"What if?" This is the catch phrase of the Sci-Fi Channel. It is the tool that propels writers into the realms of the unimaginable, the muse that sparks great tales in speculative fiction. It's what makes the Sci-Fi Channel so much fun.

As they have evolved from running a constant stream of syndicated programs, re-running some guilty pleasures such as the Incredible Hulk and the Twilight Zone, they have given us some powerful television original to the network. Newest to their infectious brand of shows is Eureka.

This tale takes place in a small, northwestern town where the laws of physics are rudimentally bent and broken. U.S. marshall Jack Carter, a mild-mannered, dry-witted fellow runs his car off a road while transporting his daughter Zoe. Both are disenchanted with life: Jack's marriage fell apart because of his job and Zoe's trust because of her parent's separation. They find themselves in Eureka that appears to be nothing more then a small town, for all of about two minutes.

They meet a host of characters including the town's mechanic who is an "ex-government engineer", the town sheriff and his deputy, the lovly yet dangerous Dep. Lupo, and a family whose son disappears... along with a large chunk of their family RV.

Jack helps find the son as he meets a DOD agent readily on the scene. This opens his eyes to the strange world he stepped into. As the show progresses he learns about the government projects occuring here and how they have affeted the world. The project started with Einstein, as Jack says, "The Einstein?" It's all overwhelming but he soaks it in with a cool demeanor yet he still appears well over his head.

The show was engaging, if not engrossing. Each character was handled quite well and interestingly enough by the cast. Even amidst the chaos and scientific wonder no one lost the low-key attitude of a small town. It helped perpatuate the wonder. I found myself laughing and cheering as the show progressed. It was plain fun. I recognized a number of character actors, including Greg Germaine from Ally McBeal playing an uncharacteristic evil scientist (and quite well), and Matt Frewer as an Aussie hunter involved in his own unique way.

The show airs on the Sci-Fi channel on Tuesday evenings at 9pm and repeats often (I watched it on the USA network Monday night). I highly recommend this show for all Sci-Fi buffs, mystery hounds, conspiratorialists, and anyone with a sense of wonder. With Eureka, Sci-Fi has struck gold!