Eureka: Q&A with Colin Ferguson and Salli Richardson-Whitfield

It’s time for the return of SyFy Network’s longest scripted drama, and as season 4.5 of Eureka is gearing up I had the chance to attend a Q&A conference call with stars Colin Ferguson and Salli Richardson-Whitfield. Over the course of the call the two discuss, among other things, what’s in store for fans in the upcoming season, their past experiences at Comic-Con, as well as the relationship between Zane and Jo.

“I think that our characters have become even more alike,” Richardson-Whitfield on her character Allison.

When asked how she compares to her character Allison Blake on the TV series, Richardson-Whitfield says that, to her, their similarities seem to grow over the seasons. “I’m not as hard or as tough as I may seem,” and this is something that the characters of Eureka are now finding out about Allison, whose main vulnerabilities include being a mother and having to juggle work around family life. This is a plight that Richardson-Whitfield can relate to intimately as the show films in Vancouver and causes her to be away from her children while they are filming.

“We’ll act in it if you let us direct it.” Richardson-Whitfield on Warehouse 13.

The characters and actors of Eureka have a very close relationship with their cousins on the SyFy Network show Warehouse 13. Several of the characters of Eureka have had crossover episodes in Warehouse 13, and vice versa. When asked if she would ever do a guest spot on the series, Richardson-Whitfield says that she would love to do one but she has her eyes on bigger sights. What Richardson-Whitfield really wants is to direct an episode. This is a feeling that Ferguson can complete agree with as the two admit that they are itching to get behind the camera of the show. And while the likelihood of a full on Eureka-Warehouse collaboration is unlikely due to scheduling conflicts, the idea is a nice one.

“We haven’t had a fight in six years of working together, and that’s not because I’m easy to work with.” Ferguson on working with Richardson-Whitfield.

When asked how the two of them get along during filming both Ferguson and Richardson-Whitfield describe an easy pairing that helps them both to give their best performances. From the beginning, Richardson-Whitfield says the two shared an instant on screen chemistry, very much different from their off-screen brother-sister like relationship. “As soon as that camera rolls something clicks. I look into Colin’s eyes, there’s something that clicks and I always find an instant connection…I feel everything I’m saying with him.” She goes on to say that because of this connection, they are able to work off of each other and give each other what they need for the scene. Ferguson agrees and credits Richardson-Whitfield for the ease of their relationship.

“That sort of puts a different dynamic into working together… that’s where we start getting into trouble with each other.” Richardson-Whitfield on Allison/Jack romance

It took four long years, but at the end of Eureka 4.0 Allison and Jack were a couple. (Oh yeah.) But as anyone knows, getting together is worlds easier than staying together and making it work. And for Jack and Allison, they’re in the work it out phase. And Richardson-Whitfield reveals that for these two trying to work out a relationship while also working together is their biggest challenge, “It’s like working with your husband or wife, how do you balance those two things?” Ferguson reveals that for Jack the challenge is learning to give Allison her space in order to maintain their relationship. And it’s a challenge that Jack’s more than willing to face, but what happens when Jack gets a curveball thrown his way? “There are still bucks and problems to come…”

“They go through a lot and the keep going through a lot… even now we’re still on the fence on if they’re going to pull through.” Ferguson on Jo and Zane

While last season kindled the most anticipated love life of Allison and Jack, it also completely wiped out the romance between Jo and Zane. Bummer. And if you’re looking for a quick fix to patch up things between these two, well you’re bound to be disappointed as Ferguson reveals that there’s a long and difficult road ahead for Jo and Zane. Currently filming the next season to premiere in 2012, Ferguson says that the Zane/Jo drama is still underway leaving even the cast to wonder about if these two will find their way back together again, “they definitely love each other but it’s a hard one. It’s hard to watch sometimes.”

“What I’m really looking forward to seeing is everyone going next summer, ‘Oh my God.’” Ferguson on 4.5

The arch of season 4.5 of Eureka follows the town’s attempts to go into space, and while describing what he looks forward to fans seeing this go round, Ferguson talks about the “fantastically complex plot” that explodes into a way that fans would never see coming, “It kicks into the whole next year in a way you completely don’t expect.” Richardson-Whitfield adds that “everything is just getting so much better”

During the conference call Richardson-Whitfield and Ferguson also revealed that they will be at Comic-Con this year (Awesome!) and that they are really looking forward to seeing the fans. Looking back to their first Comic-Con where they had a very small audience, the two marvel that the show will now be featured in the infamously immense Hall H in order to accommodate their growing fan base.

And it is here that the two drop the other shoe, hoping to go out on top. Richardson-Whitfield and Ferguson agree that they would be happy ending Eureka within two years. Well ain’t that a predicament. In the famous words of Madame Maxine: “I protest.” I hate this, hate this, with every fiber of my being. Although of course I understand them wanting to go out on top, isn’t it better that they just hang in there a little longer for the fans? What harm could it do… but then again, that hasn’t worked so well in the past (See: The Game, Scrubs.) Yeah, maybe going out on top could be a good thing (Example: Seinfeld and Friends.)

Eureka returns on Monday, July 11th at 8 p.m. kicking off a night of original scripted programs on SyFy. Stay tuned afterwards for the season premiere of Warehouse 13 and the series premiere of Alphas.

Photos courtesy Eike Schroter/Syfy.