I have to say the way the producers have been distributing the character arcs on Warehouse 13 is one of the show's better features, and it looks like Duped continues in that tradition. So far, Warehouse 13 has proven to be a great fun show with nothing but above par writing and acting. In case you missed the note, Warehouse 13 was given a second season by SyFy – so look for more of it next year. You can't help but wonder, if Warehouse 13 continues to gain in popularity could Universal be tempted to give it a run on NBC?

As you can see in the clip below, this episode has Myka playing a slightly villainous arc, due to an artifact – naturally. Looks like Pete saves the day, for now.

Says Syfy:

WAREHOUSE 13
Tuesday, August 25 @ 9/8c – “Duped”

Pete (Eddie McClintock) and Myka (Joanne Kelly) are dispatched to Las Vegas to retrieve an artifact that seems to grant good fortune to a couple of gamblers. But their simple snag it, bag it, tag it mission gets complicated when Myka accidentally gets trapped in Lewis Carroll’s mirror—unleashing the malevolent entity that was trapped inside.

Here are some quick facts from SyFy on Warehouse 13's various milestones:

• In its first season, Warehouse 13 has delivered a 2.9 Household rating (including only the weeks for which full DVR data is available), 4.02 million total viewers, 1.99 million Adults 25-54 and 1.57 million Adults 18-49.
• Having just reached the mid-point of the season, Warehouse 13 is tracking to be the highest-rated and most-watched first season ever for a Syfy original series, even topping Battlestar Galactica’s 2.4 Household rating and 2.86 million total viewer averages.
• It is currently averaging over 4 million total viewers per episode and has delivered more viewers than many scripted series on competing networks this summer, including TNT's Hawthorne, Raising the Bar, Dark Blue and Saving Grace; FX's Rescue Me and Lifetime's Drop Dead Diva.
• Warehouse 13 has grown its audience since its premiere, setting series highs for total viewers with its second and fourth telecasts.
• Warehouse 13 episodes account for three of the network's top five most-watched original series telecasts ever.
• The fourth episode which aired on Tuesday, July 28 at 9PM (ET/PT) delivered the most Females (1.9 million) of any series telecast in Syfy's 17-year history.

Warehouse 13

Having fallen in love with Warehouse 13 already, I was a bit nervous about Scagliotti's introduction. Sure, it's natural to suspect they added the young and hip Claudia in an attempt to broaden the demographics of the show – as those sketchy TV people often do. Regardless of the reasoning Claudia's introduction is smooth, very appropriate for the storyline, and introduces a chemistry to Warehouse 13 that ramps the appeal ten-fold.

I had the pleasure of speaking briefly with Allison about "Claudia," and beyond. Beware of light spoilers.

The chemistry between you and Saul’s Artie is great, one of the all time great pairings on TV. Did that chemistry come naturally for you?

We clicked. We totally clicked. I’ve been talking about that a lot, actually. The second I met Saul we just got on like old Jewish women, and in every scene we had this really fluid chemistry together. It was a joy and a delight to work with him, I learned so much from him and I think he learned how to deal with his teenage daughter from me. We are the ultimate duo.

Where would you say your character is on the Warehouse 13 playing board. Is she Saul’s assistant, will she be involved in the field with Pete and Myka?

A little bit of both, actually. Claudia is primarily the new techie/apprentice to Artie’s curator. She likes to impress Artie with her new take on his steam-punk devices, [which is] a very important skill-set – very important to running interference during a mission. In some of the episodes towards the end of the season Claudia does get to go out and help Pete and Myka a lot, while Artie holds down the fort. It’s great, I’ve gotten to do so many cool things with my character – I love it.

One of the show’s most creative aspects – of course – is the artifacts. Do you guys ever come up with artifact idea on set?

Oh yeah, all the time. I mean, usually they are really inappropriate [laughs]. I thought of one the other day, what if Marilyn Monroe’s lipstick granted you the ability make men everywhere fall in love with you – and it had to be in the warehouse because it would eventually make you end your life the way she did. The possibilities are kind of endless. Saul came up with Albert Einstein’s comb, or [Nazi Propoganda Cheif] Goebbels’ microphone.

You’ve played a similar character to Claudia before, Mindy on Drake and Josh. Do you have to be overly conscious to differentiate Claudia as a different ‘sort’ of super-intelligent young woman?

Oh, yeah. In my mind, Mindy and Claudia are totally different. Like if they met on the street they probably wouldn’t know what to do with one another. Mindy is a domesticated animal, where Claudia is feral. While they are both strong and smart and they go after what they want, Mindy was far more buttoned up and conservative where Claudia’s not afraid to dance in the aisles, get in trouble with the artifacts, and maybe talk back to Artie a couple of times. She’s definitely a punk, the style is completely different. Mindy was very preppy, a lot of American Eagle track suits going on for Mindy. With Claudia I had the pleasure of bringing some of my own style to her with Rock and Roll buttons, leather, and beat-up converse high tops.

Are you a fan of science fiction?

Sci-Fi was never really my niche, besides the standard devotion to Star Wars and idolizing Sigourney Weaver. When I watched this pilot before I auditioned I was hooked on it because while it is this fantasy show there is this balance of some comedy, and sexual tension between the leads, it’s just really fun to watch. There is something for everyone in Warehouse 13.

Pete (Eddie McClintock) and Myka (Joanne Kelly) must stop a team of bank robbers who have an unusual weapon – a LP record of an unreleased pop song written by a music genius – that causes instant bliss in those who hear it, allowing the thieves to take what they want.  Back at the Warehouse, Artie (Saul Rubinek) pinpoints the breach and heads to Washington.

No word on whether Helfer will be playing one of the thieves or a different character, but odds are she'll be yummy in whatever she does for Warehouse 13. As for the "breach," in case you haven't heard a new character is being added to Warehouse 13.  Someone who will apparently be doing a lot of work at the Warehouse itself, so I'm smelling a foil for Artie, but we'll have to wait another week to get any info on that.   In the meantime, here are a few promo pics for "Resonance" for you to check out – sorry guys, no 'red dress' pics.

nup_134148_0123

◄ Back

Next ►

Picture 1 of 10

There has been a trend in science fiction that – for lack of a better term – we will call SciFi noir.  Morally ambiguous characters with deeply damaged souls servicing their human appetites amongst a fantasy backdrop that embodies elements of science fiction and mysticism.  Usually, the ebb and flow of their grungy souls somehow fans the plot in one direction or another, but ultimately they emerge from their blind-date with the bizarre on the merits of some catharsis of their danker self.  Warehouse 13 is not that show. Thankfully.

Warehouse 13 is, simply put, pulp sci-fi.  It is a return to the Amazing Stories inspired genre of fantasy, with a setup that allows every episode to be a new experience instead of a return to the well of tease-and-deny that shows like LOST and Heroes rely on to keep viewers coming back.  It's a very brave move by show-runner Jack Kenny (The Book of Daniel) and company because it declares, boldly, that his show is about the entertainment value.  There is a definite underlying thread of mythology that is very effective and interesting as well, but Warehouse 13 seems more inclined to bring you back on the strength of the adventures it offers rather than backstory.

The setup is relatively simple.  Two secret service agents, the by-the-book and drop dead gorgeous Myka Bering (Joanne Kelly of "Vanished," "Jeremiah") and the very capable bad boy Pete Lattimer (Eddie McClintock "Bones," "Desperate Housewives") are brought together by an ultra secret arm of the government to Warehouse 13, the store-place for objects of paranormal capabilities.  Warehouse 13's custodian is Artie Nielsen (Saul Rubinek "Nero Wolf," "Frasier"), a fellow agent who serves both as the comic relief and the vital gateway into the mythology of Warehouse 13's contents.  The objects themselves tend to have historical significance with names like "Houdini" being dropped left and right, and represent a wide range of abilities.  Objects are neutralized by a mysterious goo and stored away from society.  Myka and Pete will be in charge of retrieving stray objects, all under the direction of a mysterious and ageless overseer Mrs. Frederic.

The interplay between the characters is excellent, everybody is a pro here and they do their jobs well.  There is a definite boyish wonder to Pete that makes his character instantly likable, while Myka's toughness keeps the dynamic from drifting too far into trite sexual tension or story-book fantasy.  Trust me, it may not be of the uber-dark franchise we have too much of, but it's not exactly kids stuff either.

Will the new name succeed or not?  Who knows.  One thing is for sure, Warehouse 13 looks to be a winner – especially if your tired of programming that requires a PHD in philosophy to unlock.  Warehouse 13 is everything that SciFi/Fantasy should be:  suitably bizarre with a hint of a higher order, great characters, and enjoyable adventures.  Try it.

Warehouse 13, a new show set to premiere on the Sci Fi Channel in July, seems to be a mish-mash of various other shows, such as:

(1) The X-Files, which I loved. You’ve got the two partners here (male and female). The male is slightly more eccentric and a rule-breaker. He’s also the kind of guy who follows hunches, whereas the female partner is much more by-the-book. The difference between X-Files and Warehouse 13? There’s no aliens. Yet.

(2) Relic Hunter. I never watched that show, but Warehouse 13 has an old-world sort of feel to it, particularly the kind of equipment used on the show. This comparison might be bad, because I’m making this judgment based solely on commercials for Relic Hunter, but this makes sense to me.

(3) The Librarian TV movies. I love Noah Wyle and these TV movies were actually kind of cute. It’s about a guy who goes around the world collecting relics, which is pretty much what Warehouse 13 is about (more on that below).

Having just watched the pilot episode for Warehouse 13, I can say that I actually enjoyed it. Created by Jane Espenson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and executive produced by Jack Kenny (The Book of Daniel), the show follows two secret service agents in their pursuit to find and secure mysterious and paranormal relics.

Eddie McClintock (Bones, Desperate Housewives) plays Agent Peter Latimer, a cavalier rule-breaker. His life seems kind of empty in the pilot episode, and while he’s good at his job, he’s suspended after an incident at a museum. Peter may or may not have some psychic properties, because he gets a lot of hunches and feelings that help guide him through his job (and which he once ignored to his father’s peril).

Joanne Kelly (Jeremiah, The Dresden Files) plays Agent Myka Bering (pronounced Mi-cah). She’s a very straight shooter type of agent who likes to come up with a lot of plans and follow protocol. A rising star in the Secret Service, she has a past that she just can’t seem to shake, because something very traumatizing happened to her in a previous assisgnment.

Myka and Peter, naturally, do not get along, but both are recruited by the mysterious, and ageless, Mrs. Fredric, who is played by CCH Pounder (Law and Order: SVU, ER). She sends them off to South Dakota to work with Agent Artie Nielsen (played by Saul Rubinek from Fraiser and Wall Street) who is in charge of Warehouse 13.

During their first visit to the warehouse, Myka and Peter learn that many paranormal and crazy relics and inventions are stored there, including cars that run on human energy (which was apparently turned down by Henry Ford) and Pandora’s Box. Myka and Peter are quickly sent off to Iowa to investigate a domestic abuse case between a college student and his girlfriend which could possibly involve some crazy relic that makes people crazy.

I’m not going to spoil the plot or give away too many details, but the agents get to play with some cool toys and there are actually some interesting relics stored in Warehouse 13 (including what may be a genie’s lamp that is actually a large kettle). The leads have some cute chemistry and easy banter. Overall, I’m interested in seeing how this plays out. I suspect it may become a sort of one-off episode show, where each episode involves a new case to be solved and then discarded, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I wonder if they’ll go the X-Files route and introduce a series-long mythology aspect as well. Time will tell.

Warehouse 13 premieres on the Sci Fi Channel on July 7, 2009.