So... my name is Colin Ferguson and I play Sheriff Jack Carter on Eureka - which is a tv show... AMA

First off, I gotta say I'm a huge fan of Eureka (and of course Sheriff Carter)! I am a bit saddened that its coming to an end but its been a fantastic run. I was wondering: it seems that with every episode having its "gadget of the week", there must be a warehouse full of odd props, never to be used again. Have you ever been like "Man, this photon laser would look FANTASTIC over the fireplace" and just take something home with you?

YUP!

But they're REALLY expensive to create so we're told very clearly that they are NOT to leave the set or even get played with...

Nasty executives...

ALRIGHTY!!! I'M OUT GUYS!

Thanks so much for asking questions! All the best everyone! This was fun!

I got a plumbing situation to sort out....

My wife and I LOVE Eureka and out of all the shows we watch we are so unhappy with the show ending. I don't think you could ever find a better group of people that seem to work so well with each other.

So okay I'll needy for a minute.. wife will be home soon any chance you can give her "Hey Erin" for me? Make her day :)

HHHHey Erin!!!! xox

Longtime fan, watch it with my wife, etc, etc, etc.

As a fairly new dad, I wanted to say that I love how you portray Carter as a father. There aren't too many earnest dads on TV, but the real world is full of them. Carter the Dad scenes are some of my favorite in the show.

My question is: How do you approach Carter? Is he a character in a sci-fi show, or is he a Andy Griffith plus a little bit of technobabble?

Pretty much. I wanted him to be real and scared and angry and all the things that we all suffer under. And I wanted him to try hard. So I think we got of that in there... and Ilike that he SO clearly LOVED his daughter. That meant the world to me.

I gotta say, you really knocked it out of the park on the relationship with his daughter. You two have a great chemistry that makes the teen-age daughter and father relationship work very well.

Thanks... that means a lot.

Was beating the crap out of Wil Wheaton in Ticket to Ride as much fun as I think it probably was.

We didn't know the series was going to do well so it was more about helping him do a good show. But NOW that the series is doing well..? NOW I want to beat him badly onthe show :)

Are the Seattle Calgary's doing well?

Not as well at the Portland Vancouvers...

I've been looking forward to your AMA for awhile! Thanks for doing this!

With the series ending, how do you feel about Doing sci-fi in the future?

I'd do it in a heartbeat. I told them that adn they said "let's do something"... but there isn;t a project yet. Lazy, lazy syfy... :)

Maybe a few guest appearances on Warehouse 13 just to tie you over? :)

PERFECT!! I'd love that!!

Would be even better if you could tie it into the Eureka storyline to make it a natural transition! Nerdchills

THAT would be awesome. To pull of the tone shift as well would have been a coup as well.... (non-nerdchills)

Wth some of the stuff I see on that station, I can honestly say this surprises me.

Me too but I'mnot in those meeting and tey are very smart people so I'm sure there is a plan :) (or dear God I hope there is a plan)

Honestly, how awesome is it being the guy to have kissed both Salli Richardson and Erica Cerra? Also, do you ever get to hang out with the rest of the Eureka cast now that you're not filming together?

All the time!

I see Jordan and Neil a fair bit. And when Niall comes back to town I will see him a ton. They're really good people and I like them a lot :)

Glad to hear the cast is friendly with each other. It's sad when you hear about tv stars being total dicks to the rest of the cast and there isn't a family feel.

Amen. The days are toolong for that...

I'm worried Neil might get mad if I call him mouthbreather tomorrow...

Call. Him. Anything... that guy can handle anything...

DUDE you are just a super person. Your expressions make me chuckle

Thanks Man!

Why did you shoot those people on the Long Island Railroad?

That guy is the bane of my existence sometimes... I was doing a stage show when that happened and people actually thought my name was some sort of joke. Awesome...

Who’s your favorite character on Eureka? Who’s your favorite cast member? What was your favorite episode to film? It is an AMA soo… how did you lose your virginity? For science….

Lots of great characters - Fargo's gotta be up there. Up in the Air was a big Fav because the director was someone from within our group and it was a big deal for her and she did it SO well. And I lost my virginity by sleeping with someone... oh wait... is that not what you meant?

Sheriff Jack Carter: [Answering phone] Hey, Andy, let me guess. There's a quantum, run-away, something-or-other.

[pauses]

Sheriff Jack Carter: Somebody did what? [pauses]

Sheriff Jack Carter: I'll be right there.

[hangs up phone]

Sheriff Jack Carter: Somebody robbed a BANK!

[runs out of Cafe Diem]

Sheriff Jack Carter: YEEEAAAHHH!

Vincent: Should he really be happy about that?

SUCH a great scene

... I love our writers...

Do you kinda know what everyone says (the science stuff) or does it go over your head like Jack?

I know what it means but I don't know what the nuts and bolts of it are. I have to know what t means from a producer/lead perspective but i'm not building the thing so I don't really KNOW the depth of it usually. Unless I'm tired.... then I don;t even know what it means..

Hey Colin, thanks for doing this. What was your audition for the pilot like?

It was pretty painless actually. But they usually are when they like what you're doing.

When they DON'T like you... hmmm.. those can suck..

Thanks so much for geekin out with us!

Q1: What is your favorite disaster/monster that you have battled on Eureka? Q2: Do you have plans for after the finale this year? Q2: You do a lot of stunts for Eureka. Any funny stories? J

I think Tiny was the best monster we made... he took SSSOOO much money to build that we ended up using him in two or three eps just because we had already built him. Same thing with the drones... it was cool to see how they developed over the years and how they got reused SO much more than they were supposed to....

What do you think is the most novel or interesting "scientific advancement" that has been used in Eureka?

teleportation and a Spaceship that can go to Mars...

I adore you, and I'm really going to miss having Eureka nights. So many of your lines make me laugh out loud. What was the hardest scene or line for you to get through without laughing?

Any fricking scene with Matt Frewer. That guy can break me like no one's business. It's a gift that I hate him for.... :)

No question since most have been asked and answered, just wanted to pop in and say I'm going to miss Sheriff Carter. You did an amazing job in that role, always a joy to watch.

Hope to see you in more real sci-fi soon! Cheers!

Well Skunkmonkey... you're a lovely IAMA buddy...

If you had a chance to go back and appear as an actor in any other SciFi TV show, which one would you choose? And what character would you play?

I would be in The NExt Generation. I loved that show. I would have loved to be some weird charatcer on a planet - or Wesley Crusher's nemisis...

You did just get to defeat him in Ticket to Ride though!

*Edit: Context

And that's just teased me for more Wheaton defeats...

Hi Colin! love Eureka, your character and the way you play him is great.

Now that your run with them is coming to an end, what are your thoughts about the changes that seem to have taken place at SyFy over the last few years? Did you notice a change internally?

There were massive changed internally at Syfy but I don't ahve any consistent perspective on them I know we got left alone more as the seasons went on (whch I liked) but I dont know if that was because we got our legs or some sort of policy shift. It got easier but most shows get easier I'm told...

Hi! How ridiculous was it filming Lake Placid 3?

Ri.Dic.u.LUS. It's wa n excercise in patience sometimes and sometimes you had to think (what the hell am I doing).... but it's always fun to do something new and I got to direct a movie because of it so I didn;t mind!

Was that you in "Rowing"? I saw it on our local cable. not bad I must say..

Thanks!

I know sometimes pictures vs. real life skew things, so...

Who is the most attractive female star you have ever met?

So many pretty faces... so small a space to type. Salli and Erica are up there for sure. BARELY any makeup and STUPIDLY attractive. That's impressive to me

I have to ask about the US version of Coupling.

1. What do you think could have been done differently to make it last as long as the U.S. Office has?

2. Are you glad it failed so that you were free to do Eureka?

It needed to be sexed down. That was the year that they were sexing everything up Coupling, Vegas, all sorts of racy shows. But coupling is a show about normal people and only works as such...

Everything is a ride. I would have loved for it to keep going. I am grateful Eureka lasted... it's been great so it's hard to choose.

The original UK coupling is extremely sexual and sex is hardly something normal people are unfamiliar with. I mean the name of the show is a reference to the act of dating and having sex.

Totally agree.

But the US version glossy and well, very expensively dressed. The colors were sharper. Everything popped.

The UK version had less saturated and looked more real life. It felt warmer and more accessible - to me.

And I could be wrong completely. I was just so bummed because I LOVED Steve's scripts and LOVED the idea of being on the show.

Maybe I"m grasping at straws too ...

I've never watched Eureka, could you give me three reasons why I should?

It's free on Netflix.

Everyone tries to kill time somehow, sometimes - so why not?

You can start anywhere (so start season 4) which is not really a reason to watch but I substituted a reason for advice...

Hi Collin! Thanks for taking the time to do an AmA for us!! My wife and I are huge fans of Eureka and are sad to see it going away. We've even named our dog Carter after your character!

Here are our questions...

1. What was your favorite episode to film and why?
2. How do you feel about all the timeline/continuity changes that have occured over the span of the show?
3. Any plans for a movie?
4. How come its always your truck that gets teleported/vaporized/melted, etc?
5. What is really in a Vince-spresso?

Vinspresso - decaf coffee They like hurting either me or soemthing to do with me... so my truck is a quick substitue for my character - which is sort of like Wile E Coyote I guess... Lots of plans for lots of movies... but nothing going and I LOVED the timeline changes. It reinvgorated the show I think!

up in the air, jack of all trades, your face or mine.

As previous Jeep Cherokee owner, I always feel for your character's Jeep. How many Cherokees were harmed in the filming of Eureka?

Thanks for doing this - my wife and I are big fans of the show.

I think it was like 14 or so.... and some took the hit more than others :)

Oh this is so exciting. I rarely like sci fi and really only decided to watch eureka because I couldn't think of anything else to watch. Holy shit. By the end of the first season I was a die hard fan. The relationships on the show, the interesting and humorous plot lines, and such an interesting concept to boot! So pardon my raving, I believe this is where I ask questions. So lets do it: (POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN THE WHOLE SERIES)

1) What was it like to play your "evil" computer generated counter part?

2) Some of the lines and reactions are just laugh til you cry funny, is there a lot of improv or is it mostly just excellent scripts and delivery?

3) Who was your favorite guest star to work with?

Thank you ever so much for doing this!!

1) I loved the change and I likebeing creepy so I had a TON of fun! 2) We tweak more than improvise. But most of it - if not all of it - is right there waiting for us on the page. It's a good gig :) 3)WAllace Shawn and Dave Foley (Will and Felicia aren't considered guests to me - they're family)

Thank you for many years of entertaining television on a somewhat surprising channel. My father turned me onto Eureka and we've been watching it ever since. How do you like the light-hearted science fiction genre, and do you plan to do any more of it? A Eureka movie?

I would LOVE to do a Eureka movie. I hope they're planning one!!!!

Thanks for doing this! And happy soon to be 40 - I'm turning 40 next week as well and it feels pretty good (really)!

Do you think you will write a bit, too? You seem to have a pretty active imagination...

oh, I almost forgot to mention that I've been trying to get you on the Craig Ferguson show for years.

I do write a bit but it's SO hard sometimes. I need silence and space because it's too easy to get distracetd byt doing things like AMAs and ... yeah....

Hey man, love the show (and sad to see it ending).

What's your all-time funniest, and your all-time dreaded moments while shooting the series?

I dread heights so they got to me sometimes but were really fun as well.

And they were probably the funniest as well because you're freaking out trying to do your job and that gets pretty amusing :)

A very early happy birthday to you, good sir. May I just say that I absolutely love you in Eureka and am incredibly sad the show is ending. I do have a few questions for you:

1. I understand you are Quebecois and hold several citizenships. Do you speak any other languages besides english? If so, may we hear this?

2. Did you ever get into the scietific elements of what was going on in Eureka? I imagine it would have sparked a bit of curiosity in the common man. Were you given time to absorb the information so you would have at least a cursory knowledge of what was going on?

3. You're an amazing actor. Would you like to come to my house and play cards?

4. I understand you are not currently married. Would you like to get together sometime? (If you are indeed married or dating someone, my sincerest apologies for stepping on her toes.)

Thanks for doing this and have a wonderful day!

PS. Here is a pic of my awesome rabbit and myself

ARG! I typed a big ole response and it got lost.... nuts...

I speak a bit of French (sometimes more than a bit) and you'd have heard it a lot if you came to Haiti

We used to spitball all the time about the science on set. (they are now printing livers like Holly was using - read about it yesterday)

No. We are going to have to do it at my house... :)

My gal would probably object to marrying someone else but no toes got stepped on :)

I can't think of any good questions. I just want to say thank you, and the rest of the cast and crew, for a great Sci-fi show that had a great run. I've noticed many main actors and actresses from Sci-Fi shows reappear on other Sci-fi shows. I'll hope you'll be another one to has that opportunity. I look forward to seeing you again!

Thanks.... :)

Hi Colin. I'm a huge fan of Eureka and wanted to thank you (and the rest of the crew) for putting together a really fun show to watch.

I think you and Deputy Andy have put on phenomenal performances the last few seasons. I've always enjoyed all of the characters on the show, but you guys have really stood out from the pack lately. You and Andy seem to have great chemistry on screen, and I was wondering: Does that on screen chemistry follow over to real life as well?

Yeah it does. We make out all the time...

Kavan is one of those guys who could have chemistry with a stump. SO i flatter myself by taking any credit for it. I really enjoyed him as a person and if he half enjoyed me, then I would be flattered.

Can you chug a double smirnoff ice as fast as your brother? For proof:

Imgur

Also, how much fun was it being on Malcolm in the Middle?

We've never tried but I imagine I could give him a run for his money... but which brother...

MitM was amazing fun!!!

How did you get the role on Eureka? Was it just a standard open audition or did they find you through word of mouth?

Through my agent... like normal for us... :)

OMG, my Ex, called me a stalker because of you.

I'd first noticed your acting in, "More Tales of the City" and as chance would have it, when I moved to L.A. in 1999, the Mayfair, was my regular grocery store. The first time I saw you in person you were wearing workout pants, walking across the parking lot. Obviously, living in L.A., residents usually give personalities a lot of space so I never said hello or anything, but did mention to my partner saying, "I think I saw the guy from, More Tales of the City, today." He laughed and said, "First Star sighting." Then the next time we went to the grocery store, there you were again ... and the 5th time ... and the 6th. I mentioned it to my partner again and he said, "Come on already, leave the poor guy alone you stalker."

I laughed at the time because it was untrue, but because of you, the three years I lived in L.A. my domestic nickname was Stalker.

That's classic!!! I love your partner for never lettin it go!

Well good to chat his many years later. I lived right up the street on Flores. I lived there for years in this tiny one bedroom.

Thanks for sharing that. :)

How long does it take to shoot an episode? What's your daily schedule like during the shoot? Table reads, filming, etc.

We do 6 days main unit and 1 or 2 days second unit which shoots concurrently. On day 6 we do a table read at lunch for the next episode. We shoot 14 hours a day ususally. 6 hours, lunch for 30 minutes, and 8 hours after. The days are long and very, very full.

What was Lauren Graham like to work with?

She's awesome! So generous, so fun. That whole shoot was fun - and it didn't ned to be because I was pretty far down on the totem pole. But they were very inclusive which was kind.

I've seen her in interviews and is Felicia Day always in such a great mood? She seems like someone who can never be bummed about anything. Also I am a huge fan of the show and thanks for the entertainment over the years. I was really sad to hear when it was going to be cancelled, but happy that we get an ending opposed to so many shows that just get cancelled with no closure.

Her bad moods are like me when I'm in a good mood. It's very upsetting...

Hey! I just wanted to say I'm a huge fan, and also, I was wondering who are some of your favorite actors/actresses to work with? What's it like having Eureka connected in the same "universe" as these other shows such as Warehouse 13 and Alphas?

I like it! The connection to other worlds.

I wanted to (and pitched) that a scientist create something in Eureka that would ultimately be a cylon and connect those worlds too.

Different tones I understand and nothing would ever come of it but I thought it;d be fun to refereence.... and then Caprica came out..

Hi Colin, wife and I love Eureka, sorry to see it coming to an end. I've always thought you remind me of Scott Bakula, from an acting standpoint. Who are your favorite actors? Here's my vote for you to play Sam Beckett in a Quantum Leap reboot.

I was talking to Scott recently in Toronto and I'd love to play him in a reboot! But he;s sort of young enough to do the damn thing himself :)

Love you on Eureka and I saw you on Tabletop with Wil Wheaton a while ago too! Thanks for being an amazing person on and off the camera.

1. Any chance you and Zachary Levi team up and make a nerdy, sci fi show that lasts longer than 5 seasons?

2. Also, do you have any interest in going into film acting? I feel your personality is something Hollywood needs right now.

I'd love to work with Zac! He's a very nice guy and great at what he does.

And I'd love to work in film but that appears to be a tough place to get going these days. I think I have something to offer and woul love to see if I could find a home in films. So... here goes I guess...

I just wanted to say thank you and good job, your character has definitely been a big reason that I continue to watch the series. Has there ever been a point where the jargon used was ridiculous enough that it was hard to keep a straight face while it was happening?

Sometimes you need a moment to get your head around particulary rough dialogue. A deep breath. A moment to chuckle your way out of something... yeah...

How did you get in to acting?

Who were your heroes when you were young?

Love Eureka! Good luck in the future!

I grew up on Mike Fox and Bill Cosby. I loved those guys so much as a kid..

Eureka is the show we watch with our kids after dinner together. We are currently trying to figure out what Dr Grant is up to..

So, thanks for making science fiction family friendly from Victoria, Gabe, and Jack (yes, that's his name) <--- the kids

My pleasure! Thanks for being a part of it!

Eureka's just one of those feel good shows, love it to bits.

I watched the pilot recently and Carter wasn't as much as a goof as he was in later episodes - was that something you wanted to do more of?

It was actually. It gave me more things to do and contribute more to the show.

Love the show. Have you ever actually slept in sarah?

Yup. All the time.

I would nap in her at lunch sometimes while they were setting up and I was fried...

That souch was super comfy...

couch....

Hey Colin! Huge Eureka fan here :) So, how awkward was it to kiss Salli while her husband was right there? That must be a little terrifying (or just plain weird), even if it's just acting for the show

He was super cool but I was COMPLETELY freaked out.

I mean, it's the MARRIAGE kiss. It's gotta be emotional - which is worse than passionate. Dre was cool but I was surprisingly anxious and, yeah, it was pretty weird.

I'm not that cool to just do it...

Whats your favorite running gag throughout the series?

The fish out of water gag. I learned to love it and had so much fun playing it...

WOAH! Colin Ferguson! I rarely ask questions in AMA's but here goes nothing.

I've been an avid fan of Eureka since season 1. Of all the various actors and actresses to work with you on the show, who has to be your favorite?

If you have to break it down into regulars and guest-stars, I understand.

Joe Morton is an amazing talent and human being and I will cherish the time I got to work with him.

Wallace Shawn and Dave FOley and Matt Frewer and huge people for me to get to work with so I will always be grateful for that experience as well...

In the very first episode as your character is about to enter Eureka with his daughter Zoe, they see a car leaving Eureka with seemingly alternate versions of Jack and Zoe in it. Any word on whether or not this will be explained in the last few episodes?

...I can't spoil anything...

But after it airs we can discuss it!