When you are in your makeup, prosthetics, costume, especially as a method actor as many are, Armin included. He slips into the role and just lives there. Notice later after he's got all of it off, his demeanor is different, not dramatically, but he sounds and feels human again. But when you in it, you feel you can do things you wouldn't otherwise do, be what you otherwise wouldn't. It is a strange sensation but you really do feel like a different person.
It’s amazing how the makeup around his eyes is what really completes the look. Before it was applied, he still looked like Armin Shimerman, but once it was on, he was instantly Quark. On a side note, Quark is the best. And it was a deeply uncomfortable moment for me when I realized he was my favorite DS9 character. (After Garak, of course.)
That’s funny because when I see Shimerman I see Quark. He’s my favorite character on the DS9. I loved the episode where all the characters appeared without their makeup.
@@PatrickTMcWilliams garak as well, for me it was the 3 of them and their interactions with the rest of the cast. sadly, we wont see any more trek any time soon... just... more... STDs.... it wont end till are all itchy, covered in warts, and screaming "it burns" every time we have to take a piss.....
It’s so easy to forget that there was a time where all this Star Trek stuff was really new and unknown, and still being thought of. I’m so used to all of Star Trek just EXISTING
That's the one thing I always take for granted with all the Star Trek shows, TNG and newer, is just how awesome of a job Michael Westmore does on the makeup/facial designs of the alien races. The way he can make a face completely alien like Quark yet still let the actor shine through with facial expressions, certain looks, my favorite was that crazy Klingon Gowron, one stern look from that stone face and piercing eyes would make you shit your pants.
I was on the 2018 Star Trek cruise (week II) and Armin would be on the Lido deck having breakfast with us on the cruise. It was great. He's an amazingly humble person. He did a class on the ship on how to read Shakespeare. It was stellar.
I met him over 40 years ago. He and my Dad were in the cast of the 1976 Broadway production of "The Threepenny Opera" (Shimmerman is the beggar on the cover of the cast album) and a couple of years later, Shimmerman was appearing in a production of Cole Porter's "Silk Stockings" (as "Brankov," the part played by Peter Lorre in the 1957 movie) at Equity Library Theater in Manhattan. We went to see the show and afterwards, Shimmerman and some of his cast mates came back to our apartment, which was nearby. I remember one of us sitting on the floor of our living room, but I can't remember if it was Shimmerman or me! He did seem to be a very nice guy. I guarantee that he would not remember me, but he'd remember my Dad.
I think that's why doing makeup is better than masks, because the actor still comes through so much, and then you can recognize them even out of makeup.
Just a thought it would’ve been cool to have a DS nine episode where quark accidentally breaks a vile of DNA reconfiguration fluid from an illegal cargo he got shipped to him and he became human and than Armin would play the human version (without the makeup). Since he still looks like Quark
Yeah I thought that was an interesting promotional move, pretty cool. Make the show a little more accessible for this audience by showing the great makeup work and all the talent and time that goes into it and not talk so much about the sci-fi itself. Even as a die-hard sci-fi fan it's cool to see another perspective.
@@antourte1 Indeed. And I love that the title underneath him says "Quark" instead of his real name. He basically even did this interview AS that character, not just in costume. And I agree that Michael Westmore is a genius (and a humble one, too, if you've ever seen him in interviews).
@@themonkeyhand I know that that's kind of what I was saying early in the show they had no idea what was coming and then the character of Moogie stepped up and was a badass.
Imagine the dedication to go back in time hundreds of years and appearing on "live" TV in front of a bunch of hu-mons all in the name of publicising your bar. Quark truly is the greatest Ferengi.
I always thought of Quark's character as being somewhat like a Depression-era speakeasy owner. He's a gangster: smart, ruthlesss but not a thug. He's a guy who gets what he wants(except Major Kira, of course)
One year, Regis was dressed up as a Ferengi for Halloween, and went out onto the street and talked to people in NYC. I believe they had the Star Trek makeup people come and suit him up so he looked very authentic.
His personality is a force of nature. Humble, bashful, yet energetic and warmly enthusiastic to his works and fans alike, even to this day. A truly wonderful man. Also the makeup lady as pretty as she is, has the physique of a lady that does Judo and could snap a man like a twig.
I'm loving all of the Kathie Lee hate in these comments. Such a grating personality, I don't know how she moved up to the Today Show where she's just as obnoxious.
Josiah Silas Michael I'm honestly not understanding the hate. She doesn't seem annoying in this at all. She seems to be enjoying the interview a lot and having fun with it.
She's pretty much the embodiment of a traditional midwest mom- nice, outgoing, and a mix of borderline bewilderment and "does not compute". I believe she thinks Trek is silly, and probably misunderstands what makes it good, but it's clear she is trying to be polite. This was the early 90's, and the Ferengi in general - Quark in particular - probably seem like repulsive, irredeemable villains to Kathie Lee. That's kinda how they come across when they first appeared in TNG anyway, so it wouldn't surprise me.
Armin Shimerman is a genius. I've loved Buffy for years and think Snyder is such an ingenious character, now watching DS9 for the first time and appreciating this guy's work even more
@@orgonkothewildlyuntamed6301 That’s more of an insult to “the garbage today” than a compliment to them. This is bad, so if you’re saying hosts today are worse, they must be REALLY friggin’ bad.
"Here's the lady who works so hard every day, who does his makeup for three hours straight while he sits down and relaxes!" "Oh, should we get her a chair then?" "Nah."
I thought the same thing, although it's probably down to the fact they knew they were wrapping up the segment anyway, and it's almost as awkward to do a "musical chairs" thing where the OTHER person then has to stand. Also tbh Armin was kind of squirming in the "chair" and semi-sitting/semi-standing at various points, I doubt they're that comfy haha.
I so miss Quark and Armin's portrayal. Will have to watch DS9 all over again. Is Armin in another show? I would watch it because I think he's a phenomenal actor.
Lakers14 Star Trek interviews on mainstream tv are rarely, if ever, good. After all it’s something that attracts a niche group and not the mainstream population. Obviously everyone knows it exists but very few proportionally watch it.
my how times have changed. I cant believe how disprespectful the interviewers were. Then again, you couldn't just Wikipedia 'Quark' before an interview. you wouldn't see an interview like this in this day and age.
You guys have to take into account that sensibilities were different back then. These two represent your average mainstreamer parent-types, the kind who stick to traditional lifestyles and don't stray into things like Star Trek. They've likely seen it once as a kid and thought it was boring and that was that. They associate Star Trek with nerds, and quite frankly, nerds were not as prevalent back then and generally thought of as "dorks". It's obvious Trek isn't their thing, but keep in mind the episode was billed as being full of weird and even weirder stuff. It didn't look like Armin minded one bit.
I'd imagine they see Star Trek as "Oh that's where those people and Spock fly around in space and - oh! - don't they shoot lasers at the bad guys with the bumpy heads?"
I think the disrespect has taken a different nature. As Rafe puts it, they prefer to represent more the parent types. But today we still have people like Ellen Degeneres and Jimmy Fallon. They aren't as cringey now as much as they are angering/aggravating. But a lot of that has to do with the passage of time, you could say it "hasn't aged well." And iirc there were people at the time that didn't like Regis and Kathy, but there are also people today that don't like Ellen or Fallon. Personally I would consider Ellen worse, afaik nobody left in tears on that show, but at least one guest has on Ellen's.
I know this is an old segment, but American TV programs are so condescending, idiotic and talk to their audience like children, unbelievable how it was not abandoned.
You think that's bad? Good Morning America around this time made fun of Star Trek: The Next Generation so badly that Patrick Stewart stormed home in a huff.
Kathy sucked. Regis sucked. This was such an awkward interview. Armin seemed to be the only one into it at all. He just said he spent 3hrs in make-up, just for that spot. It's rude.
It doesn’t help that they were asking a bunch of weird questions or that the only clip of Quark they used before having Armin on was a scene where he molested Kira, etc. That just was not a good interview.
well they're not really sure how to react to someone in full makeup and costume. They don't seem to really know how to conduct an interview with regular people either but with Armin in full gear they have no idea how to respond. Which I suppose sells their "down to earth" image for suburban folks. I enjoy wearing costumes out in public cause I'm an adult and I can wear what I want outside and now that I'm 40 I'm just old enough where I don't care about anyone's view of me except me. And I usually encounter people who have no idea how to respond or react. Go shopping looking like a plague doctor and you get people who want a picture of you cause they think it's cool, people who want to know where you got the costume and then you get those people I love who have no idea how to interact with you. They don't know if they should talk to you like a regular person or not and if you try playing up a character by role playing you can sometimes see in their eyes if their gears are turning, if things click into place and they relax or if they just completely snap and look at you like a deer in the headlights. No sense of fun.
@@glenngriffon8032 Plague doc is a great choice. It's a costume I've always wanted. You have a selection of "regulars" that you use often or switch it up?
@@DeetotheDubs I also enjoy dressing like a princess. My mom was a tomboy and she didn't really like me wearing dresses when I was little. I shop a lot at holy clothing online, they have nice stuff.
Personally, I have been enjoying the acting of Armin Shimerman, formerly "Quark" of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine." I would LOVE to see him play the role of "Dr. Sivana" in a revival of the "SHAZAM" franchise at some point in the future. Shimerman is so unique in his talent that he could have won either an Oscar or an Emmy.
It's so easy to forget how much work goes on behind the scenes. I have a very talented friend who works with animation. Her & her team won a BAFTA a few years ago.
I have a whole new appreciation for Armin Shimmerman after watching this interview. I really didn't care for all the digs Regis and Kathie had at the Quark makeup. I know they didn't know how to react to the makeup but I would've liked to express how impressive the creativity and skill behind creating the makeup than the comments about how repulsive Quark looks. I also used to think Quark looked gross but now view the makeup as a work of art.
Grr, I hate when Regis says (Quark) " has a way about him, doesn't he? And Kathie says "not with me!" She is such a dolt...she just doesn't get it. Quark is awesome and YES, he DOES have a way about him. My favorite Ferengi of all time!
@ted dymski It's not about sci-fi at all, it's that yelping "I swear I'm not attracted to that person" is just a sad and weird thing to do. If it's a joke, then you're missing the joke, and if it's serious, then you're just being kind of dickish for no reason. Like, chill out, nobody was suggesting you go out with him, lady.
I mean, the clip they played wasn’t a great representation of the character. He’s like that, but he’s more than that, and she’s reacting to the clip, I guess.
Ah the good old days where shows; whether talk or news; relayed facts unknown to you and introduced interesting people like Armin and Karen. Ah the good ol days.
