Ed Quinn – Eureka

Q) What are the current projects that you are working on?

A) I am looking for a movie. We finished shooting “Eureka” in July and we had a great run on the Sci Fi channel. We got picked up for a second season, due to the fact we had record breaking ratings all season long. We’re really excited to go back and do a great second season. It gives me about four months off. I am going to read some scripts and, hopefully, find a project that can meet my schedule.

Q) Please tell us the premise for the show “Eureka” and about your character Nathan Stark.

A) I play the character Nathan Stark who is the Director of Global Dynamics. Global Dynamics are the research labs in a town called Eureka, which is a secret town that the government that has been widely relocating all the geniuses of the world to. My character comes back into town after a mysterious accident. He had left Global Dynamics and has returned to take over and also to rekindle his relationship with his estranged wife, Allison Blake. There is a new sheriff in town, figuratively and literally, Jack Carter who is played by Colin Ferguson. He really does not understand what makes Eureka work and he has eyes for Allison Blake. He’s on this journey to try and figure out how the town works and how to do his job as a law enforcement officer. He is also trying to win the affections of Allison, which I do everything I can to make his life miserable.

Q) What made you originally want to be a part of the show?

A) For me, probably the reason I got the job was because there is a lot of humor in the writing. When there is a lot of humor and substance to the writing, I tend to do very well. My mind tends to be well and my work tends to be well. My performances tend to be well, too. This style of writing is my strength. I felt this was going to be a great project and that I’d be very good at it.

Q) What is it about your role that you find challenging?

A) I was a history major at Berkley. Science and mathematics aren’t really my forte. I find it challenging trying to get people to believe I know what I am talking about when I’m discussing mathematics or science. The other aspect of it is to try and not come off as a one dimensional villain. I love the tension he creates in the scenes he’s in by being a smart ass and by being by difficult, but also trying to be likeable. I think for the audience it is a lot more fun. Whether it’s the good guy or the bad guy, you have to be rooting for him. That really creates the drama and the intrigue with any role in any project. The biggest challenge is to remain as likeable as possible and have the audience care. They are torn between liking him and liking Colin, who they want Allison Blake to end up with.

Q) What is it like working with Colin Ferguson?

A) I almost got to work with him in the past once. I was going to do a role with him on the show “Coupling,” but my part got changed and the show got cancelled. I had met him before though because we have the same agent. We used to see each other at auditions all the time. It’s fantastic to work with him. I am really hoping the next season that Colin and I get to work with each other a lot more and have it be a lot less about Allison and the love triangle. I think he’s a brilliant comedic actor and incredibly likeable on camera. I think he’s incredibly intelligent, as well. I think it would just be so fantastic to really be able to do a lot of work with him next season.

Q) What is your most memorable moment from filming the show?

A) The night before we shot the episode “Dr. Nobel,” it was the head of makeup’s birthday. We had a big birthday for her and when I walked in to do the final scenes for the episode, everyone looked a little tired. They all had a smile on their face and I really liked that. We had so much fun that night of the birthday and so much fun the next day, even though we were so tired. It was a great episode and it just seemed to be the moment at which the whole show really gelled for me. A TV show is made up of about two hundred people, not just the cast or the writers. It’s the crew, the production and everyone that is involved. People say it often, but we are a big family and it’s like a big team. When ever I watch that episode and see that last scene, everyone looks a little tired, but really enjoying themselves. I remember that night and I remember everyone being out enjoying themselves.

Q) Why should viewers be tuning in to see “Eureka?”

A) Shooting the show is difficult. Shooting a television show your first season is really difficult. Shooting a cable show, which you only have seven days to shoot and you don’t have as much money to shoot as other shows, is really really difficult. Now that we’ve got a successful show and people enjoy it, we’re going to pick up where we left off with a lot of confidence; especially with the Executive Producers Andy Cosby and James Paglia who are just brilliant. Just by knowing them, I know how excited they are for the second season. I think they are just going to do some really special things and it will be a lot of fun!

Q) What has been your favorite project to work on?

A) This was probably my favorite project to work on, simply because the cast, the crew and everyone was so much fun. The show is successful and it’s nice to do something that audiences really enjoy and that network and studio are happy with. Networks and studios spend a lot of money on TV shows and a lot of times the shows don’t turn out well. When people make a big huge investment in you and then they get the return, it’s a source of pride. You love your job, you love working and you love seeing your coworkers. I see a future for this show, as well. Also, on the movie House of the Dead 2, I just had a blast! I love zombie movies and I love working seventeen nights in a row. It’s a good B movie and I had a lot of fun shooting it.

Q) What do you do in your spare time?

A) I do a lot of surfing. I also ride motorcycles a lot. Last week I was at the California speedway on my beautiful brand new bike. When you have friends and you have hobbies, it keeps you focused when you’re not acting.

Q) What would you like to say to your fans and supporters?

A) I would like to say thank you. It’s hard to express how grateful an actor is when people tune in to see them work. Without an audience, you are unemployed. It’s so hard to get a job and then it’s so hard to keep a job and then it’s so hard to do a job well. At that point, you send the show out into the world and hope that people watch it. When they do and they enjoy your work, if it makes them laugh or cry, it’s a really satisfying and humbling feeling. I just want to say thank you.