB: I love Montreal. It is one of my favorite cities in the world. It's a much shorter flight than Europe and more beautiful. I did all the Hockey skating. I landed a single lutz by the end of the movie, but we used doubles for both, Moira Kelly broke her leg during the first week. She was a better skater than me. That's the funny part. She tried to do something very advanced and broke her leg.

Question: Are there any X-Files cast members involved in "Harsh Realm"? I heard a rumor about Gillian Anderson appearing in the pilot.

DB: Gillian Anderson does a voice-over cameo. Lance Henrickson is in the pilot. There are a lot of guest performers from X-Files that people will recognize. There are things in X-Files you'll recognize, but it's brighter in terms of scope and the look of it.

Question: How do you feel about the violence on tv and your part in it. Don't you feel there is too much already?

DB: No. There is more violence on the news that on most television shows. The problem is context. I think television producers can be more responsible. If you know the X-Files they are very good at suggesting the violence and showing the aftermath. We show the effects of the war and the violence. Saving Private Ryan always avoids the violence argument, but it's the most violent battle depicted.

Question: How did you get your start in acting?

DB: I did a Broadway play called the Caine Mutiny Court Marshall. I learned if you understudy a role you get an extra $10. I understudied 6 or 7 parts. An agent saw me and I was on my way.

Question: What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment as an actor?

DB: Working steadily and consistently for over 15 years and not having anything I'm really ashamed of.

Question: I really liked you in Strange Luck. Did you enjoy working on that show? What happened to it?

DB: I really enjoyed the character, Chance Harper, but the head writer wasn't very experienced. It's such a hard world to compete in, so as a result if one person isn't focused it filters on down, and the cast and crew suffers. We did some really good episodes, but the writing just wasn't there. I really liked that character.

Question: In the movie cutting edge, there was amazing tension between you and your partner in the beginning. How did you get along in reality?

DB: Moira Kelly and I got along great. Moira Kelly is a great girl. We're both from Long Island. We both had great chemistry. She reminded me of the girls whose hair I used to pull on the bus. A great talent underutilized. I look forward to seeing her on West Wing.

Question: What roles do you hope to see yourself playing in 15 years?

DB: The roles that I want to play are Brick in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Stanley in Streetcar, Long Day's Journey into Night. Jack Dempsey on film would be a role I'd like to tackle, I'd like to play JFK when I'm older. Somebody needs to take the wind out of Donald Trump, I'd like to do that in 30 years. When I look his age.

Question: did U enjoy the live performance of Broadway?

DB: I've only been on B-way once, and it was a long time ago. I've done a lot of plays but not on B-way. It's the most sophisticated audience in the world. It's the major leagues in terms of theater. I did Death of a Salesman in Seattle last year. It's a great theater town, but no comparison to B-way.

Question: Will you be in Spawn 2 if it is made?

DB: I did Spawn because my friend Mark Dippe directed it. It was a really bad script. The animated scripts are much better. I don't know. It was funny that New Line made the movie for $40 million. They cut corners on script instead of effects. We put together the best movie we could and they saw the finished version. And gave us more money for effects. But nothing for rewrites. I love the comic and the HBO show. Maybe Todd McFarlane will let me look at his baseballs.

Question: what do you like about the show?

DB: I get to play Mike Pinocchio. I get to run around with an MP5. I drive a 72 Chevy Malibu with chickwire on the windows. It's the coolest car since Starskey and Hutch. I defy you to find a better car. X-mas 2000 every kid will want one.

Tvgchat: Thanks, DB for chatting with us! We wish you the best and please come back soon!

DB: Thanks for listening and I hope the Yankees win tonight. If you watch Harsh Realm you won't be disappointed. The second episode is at least as good if not better than the pilot. The pilot is tomorrow. Stick with it if it doesn't seem clear right away.

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