TREKCORE > VOY > EPISODES > REAL LIFE > Behind the Scenes

	In Janeway's gothic holonovel (program Janeway Lambda-1) Lindsey Haun plays the holodeck character Beatrice Burleigh in "Cathexis", "Learning Curve" and "Persistence of Vision".
	According to Robert Picardo, he has known Wendy Schaal, who plays Charlene, for many years. They have worked together several times, including times where she played his wife.
	The script introduces a new word to the Star Trek production vocabulary. Now, whenever the Doctor materializes the stage direction indicates that he "Zimmers in" (or conversely "Zimmers out"), the term "Zimmer" being derived from the Doctor's creator's name, Dr Zimmerman. The character's name Dr Zimmerman was probably named for Herbert Zimmerman on the production staff.
	Robert Picardo: "The episode where the Doctor has a holographic family is, I always think very fondly of that, for a couple of reasons. First of all, my wife is played by Wendy Schaal, who's been my friend for 25 years. She's played my wife in two or three different things, and we're just great pals, and so it was good just to work with her. But also because Anson Williams directed it, and because of his particular background he handled the change in tone in that show so adroitly. The first act of that script is like a 70s sitcom, sort of like 'The Partridge Family' or 'The Brady Bunch', you know, the way it's shot, the way it's lit. Everything about it was like an old sitcom. Then the second act, where the Doctor's family program has been randomized so that everybody's not so perfect in their behavior, became like a 90s sitcom where everybody's dissing Dad. Then suddenly it took this odd turn and became very dramatic, and the last part of the show is like an 'ER' episode where a child is going to die. And I think it's a real tribute to Anson's direction that all of those tones flow from one to another so gracefully, and that the show is quite touching. It starts out so silly and so ridiculous then really becomes quite touching by the end."
	Jeri Taylor: "The Doctor turned into the character that everyone wanted to write. By his nature, the fact that he was a holodeck character, it opened up just a vast range of possibilities. And there was again that quest for humanity and so to have a family is a very human thing. I think Real Life might've been one of his favorite episodes because it was allowing, if you will, a soulless character to develop those elements that are near and dear to us, and let him explore the joy and the anguish of what it means to have a family."
	From Janet's Star Trek Voyager Website