California Reich

// K2802 · Originally aired August 24, 1998

The group arrives on an Earth where California has been taken over by racists, who capture Rembrandt and place him in a prison camp used to turn non-whites into faceless slaves.

Written By // Scott Smith Miller
Director // Robert M, Williams, Jr.
Music // Danny Lux

Reviews

// Earth Prime

“California Reich” reinforces Cleavant Derricks’ acting chops as he tackles the issue of racism in America. I just wish it had been tackled better.

// Think of a Roulette Wheel

Three-quarters drivel, one-quarter terror.

// External Reviews

Worlds Visited

White World

California’s Proposition system has taken a turn for the worse on a world where members from any non-white race are rounded up and either converted into a slave labor force or shipped out of the country.

Black World

A world that at a glance seems to be populated entirely by black people.

Details

The patch on the Stomper uniforms reads AFA (America for Americans) and has an eagle underneath the letters.
The migrant’s wallet contains a Bank of America card, a picture of a blond woman and another picture of three young children.
Items in the toy store window include a dinosaur piano, two cheap looking robots and a doll.
Magazines, et. al at the newsstand:
- USA Today: Reno says no to probe
- Power Bars
- Los Angeles Chronicle: Governor Schick Will Triumph
- Newsweek
- Time: Small Towns
- PC Computing: Top 25 Products of the Year
- Entertainment Weekly: Amistad
- Entertainment Weekly: Alien Resurrection
- Blockbuster Magazine: Face/Off
The newsstand operator dials 555-6324 to summon the Stompers.
Signs promoting Governor Schick include “Schick for President,” “Schick Happens!,” and “America for Americans.”
The USA Today truck’s license plate is 4B49167 and it reads “No. 1 in the USA” on the side.
A sign at the condos reads “Racial Police Repatriation Center.”
Proposition 286 is the Racial Repatriation Act.
Governor Schick holds a rally in City Square at around 7:00 p.m.
Rembrandt is in cell block B2, and is later moved to barracks 4.
A sign inside Rembrandt’s barracks reads “Keep 3 ft. clearance in front of fire hose.”
The doctor on Black World earth is named A. Jones.

Character Information

We now have definitive confirmation: Quinn’s singing really is horrible.
Harold marched at Selma.

Notable Quotes

“Welcome to the condos, boy.”—Harold’s greeting to Rembrandt.
“I didn’t see the film.”—Harold, after Rembrandt makes pointed comments about Hitler and World War II.
“Freakin’ great.”—Rembrandt, still under contract to use the word ‘freaking’ in every other episode.
“Pride. You’re just not used to seeing it.”—Kirk to Vanessa, after Vanessa asks her son what’s gotten into him.
“This isn’t my America!”—Harold.
“Nothing blows over!”—Rembrandt, to Harold, about why complacency to this kind of monstrosity should never be tolerated.
“So, you’re a real Schick supporter, huh?”—Ralph.
“All the way to the White House!”—Quinn.
“Uh, oh. Get ready.”—Maggie, after seeing Quinn surrounded by Stompers.
“Oh.”—Colin, understanding why Maggie told him to get ready after a fight breaks out.
“There are some things that are just so… evil, that you can’t believe a human being is capable of doing them.”—Rembrandt, to Harold.
“This may end up making you a media sensation. Use that forum wisely.”—Quinn, to Kirk, after sliding them to another dimension.

Money Matters

Rembrandt picks up a copy of the Los Angeles Chronicle, but it’s complimentary.
Quinn probably pays for the beer he hoists in the Chandler. Other than that, the Sliders don’t have time to buy anything on this world.

Nitpicks and Errors

The Racial Police inside the hospital aren’t wearing the same Stomper uniforms that everyone else in the episode seems to be wearing.
Is it really wise to leave half-unconscious guards inside an internment camp laying in direct visual sight of the guard towers?

Neatpicks

Cleavant Derricks and Henry G. Sanders really shine in their intense discussions about race and civil rights.

Guest Starring

Jeremy Roberts as Beck
Henry G. Sanders as Harold
Carol Huston as Vanessa
Shane West as Kirk
Chris Elwood as Ralph
George McDaniel as Governor Schick
James Hornbeck as Doctor
James Joshua as Doctor #2
Phillip Tan as Man
Carl Gabriel Yorke¹ as Director
Sandra Lee Peckinpah² as Woman

Carl Gabriel Yorke appears as a Kromagg Leader in Common Ground and a Technician in The Return of Maggie Beckett.
Sandra Lee Peckinpah appears in New Gods for Old as Martha.

Script Archive

Click on the links below to download rare scripts, outlines, and memos associated with this episode.

The Inside Slide

Looking back over the past few years of Sliders, Derricks finds it easy to choose a favorite episode: “California Reich.”

“That one was special,” smiles Derricks. “I really got a chance to express myself as an actor on an issue that is close to a lot of us at this time. I was so grateful to have that opportunity.”