Sliders News & Notes
February 1998 Archive
February 28, 1998-- U.K.'s Sky TV has put up a schedule for the next few episodes it will air. The sked is as follows. March 2: Eggheads; March 9: The Weaker Sex; March 16: The King is Back; March 23: Luck of the Draw; March 30: Into the Mystic. Thanks to Kieran McNally
Also, Friendly Slider reports at the TV Guide message board that Sky Text has confirmed season four of Sliders will begin in April in the UK. (The source for this is on Sky at SkyText page 156, for TV Letters). Thanks for TF for tying all this together for me.
February 27, 1998-- Jason Lohn's "Unofficial Sliders Fan Club Newsletter" (Feb/Mar 98) reports that Sliders production on the fourth season is scheduled to wrap up around the end of March. It should also be pointed out that the USFCN also states that Sci-Fi will air every single Sliders rerun beginning March 2 weekdays at 9 pm. As far as I know, this is not the case and only 14 selected reruns will be aired on Monday nights beginning March 2.
February 27, 1998-- Thanks to everyone who e-mailed me to tell me about John Walsh's comments on the TV Guide Sliders Message Board regarding an interview with David Peckinpah. The article, which I will soon add to the bibliography, can be found here but the gist of the thing goes something like this:

ANOTHER SLIDE? Wade has been taken to a Kromagg breeding camp where she's undergoing cross-species replication experiments -- which opens the door for her possible but unlikely return. Meanwhile, Peckingpah quotes a line [probably from the season premiere "Genesis"] by saying "once you've had a Magg, you don't go back."
Yuck.
February 26, 1998-- Karebear reports that Cleavant Derricks will participate in an online chat at the Sci-Fi Channel's website Friday, March 6, at 7 pm (est). For more info, go to www.scifi.com/chat/#derricks
February 25, 1998-- Burch Gibson reports that he happened to catch a Sci-Fi Sliders commercial while watching Star Trek: Voyager on UPN. It was "based on the male pregnancy ad and it mentioned they were going to run old episodes to show how they got to where they are and then start with a whole new season." -- Thanks to Burch Gibson for the info.
February 24, 1998-- Art Vandelay (great handle) reports that the Sci-Fi web site has added a new feature to its forum boards regarding Sliders -- and it's asking what we think of the show. Drop by and lend your support. .
Also, Sci-Fi has launched its new Sliders website with cast and episode information as well as free, downloadable pictures, graphics and movies. Check it out at www.scifi.com/sliders
February 23, 1998-- Sliders is featured in the April issue of Sci-Fi Entertainment magazine. Basically, the article reconstructs what we already know about Season Four. For you biblio-philes the article is classified as "Sliding Into Home" By John C. Bunnell. Sci-Fi Entertainment, April Volume 4, Number 9. pp. 62-65. I will add it to my bibliography hopefully this week some time.
February 19, 1998

Paradise to be Rerun-- Temporal Flux reports that as far as Marc Scott Zicree is concerned, "This Slide of Paradise" was slated as one of Sci-Fi's 14 reruns, something not stated in Sci-Fi's previous release. In an e-mail of Feb. 19, MSZ is quoted as saying "I'll look into it. I agree that it's a dreadful episode, but it does set up stuff we need to know." -- Thanks to TF for the info.

Year Five Forgone?-- It seems that the possibilites of a Fifth Season may already be a foregone conclusion as far as the Sliders staff is concered. Temporal Flux reports that MSZ replied to a Logan-plotpoint-related e-mail with the following thought: "Thanks for you note. We'll consider Logan for next season. It's a point well taken."

Meanwhile, Derek Wallace reports two similar replies regarding Season Five. Here are MSZ's responses to two of Derek's questions (of Feb. 22):

• "When asked what would happen if Quinn A and Quinn B slid at the same time to the same location to Earth C...would they overlap, bypass, merge...what?!?...Marc Zicree had this to say..."

"Dear Derek, Gee, I don't know what would happen. I know this much -- it won't happen this season (though we do have three Quinns running around in "My Brother's Keeper...)."

• "When asked if he could spill the beans on 'God's Country' and the Civil War episode, Marc Zicree had this to say..."

"Dear Derek, No Civil War episode yet, but the season ain't over. As to "God's Country" (now titled "God in the Machine") that will be done next season (due to a scheduling crunch)."

Thanks to both TF and Derek for this revealing information!

20 Down, 2 to Go -- I've gotten the episode titles to the first 20 episodes, and their running order, and posted them at the Facts & Rumors Page.
February 18, 1998

EW AD -- Well, as you can see from the above scan supplied by a good friend of the USCWS, Sci-Fi is now advertising the upcoming preplays in magazines, including this week's double issue (Feb. 20/27) of Entertainment Weekly. It's a great little ad but I'm curious as to why they would use generic models rather than the actors themselves.

Sliders at Dragoncon -- Shannen Bodell reports that Sliders now has a secured 'track' at Dragoncon '98! Word came down on Monday, Feb. 9 that Dragoncon would supply a separate section in its huge sci-fi, Atlanta-based convention scheduled for this September.
Aaron Dunne has been named director of the track though he will be working very closely with Shannen to make sure everything comes off smoothly.
As it stands now, the schedule for the Sliders track is still being worked out along with events and guests -- which have to be approved by Dragoncon itself.
Ideas are encouraged and should be sent to either Shannen or Aaron. Dragoncon's home page explains more about the event itself.
Good work guys!
"The Clip" Returns -- Sci-fi's minute-long preview clip of the episode "Common Ground" (slated to air in June) is now back up at the Dominion web site. The clip requires a Real Player 4.0.
Torme Film In Production -- The long-awaited Arnold Schwarzenegger film "I Am Legend," written by Tracy Torme, is finally in production at Warner Bros. It's directed by Ridley Scott ("Blade Runner") and is co-scripted by Mark Protosevich. Filming starts in April.
February 9, 1998

JOC on Leno -- Jerry O'Connell will be a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Friday, Feb. 20. O'Connell will be the second guest after actress Halle Berry.

Reruns Announced -- Well, the wait is over. Sci-Fi has announced what rerun episodes it will air to kick off Sliders on March 2. They are as follows:

  • Monday, March 2, 1998: A special two-hour block to air The Pilot, Part 1 at 9 pm (est) and The Pilot, Part 2 at 10 pm (est).

  • Monday, March 9, 1998: Summer of Love

  • Monday, March 16, 1998: Fever

  • Monday, March 23, 1998: Gillian of the Spirits

  • Monday, March 30, 1998: Prince of Slides

  • Monday, April 6, 1998: Into the Mystic

  • Monday, April 13, 1998: Dead Man Sliding

  • Monday, April 20, 1998: Double Cross

  • Monday, April 27, 1998: The Guardian

  • Monday, May 4, 1998: Invasion

  • Monday, May 11, 1998: The Exodus, Part One

  • Monday, May 18, 1998: The Exodus, Part Two

  • Monday, May 25, 1998: Slither

  • Monday, June 1, 1998: Dinoslide

  • Monday, June 8, 1998: The Start of the New Season -- Genesis

    So, that's the lineup, but it is "subject to change." The episodes were chosen "in conjunction with the show producers and the original programming executives to re-intoduce viewers to important continuing character developments and overall back-story arcs (in addition to selecting some cool action-packed, effects-heavy shows)."
    Also, there are some planned "stunt deviations" from this list so keep an eye on Sci-Fi. The timeslot for the "preplays" and the new eps is Mondays at 9 pm (est) with a repeat of that ep at 1 am (est). Once the original episodes begin running on June 8th, Sci-Fi also plans to add a third play of each episode on Saturdays at 1 pm (est).
    February 4, 1998

    JRD in Sinbad -- Production begins this week on the independent animated feature "Sinbad: Beyond the Veil of Mists" which will feature the voices of Leonard Nimoy, Mark Hamill and our own John Rhys Davies (voicing King Chandra). The film, which will be made with 3-D motion-capture technology, also stars Brendan Fraser and Jennifer Hale.

    Also, for those of you living in the U.S., ABC will be airing "Aladdin and the King of Thieves" this Sunday as part of its Wonderful World of Disney program. In that film, John Rhys-Davies plays the voice of Cassim.
    Sci-Fi Clip Gone? -- Hey, I thought it was. Shannen tells me that Joe from the mailing list tells her that the address is www.scifi.com/sliders/slidersisdn.ram and that you can get the clip there, although you still have to "be online and have a Real Player to see it." Let me know if it works.
    Sci-Fi has also put a timer up on their page that is currently counting down until the date that Sliders launches on Sci-Fi. Check it out.
    Meanwhile, at MCA/Universal seems to be planning its own improved Sliders page to coincide with the Sci-Fi launch. It's promising photos and clips of episodes. Check that out as well.
    February 2, 1998

    Sliders Around the World -- Thanks to everyone who e-mailed in to report on where and when fans can watch Sliders across the globe. So far, here's a list:

  • U.K. -- Can be seen on Sky One starting April 13, 1998. However, it should be pointed out that "on the letters page on Skytext last week, Sky said that the fourth season will 'provisionally' start on the 13th. And yesterday, when asked when the fourth season will begin, they said 'possibly April'. Knowing Sky's past record, I think that April is an optimistic start date. I hope I'm wrong." -- Thanks to Paul for the info.
    Also in the U.K., Sliders can be seen on BBC2, which is currently carrying Season Two episodes on Wednesdays at 6:45 pm -- although sports shows may pre-empt Sliders. -- Thanks to Wayne Horan for the info.

  • Ireland -- Airing Sundays on Network 2. ""Stoker" was shown last Sunday. "The Breeder" & "The Last of Eden" were not shown. "Seasons Greedings" was shown out of order to coincide with Christmas. "Love Gods" & "Gillian of the Spirits" were missed out in Season One also. -- Thanks to Wayne Horan for the info.

  • Australia -- Can be seen on Channel Ten, but "no firm date has been set. They have said however that it can only air once it has been shown in the U.S. Based on last years episodes we were only about 3 - 4 weeks behind." -- Barry Skewes.

  • Russia -- Sliders has just been shown on the 'STS' channel. "The first part of the 'Pilot' was aired on November 17, 1997, and the final episode 'The Slide Of Paradise' was aired on January 22, 1998. The episodes ... were aired 5 days a week (on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thirsday and Friday) except December 5th (friday). -- Armen Eltchian.

  • France -- While the show is not currently on here, it "will return "during 1998" (according to M6 channel) probably with reruns and brand new episodes (we haven't seen "This Slide of Paradise", "Stoker" and "The Breeder" that the channel believes they are too violent (!))" -- Thanks to Sandra for the info.

  • South Africa -- Sliders is shown Mondays at 5:00 pm, on SABC 2 (South Africa BroadCast). The episodes, however, are shown out of order. For example on 2/2/98, "Obsession" was aired, and it followed "As Time Goes By" which was aired the week before. -- Thanks to Danny for the info.

  • Germany -- Sliders began airing Sunday, Nov. 2 on RTL Television. Episodes are in German, but can be viewed throughout various parts of Europe and into Africa. The airings began with the pilot (ca. 90 min.) in prime-time "at 8:15 pm and over 4 million viewers have watched the show, which is very successful!" Further episodes will air Sundays at 3:10 pm. RTL "has bought 46 episodes." -- Thanks to Kenan Zahirovic, Paul Jennings and Wayne Horan for the info.

  • Canada -- Still waiting on Space: The Imagination Station. Originally, they were hoping to get it during the annual National Association of Television Programming Executives confab in New Orleans last month, but Space said that it was unfortunately unable to strike up a deal with Universal. That, however, does not mean that the deal is dead. Space is still working hard on getting it and should know by this spring.

  • United States -- The cable Sci-Fi Channel will begin broadcasting (as yet unnamed) repeat episodes on March 2, 1998 and then will begin the new season of 22 episodes on Mon. June 8.

    Please e-mail me with any additions, corrections or updates. Thanks.
    New Tape Source-- Now that Mr. Rob Satonica has been shut down in his efforts to tape episodes for fans, a new leader has stepped into the fold. tomservo@thegrid.net says that he has every episode on tape and would gladly share the wealth with other fans. There are two rules, however: "1) To stay out of trouble, I will not accept any money for the tapes," he says. "You can either arrange a trade with me, or simply send me a tape along with a self-addressed stamped envelope, and I will [make the copy], and mail it back. 2) No more than two episodes per tape, and no more than one tape per address per week."
    Please e-mail him privately to work out the details -- and thank you Tom Servo for stepping in during a time of need.
    Post-Convention Update-- Special thanks to everyone who participated in the Sliders CyberCon '98. From a few accounts, it was a success. One of the biggest highlights of the Con was Sci-Fi Channel's participation. The channel's web site posted a minute-long clip from an upcoming new episode called "Common Ground" along with a picture of Quinn in Hawaiian garb. It may be up for a limited time, so slide on over to The Dominion.
    To read the transcripts of the various chats, including the Q&A with Marc Scott Zicree, head on over to the Sliders CyberCon '98 web site.
    If anyone can provide a second-by-second description of that clip, by the way, it would be much-appriciated. the-expert@geocities.com. Thanks.
    New Sci-Fi Commercial -- The Sci-Fi Channel has been running two brand new commercials for Sliders lately. Here are brief descriptions courtesy of Ramirez, who brought this news to my attention yesterday.

    "The first shows some clips from the 'selected' Sliders episodes that will be shown from the FOX archive - saw scenes from the Pilot, Double Cross, and some others (quick flashes, can't remember them all now). ALSO saw scenes from the NEW season, including Remmie clean-shaven, Maggie with dark brown hair, what looks like a white (gray?) timer, and the new, reddish color liquid-like vortex. Caught my attention IMMEDIATELY, since I watch Sci-Fi pretty often - they showed two different commercials during the two hour span of Space and Earth2."

    Thanks Ramirez! Can anyone else confirm that Remmy was clean-shaven? If I remember from Love Gods, he's had the 'stache since high school and said he wouldn't shave it for the world.
    Jerry Screens Killers-- If you happen to live in the L.A. area, Jerry O'Connell is scheduled to attend a special screening of "The Replacement Killers" on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 7:30 p.m. at the Mann's Chinese Theatre, 6925 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood.
    Year 4 Updates -- Be sure to check out the Facts & Rumors page for updates about the fourth season episodes.
    Kari on TV Guide-- The U.S. TV Guide Web Site, TVGen, recently interviewed Kari Wuhrer in its Sci-Fi section. Here's the transcript.
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