This interview is part of a series of interviews from the red carpet of Warner Bros.’ “Television Out Of The Box” exhibit at the Paley Center in Beverly Hills, CA. To read all of KSiteTV’s “Out Of The Box” coverage so far go here.
Those who are unfamiliar with the origins of the V franchise may have remembered Jane Badler’s “Diana” as the Big Bad of the classic series – but before Diana, the Visitors had a Supreme Commander – “John,” played by the talented Richard Herd, whose credits also include Star Trek: Voyager, Seinfeld, and T.J. Hooker. We caught up with Mr. Herd at the premiere of the Warner Bros. “Television Out Of The Box” exhibit, where the head of what Herd describes as “one of our serpent friends” as well as an original Visitor spaceship model can be found on display.
Herd looks back fondly at his role in the original two V mini-series, and is very proud of how well V did for NBC. “That show got a 34 share. One of the biggest numbers NBC ever got,” he points out. His character “John” was killed in the second mini-series, V: The Final Battle, but there was actually a chance that might not have been the end for him. “You know, anything could happen in space,” he teases. “They talked to me about the [weekly] series after that, but it never happened. They said ‘we have you signed to a series contract.’ I said ‘but I’m dead!’ It didn’t, but that’s okay. I really enjoyed doing the ten-hour mini-series,” he tells us.
That was not the only time he could have returned to the V franchise. There was talk of bringing Herd on to ABC’s V reinvention if the show had gone on to a third season. “They were going to bring me on for the third season for the new one. They were going to bring me on as a hologram,” he reveals.
What is Herd up to these days? He’s starring in Betty White’s new TV show, Off Their Rockers, which airs Wednesday nights on NBC. Perhaps an episode where an older gentleman rips off his skin to reveal a lizard face underneath is on the way?
Come back tomorrow for another “Television Out Of The Box” interview with a TV favorite! If you’re curious to revisit the original V, the first mini-series and more are available on DVD.
1 Comment
Great to hear from Richard Herd, I had hoped that he would appear in the new V but sadly it was cancelled before its time.
Interesting to see him working with Betty White again – I remember him guesting in an episode of the Golden Girls as her character Rose’s love interest!