Sam J Jones, "Aris Boch" in Stargate SG-1

Sam J Jones: Sam Jones, aka Flash Gordon, if you’re not watching Dial the Gate, you’re watching the wrong show.

David Read: Sam Jones

Sam J Jones: Yes.

David Read: Aris Boch!

Sam J Jones: Aris Boch, SG-1, the bounty hunter!

David Read: Can you believe that this thing still has the legs that it does from one episode?

David Read: It’s crazy.

David Read: People are still talking about this thing. What was it like stepping into the shoes of this character?

Sam J Jones: Well, a huge blessing. I mean, what’s cool about this is the show itself already had a huge off-the-charts following, big time, yeah. So I had the greatest time, Richard, everybody, was really good to me. Very difficult show for me, because I like to improvise.

David Read: Ah, in sci-fi you can’t.

Sam J Jones: As an actor you can get into… I mean, and I get it, you know, all the beats, the pronunciations, you have to follow it, but they worked with me. They were very patient with me. But yeah, it’s what’s really cool about this. When people see this for the first time on my table, they’ll say, “Wait a minute. That was you?” So that’s a compliment, that’s a compliment that they didn’t know. That was me, even watching it.

David Read: You disappear, you recede into the performance.

Sam J Jones: Yes, so anyway, yeah, that’s cool. Yeah.

David Read: It is a fan favorite for many people. The amount of times that I’ve been — I’ve been covering the show since a couple of seasons after you were on, it the amount of times that people continually reach out online and say, “When are we going to see him again? What’s going on?” You made a significant impression to a franchise that has 350 episodes of television with just that one — seventeen seasons. People love the character, and you made them care, and you set, I think, a precedent for a lot of the bounty hunter kind of characters that came later.

Sam J Jones: Wow.

David Read: So it’s, it’s such a cool legacy.

Sam J Jones: I didn’t know that history. That’s pretty cool.

David Read: Absolutely. I know that you were a man of faith.

David Read: Oh, yeah, we gotta be. Look, we have two options, life with God, life without God. I’m not talking religion, I’m talking about a relationship. I’ve tried both. So I have postured myself from this day forward that I need that wisdom and that advice. Because, why? I’m a lot of work, OK?

Sam J Jones: A lot of us are, yeah, absolutely.

David Read: Men in general, are a lot of work. Ask my wife, am I a lot of work? Yes,

David Read: Your documentary was great.

David Read: That’s cool.

David Read: Tthat was a really special film. And I’m really glad that you were a part of that. And I would love to be able to talk with you about your journey more thoroughly at some point in the future.

Sam J Jones: Yes, of course. Yeah. Well, I just keep it simple. David, meaning, the journey is okay. As men, we better learn — and I was a slow learner. So it’s all about choices. So there’s always consequences. Whether it’s a bad choice or a good choice, always consequences. So now in my older age, now which I love this time of my life. I can make my decisions a lot wiser, but instantaneously. No, I won’t be climbing that mountain with you. No, I won’t be camping out in the wilderness for two weeks doing that. You know, when you get older, you just say, “No.” You don’t worry so much about hurting feelings. Now, I consider myself very encouraging, but my wife would say, “Yes,” I’m “abrasively encouraging.”

David Read: Not mean spirited. Just what you see is what you get.

Sam J Jones: Well I just keep it simple. You know what? Keep remain prayed up. Don’t make it about religion. Make it about a relationship. And that, to me, is the edge, no matter what relationship, no matter with another human being, or no matter what industry we’re in That, to me is the edge, and it’s good to get intelligence, but there’s something greater than intelligence, and that’s wisdom. Big difference.

David Read: I have a quote on Dial the Gate, make good ripples.

Sam J Jones: Make good ripples! OK!

David Read: That’s it. Aris Boch, Sam Jones, thank you, sir.

Sam J Jones: You’ve got it, buddy.

David Read: Thank you!