“Powerful Mondays” are finally beginning on Syfy, starting with the premiere of Eureka at 8/7c. Stars Colin Ferguson (“Sheriff Jack Carter” pictured on the far right) and Salli Richardson-Whitfield (“Dr. Allison Blake” pictured on the far right) took some time out of shooting the new season recently to take some questions from the press, including SciFi Mafia.

RedEye asked them why they think the show has been on for so long, and how the show changed after the reboot:

Colin Ferguson: … I think the show is as good as it’s ever been. That had to do with sort of a big shift down here in the writers room and, sort of finally finding our footing and getting our way back after the writer’s strike and all of the big Hollywood problems that happened. It made it really difficult even to know if you were going to have a job.

So, we have a really solid group of writers and a really sort of core group of people that hasn’t changed, so that’s why it sort of feels really energized and is really firing on all cylinders.

As far as the reboot and the energy that happens with that, I think that’s symptomatic of the changes that happened. We really found our footing and the reboot was sort of this symbolic gesture on behalf of the network that we were allowed to do what we wanted to do. I mean, they went in to the network and said, “We want to go back in time, and then come back and change everything and never address it.”

And normally when you got into a network and say that they go, “No.” One of the biggest characters on the show is the Town, so to change the Town is a really tall order and it was a big sign off on behalf of the network as a gesture to say that the writers knew what they were doing. And I think the writers sort of, when they got that gesture, they filled confidence and it just redoubled on itself until we sort of had the energy that we have now.

Plus, the casting that’s gone on has been…

Salli Richardson-Whitfield: Yeah.

Colin Ferguson: …unbelievably helpful. I mean we’ve got Felicia Day, we’ve got Wil Wheaton, we have Wallace Shawn coming in, we have Dave Foley coming in, and it’s just – I mean, God Bless recession, right? Like, those names – that’s great to get all those people in to the show. You know, so and…

Salli Richardson-Whitfield: And they fit perfectly and we love them. I mean, these are people…

Colin Ferguson: Yeah.

Salli Richardson-Whitfield: …who they don’t come on and you’re like, “Oh, my God, can we get rid of these people as soon as possible.” Their just wonderful people to be around and you – and they just fit in our show so perfectly.

Colin Ferguson: Yeah, and also what’s happened is they’ve – there was a decision made to write me lighter because I was just getting too tired and really bored at the sound of my own voice, unlike this (unintelligible), which clearly I’m not for the sound of my own voice.

But, the – like – and so what happened was all of a sudden these characters who were so developed and so worthy of having this big long plots are getting way more screen time, and very deservedly and I think it makes the show a lot more interesting.

Red Eye also asked Salli Richardson-Whitfield what she did with the life-sized cutout of Allison that she took from Café Diem, the café that Syfy takes over during every Comic-Con:

Salli Richardson-Whitfield: Oh, it’s so funny. It is sitting in my children’s playroom and I think it’s so Mommy can be there when I’m stuck in Vancouver. But, yes, I did steal my cutout and it is literally sitting in the corner of their playroom.

SciFi Mafia asked the actors about their attendance at Comic-Con: 

SciFi Mafia: Last years’ panel were so much fun to watch, everybody seemed to be getting along so great and the friendship between the two of you is clear. It’s a treat to watch as a fan. So, do you enjoy being on the panels?

Colin Ferguson: Yeah.

Salli Richardson-Whitfield: Yeah, I look forward to it every year. It’s amazing. And I think we’re going to be in the big ballroom this year, Colin.

Colin Ferguson: Oh, really?

Salli Richardson-Whitfield: Yes.

Colin Ferguson: Holy smokes. That’s going to – how many people does that take, because we had the other one that was like 4000. The ballroom’s got to be more than that.

Salli Richardson-Whitfield: Yes… I heard that we’re going to be in the big ballroom. It’s just amazing to go this thing and you’re seeing 4000 plus people there and people sitting on the sides and people who couldn’t get in. It’s an amazing feeling walking on that. And it’s always fun when you’re there and you get to see one of the episodes with them.

Colin Ferguson: Yeah. I did WonderCon in San Francisco the year we premiered with Andy. We went up and we had this ballroom and there were ten people in the audience, five of them were just saving a seat for the next people that were coming in after us.

And so, to go from that where we were like, “All right, any questions? Any questions? Any – no, none yet? Okay, no worries. So, the show,” and you’re sort of waffling and trying to just fill space. And to go from that to the big ballroom at Comic-Con is – I mean it’s great. I really want to go out on top with this, so I feel we’re pretty close to it.

And what do you feel, Sal? What do you want to call it a day?

Salli Richardson-Whitfield: You know, it’s such a hard thing. I can’t see it going on. You know, I don’t think we’re going to be there for 15 years…

Colin Ferguson: Right.

Salli Richardson-Whitfield: …but I think that maybe one more after this. I don’t know.

Colin Ferguson: Yeah.

Salli Richardson-Whitfield: But I didn’t think I’d be here this long, but…

Colin Ferguson: No, exactly. It’s not in our court at all. It’s always the network, but it’s been so great and it’s been such a special experience for us and now that we’re doing the main ballroom at Comic-Con it’s really nice. It’s been a great journey and there are a lot of really good memories for us, and that’s…

Salli Richardson-Whitfield: Yeah.

Colin Ferguson: …going to be one of them.

I can’t wait, the Eureka Comic-Con panel is always an absolute treat. The second half of the season 4 of Eureka is definitely recommended; see my review here.

Eureka season 4.5 premieres on Monday, July 11 (tonight!) at 8/7c on Syfy.