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Although two episodes have aired featuring Robert Picardo and his character of Richard Woolsey as the new expedition leader, the former "Star Trek: Voyager" actor admits that it may take a while for fans to adjust to his new role in "Stargate: Atlantis."

Especially as fans first grew to love Torri Higginson, and later Amanda Tapping.

"I was at the premiere for ['Stargate: Continuum' Thursday] night, which was pretty spectacular," Picardo told thousands of people who crowded into a ballroom at Comic-Con International in San Diego. "I've never been at a premiere on top of an aircraft carrier before. And when I laid eyes on Amanda, she was so beautiful. Even I would rather watch her than me."

Picardo described Tapping as a "terrific actress, but "I don't look like I am trying to replace her in any way. In fact, I'm trying to provide a middle-aged, bald alternative."

That alternative, joked co-executive producer Martin Gero, has been "sorely underrepresented" in the Stargate universe.

Woolsey, however, will be a bit different than his numerous appearances on both "Stargate: SG-1" and "Atlantis," especially as writers have now been able to define the character quite a bit more.

"We find out that Woolsey is divorced, and his wife got the dog in the divorce," Picardo said. "This is a guy for me who is really a briefing room guy, a theorist, who is thrown into the action and has to make the decisions. He's used to evaluating others, so this is really new to him. He knows all the rules, but is now trying to make himself into a leader. He first has to learn how to interact with other people, because he is kind of a prick."

"Atlantis" this season will have some strong guest roles. Michael Shanks will return as Daniel Jackson in the fifth season's two-parter, a role Gero said normally would be heavily focused on the "Atlantis" mythology. Instead, the story will focus more around Jackson, and be kind of a standalone.

Also making their way back for at least one episode is Tapping herself, who had to leave "Atlantis" after one season when SciFi Channel picked up "Sanctuary," which will premiere in the fall.

"Atlantis," however, also will get a special kind of guest. Neil deGrasse Tyson, the host of "Nova ScienceNOW" on PBS and a noted physicist will make a guest appearance this season.

"I had to go and explain the show to him, and he thought most of the science was pretty OK," Gero said. "It was a really weird hour, explaining fake Stargate science, and he would be like, 'No, no, that can happen, no.'"

"Atlantis" fans, however, will grow to like Woolsey, Gero said. Especially since it's not the first time they've been asked to accept a redefined character.

"There was no hesitation [to bring in Picardo] when we found out that Amanda couldn't do the show," Gero said. "The McKay character [played by David Hewlett] was in the same situation. He was a recurring star in 'SG-1' where he was the antithesis to Samantha Carter. You just bring them in and soften them up."

And Woolsey will soften up a little bit.

"We hadn't set him up as the intrepid hero type, but since my initial appearance in 'SG-1,' we've developed the character and given him foibles," Picardo said. "In the only episode I appeared in last season, I was there to review Col. Carter's command. I say to her, 'It's been brought to my attention that I sometimes rub people the wrong way.' That comments hangs in the room like Uncle Ralph's fart at the Thanksgiving table.

"Woolsey has a self-awareness, and he's set up as a guy who means well."

The fifth season of "Stargate: Atlantis" airs Fridays at 10 p.m. ET on SciFi Channel.

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