A Final Salute to EUREKA at NBC Universal Press Day

In honor of the final season of the popular Syfy series Eureka, which just started airing its fifth season this month, series creator Jaime Paglia and cast members Colin Ferguson and Neil Grayston attended the recent NBC Universal Press Day held in Pasadena last week. NiceGirlsTV was invited to be part of the press in attendance, getting to participate in this final salute to one of the best sci-fi series from the cable network.

What follows is an excerpt of what the men had to share about the end of a much beloved series:

Jaime Paglia, Colin Ferguson and Neil Grayston (Photo By Rueben)

Question: Are we supposed to understand from the end of (last week’s) episode that four years have not passed or have they been kidnapped and on (those bed slabs) for four years?

Jaime: Four years have NOT passed. For the members of the Astraeus this is what they have been told and that is the world they are experiencing.

Colin: It was awesome to watch the twitter feed.

Question: This last season of Eureka has gone through the curious process of happening, not happening, happening for 6 episodes and then getting 13 episodes. Can you sort of explain any of that?

Colin: Sure, I think that’s how it goes these days. We’re all adjusting to the new technology (where news) breaks instantly now…and (then the cast is held to a tight line of) when (we) can and cannot talk about things. (We have to) respect the legalese of it all and I think we are just finding our way through all of this, but that’s par for the course.

Neil: I think the fact that we got that one last episode was sort of the greatest thing. We have an ending that I think everyone will be pleased with.

Jaime: It was a business decision; but (we) are so grateful to have that last episode. We wrote it in record time, (as it) normally (takes) two months to break a story; but…in this case we broke the story in two days and I wrote it in three days. (We) cut it in four days and the thing I am most proud…with this team, (this) amazing cast and crew, (is) that we were actually able to pull it off without any hurt feelings, without any stressful moments.

Question: Have you guys wrapped now?

Colin: Yes, we wrapped in September.

Question: How does that feel?

Colin: (Joking) It feels pretty good; (but) it’s like that bittersweet moment when you complete something you worked really hard (on). We are going out on our best season hands down so it feels really, really good.

Neil: It’s great for me because it’s been SO long since we did (the) episodes that are airing now; (those) episodes…were done like a year ago.

Jaime: I just delivered the finale in late February so it’s a little fresher for me than it is for them.

Colin Ferguson (Photo by Syfy)

Question: Without giving too much away, were you both (addressed to Colin and Neil) pleased with where your characters ended in the finale?

Colin: Yeah, very much. (For)…as many times as my character has saved Eureka, the truth of the (matter) is (that) Eureka ended up saving him…he ends up being happy in (that) community

Neil: What he said {laughs}.

Question: (Can you talk about) your favorite episodes, scenes or story points?

Colin:  There is an episode coming up where we (pointing to Neil) body swap.

Jaime: (That episode mentioned by Colin is where I) got to direct for the first time; and (I) had the best time doing that.

Neil: The next two episodes have some of my favorite stuff, which I can’t (talk) about. But (there is) probably one of the most shocking things (to) happen in the next episode (that) a lot of people are…probably (going to be) really mad about it, but it’s really great.

Colin: There is some emotional and really sweet, sweet stuff coming up.

Jaime: I think it’s the strongest season we’ve had. Everybody in all the departments…raised the bar. After season four, in which we obviously took a big risk in the reset, (we knew this time around, we would have) to take risks and keep swinging for the fences.

Neil Grayston (Photo by Syfy)

Question: Have you and the cast been down to Comic Con and what is it like to get the rock star treatment there?

Colin: It doesn’t suck.

Jaime: The sci-fi audience is the best audience you could ask for; and when you have the opportunity to go and interact with the fans and hear their questions that are amazingly insightful, that experience is kind of surreal. You know, I had an idea nine years ago over lunch for a television show and now for it to become a “thing”; (well) everybody kind of has ownership of (it) and (it’s great to take) part in (that) lovefest.

It is clear that the cast and creator of Eureka have fond memories of and a strong connection to the show; and that there is a possibility they could be making one final visit to the San Diego Comic Con as the series finale of the show is expected to air right around the time of the annual fete.

In the meantime, the next new episode of Eureka will air tonight (April 23) on Syfy at 9/8c.