Are you working on any new projects?
Ted is directing 2 Rock videos. He has been doing TV for 10 years straight, and now he wants to do features instead.

Are you really afraid of horses?
Ted says he hates horses. he was born in Detroit - the first time he saw a horse he was 23 and it was at the petting zoo. In the show Joxer usually pulls it, and is rarely seen riding it. Ted once rode Argo lite - a tame version of Argo.

Did you ever get injured on set?
Renee O'Connor never injured him - except once, in Married with Fish-sticks. Renee had her eyes shut for a wide shot, and had to punch him. She's 5ft 3, weighs - 80lbs, according to Ted! :)

Tell us about the Lesbian Subtext on xena
The 2 women leads didn't have BFs, some people wrote to Tapert and asked Are they gay? He was going to say no, but didn't reply. Everyone assumed they were lesbians. The writers deliberately set up a subtext. In one episode Joxer asks Gabby Is that a hickey?, and Renee blushes.

Is it difficult working in New Zealand?
NZ is like England lite - and England weird. Ted says that he doesn't like the food. Also, the Kiwis have different terminology there.

Was it fun working on DSV?
His DSV role was exposition guy, telling Roy Scheider what the plot was. Ted also mentioned how Darwin the dolphin loved waiting until you were waist-deep in water and then tripping you - and you had to go straight back to make-up!

Any anecdotes about the Directors you've worked with?
In the episode In Sickness and in Hell Joxer gives everyone diahorrea. He gives a nasty stew to the army, and the director [a kiwi] insisted the results be shown. The US censors aren't too keen on things like that.

Bruce Campbell [actor-turned director] puts in extra things if they look funny.

Tell us about the going-away present you got after your character was killed.
Ted always hated the Joxer helmet, because it made him look stupid. Of course, that's the idea, but he still hated it. Renee O'Connor gave Ted a going-away present; a book of photos [all cast and crew wearing the hat].

Ted was so glad to be on Xena, not DSV - he did his own stunts. He knew he was overdoing it when he knew the hospital receptionist by name.

Ted played a joke on Tim Omundson - he had Lucy and Renee treat Tim like sh*t at his first audition. Tim promised to get even some day.

Lyre Lyre, Heart on Fire was the hardest episode. Ted rehearsed with the Auckland Jazz Dance Company. They had 4 days practice for every minute on-screen.

What is Rob Tapert like?
Rob Tapert has a very distinctive voice

How did you get the role of Joxer?
Ted was just back from Florida [DSV]. He was leaving a bad audition - he knew he hadn't got the part - and bumped into Rob Tapert in the street. Rob asked him Hi Ted, would you like to go to NZ and work?

Are you going to be in your brother's new movie?
Sam's doing Spiderman - Ted hasn't got a part. Yet. He plans to turn up on set to visit his brother, then ask who's playing guard #1?

What is the clumsiest thing you've ever done?
Ted - There are children present!

He rolled down hill last year, on one of the Chinese episodes. The crew were so used to his clutzyness they just glanced down to see if he was OK, then went back to what they were doing.

Does it upset you to get flack from fans?
It bugged Ted a lot at first, then he just switched off his computer. Ted has no time for nerds who call themselves things like Shadowdancer and Windwalker.