The following interview contains some mild profanity, non-conservative viewpoints, and religious skepticism. It is really cool and interesting, however. If these kinds of things offend you, do not read further, however if they do not it is well worth your time to read on. While we here at Republibot are conservatives, we feel that it is extremely important to ask questions and listen to all the answers before making up one's mind, and that simply can not happen if there are no dissenting viewpoints. Hence, when someone is kind enough to grant us an interview, it is our policy to let them say whatever they want without bugging them about it or censoring them.
PLEASE NOTE:
Read at your own risk
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Today we’re speaking with actor Keith Hamilton Cobb, honestly, I think, one of the most compelling actors working on the small screen in the past decade or two. Mr. Cobb is probably best known as “Noah Keefer” from “All My Children” back in the nineties, but among geeks like us, he’s immediately identified as “Tyr Anasazi” from “Gene Roddenberry’s Andromeda.” He’s won a number of awards, and was nominated for a daytime Emmy. In addition to all that, he’s just arrestingly cool.
Mister Cobb, thank you very much for talking with us today
KEITH HAMILTON COBB:
Thank you. I'm really extremely flattered by your interest, and moved by your generous accolades. I'm also quite moved by your many smart questions, several of which have no easy answers, and I'm hoping my responses are to your satisfaction. On that note, let me apologize in advance for any typos. My supposed-to-be-the best-ever twenty-six-hundred dollar Mac Power book drops caps constantly, in addition to which, I get going with the intensity of wanting to clearly and completely respond and I tend to misspell or mis-punctuate stuff. I hope you'll bear with me.
REPUBLIBOT 3.0:
Not a problem at all. My computer fights me constantly, and my spelling is idiomatic at best.
We’re basically a Science Fiction fansite, and you’ve got a number of genre credits under your belt. I guess the most obvious place to start is to ask if you like Science Fiction?
COBB:
Yes. I was introduced to Science Fiction by my father, who took me to see Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey in huge, mind-bending 70 millimeter when I was a boy. (Can you imagine having been introduced to such a film now, in one of the screening rooms of your local 47-plex?!!) It changed my life, I think. But also being introduced to Arthur C. Clarke in that way enabled me to draw a very distinct line between science fiction and science fantasy. One has its foundation in science, the other, if it has a foundation at all, is generally built on bullshit. I haven't much of a tolerance for bullshit.
Keith Hamilton Cobb
R3:
Are there any particular shows or books or films in the genre that really jump out at you as favorites?
COBB:
Yes, there are several. There is the book and film mentioned above. I was equally fascinated by both Clarke's sequel novels, "2010," and "2061." I have not read "3001." After him I remember enjoying Ray Bradbury's short stories very much. I appreciated George R. Stewart's "Earth Abides," and David Gerrold's "The Man Who Folded Himself." This last was an interesting stab at the time travel genre, and I always appreciate the effort. Gerrold has a dedication in the book to Larry Niven, whom he claims told him that time travel is impossible and is probably right. I appreciated the candor in that remark preceding his story, which is full of improbability, impossibility in fact, as time travel stories always are, but certainly a unique take. We've all watched as every attempt at this has painted itself into a corner, then clearly walked all over the wet paint, and hoped we didn't notice. I thought Gerrold's was a valiant effort, and raised some very novel ideas. But I'm off on a tangent. Those are a few of the works that stand out in my experience. (I feel like I need to note that this work of David Gerrold's falls far more squarely into the science fantasy category, as
Dude, no, Lenny's a spindly little pencilnecky guy, about 5'7" The only similarity is the hair. Keith is a 6'4" slab of imposing. Put 'em in the same booth at a Dennys at 3AM and see which one people gravitate towards.
The Artist Formerly Known As Republibot 3.0