Well, I just got back from being out of town so I havn't had a chance to update much here. News from Dragon*Con says that Sliders will be one of the first series to be shown simultaneously on Sci-Fi Channel AND USA Network! So that's really great news for everyone who doesn't get the Sci-Fi Channel. However, the fight is still on to get MCA/Universal to first-run syndicate the show for airing in Canada.

Monday June 30 7:58 AM EDT

TNT Picks Up Babylon 5

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - TNT has snapped up the syndicated sci-fi series "Babylon 5" for a fifth season of originals, with new episodes airing on the cable network starting January.

TNT's 22-episode order came after distributor Warner Bros. TV opted to drop the show. The pickup comes on the heels of TNT's previously announced deal to make a pair of feature-length "Babylon 5" films, one of which also will air in January. Expecting to be canceled, the show's producers had already shot a final episode that will now be broadcast next spring.

Reuters/Variety

Well, the USA Today website still hasn't put up an electronic copy of the article, and I don't know if they will for a while. The reason? Well, it may have been a late-breaking story. The web site lists an article from today concerning Mary Hart's 15 years at Entertainment Tonight that went up in the wee hours last night but did not appear in today's paper. If it had it would have been under Television, instead is the Sliders article. The editors may have, at the last minute, considered the Sliders article more important and ran in to press after the web crew got done up-loading it to the site. Pure speculation but it makes sense. I'll keep you posted.

Slide Like An Egyptian Ratings from USA Today:
Viewers: 5 million
Rating:3.4
Share: 8
Rank:88
Out of: 114

Also, I have cleared up the Tracy Torme chat/interview mess and will finalize the post sometime today.

Ratings from Fox for "Slide Like an Egyptian" on June 20:

Adults 18-49: 2.2 Rating / 10 Share / 5 million total viewers
Households: 3.4 Rating / 8 Share
Rank: 89 out of 114 shows (per ABC)

  'Sliders' now on base at Sci-Fi

By Scott Hettrick

The Sci-Fi Channel has picked up off-network rights to the one-hour Fox drama "Sliders" and has ordered 22 new episodes from Universal Television.

The order of new episodes is unusual for a cable network, particularly one the size of the Sci-Fi Channel, which generally does not have the budget to support network-quality series. Sci-Fi sister network USA Network produces original episodes of the former CBS late-night drama "Silk Stalkings," and Showtime produced original episodes of "The Paper Chase," which also originated on CBS.

But Sci-Fi has added more than 12 million subscribers in the past year to reach 42 million overall, and it has been increasing its investment in the production of original programming. The network's first original drama series, "Mission Genesis," premieres July 21, and longform productions of "Dune" and "Invasion Earth" have been announced.

Last year Sci-Fi picked up Comedy Central's "Mystery Science Theater 3000" and is producing original episodes of the series.

Sci-Fi has acquired all 48 episodes of "Sliders" that have played on Fox.

"Sliders," which debuted in March 1995, has been dragging down Fox's Friday night schedule with low ratings in its third season. But even a percentage of the Fox ratings would be a lift for Sci-Fi, and the demographics of "Sliders," about the adventures of a young team of explorers who "slide" through parallel dimensions of Earth to experience personal and historic situations, is a perfect match for Sci-Fi.

Tuesday June 24 8:04 AM EDT
Cable's Sci-Fi Picks Up Fox's 'Sliders'
By Ray Richmond

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - The Sci-Fi Channel has picked up the paranormal TV series "Sliders," which was canceled by Fox this spring after three seasons.

The cable network ordered 22 new episodes from producer Universal TV, and also bought the rights to all 48 previously-produced "Sliders" hours.

The series stars Jerry O'Connell as the head of a young team of explorers who "slide" through parallel dimensions of Earth using a timer that opens a sliding vortex.

"What this deal represents is a very significant and bold statement on the part of the Sci-Fi Channel," said Rod Perth, president of USA Networks, which owns the Sci-Fi and USA networks.

It is certainly an expensive statement. "Sliders" has a budget in the $1.4 million to $1.5 million-per-episode range, a hefty price tag even by network standards. The budget is expected to be trimmed to around the $1 million-per mark.

Reuters/Variety

A warning, however. It should be noted that someone at Sci-Fi e-mailed Crestgirl at the MCA Board to say that Torme WOULD NOT be discussing Sliders during the chat. Here is that e-mail:

Subject: 
Re: Tracy Torme' 
Date: 
Mon, 23 Jun 1997 17:49:34 -0400 (EDT) 
From: 
XXXXXXXXXXXXX 
To: 
crestgirl@hotmail.com 

Tracy will be one of many guests on our sf Vortex Roswell special which airs 
this Sat at 1:30pm and Sun at 2:30am both eastern times. Tracy produced the 
movie "Fire in the Sky" and he will speak on what he knows about alien 
abductions. He will NOT be discussing Sliders so don't expect it. Just fair 
warning. 
Thanks for writing and watching sf Vortex. 

I realize that there is a discrepancy in the times, so I will try to clear that up ASAP.

IT'S OFFICIAL

Sliders Picked Up By Sci-Fi Channel! This press statement was released at 2:28 pm (est) 11:28 (pt)

From USA Networks
For Immediate Release
June 23, 1997

Sliders transports to Sci-Fi Channel

New Season of 22 Original Episodes of Popular Science-Fiction Series to Join Sci-Fi Channel's Growing Original Programming Linup in JANUARY 1998

Network Also Acquires Exclusive Rights to Three Previous Seasons

Sci-Fi Channel turns a new page in its history and paves the way for its future with the addition of Sliders, the state-of-the-art sci-fi/action drama from Universal TV, to it's originally programming linup beginning in January 1998. SCiFI has committed to 22 new, original episodes of the series and has aquired the exclusive rights to all 48 previously produced hours. The announcement as made today by Rod Perth, President, USA Networks Entertainment.

"The commitment to continue production of original episodes of Sliders represents a very bold and significant statement by the SCiFi Channel," Perth said. "Sliders is a series that offers the highest production values in television, excellend writing (sic) and a very talented cast. This series, as well as our development of major longform projects such as "Dune" and "Invasion Earth" are emblematic of the next plateau in SCiFi Channel evolution. We're delighted to welcome this extraordinary series to the network," he said.

Sci-Fi Channel, which celebrates its 5th anniversary in Sept. has experienced explosive growth with the addition of more than 12 million subscribers (a gain of 40%) since June 1996. In tandem with this growth, the network will increase investments in tthe development and production of original episodic programming fare.

Sliders, which debuted on the Fox television network on March 22, 1995, and completed it's third season on May 16, follows the adventures of a young team of explorers who "slide" through parallel dimensions of Earth using a timer which opens a sliding vortex. They explore Earth in the current year, taking the alternate route to personal and historic situations. Jerry O'Connell ("Jerry Maguire") stars as Quinn Mallory; Sabrina Lloyd ("Fatherhood") stars as Wade Wells (sic); Cleavant Derricks ("Something Wilder") stars as Rembrandt Brown and Kari Wuhrer ("Anaconda") stars as Maggie Beckett.

Created by Robert K. Weiss and Tracy Torme, Sliders is produced by St. Clare Entertainment in association with Universal Television.

Sci-Fi Channel, a USA Network, is available in more than 42 million homes and features science fact programming plus a mix of original and classic science-fiction, fantasy, horror and futuristic series, movies and specials. Sci-Fi Channel is also available internationally in Latin America, Brazil, Europe, and the South African countries. The Dominion, Sci-Fi Channel's web site is located at the following address: www.scifi.com.

1:29 pm (10:29 am) Update: A publicist at the USA Network has said that "officially" Sliders and USA are still in negotiations and nothing will be "a done deal" until either Friday or Monday. The reason? Well, the man who puts his John Hancock on the "done deal" is USA Networks Entertainment President Rod Perth, who has been very busy dividing his time between N.Y., L.A., and Australia. Because he hasn't had a chance to look at the contract, and hence sign his name to it, it's not a done deal. That's the "official" word from USA.

Fox is airing the reruns because Universal asked them to in order to get more viewers for it at USA. I just find that funny on so many levels! I got this email from Qballfan this morning (and yes, he'll be back here once his schedule calms down). Hope he doesn't mind me posting it, but there's nothing *really* top secret in here, so here goes! After all, it's sort of a message to all of you as well:

Well, I hope you've heard the news! The show has been renewed for an entire season on USA (although I'm sure you know it by now). I'll tell you now what I couldn't tell you before. Fox was (and is) airing the show this summer, including the double run on July 4, to keep the fire hot for Universal. That request was made by U right after the "no pickup" release. Fox honored the request because we have certain shows that Universal produces along with future deals, and Fox doesn't consider USA a competitor with the audience penetration of one of the "big 4". We, as one of the owned and operated stations of Rupert's empire, were required to keep silent about it. So in the beginning, I hinted as hard as I could before I got the mandate to "SHUT UP"! I had hoped more would catch it, with my comments about Jerry's employment status and his ties to the show. I'm not sure what's been going on internet-wise, with my traveling around, but hope all was well. I now have full license to post whatever I please (since I'm not tied to the show now!) and hope I'll be welcomed back to the forum. I still have many friends who can provide us with info, and would love to share it (as time allows) with my friends on MCA.

Daily Variety/Reuters reported two very interesting items today:

The first concerns the fight (similar in ours) to keep Babylon 5 going on the TNT Network:
Wednesday June 18 8:08 AM EDT
Report, Internet Site Inspire 'Babylon 5' Calls By Ray Richmond

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - A newspaper item Friday that speculated on the potential demise of "Babylon 5" has inspired more than 1,000 fans of the sci-fi series to jam the phone lines at TNT, begging that the show continue to be made.

Why TNT? Because the Turner cable network has ordered a pair of two-hour "Babylon 5" movies (the first scheduled to air in January).

Industry sources predict the series' producer, Warner Bros., won't renew "Babylon 5" for a fifth season of originals (to air beginning in late fall), and TNT very well might.

Meanwhile, TNT executives have been besieged by callers after the network's main phone number at its Atlanta headquarters was put up onto the "Babylon 5" Internet site. No word yet on how many of the fans resided in Nielsen homes.

Reuters/Variety

Reuters/Variety

A publicist at USA has said that a deal is close and that it may be hammered out within this week! But nothing is final.

Also, today, I've found out that Scream 2 has been tentatively set for release on Friday, Dec. 12, 1997 and I confirmed (from quite a few sources) that it is, indeed, filming in Atlanta.

A spokesperson in Alan Barnette's office has told me that negotiations with USA are still underway and that no decisions have been made regarding the future of Sliders. They suggested I check back in a "couple of weeks." And I will.

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