The popular star of this hit series tells us what to expect in the next volume

Masi Oka is one of the stars that has made Heroes what it is today. The series returns with its latest volume, Fugitives on Monday, February 2 at 9 PM ET on NBC. Oka recently held a conference call to discuss the series' return, and here's what he had to say.

Second half of the fall season it seemed much more in tune with the shows, you know, beginnings. What can we expect, you know, now that we are entering a new volume here?

Masi Oka: Pretty much, to be exact, you know, we're going to go back to the fundamentals that will made the show really great and what's kept it grounded with it going back to the central characters and trying to sell ourselves smaller stories but with big action.

There's more going to be - more character base and more centralized on us - on specific characters as we see them finally come together towards to the end, kind of, like, try to save themselves.

You know, there was some criticism obviously when the season began. I think a lot of people though were quite happy with the way the fall season wrapped up with the last couple of episodes. Do you think the fans and critics in general, do we need to be more patient with the show do you think?

Masi Oka: It would be great if you could, I mean, we can't ask for that of course - the creative process is a - is one of that, that kind of builds on it and Tim also has a great map to where we go; but at the same time there's a collaboration that happens that allows us to go from interesting places and allows us to discovery.

And we hope that the audience and the fans will go on this discovering journey with us knowing that there will be a great payout. I think with all our volumes in particular we've sometimes have slow starts, but we always pick it up at a high gear towards the end.

And I think it's because a show like this takes such risks and makes bold choices, it takes a little bit of time for the audience and, you know, the critics to get accustomed to this kind of new kind of journey that we're starting to take. And once everyone is on board, you know, we hit the ground running.

So, you know, we do ask that maybe some patience, you know, from the fans and the audience if we can ask for that, that'd be great. But I will definitely, you know, just to kind of - you're taking a different journey and with these bold differences you have to kind of expect some a - some changes.

The first time we talked and I asked you if you could have any superpower of your choosing and you still said time travel; do you still feel that way or has there been any other special abilities that you've found yourself envying?

Masi Oka: You know, personally, I still love time travel. At the same time, I know for the show's sake, we - time travel kind of gives it a little bit of a headache in terms of plot lines. And that's one thing that's kind of cool about this volume today, you know, we're trying to go back to being ground in and out, we don't have any time travel at all.

So personally I still like time travel. Although, even over the holidays, I've kind of eaten a little bit so it would have been nice to have like a super metabolism.

And when the show began, when you were first starting to do your thing, did you dare to believe that this show could be as big as it became? I mean, would that have been daunting and paralyzing to think about that kind of phenomena that it created?

Masi Oka: To be honest with you, you know, I was just very fortunate to be getting on a special show. We knew we were creating something amazing that, you know, the world that Tim created was so rich and so unique. And we knew he would, you know, cater towards - at least we would grab the attention of the core audience, the sci-fi folks, but I would have never expected to be the mainstream phenomenon that it became.

And, you know, I'm just so grateful that the mainstream audience has - responding the way - is getting the response that I've never - I never would have imagined, so. We're very grateful for that.

So following up on something somebody asked. Did you personally feel that the show had lost its way or were people just being too hard on it because it came out of the box so big, so strong, and so popular?

Masi Oka: I don't know, I feel that the show - the show is definitely - it's so hard with the creative process because the plot, you know, we tell so much stories so fast because Tim is all about getting answers quickly and, you know, satiating the audiences' appetite for what happens next, you know, you're on the seat of your - you know, the edge of your seat and Season 1 was so perfect that there's so much - and of course there's so much story that you can tell and it becomes difficult.

And because, you know, to shake things up, you do need to make different choices - bold choices. So I don't think it's necessarily lost its way, it's just trying different paths and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't work. You know, and I think Season 3 when we started Volume 3, they found a different path and they found a way to make it work.

And Volume 4, Fugitives, is also another completely, somewhat different, you know, we're going back to the grounded characters and the central characters and about, you know, the - people trying to live their ordinary lives being hunted now. And that's a completely different story than we've been trying to tell.

So it might take a while to get us accustomed to the quote/unquote usual Heroes, but it still has the core ensemble captive drama. So, you know, I'm not sure if it's lost its way, it's just always different. And, you know, some people will like, you know, some people will respond to the way the story is told in the one volume and maybe not to another. So...

And then just real fast to follow-up, what will you be up to? What will Hiro be up to in this new ark? Give us a little preview.

Masi Oka: What's interesting about Hiro, you know, is he starts off powerless and it's always - for me I find it actually interesting to play a powerless character because you kind of get the joy of rediscovering that power and what it means to be a hero without power. So having someone who had had powers and going to someone to powerless is a, you know, it's kind of an interesting character mindset you have to get, you know, kind of - you kind of fall from great and then you wait.

So it's about adjusting to that and how to live that, you know, how to live his - how do you live your life knowing that once you were a hero and having - still have facing yourself and also is the people around you that you can still be a hero by helping others -- and possibly trying to get the powers back.

Hey, you were in a - more than most characters, you've been in unusual situation because you had such long points where you weren't acting with any of the other Heroes stars, you were off in your separate story line; and now by the this end of this first hour, you're with all of them inside the plane -- or almost all of them. Does it feel a lot different for you when you're with all the other regulars? Does it feel odd to you when you kind of - the cast gets together and you realize you haven't acted with a lot of them?

Masi Oka: I don't know if it's odd, but it's always - I'm also so grateful for it. I really am excited every time I get to play with other people as well, because, you know, it's - because you see them on TV, you know, they're your friends, I hang out with all those guys outside of the set. So to be able to actually work with them, it's always such an honor and a pleasure to be, you know, to be working, you know, people - especially like Adrian who's the nicest guy.

And then you - I'm walking 14 and it was like oh my God, I was like, oh, really! So it's - I actually look forward to every - it's such a treat to be able to work with all these amazingly talented people. And when I see, you know, a different call, you know, number on it - on a call sheet and knowing that we get to work with someone else; I always take it kind of like maybe this is my last time I might be able to get to work with them. So in essence I actually get to put in 200, 300% of all the effort because I really think this might be the last time I'd be able to work with, you know, Hayden again, or Milo again, you know, so. I definitely look forward to it.

And I'll just ask one other thing. The - you're kind of the voice that the viewers love because all of us know that if we had a superpower we'd just use it and we'd have a lot of fun. And characters are always reluctant Heroes in shows, and your character is the only one who really, really wants a superhero power. Do you kind of sympathize with that? Were you as a kid - did you have some of that? If you had a superpower, you'd be out there having a great time with it?

Masi Oka: Absolutely. I think it would be so much fun if you had a superpower. I'd be using it all the time whether it's for praying, for helping other people. Of course, you know, were we are we already, you know, people start, you know, firing at you and you get hurt. And it's like, oh, okay, it's not fun and games anymore.

But, you know, I definitely wanted to be a superhero as a kid. So it's kind of cool that I'm getting to live my dreams vicariously through Hiro.

Did you enjoy getting to play a 10-year-old?

Masi Oka: I actually did. It was kind of an interesting balance because Hiro himself is kind of a quote/unquote a "man-play." A big kid that's grown up. So we didn't want to play - so it was kind of a challenge to play the 10-year-old so that it's not - it doesn't seem like he's four. But enough of a distinction between the present Hiro and the 10-year-old Hiro.

So it was definitely fun because, you know, on set there's kind of no holds bar because I was a kid - I got to play a kid, I just kind of channeled, you know, Tom Hanks in Big or Robin Williams and just go all out and it actually allowed me -f reed me up in terms of improvising a lot physically.

So that was definitely a lot of fun. And I -- actually one of the talks was even to play a 70-year-old version of Hiro as well. The whole idea was that Hiro stepped back in time, age, and then met in the present time. So we were talking - you and me like massive stuff. So we had a 10-year-old Hiro and we had a 75-year-old -- a 70-year-old version of Hiro, you know, and then meeting up with a 25-year-old Hiro.

And it's kind of an interesting acting challenge, but, you know, I guess time kind of got cut short so we didn't get to go that route.

Did they think that would just be too confusing for people or you just didn't have enough time to shoot it?

Masi Oka:

I think we had a little bit of both, I mean, we actually did make the masks and it was definitely a lot of fun to do, you know, to try it. But, you know, we never got around to shooting it I think, just because the stories were so big that we needed to, you know to come to an end and economize a little bit.

Did you think back at all to when you were 10-years-old to help you get that?

Masi Oka: You know what, I tried in many ways and the best was kind of sometimes leaving my old life that I had when I was ten, so just so I could get in the mindset of that and also just like seeing all the kids going to parks, watching them, and talking with my friends who have kids now who are at that age. So they're a lot smarter than I remember.

You know, I can't remember when I was ten, but just talking to these 10-year-olds they are so smart. And that's the one thing I think you kind of forget when you try to play - quote/unquote "play kids" that they're a lot smarter than their age. And so it was really important kind of a not to completely dumb it down. They're just very innocent in many ways, I mean, they have that childlike wonder.

I wanted to look back with Volume 3 for a second and just ask you -- I really enjoyed the scenes between Hiro and his mother. And can you maybe just maybe talk a little bit about filming those and what that was like for you?

Masi Oka:

Yeah it was actually such a wonderful scene. We were very blessed to have, you know, great writing from Adam Armus and Kay Foster and Greg Beeman actually directed that scene. And it was, you know, and we had (Tamaran) who was absolutely amazing.

And it was actually - it was quite difficult because at that time, you know, I kind of overlapped a little with my own mother who's going right now - battling breast cancer herself.

Oh wow.

Masi Oka: And so it was kind of - it was difficult to kind of separate that at times and at the same time -- I hate to say - use the word 'easy', but you know, the substitution was there because I was living it in many ways that, you know, I kind of just transferred - it wasn't Hiro, in some senses it was - I was just thinking what would I say. And just the thought that it was just so - it was just such a great scene and we were just so blessed to have everything work together. And this idea that Hiro - and the mother gets to see Hiro all grown up again and then - and he actually gets to say his final goodbye to her I thought was a - I thought it was just, you know, really - you know, I was just so blessed to have all these, you know, the great writing, the great director and, you know, a great actress to play with.

So it just kind of all clicked at the same time and it's - it was definitely one of the most, like, emotional scenes for me and watching it as well was very tough. But I'm glad it came out really well so.

And then if you don't mind, just a quick follow-up looking ahead at Volume 4. Can you maybe talk a little bit about the Hiro/Ando relationship and what maybe we have to look forward to in that regard?

Masi Oka: Yeah, in the beginning of Hiro's powerless and Ando has a kind of supercharger power so Hiro is trying to nudge him on. In many ways he realizes, okay, well now he's had his turn so he needs to kind of step up and see what he can do and you - he takes on pretty much the role of the butler. He becomes Alfred in many ways.

You realize he has them when he brought me, you know, saved up from the Yamagato fun so he's trying to make a Batman out of Ando. But Ando is reluctant and he only cares about girls right now. So Hiro is trying to find - make him use those powers for good to save other people.

And of course that - Hiro ends up getting in trouble and Ando ends up helping him. Okay. But then, you know, then it's about them trying to work together and find new ways to, like, getting the power back.

So when have you ever - have thought about the effect of playing a character that always has to deal with subtitles - we're always reading subtitles -- do you ever think that boy maybe some of the subtleties of what I'm doing, like a little glance here and there, maybe occasionally the work you're doing maybe gets a little bit lost in the subtle factors just because people are busy reading as you're going through, you know, the skills of acting?

Masi Oka: It's a very interesting question because there is - I do make a technical adjustment in terms of my acting when I know there's going to be subtitles because people are more interested - people are reading it so we do need to be a little bit bigger because they don't understand a word. So the bigger - and even like there's a lot more voice overacting in some senses because the voice and the tone of the voice, the way you say things and the bigger facial expressions kind of like compensate for the lack of the subtle reading.

So it, you know, it's a little bit broader than - this is just slightly broader than the way I would normally act in a regular drama which is ironic because when you actually go to Japan and when the Japanese people see I'm sure to them when they see it's like because they can understand it's like wow, that's like really big acting.

So I'm like oh, you know, I got to, you know, this is for an American audience I got to balance my balls, but the fun thing though is that, you know, when I do say my subtitles - when I do - because I do my own translations, and some of my translations have some, like, you know, a nod to some of the Japanese cultural references.

Oh really?

Masi Oka: Which doesn't translate well because, you know, it's a paraphrasing in some senses - you still have the same meaning but there's specific words that I use that the Japanese audience in particular might appreciate, you know, like maybe a simple example would be like, you know, the word 'the dark side of the force', you know.

There's a specific word if you actually watch the Japanese version of Star Wars - there's a specific word they use for the dark side of the force.

Oh really?

Masi Oka: Yeah. If you just translate it normally, it doesn't, you know, it means dark side of the force, but it's not the word that the Star Wars fans would understand. So that's where I would go in and, like, I would watch the Star Wars, okay, what word they use? Oh they used ((Japanese spoken)) instead of ((Japanese spoken)), so I would take that. So that's just kind of like a small nod to them and, you know, I'll put in some (Mongo) references here and there within the context of Heroes and within still, you know, preserving the word and the meanings that the writers have originally written for us.

But - that's my nod to people who understand Japanese. But for an American audience, you know, I do adjust my acting a little bit where I take it to a, you know, like 20% more maybe...

It almost seems like it's almost like stage acting in a way right, like, where you have to sell it a little bit more and just be a little bit more broad.

Masi Oka: Exactly because you know, I think the eyes - the sight - the vision sense is kind of diminished a little bit so. You know, you've got to - not the vision you know, I don't know what I'm trying to say, yeah because now they're reading more so you got to play up a little bit with the voice and maybe more big with the facial expressions.

Now personally if you had Hiro's power, how would it affect you if you suddenly lose it?

Masi Oka: How would it affect me if I lose it. I would be bummed without a doubt. You know, it's - Hiro kinds of, you know, takes it in stride and I think deep down inside he's bummed, but you know, he's kind of - he's always an expecter of destiny so he realizes this is his fate it's his destiny.

If he had his chance that he'd kind of going back to - he's okay with it - at least at first, but, I don't know it would be kind of very sad... used to doing something and you know, it's difficult to adjust to a life of - at the same time, you know, it's how life goes and I guess you just have to adjust to it in many ways, you know, that's what's happening with the world right now. Many people who, you know, who are financially stable because of the economic crisis all of sudden might find themselves home - without homes and stuff. And even with us, you know, in many ways we're on - we're very fortunate to be working right now next, you know, next year, two years whatever from now it's possible that we're completely yanked off. You know, I won't be having this press conference call with anybody.

So, I mean, it happens to us all, all times whether it's power or not so I think that the important thing is to just chin up and realize okay this is a new situation and now we must adjust, you know, like kind of Obama said we have to kind of step up and, you know, face the nation and put it upon us to make the change.

Now, also, have you or the writers tried to incorporate more of your real-life Kendo skills into here?

Masi Oka: You know what, we've been trying to. I mean, we did a lot of that in Season 1. I'm not sure what the reason for the decline in a lot of sword playing is. I mean, I've been trying to put it in there as much as I can and unfortunately we face a little bit of budget cuts the last season and we couldn't afford a sword so I had to fight with a French bread. But... not quite the same. Well, the steel - French bread just doesn't do it. But hopefully they'll be more. I haven't been able to do it, but, you know, I'm hoping that the writers definitely put it in there because it was definitely a lot of fun.

Now Hiro is trying to teach Ando to become a true superhero, now does that involve his - I like calling it red lightening, like, does it involve that or is something else?

Masi Oka: Well I think it's being a hero in Hiro's mind is just a philosophy, you know, it's like speaking to the superhero bible of doing things, you know, to save the world, sacrificing yourself for others, you know, and never using your powers for your own personal gain.

So I think it's about trying to teach them that, you know, whether it's a supercharging power or the red lightening helping other people, you know, that's part of it and I think that's what Hiro's is trying to engrain in Ando who's always, you know, who's been very helpful to Hiro, but you know, needs to get in more open towards helping other people.

I want to know, have you gotten used to kind of the fans and just the overwhelming affection for the show? Has that changed at all in the three years that it's been on the air?

Masi Oka: You know, I don't think you could ever get used to this. It's always daunting and - not daunting, but very overwhelming. Even when we go halfway around the world, you know, there's someone like in Singapore who's watching our show and are a big fan. You know, that is a great thing about our show. We've been able to connect with so many people that I would have never been able to connect to.

And, you know, I don't think you could ever get used to it. I see myself as just a normal human being who just happens to have a great job and having fun. I'm playing on the set, you know. We're lucky to be doing what we're doing. And - so I don't have - when I go out on the street, you know, I go to restaurants with my friends when people come up to me it does still feel weird. And you're like what - why do you want to talk to me? It's like - it's... you know, for me it's never been about the fame so - I don't think I'll ever get used to it. And I'm not sure I'll ever be really comfortable with it either.

Is there any romance on the horizon for Hiro in this cycle? Because that's one thing I've always enjoyed in the past is, you know, when he's had a little romance going on.

Masi Oka: You know what, Hiro - let's see, he does have some interaction with someone in the middle - but I don't think there's any specific romance. However, one of the things we had is Bryan Fuller is now back on our show and, you know... we were talking about - he said, you know, the one thing I really loved was, you know, Hiro and Charlie and that was - of all the romances we had on the set - on the show, that was the best romantic relationship. It was so pure. And that's something I really want to create. I don't think we have time to create it in, you know, Volume 4: Fugitives. But if we are fortunate to get another season, Bryan definitely said, "Yeah, I definitely want to try to recreate kind of a Charlie-kind of romance."

What is the impact of having Bryan Fuller back on the show?

Masi Oka: You know what, first of all, my heart goes out to Jesse and Jeph. They were amazing writers and I love them. You know, they're my friends and they're working on their own shows already. So I'm so grate - glad that they're doing well. I think that's always a hard loss, you know, one you actually don't have control over.

But with Bryan coming back I think it's definitely a new dynamic and it's such a great energy that he brings to the show. He's such an accomplished show runner, you know, with great ideas from, you know, Wonderfalls and like Pushing Daisies was most recently. And he was on the show from season one so he knows what the process was. He's knows what made it great.

And then having stepped out of it for a season and a half, I think he had such a subjective view on how the show was, how the show became, and how it kind of in his mind kind of, you know, kind of took a different path. And having him come back, you know, being so excited - it's like, oh, this is what, you know, was great, you know, let's go back to this, you know. And he just came back from what I understand like, you know, the day after opening of Pushing Daisies, you know, he was just so gung-ho about the show - came back with all these ideas, so excited.

And I think that really invigorated everyone because, you know, the writers, you know, we're all artists, you know, we do - in some senses, you know, we are insecure in some senses. So when we hear the critics and the writers do take it to their heart. So with Bryan coming in, I think it gave him an, you know, an uplifting momentum of energy and I think it's such a big morale boost to everybody. It was like, yeah, excited to it.

You know, even, you know, Tim's now helping to - and everybody is like - there's just a better - there's a great synergy in the room right now. It's just a lot of excitement for new ideas so...

Well, how much did the cast feel in terms of what was happening with Jeph and Jesse last season? How much were you guys aware of the transition that was about to come?

Masi Oka: Oh, we weren't aware at all. We had no idea. In many ways, you know, it's - what happens in a writer's room stays in a writer's room. So for us, you know, we have a lot of respect for that process. And it's not for our place to say anything. So it was actually really a shock to us to find out that was happening.

And do you see the differences in the scripts you are getting now versus the scripts you were getting in the fall?

Masi Oka: The difference is it's definitely more character based. I think Jeph and Jesse coming from the sci-fi world, they love the sci-fi and comic, you know, more the core - more like a sci-fi story lines, which I personally gravitate towards because, you know, I come from a (Mongo) fans.

But I think what the show - what's great about the show is that balance of having some sci-fi elements and having some character faults. So what we've seen at least in the last few scripts these days is definitely more character based. More smaller stories being told. So you'll see more stories and more episodes like company men.

Where you'll see maybe only like six characters involved in a whole episode and we pay more attention to, you know, to only like three story lines instead of diversifying over six or seven. And definitely, you know, it's action but based in - grounded in a character drama. So it's definitely more character-centric now I would think.

Now I didn't realize this that you worked for George Lucas' company before. I didn't realize - it was in the bio that was sent out. And now how is that, like how is it kind of like kind of working in that kind of - for someone that's kind of like a huge icon and a hero especially like for Star Wars fans and stuff?

Masi Oka: I think for me, it's given me a great appreciation for what goes on behind the scenes, behind the camera, because it's, you know, whether any project that we see, anything we see on screen, so you know, it's the blood, sweat, and tears of the thousands of people, whether it's, you know, publicity people, the execs at NBC, the caterers, you know, the accountants, you know, it's not just the props, the actors, the writers, the tech side.

So many people that goes into that - every frame we see on a screen. So I think if you only do acting, we think, you know, that's your world and that's the reason why people are watching. But having - knowing what it takes to create that one frame of computer graphics and how much time and manpower was spent into that. I think I have a lot more appreciation for the craft that goes on behind the scenes than, you know, knows I'm very appreciative of the crew around me.

And now do you still continue to do the same thing like on the side?

Masi Oka: Well, theoretically I'm still an employee. I still have my email address, stuff like that. And I'm on their employee roster anyhow, of course I don't - I'm not on their payroll or anything. But I'm hoping - there are a couple projects coming up where - which I'm kind of producing and writing where - which would involve special effects and I'm already in talks with (Ireland) hoping to utilize some of their services and possibly get an employee discount from them.

I'm a big fan of Bryan Fuller too. And I was wondering, when will his affect start. In other words, Tim wrote this first script of the new season. I didn't know how quickly - did Bryan get back right away so we'll start to see his affects starting with the second episode or what?

Masi Oka: Well he - I forgot when he came on but I know the first script he wrote was episode 20 or 22. Oh, I can't remember which one it is.

I think it's 20, Masi.

Masi Oka: I think it's 20. Okay, 20. But, yeah, but what he has is that he's not stuck in the room. You know, in many ways in any kind of writing staff it's always great to have, you know, new people because they bring in new and fresh ideas, you know, whether it's comedy or drama, they always have that, you know, Tim was always a great leader in the room. And he was so energetic, but just having another voice come in, it always just only adds to the scene and because Bryan used to be part of that pact or that great writing ensemble I think, you know, he jumped in immediately and he was welcomed and he just brought in this amazing energy that, you know, added to what Tim already had there.

So we can see the little quirks and touches he has right away at the beginning of this?

Masi Oka: Yeah, I mean, because all of our scripts are written by, you know, all the writers in many ways. You know, I think people take their own stories so you might not see Bryan's name on a script or Tim's name on a script but they're there breaking down the stories and they're there writing every pertinent part.

You know, last season had a much lighter tone for Hiro and Ando. And having already talked of course about what the course of Ando and Hiro's interaction is going to be this season. Is it going to stay in that lighter tone or are you finding that it's getting a little bit more serious especially with Hiro not having his powers?

Masi Oka: I think there's always going to be a lighter tone. We're, you know, that's kind of Hiro and Ando's job in many ways. So we'll find ways to keep it light, you know, you can't keep it light when you're being hunted down anyways. But there are places definitely that we inject humor.

In Parts 2 of the last few scenes - last few episodes we're shooting right now, you know, Hiro and Ando kind of deals with a baby, which is kind of really funny so you've got kind of a Two Men and a Baby scenario going on. And that's always fodder for humor in one way or another.

So I think the writers have definitely found a way to keep it light for our story lines well, plus keeping it grounded at the same time. So you can definitely always look forward to a Hiro and Ando scene hopefully to put a smile on your face.

Is there another aspect to this fugitive story that you found compelling or that they've, you know, like you said with the characters being together in the beginning and kind of trying to make this journey through this volume back together again. Has any of the interactions with the other characters drawn out anything else out of Hiro that surprised you or you're happy that they're getting back to?

Masi Oka: Let's see, I'm trying to think. I don't think that they have a falling out. Well, Hiro and Ando's story, like definitely goes out on a tangent for a while and comes back so, you know, they get to meet each other for a little bit in the - at the top, you know, in that plane.

But I don't think there's anything that changes him that's dealing with the top. But we do definitely see - I mean, every character goes through their character journey, their character arc. So, I definitely see that changing I think towards the end we'll see a lot of impact from the other Heroes on Hiro.

If this volume isn't dealing with time travel - I know Hiro's powerless at this time - but does that mean, you know, he wouldn't be getting that power back or it would be irrelevant at least in this volume?

Masi Oka: Well, that's to be seen I think. I think Hiro definitely does go through a journey. There'll be a time when he doesn't have his powers. You know, I think he realizes that he can get his - he doesn't need powers to be a hero. So that's kind of his journey. But at the same time, you know, it's - what fun, I think, for the audience would it be with Hiro without his powers?

So we've seen Hiro without powers many times actually. Season one trying to find the magic sword and season two because he's a kid. So, you know, at the end he always finds a way to get his powers back. But who knows, he might - as soon as he gets his power back, you know, he might yell his name at a villain and have it taken away immediately in the next scene.

I recently encountered (Greg Utanous) on the TCA's had a reception for the DGA. And he said that one of the big challenges of shooting the airplane crash sequence was that the actors were all having so much fun together and obviously the plane wasn't really moving. So having to act being in a crashing plane that was actually just sitting there that the biggest challenge was trying to keep everybody from laughing. Can you talk a little bit about filming that sequence and trying, maybe trying not to laugh or trying to look like you were crashing?

Masi Oka: Yeah. That was so much fun because it was like one of the - I don't know the last time when all of us got together. It was Sendhil, Milo, Hayden, Greg, Ali, and myself. So we were all there. I mean like literally the last time we got to work together at the same place at the same time may have been - God, I really can't remember. Because even that though Kirby Plaza, we weren't really there at the same - well, kind of in the same time. But, yeah, that might be - that literally might be the last time. So it was just kind of great. It was like camp and we were just joking. Plus even Greg and I are like are goofballs, so we're like just making faces.

And what they do is they blow all this confetti at us and - to present - you know, to make things like look like they're shaking and we're shaking. And while we're doing that we're all just yelling like really stupid things over each other and just making each other laugh. So it was definitely hard to - it literally was like being in camp. And it was definitely one of the most funest times I had on set.

Speaking of Greg Grunberg, that little promo you do for NBC where you're doing the rap NBC...

Masi Oka: Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Did you guys come up with that or did they ask you to do it that way or how did that come about?

Masi Oka: That literally was something we decided to do because they were trying to do some promos and stuff with something musical so it's like let's see what you do. I think it was Greg who was like, "Oh you want to slow down the beat," you know.

So Greg and I like we come from a comedy world so we like to improvise stuff. And, you know, we like to have - play around and have fun. So we just threw something down and it came out great. And actually you'll see a little bit of us, you know, doing our musical stuff again for the Super Bowl, I think. We just shot some musical Super Bowl promos for Heroes.

Oh my God.

Masi Oka: That one you'll see Greg, Jack, Zach and myself along with Zach Levi from (Checking Out), the show set for New Years.

Heroes returns with its all new Fugitives volume on Monday, February 3 at 9 PM ET on NBC.