Sliders News & Notes
March 1998 Archive
March 30, 1998

I need some help-- Due to some really bizarre computer happenings as of (very) late, I have lost all of my e-mail from the past four or five days or so. If it's not too much to ask, can any of you who have e-mailed me over the past 4-5 days with important Sliders information/news/rumors etc please re-mail me with the info if you get a second? It's much appriciated and I'm sorry for the inconvenience. Thanks.

March 18, 1998

U.K. Countdown: April 20th-- Paul Jennings informs me that Sky One has announced that the new season of Sliders will bow on Monday April 20th with the next episode, "Prophet and Loss" (about a religious cult the crew gets mixed up with) set for airing on April 27, 1998.

Original information had Sliders starting on April 13th in the U.K.
More Year Four Tidbits-- I've updated the Facts & Rumors page with some new information -- especially on the yet-to-be-filmed episode "Roads Taken."
MSZ Chat Highlights-- Well, not many 'cause it was a trek chat but there are a few tidbits

The first question and answer contains a pretty big spoiler, highlight and read at your own risk:

SpaceTime: Mr. Zicree, how are you going to explain that Quinn and Colin on Sliders are from the same dimension?

MSZ: In the first episode of the new season, "Genesis," Quinn learns that his childhood was not what he thought it was (watch and see...) 

SpaceTime: Is the David Gerrold Script going to be filmed for the 
fourth season of "Sliders"? 

MSZ: No. Again a scheduling conflict. Have to be fifth season 
(hoping we get one...). But David's story, entitled "God in the 
Machine" is really cool. 

SpaceTime: Can you elaborate on "God in the Machine"? 

MSZ: Suffice to say that it deals with a gestalt mind and one's 
personal connection to God. 
ORDOVER: It's not about a world where people on Earth are adopting 
Martian orphans?:) 
MSZ: Naw. Been there done that. 
ORDOVER:  

DAN SILVA: Marc, do you feel with Sliders now on the Sci-Fi channel 
you have more freedom to do what you want than the writers on FOX 
did? 
ORDOVER: Yeah, are we going to the world where clothing was never 
invented?:) 
MSZ: Absolutely. We've had enormous freedom, which has allowed us to 
do stories we never could have done on Fox. Real science fiction, 
thank god. 
ORDOVER: Marc, you're really destroying the notion that those in TV 
SF have no knowledge of or respect for written SF. :) 

SpaceTime: How can I submit a treatment or a spec script for "Sliders"? 
MSZ: I got into this game thanks to Harlan and Dorothy Fontana and 
David Gerrold and all the others who knew and loved the genre. As 
to submitting a script or treatment to SLIDERS, we're full up for the 
season. Additionally, Universal forbids us from reading spec material. 
Legal stuff. A shame, since Trek has benefited so much from spec 
stuff.

That's it. Special thanks to SpaceTime who posted the above on the MCA Board, and thanks to TF and Matt Hutaff for e-mailing me copies of it.

Clarification-- In my news item yesterday about director Reza Badiyi, I neglected to mention that the episode he will be directing is "My Brother's Keeper" which guest stars Malcolm-Jamal Warner.
March 17, 1998

MSZ on AOL Tonight-- Marc Scott Zicree will participate in an online chat tonight on AOL. The chat will be held at 10pm (est) 7 (pst) and the keyword is Trek.

Note that it seems like the chat will be geared toward Star Trek, most likely Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Thanks to Dan Silva at the alt.tv.sliders newsgroup for the info and to TF for letting me know about it.
Sliders Director Makes History-- Director Reza Badiyi makes television history this week when he takes the helm of the current Sliders episode in production in Los Angeles.
According to the Directors Guild of America, no other director has ever helmed more television episodes than Badiyi, who will hit milestone 400 with the Sliders segment.
To put that in perspective, imagine if Badiyi directed every episode of an hour-long series that lasted 18 years on television. In his long history, Badiyi has directed episodes of "Baywatch," "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," "Knots Landing," "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" and "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer."

Source: Variety.

March 16, 1998

Familiar Slot for Canada's Sliders-- While no date has been set for a launch of year four episodes on Global, the network is planning to put the show back in its primetime Friday 8 pm (est) slot, which goes to calming some fears that Sliders would land a weekend day slot a la Hercules, Xena and Sinbad. Currently, Global airs Psi Factor Fridays at 8 pm

Because the episodes are not (and cannot) be simulcast from the U.S., Global does not plan to air episodes alongside the ones that air on Sci-Fi -- however they are looking to start the season in "early summer" in either June or July. "There is a remote possibility that they will start before June, but it's unlikely," one source said. In all likelihood, episodes in Canada will be a week or two behind the ones in the U.S.
March 15, 1998

Sliders in Canada-- The wait is over. In an announcement broadcast during the Sunday episode of The Simpsons, The Global Television Network in Canada announced that it will be carrying the fourth season of Sliders north of the border. On a personal note, it's been tough not saying anything to all of the Canadians who have written to me as I was asked not to say anything until the commercial for season four was aired. This does not mean that Space will not carry year four, but will likely pick up the rights to the entire list of syndicated reruns of Sliders in 1999. Congratulations to all of the Sliders fans in Canada who have been waiting for word on year four. Details are still being hammered out regarding start date but you'll hear it here first.

March 12, 1998

Launch: Cinescape Online-- Cinescape Magazine has launched a very, very impressive web site that has virtually everything you'll ever need to know about science fiction television and movies -- and if they don't have it they'll send you to a site that does. I've never seen such a comprehensive database of sci-fi. Their core site is www.cinescape.com but I've also provided the link to Cinescape's Sliders page (yay, they mention me!)

MCA Site Returns-- After a rather lenghty retooling, MCA/Universal's official Sliders site is now up and running with great pictures of the new cast, bios, production credits and what not.
Check it out at www.mca.com/tv/sliders.
But a warning: If you happen to be at work when you check it out, make sure you turn the sound on your computer off before you slide in because the theme song plays over and over again on the opening page.

Thanks to Shortstuff at the MCA Board for keeping us all updated.

March 11, 1998

June 8th is Sliders' Night-- At a recent chat on Sci-Fi Channel's Dominion Web Site, the Creature from the Programming Dept. brought forth the following:

On June 8th at 7:30 pm (est), Sci-Fi will air a "Making of Sliders" special hosted by Jerry O'Connell; then at 8 pm there will be a rebroadcast (from Fox) of the third season finale "This Slide of Paradise." At 9 pm is the long-awaited airing of "Genesis," the fourth season premiere and then at 10 pm, get this, Sci-Fi will air the second episode of the season -- which at this point seems like it will be the Bill Dial-scripted episode "Prophets and Loss." The entire Sliders evening, from 7:30 to 11 pm, will be hosted by Jerry O'Connell.

Thanks to Willy for posting the above (and the below) on the Stargame mailing list.

Pilot Nielsens-- The Creature also said that the March 2nd airing of the "Pilot" drew a 1.5 rating for Sci-Fi -- which they consider good for a Monday night.
However the 1.5 likely won't put Sliders anywhere near the Top 25 in terms of cable shows. In comparison, the highest-rated cable show,South Park, draws a 3.3 rating (1st) while Sliders biggest competitor in the timeslot, WCW Wresting, draws around 3.1 (2nd). On the major networks, Sliders biggest competitor, the WB drama Three, drew a 2.1. Meanwhile, the 9pm Fox drama Ally McBeal drew a 10.3.
Vote for Sliders-- TV Guide Canada Online is currently holding a voting contest to determine what's the best show on TV right now.
I think you know what to do.
www.tvguidelive.com
Spread the word, from every Forum Top to every Mailing List Low.
Tell two friends and so on...
We have until Saturday.
Sliders ICQ-- It seems that there is now a Sliders ICQ. To be honest, my knowledge on the subject is limited so I will post an e-mail I just received from Greg.

Greg writes: "ICQ is a very famous program to communicate. You can send messages to your contacts when they're online, send files, or chat in live (you have an ICQ number (UIN) when you register).
There are already more than 8 million users! The program is known all over the world. As I saw that a lot of Sliders fans used ICQ, I've decided to create the ICQ SlidersList. For the moment, we can find on the list the ICQ numbers of the users, but I'm working on a chatroom. I advise you to download at : http://www.download.com/PC/Result/Download/0,21,0-41299,00.html and click on the link: ICQ program (32 or 16 bits).
I suppose you already know San and her french mailing list (I'm the vice-admin). I'm also working on a IRC channel for the french Sliders fans, where they'll be able to exchange info."

Sounds great! Anyone interested in this, or if you'd like to get more information, please contact Greg.
March 10, 1998

Cleavant Chat Highlights-- Pretty slow week here in Sliderland, however Cleavant's first online chat on Friday did go rather well. Among the highlights:
• CD gave credit to the fans for being so supportive over the past three (crazy) years. He also said that should those in charge decide to sign up the show for a fifth season, he'd be more than happy to continue with the show.
• CD said that of all the Sliders seasons, year 4 is his favorite and is shaping up to be the best one. He added that he will do some singing this season and that actress Melissa Gilbert may do a guest spot.

Click for the official transcript and thanks go out to Eurisko97 for sending me the whole thing.
More Year 4 Guests-- Two more "big" names have been confirmed as guest stars for year four: in the episode "My Brother's Keeper" look for Cosby kid Malcolm-Jamal Warner to make a bow and in the ep "Data World" watch for Roy Dotrice ("Picket Fences" / "Beauty & the Beast").
There's also some more year four news on the Facts & Rumors page in the Tidbits section concerning the opening theme and the status of some old recurring characters.
Pilot Ratings-- Thanks to everyone who e-mailed me to enquire about the Nielsen ratings for the March 2nd "Pilot" airing. Unfortunately, the ratings for cable don't come out until about a week and a half after the airing. I should know them by the end of this week. Please note, however, that it's entirely possible that I won't be able to get them at all. Please be patient.
Predictions-- And now, for those who care about such things, here are some not-so-bold predictions concerning the Sci-Fi Channel and Barry Diller, USA Networks' new CEO, from the March 2 issue of Electronic Media.
1) Barry Diller, in an effort to reach even more people, will take a few Universal-produced shows (he now owns) that are now airing on Sci-Fi and USA (which he also owns) and broadcast them on his UHF TV stations across the country which reach a total of 25 percent of the country's viewing audience. Hence, if you do not get Sci-Fi you may be able to see Sliders come June anyway.
2) The Home Shopping Network (which Diller owns) will begin to air programs aimed at selling merchandise directly related to these said programs and its characters -- which include Hercules, Xena, Sliders, Team Knight Rider, Law & Order and Jerry Springer.
March 3, 1998

Season Four-- I have compiled a list of all of the writers for fourth season episodes and have been told the titles of episodes 21 and 22. Check out the Facts & Rumors Page.

What's Tracy Up To?-- Many fans have been e-mailing me to find out how (and what) Sliders co-creator Tracy Torme is doing these days.
Well, let me say that Tracy hasn't dropped off the face of the Earth -- he has signed a development deal with Warner Bros. (his Universal contract expired last summer) and has already developed and sold a couple of pilots: the horror drama "The Shadow Man" for NBC and the drama "Higher Power" for the WB Network.
As far as his deal with MTV goes, he developed two series for the music net -- the satirical comedies "Kung Pow" and "The Deviated Septums" --which they optioned but have yet to use.
Anyway, that's what Velvet Fog Jr. is up to these days.
March 2, 1998

The Pilot Takes Off-- The wait is over. Fans of Sliders who may have missed the "Pilot" episode that ran on Fox on March 22, 1995, can watch it tonight at 9 pm (est) on the Sci-Fi Channel.

The two-hour block, episodes Part 1 and Part 2, will be hosted by Jerry O'Connell himself, who is expected to provide insight on shows past and future.
Also, Informant reports that the Sci-Fi Channel will hold an online chat party to coincide with the airing of the "Pilot" tonight. For more information, check out www.scifi.com/chat. I guess the idea is to watch the pilot together while commenting on it during the chat, similar to what was done for the Sliders Online Convention in January.
Been a While-- Sorry for the delay in updates, folks, but as most of you know, this isn't my full time job and my real job has taken up huge (frustrating) chunks of my time over the last 10 days or so. That being said, for those of you keeping score, here's a rundown of what's been going on is Sliderland over the past little while.

March 1, 1998

Online Mag Coverage-- An online magazine called Power Star is featuring a salute to Parallel Worlds in its March 'Issue', which includes an original episode guide for years one to three.

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