The Canadian-born Shanks is returning for the show's third season as Jackson, first played by James Spader in the original 1994 movie (directed by Independence Day and Godzilla's Roland Emmerich) "James Spader is such a watchable screen presence that it was a bit intimidating at first to step into those shoes and not muck it up!" comments Shanks, who says to expect Jackson to be less impulsive and more grounded this season. "I'm growing with the character and making him all my own. There's a definite maturity developing."

Before you think itís all fun and games on the set, here's another scenario to picture: You're hanging from a ceiling in a restrictive harness, eveloped in a cocoon with slime and fleshy bits dripping off of you. It's about as comfortable as a root canal, and you have to hang there for two hours! The reality of working on a special FX-laden show has reared its ugly head. "On todayís shoot, the base was being taken over by aliens," Shanks explains. "We were hanging in 'cocoons' all day trying to make idle chatter, but we had to sit there with our backs hurting while they set up lights!"

As for story detalis on the upcoming season, Shanks is keeping mum and enjoying it! "Expect a little sex, a little violence, a little rock and roll. You can also expect my hair to be shorter next season," he says with that "I know something you don't" tone. When asked if there anything he'd like SCI-FI TEEN readers to know, he says (still evading the plotline issue) that he thinks Ricky Martin isn't gay and the band The Tragically Hip is underrated. Fine, Michael be that way! The actor loves to be rebellious and tongue-in-cheek-just like his favorite fiction hero, Han Solo. It's all a far cry from his original goal of being a professional athlete. "My ambition was to play on the Canadian National Hockey Team," he rememebers. But as his sport became more and more competitive, he realized that he was having more fun doing school plays. With his interest shifting toward acting, he even happened upon the set of MacGyver and watched his future co-star in action. These days, performing is the priority and hockey merely a stress-reliever. "I strap on the skates and forget everything," he says. "I'm just a rural, hockey-playing redneck at heart!"

Growing up a TV addict, Shanks was raised on Battlestar Galactica Space, Space: 1999, Dukes of Hazzard and Starsky and Hutch. "When I first got into this business,î" he reveals, "I told my friends that all I wanted was to fire a gun onscreen. After that, I could retire. Doing this show, I haven't been disappointed. I've fired just about every weapon, done dive rolls and been hit by blasts!" He's not completely fearless, though. "There are some elements of stuntwork that scare the bejeezus out of me!" Still, with eight more episodes left to shoot for this season, and the show a hit syndication on Fox as well as in its first-run airings on Showtime, it doesn't look like Shanks will be retiring just yet.