Syfy series star talks about colleagues, gay characters with Alpha Waves Radio

Special Agent Peter Lattimer is a very funny guy, and many faces expect the man who portrays him on Syfy's hit series "Warehouse 13" to be just as funny.

But while series star Eddie McClintock can light up a room with laughter through minimal effort, when it comes to the level of humor found on "Warehouse 13," all the credit really goes to showrunner Jack Kenny. At least that's what McClintock says.

"I can be a little silly sometimes, but I always tell Jack that's what he's here for, the funny," McClintock recently told Alpha Waves Radio, the online radio program for Airlock Alpha and the GenreNexus. "I am the meat puppet. He tells me what to say, and everybody thinks how funny Eddie McClintock is. But really, it's just me regurgitating the words that Jack and his writers made out for me."

Of course, solid acting and impeccable timing helps, too -- and that comes directly from McClintock and the chemistry he has with the rest of the cast of "Warehouse 13." And outside of the writing, it is the cast -- including Joanne Kelly, Saul Rubinek, Allison Scagliotti, Genelle Williams and CCH Pounder -- that continues "Warehouse 13" on its throne as Syfy's best scripted program.

"Everyone associates one another here, and maybe that's what we need to have a successful show," McClintock said. Yet it's hard to predict when a show is going to be successful and when it won't. Otherwise, cable channels and networks would send out a string of hits, rather than nervously wait for the first batch of audience numbers to come in each week.

An earlier show McClintock was a part of -- "Stark Raving Mad" -- had some significant talent, including Tony Shalhoub and Neil Patrick Harris. Yet, the show stumbled out the gate and never found its footing after that.

"We had an incredible pedigree, we had everything going for us. And the show was good," McClintock said. "But it got canned. Why? Who knows."

Joining "Warehouse 13" this season is "Smallville" alum Aaron Ashmore. He plays an agent, Steve Jinks, who can tell when people are lying. And if you watched last Monday's episode of the Syfy series, you learned officially that he had his own little secret he finally shared: he's gay.

That brings up some interesting triangle opportunities that no one probably thought of before. However, Pete Lattimer won't be a part of it, but not because he doesn't want to be.

"There is this great scene that is going to come up where Pete basically says, 'Hey man, any time you wanna take a look at the guns or the pecs, feel free to check them out,'" McClintock said. "It really exemplifies Pete's naivete. He is such an open book, and there is no malice there. So many things that I aspire to be. He doesn't judge people. He really is just this adolescent kid in a man's body, and it is just so much fun."

However, Jinks might not be taking Pete up on his offer. That's because Ashmore recently revealed his character really won't be into muscles.

But that's OK. "I have decided to become less muscular next year, and see if they will change that in the writing," McClintock joked.

He spent extra time in the gym this year mostly because he has a nude scene coming up on "Warehouse 13." However, not all fans are impressed with the work McClintock puts into his body.

"I had a guy on IMDb who wrote on my IMDb page, 'You know what I like about Eddie McClintock? He's not afraid to show his average, everyman's body," McClintock said. "He said it's so good that he doesn't look like he works out or spends 24 hours in the gym. He just looks like your normal average guy.'

"I am like, wow, thanks man. Tell that to me when I am on Mile 6 on this run on the treadmill."

Find out what else McClintock has to share about the show, Pete Lattimer, and even take a glimpse inside his life before he was an actor. You will even learn why some may have mistaken him for a serial killer.

Eddie McClintock joins Alpha Waves Radio Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, with an encore at 11 p.m. ET, on the podcast's new home, TrekRadio.

Also appearing on the show is Eric Shapiro, creator of the new Star Trek Padd iPad app that was released earlier this month to some Trekkie fanfare.

Also vote for Eddie in the Airlock Alpha Portal Awards, taking place now through July 26.

"Warehouse 13" airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on Syfy.