Date: 8/11/99
From: s_the_great

My name's S the Great. You may remember me from such quotes as "The Sci-Fi Channel is fucked up." and "Your point being?" Today I'm here to give the second edition to a rant I made 90 pages ago about Sliders. That was on the Tuesday before "The Unstuck Man" was aired. It's amazing, really. In that short time, this board is twice as big. Well, anyhow, when I wrote this rant, I put all my opinions of Sliders in one huge opus. I'm here to do it all again. I said it would be my longest post. I really really hope no one considers this to be breaking my promise. I'd hate for my word not to be good. Besides, the promise itself was just a joke. Did I mention that this makes an excellent newbie guide, if I do say so myself?

ECOLOGY OF SLIDERS
I don't believe that Sliders' success and large fan base was based entirely on the concept of "What If?" Sure, there were people who said they were fans of the concept. However, I think it's a combination of everything that made the first season awe-inspiring and just made you say, "Whoa!"
-Tracy Tormé's creativity
-Jerry O'Connell
-Sabrina Lloyd
-John Rhys-Davies
-Cleavant Derricks
-The concept of "What If?"
-The unpretentious look and feel of the show
-Filming in Vancouver
These things made Sliders. No matter what any Jerry fan will tell you, Jerry didn't make the show. Well, actually, he did, but he didn't do it alone. These were the things that made Sliders special. However, the show can go on as long as it has some of these elements. They were there in the first two seasons. They were trimmed in the next two seasons, until it got to the point where even the concept was gone and there were only two elements left, Jerry and Cleavant. How ironic that, when one more element was gone, another, the concept of "What If?," grew back.

THE MISSION: GETTING BACK... IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE
As I see it, Sliders enjoyed the most success in its first two seasons. Back then, the story was simple, but not too simple. Maximillian Arturo, Wade Welles, Quinn Mallory, and Rembrandt Brown were four people (who weren't related) who were going to strange new worlds, seeing what life would have been like if things were just a little different. The point of the show was asking, "What if?" Unfortunately, soon after, John Rhys-Davies was fired. Kari Wuhrer (Maggie Beckett), or as I call her, a "woman who substitutes for acting talent with gigantic breasts," replaced Rhys-Davies. Tracy Tormé left the show. Colonel Rickman became a whole plotline. (I was content with this until I found out later that the Who's lead singer was no longer playing him. I'd like to see Pete Townshend guest-star.) FOX did something they'd done before, only this time was permanent: they canned Sliders. The Sci-Fi channel tried to revive the show, but the dead show was now more of a zombie than something rejuvenated. Sabrina Lloyd left the show, and her departure was a degrading indignity. ('Magg breeding camp?!) With half the original cast gone, the writers decided Quinn was no longer from his earth, and the fact that he accidentally developed sliding was seemingly coincidental. Remmy's homeworld was invaded by Kromaggs. Charlie O'Connell (Colin Mallory), or as I call him, a "man who substitutes for acting talent with being Jerry O'Connell's bro," replaced Lloyd. The fourth season was no longer about asking, "What if?" It was about saying, "Let's go kick some Kromagg ass... and maybe explore some new places along the way... and if we have time, try to get back home." Actually, I'll tell you what Sliders' mission was. The show had been trying constantly to return to its glory days, the first two seasons, before all this convoluted crap consumed it.
In the fifth season, Sliders got as close to its glory days as it ever would. Although the group is inferior to the original cast, the writers are now doing the best they can with what they have. For that, they deserve some credit. The show is trying its best to return to its roots. However, the day John Rhys-Davies left the show, I began to believe it would never reach the quality of what it was before, a belief I still have today. The original cast was part of Sliders. It was in Sliders' heart, and in its soul (just like the Rod Stewart song). I admire Sliders in its present state, though. The writers know the original cast is unattainable, but that doesn't stop them from trying. And the results beat the hell out of anything from the third or fourth seasons. Besides, EVERY post-Arturo group is inferior to the original cast.

FROM FOX TO SCI-FI
Unfortunately, FOX never appreciated Sliders when it was with them. I've been watching Sliders since I first saw the pilot on FOX. In my opinion, the show radiated potential. It was the first ever show that actaully made me consider writing a fan script. Unfortunately, FOX never saw the potential. They kept trying to cancel the show, and luckily the fight to keep it alive was successful, although hopes seemed to go down each season. By the end of Season 3, it was gone for good. Luckily Sci-Fi stepped in.
One network's trash is another network's treasure. This proved true for Sliders. It was never appreciated on FOX, but the Sci-Fi channel couldn't afford to be without it. For a long time, Sliders was their number one hit. Sadly, Sci-Fi has not treated the show the way it should be treated. The fourth season was awful. Jerry's departure was highly foreshadowed by his acting. Charlie wasn't really considered to be Charlie O'Connell. He was "Jerry's little brother." Kari was inconsistent and annoying. Cleavant was the one who held it all together. Then, the show gets better. Although it wasn't as good as the first two seasons, it was the best it could be. Sci-Fi's way of praising Sliders for its improvement... "Hey, Sliders is lookin' good... Let's can it!" Season 5's season finale, "The Seer," a cliffhanger episode, will be the last new episode of Sliders.
Sci-Fi's success is fed to it by its large fan base of Sliders fans. To cancel the show, leaving us with a cliffhanger, which insults everything that kept us hanging on for five years, is not only biting the hand that feeds them, but spitting in it and amputating four fingers. The only one left is the middle finger that boycotters are going to use on the channel the day Sliders goes.

TRACY TORMÉ
In so many ways, Tracy IS Sliders. He had all the ingenious plot ideas. We, the fans, watched the sad decline of his sliding spirit until the day he left the show. I still think it's extremely sad.
When Sliders first started, Tormé couldn't be happier. The show was his grand opus, an excellent sci-fi show that wasn't about aliens or space travel or the future. It was about the same exact earth, "where it's the same year, and you're the same person, but everything else is different." He was the co-creator, executive producer, and head writer of the show. He had very cool ideas and he and the cast executed them beautifully. The whole show was his best idea ever. He had enough other ideas to keep Sliders going indefinitely. He really knew exactly what he was doing. Sadly, the FOX network didn't like his stuff. They felt that the show wasn't entertaining enough. It was filmed in Canada, using real places instead of sets. The characters were unpretentious and real. FOX wanted the show to be stylish, to be flashy, to be more "action and fantasy," and less "use your head." Enter the anti-Tormé, David Peckinpah...

DAVID PECKINPAH
I dare you to post to this board, at any time, "What was wrong with Sliders in the 3rd and 4th seasons?" You WILL get an answer that contains the word "Peck." This is short for David Peckinpah. This executive producer was hired by the network to make the show "cool." What FOX didn't understand was that people loved the show just the way it was. Peckinpah made the show more "in style." Quinn and Rembrandt became (were reduced to) action heroes. Arturo became "The Answer Man." Wade was the vulnerable hottie, a role she fit into about as well as casting Ving Rhames as David Duke. The Peckinpah administration covered the 3rd and 4th seasons. Tormé hated the changes so much that he acrimoniously left the show. Once, Tormé was proud of his show. Now, certain episodes were the low points of television history. Plots were terribly unoriginal, ripped off any movies that were popular at the time. Peckinpah didn't like Arturo's character, so Rhys-Davies was fired, and Arturo was written out in an absolutely disgraceful two-parter called "The Exodus." Lloyd was fired for the same reason. Her exit was a trip to a Kromagg breeding camp after Kromaggs captured her. The sweet, innocent, caring Wade Welles was reduced to a woman for the Kromaggs, an ugly, vicious race, to engage in repeated sex. The saddest part was that Peckinpah thought all this was funny! He replaced the two with two then-horrible actors: Kari Wuhrer and Charlie O'Connell. Peckinpah also created the character of Diana Davis, who has not proven important in any Sliders episode to date.

QUINN MALLORY
In the first two seasons, Quinn was the genius behind sliding. He was a genius in general, having that MacGyver-ish quality of always knowing what to do when. He saved the Sliders tons of times. Even his doubles were cool. In the third season, Quinn met Logan, who, compared to the Kromaggs, was desperately underused. Meeting her again would've been so much better than hearing more about Kromaggs or Colonel Rickman. In the fourth season, Quinn lost all personality. He wasn't interesting anymore. He was just some stoic little ingrate. Then we learn that he wasn't really from Earth Prime? So, now that half the original cast is gone, we learn that Quinn should never have been one of them anyway? No way. Before sliding, he was just another college student. That's all he was. He wasn't a new hope in the war against the Kromaggs. That has got to be the weakest plot twist I have ever seen. Also, in the fourth season, Quinn didn't care at all about rescuing Wade. Wade loved Quinn, and would've done anything for him. Quinn obviously didn't share those emotions.
Then, in the fifth season, he became integrated into one of his doubles. I didn't like this change. I would think that, if they were done with this character, the writers would write him out in a way that provides closure.
JERRY O'CONNELL
Jerry's departure from the series has totally divided Sliders fans. There are so many who no longer watch the show because they only watched it for Jerry. Most will tell you that Jerry left because he wanted to executive-produce, but the senior staff wouldn't let him. Consequently, Jerry quit. Charlie was fired, as the executives felt he was nothing without his brother. Jerry left at his own free will, and there's nothing anyone but Jerry can do to bring him back. Besides, his acting was very subpar in the fourth season. His departure was like the death of a 102-year-old in a nursing home. Sure it's sad, but it was inevitable, and s/he really wasn't the same person as s/he was when s/he was 51.
I don't know if Jerry was ready to executive-produce or not. Personally, I think his departure and his change to some emotionless weirdo in Season 4 could have easily been avoided. I doubt that, in the end, he and the executives were really that adamant about their sides of the issue. I think mistakes were made along the lines of communication. If we were on an alternate earth, maybe Jerry would still be on the show.
I definitely think Sliders can go on without Jerry. Look at it now. The fifth season's not bad at all, and Jerry's not even there. Personally, I think that people who watched Sliders for Jerry are as pathetic as people who watch Voyager for Jeri Ryan's breasts and Maggie-ish flirtatiousness.

WADE WELLES
Wade is the man... in a very feminine way. I never really liked the way the other male cast members kept treating her like a little kid, but they didn't really do it often enough to bother me. Besides, she was the slider who held it all together. She cared about everyone with all her heart. If it wasn't for her, Quinn, Arturo, and Remy would've killed each other in frustration by now. (They'd never have gotten out of that cannibal world in the first season.) Wade often went without for her friends. In return, she gets shipped off to a friggin' breeding camp! Does anyone really want to think about this kind soul having sex with Kromaggs? Good God!
There is an upcoming episode in the fifth season wherein Wade appears for the very last time. I've seen what the episode is. To those who haven't, if you like Wade, don't watch the upcoming episode "Requiem!"
SABRINA LLOYD
I heard that, when Lloyd left the show, it was because she was pregnant. It was supposed to be a hyadus. When Charlie O'Connell joined the cast, Lloyd's departure was for good.
For a new actor, Lloyd is really good. I wish she'd stayed on Sliders for a while longer so that we could gain some insight into Wade. I doubt she and John Rhys-Davies will ever be back, though. In fact, I'm starting to think that Lloyd's departure was acrimonious. It seems like, if she left on friendly terms, she wouldn't be in a breeding camp. The writers wouldn't have done that. But now she is doing Sports Night, a popular award-winning sitcom for ABC, a network that's not stupid enough to cancel popular shows. However, on her bio on Sports Night's official site, Sliders, which she's been part of for three years, is not even mentioned. Could it be that she doesn't want anything else to do with the show because someone there shafted her?
The last time Lloyd came in contact with the show, she did a voice-over for "Requiem." I heard the people couldn't pay her enough to actually appear in the episode. I've heard that, had she appeared in the show, it would be an entirely different episode, one that gives Wade the closure she was meant to have. Put bluntly, that didn't happen.

REMBRANDT BROWN
I never thought Remmy would be the last orginal slider. I figured he'd be gone by now, and Quinn would be the one who lost and gained companions. I like Remmy too, but then, I like all the original sliders a hell of a lot more than any of the newbies. Remmy had this special way of being able to be both relaxed and serious, and he was able to make smooth transitions to each, unlike Maggie, who has the emotional control a baby would have if it ever got PMS. Remmy has always been great as a character for all five seasons. I can see why a lot of people have handles relating to him (except for me; my handle's a takeoff of my real first name, "Salah"). However, I didn't like the way his past was used in the show. It seemed like his time in the Navy was some off-the-cuff added detail. I also didn't like his character in the first season as much as I did in the second.
Anyway, I think Remmy's best redeeming quality was his courage. He never backed down in a crisis. A good example is when the Sliders were held prisoner by the Kromaggs in "Invasion." I think Remmy is the only one who didn't buy into the Kromagg's illusions. Of course, "Remmy's dad" made a big mistake too. I think Remmy has proven to be a symbol of stability in an ever-changing series.
CLEAVANT DERRICKS
There's only one problem I have with Cleavant. He shaved that mustache of his between the third and fourth seasons. I found it inconsistent, because of his quote in "Love Gods": "I've had the 'stache since high school. I'm not shavin' it for the world." I'm very glad he's stayed for as long as he has. I think he's the coolest 43-year-old actor out there. He must be doing something right. Out of all four original cast members, he's the only one who hasn't had some sort of problem with Sliders. It's too bad we haven't seen him in more roles, but I hear he was in theatre for a long time, and he was really good.
Unfortunately, I think that, sometime soon, the day will come when Derricks also loses interest in Sliders. Quite a few people on this board miss the old days of Sliders, like I do, from what I've seen. Imagine being in the show, and having people all around you lose interest and leave. If I was Cleavant, I'd have reached the end of my rope.
Personally, the thing I like most about Cleavant is that he has his twin brother play his double on occasion. I thought this was such a great idea.

MAXIMILLIAN ARTURO
I can't believe there were actually people who said he was annoying. Arturo is my favorite character. Everything about him is cool. From the way he called everyone "Mr./Mrs./Miss" to his patience (or complete lack thereof). Also, when he was on the show, he was the brainiest person, and yet he wasn't any "Mr. Know-it-All." He met his match with Quinn, and he at least had enough humility to realize that.
I noticed, though, that in the second season, most of the Professor's plotlines put his loyalty in doubt. There was that time in "El Sid" where he pretended to sell out his friends. I know he was faking, but this is just an example. There was also that time in "Post Traumatic Slide Syndrome" where he and his double were in a fight over which was evil and which was good.
In the third season, most of the Professor's plotlines hinted at his death. He was eaten by that one big uranium-explosion-created monster. He had that terminal disease. Then, of course, halfway through the season, he took a bullet for Quinn, after being reduced to a brain-damaged idiot. It's really too bad he had to leave the show. Now we have proof that it just isn't the same without Arturo. I really wish he'd come back, but everyone knows it won't happen. Still, there are fans who maintain that the Arturo who died is really the evil Arturo from "Post Traumatic Slide Syndrome."
JOHN RHYS-DAVIES
Rhys-Davies, or as he's often called here, JRD, is my favorite actor. I have no idea why his name is hyphenated, or why he's not more famous outside of Sliders, but there's no arguing (with me) that he's good. JRD's acting filmography is in the 80's in terms of numbers. He wrote a movie and guest-starred in 20 roles. The reason I like him, though, is because he's the only other person
ever to play a character with my name. (Granted, it's misspelled.) In two movies, he was Indiana Jones' cool sidekick, Sallah. (Think my name with one more l.) For three seasons he played the supportive, smart, shrewd Professor Arturo on Sliders. Then, Peckinpah fired him. As if this wasn't enough, John had a great idea for the original "Exodus." It was butchered beyond belief by Peckinpah into schlock. The final product, primarily by Peckinpah, was a disgrace to the series. He not only destroyed Arturo, but humiliated the character.

MAGGIE BECKETT
When Maggie first joined the sliders midway through the third season, she was not my favorite actor/actress. This was mainly because she was a replacement for the man who was. I decided I'd give her a chance, though. It might be a nice change of pace to have a new person along. I wasn't as impressed as I thought I'd be. It seems like her acting capacity doesn't far exceed that which was presented in "Sole Survivors."
It seemed more and more each episode like Maggie was around to attract people in my gender and age bracket who (unlike me and everyone else on this board) lack the intelligence necessary to become a science fiction fan unless there's someone like this around to appeal to their libido. But hey, I may be an above-average 17-year-old, but I ain't complainin' too much. I mean, sure she's only on the show because she has a nice body, but she really does have a nice body. She definitely ain't no one-legged dog in the looks department.
The thing that bugs me about Maggie is that Kari Wuhrer can't act. This became quite apparent in the fourth season. Not only was she inconsistent, but her hairstyle was now ugly. One minute, she's extremely angry about something that really doesn't matter. The next, she's whining to someone about how she lost her husband. Then, she's getting all tough, suddenly remembering that she was once in the military. Then, she wants to be a mom. After that, she says something that makes the other Sliders laugh at her instead of with her. By the season finale, she seemed to be on the show mostly for comic relief, which really wasn't her role, because, to put it bluntly, she's not funny. Then, of course, there was her suddenly gaining the ability to breathe in Earth Prime. I liked her better when her character had some intentional weakness of some sort.
I'm very proud of the progress she's made in the fifth season, though. Her acting has gotten much better. She seems to care about the show, and her hair looks good again. She's no longer annoying like she was before.
KARI WUHRER
I don't have much to say about Kari. I don't really have anything against her. I just think that she wasn't always the best she could be. She seems to be doing a lot with her life, what with her album "Shiny" and various movie roles. Personally, I think that if all the fame from her music career goes to her head she'll leave Sliders too. I guess this leaves us, the fans, with a decision. If we want Kari to stay on Sliders, don't buy the album. If we want Kari to leave, buy "Shiny." I heard previews of her new CD, and read reviews on her official site. The previews are moderately good; Kari is a good singer... except she should be shot for covering a Badfinger song. Of course, the reviews are all positive (there's only one). If you had an official site, would you put up negative reviews of yourself? Well, actually, I would, so...

COLIN MALLORY
I haven't seen a lot of fourth-season episodes, so I really don't know much about Colin. He doesn't really seem like he's ready to star alongside Quinn. It's often said that he's a naïve farmboy, or some such. I haven't really seen him act all that naïve. As far as I can tell, he acts like he and Quinn have been together their whole lives, and he interacts with Maggie like they've been in the sack before.
Colin left when he became unstuck. This means he slides constantly to different worlds without a timer. Also, all his doubles are destroyed, for some reason.
Personally, I didn't like that they wrote Colin out. Like Maggie, I think Colin would have gotten better if he'd stayed for a while. Besides, I'd have liked it better. It'd be less complicated. What if Quinn was the one who became unstuck, and Colin was the determined brother looking for him?
CHARLIE O'CONNELL
I think Chuck has been used as a pawn. It seems like the only reason he's on the show is because he's an aspiring actor and Jerry thought having him join would be a good idea. It was all nepotism, really. He was not ready to play a role alongside Jerry in Sliders. Besides, this might lead to him always being overshadowed by his big brother. Charlie hadn't had the biggest career before Sliders. He has a whole life of acting ahead of him, and it'd be a shame if his whole career was dependent on Jerry, and he was never seen as anything but "Jerry's little brother." Then, of course, he was also used by the Powers that Be to keep Jerry on the show. It's really a shame, in my opinion. I feel sorry for him.

MALLORY
First off, I dislike the way everyone refers to this guy as "Mallory." He's a merger between our Quinn and a different-looking Quinn double. Both of them are named Quinn. I know it's intentional, but THE MAN HAS A FRIGGIN' FIRST NAME! I'd understand if he was a Vulcan or Klingon, but this is Sliders we're talking about.
I do like the way he wasn't made the lead character. Sure, Quinn was the lead when he was on the show. But that Quinn was combined with this Quinn in a vortex accident. The product doesn't have to still be the main character. Now, Rembrandt's in charge.
As far as non-original characters go, Mallory's not bad. I find him to be somewhat inconsistent. Bitter one minute, enthusiastic the next. I like how different he is from our Quinn. I just wish the writers would get our Quinn out of his body and move on. I don't like how unresolved that is.
ROBERT FLOYD
I like Robert Floyd. I think he seems like a cool person. In my experience, most of the people who say he can't act are just fans of Jerry O'Connell. If there's anything wrong with Floyd's acting, it's the fault of the writers. He does a good job following their directions. Also, in the chat with him, he seemed really down-to-earth, which I really like. He's a South Park fan, a definite plus, and probably THE reason why I like this guy so much. Also, he reads this bulletin board. If I was him, and I read some of the stuff I see here about him, it would hurt my feelings irreparably. I just want him to know there's someone out there who thinks he does a good job. This is of course assuming he has a tolerance for long Sliders rants!

DIANA DAVIS
I was unimpressed by Diana Davis. Sure, she's the first other black character on Sliders, which I really do like. However, I don't know how much I like her character. She's a scientist whose motivation is finding a way to get our Quinn out of Mallory. Maybe I just don't like that she was so defensive of her boss, the evil mad scientist Oberon Geiger. Maybe I don't like that no episode ever really put her in the spotlight. Wait... I know what I don't like... Her character was created by none other than David Peckinpah!
Honestly, I think I'd like her more if the writers of Sliders gave her more attention. Sadly, the show is cancelled, so she has half a season to get attention. Outlook not good.
TEMBI LOCKE
I don't know a lot about Tembi Locke. I do think she's a worthy actress. I just don't think her character has the direction she needs. I know very little about Locke's other roles, so this is all I have to say about this.

SEASON 1
In the first season, the actors were just settling into their roles. I think they did a really good job in this season. It was the first show in a long time that actually made me wonder what would happen next. Of course, it was sad that FOX kept trying to cancel it, but there was always hope. Season 1 boasted some of the coolest episodes, such as "Fever," and "Last Days," before it was recycled into "Exodus." I thought "Luck of the Draw" was a great episode too. I just hated that I had to wait so long to see if Quinn would die and Ryan Simms would join the cast, since Sliders was cancelled shortly after. Luckily, it was revived. Thank you other fans!

SEASON 2
I think the second season was the best. The sliders and their writers were at their intellectual peak. Also, Rembrandt, who was previously a whiny character used for comic relief, became a realistic character in his own right. "Into the Mystic" wasn't my favorite episode, but if nothing else, it tied up the loose ends provided by "Luck of the Draw." Also, it was a tribute to the Wizard of Oz. Tormé does tributes right. Peckinpah does tributes wrong. I really liked "Gillian of the Spirits" and "Obsession." In "Post Traumatic Slide Syndrome," we met the Professor's double, and most fans believe that it was the Evil Arturo who slid with Quinn, Remmy, and Wade. We saw the late Mel Tormé in "Greatfellas." The episode "Love Gods" was just weird. "Invasion" was good as a stand-alone adventure, but unfortunately, due to the plotlines that existed in Season 4, I don't think it should ever have been written. "El Sid" was a cool episode, although I didn't think the acting was very good, and in that episode some of the plot twists were quite predictable. (Is there anyone who really thought that Sid would be a good little boy?) Finally, "As Time Goes By" may well be my favorite episode. But why those three worlds? Was it some kind of trap or something into which the sliders fell? Anyhow, because of that episode, Daelin-mania is now sweeping the board!

To be continued... (Due to the space restrictions for posting a message. Dammit!)

Continued

Date: 8/11/99
From: s_the_great

SEASON 3
This season was not as good as the second. Sliders tried to keep up the momentum from the first two seasons, but some of the episodes were poorly written. It seemed like the Sliders were getting a new timer all the time. I lost track of which one was theirs. The first ongoing plotline was established by Arturo's terminal disease. I did like "Double Cross," and I wish that had been followed-up like "Invasion." I thought Logan St. Clair was very interesting. She is so cool! "The Dream Masters" was a fairly good episode, although in my opinion it did what a few of the other episodes of this season did, which was make Wade look like the weakling of the group. In "Desert Storm" a guest star was killed, which was really sad. "Paradise Lost" made me want to go into this town and beat the crap out of its residents, as did "Electric Twister Acid Test." Unfortunately, a lot of these plots were unoriginal.
Then, there was "Exodus." QBall79, I can't thank you enough for showing me how much this episode sucks! There, we met Maggie, who at that time was in tough-girl mode. We also met Roger Daltrey, who was playing Colonel Rickman. This was also when the Professor took that bullet for Quinn. I found out that John Rhys-Davies wrote this episode, but I found out later, courtesy of QBall79, that David Peckinpah butchered it. Then, of course, in a tradition established by Tasha Yar of Star Trek, we saw the episode "The Last of Eden." (Actually, this was filmed before "Exodus," but shown afterwards with flashback bookends, for whatever reason.) Of course, the rest of the season was spent showing off Maggie's assets. You can't tell me there was any other point to "The Breeder." Also, everyone wanted to chase Colonel Rickman. Eventually, they got to him, killed the guy, and went on. Thank God. It's just too bad his dying episode was so God-awful.
Throughout this season, it seemed like the show was showing off its special effects. There was that "hungry underground beast" in Paradise, the scarab in the Egyptian world, that creature of fire, and that size-changing dragon in Dragonslide. These creatures really didn't go well with the surroundings, and no one could really act around the creatures. I mean, in "Paradise Lost," that one guy was being eaten by that monster, and he shoots at the ground! That architect didn't look like the scarab was making his death all that miserable.

SEASON 4
You know why they didn't show the "Future World" at the beginning of the fourth season, don't you? When Sliders made the move to Sci-Fi, I'll bet Fox didn't give them the set for it, and they switched to a different style of special effects. Oh, well. Also, some of the weakest episodes were in this season. It's clear that Sliders is very far from its roots as a "What if?" show. Somehow, though, it seemed like Sci-Fi was trying to get Sliders to return to its roots. However, the writers really wanted the Kromaggs in the show, so it suffered. Arturo was gone, Quinn didn't care, Colin was too naïve to be productive, Wade suffered a humiliating fate, Maggie went into erratic-weirdo mode, and Rembrandt made it all worth watching.
A lot of people hate Season 3 the most. Not me. I hate Season 4 with a passion. Man, do I hate Season 4. Eck! I mean, Season 3 was bad, but Season 4 turned sucking into an art form!

SEASON 5
Although David Peckinpah grabbed Sliders in Season 3 and bent it totally out of shape in the following years, the series has tried to make up for Peckinpah's bloopers, blunders, and boners... wait, scratch that last one. Peckinpah's probably impotent. Anyhow, the writing staff of Season 5 is doing its best to solve the problems that Peckinpah caused. The show will never be as good as it was in the first two seasons, but it's getting closer with each episode. It's already better than the last two seasons. I stuck it out then. Sliders is stuck with me until the day the last Sliders fan dies (probably me ;-) ). Unfortunately, although Sliders is a good series now, Sci-Fi has cancelled it. The last episode is a cliffhanger. That in itself is an insult to every Sliders fan who has watched this underdog show through good times and bad.

HOPE (Warning: Sentimentality Alert!)
I want there to be more. I hope there'll be more. But sadly, I don't think there will. Sci-Fi seems almost adamant about preventing it. Many of the actors have already started to look for other jobs. Pardon my abundance of emotion, but it's just so sad. Every year I'd watch this show, hoping against hope that I'd see it again for another year. With every cancellation the hope for another season diminishes.
I still remember when I was thirteen. (Ah, the Bar Mitzvah age... wait, I'm a Muslim! ;-) ) Season 1 of Sliders drew me in. It was as addictive as chocolate-covered crack. I had never before seen such an ingenious series. Being a geek, I could relate to Quinn's character. And the other characters were all so real. Everything about the show was cool. But I knew it wouldn't last long. FOX wasn't known then for the most intellectual shows. It isn't now either. Wait, hold on... I'm gonna go find the deeper meaning in "When Roseanne Attacks!."
After Season 1 ended, I thought I'd never see Sliders again. I just knew it was canned. It was a real shame to me, because at the time my biggest Sliders concern was whether the Professor's name was "Arturo Maximillion" or "Maximillion Arturo." If nothing else, I needed some resolution there. Nothing made me happier than a commercial I saw where that familiar vortex lit up again. There was Jerry O'Connell's face. (He's like the Dirk Benedict of the 90's!) It was a commercial for "Into the Mystic."
When Sliders got canned the next time, the third season ended. I was pretty bored with the series at that time. I did want to see some resolution, though. I heard it was getting picked up on the Sci-Fi channel. I didn't pick up that channel, though. I was sad, but I remembered how boring Sliders was just before cancellation. That still wasn't enough to discourage me, though. It would be an extremely long time before I did pick up Sci-Fi. However, when I did I eventually started watching Sliders again. The first new episode I watched was, you guessed it, "Revelations." (Damn me for missing "Roads Taken," which came on the week I started watching Sci-Fi.) I caught some Season 4 reruns afterwards. I was disappointed, but not disillusioned with Sliders. I was so happy when I learned about the reruns being shown on weekdays. I was also eagerly awaiting Season 5, because Sliders in its then-current state was better than none at all.
I'm so glad I found this board. After all I went through with Sliders I was glad to find others who liked the show as much as me. Although I was stupidly unappreciative (Are either of those words?) when I started here, I feel I've evolved, just like Maggie Beckett's lungs.
Now Sliders is getting cancelled again, only now the executives, the actors, and every other employee is insisting, "There will be no Season 6." Me, I just want this special series to go out in a way that I can be proud of. That's why I like the TV movie idea.
(End Sentimentality)

HOW TO MAKE IT BETTER
Personally, I think that, before the show can move in in a positive direction, it has to fix some problems from the past. I propose getting all eight Sliders, Logan, and the Kromaggs together, and making a TV movie, closing every single plotline that the writers don't intend to continue. Find out which Arturo came from "Post Traumatic Slide Syndrome." Get Wade out of the breeding camp. End Logan's days of sliding. Get the Kromaggs out of the way. Give Maggie one mood, all the time. And, if the show doesn't want to do anything with the Mallory brothers, just kill them both. Re-stick Oberon Geiger Well, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.

S

SPECIAL THANKS
Here's to everyone whose made me as knowledgeable as I am now about Sliders.

Chaser9-
Man, you have one great sense of humor. I'm still laughing from your "Gate Haven" site.

ElectricPeterTork-
I don't see why everyone has something against you. I think you're a cool person. You got me on your side, at least!

Green_Modus-
I'm so glad to have you on this board. You say the exact thing I'd like to say, but don't have the time to do so. Just remember, the next time I_AM_SCIFI resurfaces, I'm counting on you to give that fat bastard a flaming he'll never forget. Whatever it is you're doing, just keep on doing it.

informant-
You've really lived up to your name. I've learned a hell of a lot about Sliders just by reading your posts.

misswells-
I know you spend more time on the story game, but I'm not in that clique so I'm gonna praise you from here. As far as people 51 weeks younger than me go, you're a pretty cool person. Keep up the good work. By the way, you're gonna love it when you turn 17!

Parajo-
You probably think I'm stupid because my only reply to one of your posts was somewhere along the lines of "Sci-Fi considers our show a treasure." That was when I had no idea cancellation was imminent. You are a funny guy too. Expecially that time you signed off as "Parajo- the fuck." By the way, how do you pronounce your handle? Is it "PEAR-a-JOE" or "pa-RAH-ho" or what?

ProphetG-
Thanks for being my first supporter, and paving the way for about... two or three more. ;-)

QBall79-
Thanks for all the support you've shown me over the months. Of all the people on this board, you are the one who makes it all worth reading, in my opinion. And you called me by my real name (although it's actually 1 l)! That's so cool!

sarahslider-
If I ever change my handle to "salahslider," you'll be the first to know!

slidefan-
Is there a problem? I haven't heard from you lately. I'm really worried.

TemporalFlux-
The first time I read your reply to my post, my immediate reaction was, "Stay away from this guy. He's popular and you're not on good terms with him." No matter how many of your posts I read, I always had a little of that first impression guiding my judgment. I just reread your reply to my first rant. Man, did I misjudge you all this time! I can't believe I ever thought you were being mean in that post. None of it was really offensive at all; I was either paranoid or didn't read the parts that said you were welcoming me to the board. I realize now that you've proven to be an intellectual, informative, helpful, and positive influence on this board (and just so you know, it's not in my nature to suck up). I'm terribly sorry for misjudging you all this time, and I'd really like to think that our past interactions are just water under the bridge now. You da man, Temp, and I support you completely now!
With all due respect, though, I don't think your synopsis for "The Seer" is real. I think there was a really big cover up on that episode. I mean, right now, for all intents and purposes, "The Seer" is the LAST EPISODE we're talking about! It's the ultimate final surprise. I just hope it delivers better than the last episode of Seinfeld.

The following are others I want to thank for their support, although I don't have anything specific to say to them:
BigRich
BillyShears
buffyboy
ChicagoFan (or something similar; he knows who he is)
DanPratt
Echos
emzee
hakavonn
HunterD_Raven
HurriKain
jlbanker
kaythia
lastslider
Le_Monde
LShel
Mara_Karrde
NDSlidersfan
Nobuyuki
RealmKeeper
Ryan_May
Sickpsycho
sliderdave
slidermike
SliderNum5
Sliding_Cpt_Bridger
SlidingThrough
stuslide
Temporal_Flush
VirtualDimension

I know I definitely forgot people, and for that I'm sorry. It could be worse...

THE "FUCK OFF" AWARD WINNER
Out of a whole crapload of nominees, the winner of this prestigious award -- given every time a post does an exceptional job of pissing me off -- is...
Shannon_Stone! My oh my! Now, everyone, what do we say to the winner? That's right...
"Fuck off!"

S

Holy Shit!

Date: 8/11/99
From: s_the_great

Total rant, Netscape 4.0 = 19 pages

Man, I am never writing this much again outside of college! ;-)

S

Amen to that!!!!!!

Date: 8/11/99
From: Le_Monde

God bless you my man! Or as they would say in you religion May
Allah be with you! To me, it doesn't really matter. I agree with
EVERY SINGLE WORD YOU SAID. I'm almost jealous I didn't write
that out. Thank you so much for writing this. That's right, I read the
whole thing (this late at night!) I am going to read it again right now.
I'll let you know that you made a friend tonight. You listed me under
the "thanks" section. When I post my script here (and everywhere)
You are going to find your name under my "thanks" section.
THANK YOU S_THE GREAT!!!!

Le_Monde

Bravo!

Date: 8/11/99
From: TemporalFlux

Very well written essay! I like the step by step approach that gives a clarity to your thoughts...

I wouldn't be me if I didn't say something about the Sabrina Lloyd situation, though. To my knowledge, she never left due to pregnancy leave...in fact, she has still not become a mother as far as I know. She had only gotten married in the summer of 97...and while some do jump right to children, I think it would be a bit soon for her wanting maternity leave by the fall of 97 (unless there was an urgent reason she got married...but that wasn't the case as far as I know). Also, Sabrina wasn't technically fired..."forced out" would be a better term. Peck convinced Sci-Fi that they only wanted one female lead...but Sci-Fi didn't care who. Then Peck used some other factors (like Sabrina holding up production due to being upset about some things Kari said...and Sabrina asking for a comparable raise to what Jerry and Cleavant got in the Sci-Fi move) to seal Sabrina's fate on Sliders. It all came down to Sabrina coming into the office with one final demand...Kari or me (not knowing of what was going on to already seal her fate)...Peck said Kari and Sabrina left.

In any case, that's just technicalities...nothing that affects your thoughts (there was no scheme by Kari to oust Sabrina...Peck just manuevered to get his favorite in place).

And don't give the past a second thought...I've never had a problem with you. I picked up that you probably had a problem with me...but I can't change who I am. So, it either worked out or it didn't...and I wouldn't have held it against you if you didn't like me.

Ah...and "The Seer" script. Don't worry about any respect there...I'm hoping it's a dummy script too! ;-) I have a two fold reason...the main being that I don't want that story to be the series closer. On another level, though...I definitely know this script came from Sliders production...which would mean they fabricated the script (ala Seinfeld). Now with Seinfeld it was different...but with a smaller production like Sliders, do you know how rare a purposeful dummy script for an episode would be? A definite footnote in Sliders history that many would never know about. Right now I'm divided on it's authenticity...I got all of season five scripts at the same time from the same source...and all the eps that have aired match the script (including The Java Jive...an ep that aired after I got the scripts). But on the other hand, there is the advance info from a multitude of people that seems to refute the story (i.e. Damron chat, Robert Floyd chat, Anthony Genovese info, the production date mystery because of Lexilynn's info, etc). It could really go either way in my eyes right now...but at least this is one mystery we will definitely have an answer to. With Sliders starting to air in England in September (if I'm not mistaken)...we'll probably know what "The Seer" is about by January 2000 (since they run straight through with no reruns in the UK). That will likely be a couple of months before we see it here in the U.S....and possible before Canada.

Anyway, once again - nice job. And I'll talk to you later!

Tf
temporalflux@hotmail.com
http://www.dimensionofcontinuity.com

Wow!

Date: 8/11/99
From: Third_of_Five

You are incredible! That was one(or several)of the most intelligent post I have ever read. I didn't agree with you in all instances but I still very much apprecite you taking the time to write this essay. I agree with 99.9% of it.

Matt

Double bravo!!!

Date: 8/11/99
From: stuslide

Thanks, S for the essay. It contained a lot of stuff that I've been thinking for some time and it's nice to see it in the flesh. As soon as I get back to college this week, your essay will be getting printed out so I can always have it around to look at from time to time. WHere's your first rant at? I would love to see it. It's nice to see the bboard getting back to its DEBATING SLIDERS roots instead of the 'Sliders suck', backstabbing, kamkiezeness nature that was dominated the board for the last few months.

See you on the Alternate spin!!!

Stuslide
SLIDERS: ALTERNATE SPIN
www.angelfire.com/ky/sliderspinoff
"Just think of the possibilities."

Interesting...

Date: 8/11/99
From: sleepingtiger

Sallah (right?)

An onliner I know told me about this amazingly long rant on Sliders that had some big names backing it. I'm impressed. You wrote your thoughts up in a concise, logical manner. Nice job.

If this is the turn this board is taking, I might have to start reading it again.

Peace.
Tigger

you covered it all!

Date: 8/11/99
From: sliderpaula

Your's was one of the best postings I've seen. I agree with you man. I may be one of the oldest slider fans around at 40, but I love this show. I have watched from the begining. I hung in through all the ups and downs. The show has lost a lot of good characters along the way. I always liked Wade a lot better than Maggie. This season does seem to be getting back to the basics, but I am one of the fans who misses Jerry, I think because his caracter was the one who started it all. I used to love the way he and Arturo were always at odds most of the time as to who was right. I miss the original group. Somehow they seemed to fit together so much better!
Well thanks again for the great posting. It's nice to see it so well thought out and put into words. I think Sliders is the best that Sci Fi has to offer and they are making a big mistake, but it always seems like the best is always canceled and replaced with something dumb!
thanks again,
Slider Paula

AMEN!

Date: 8/12/99
From: sliderdave

This was such a great breakdown of Sliders'I couldn't have said it better myself. I was just about to cry, but when you actually mentioned my name, I broke down. I've always felt anonymous here, but I'm glad that someone was reading my posts and replies. BTW, speaking as a Jew, you're my best Muslim friend.

 

Dave

damn, someone has a lot of time.....

Date: 8/13/99
From: daveyramone

everything you said was cool though, except for the fact that I didn't read it all and most importantly------ South Park SUCKS! it's the worst excuse for a show I have ever seen. Totally useless, I watched a little of it's first season, but it's "stupid," I personally have more laughs watching the Flintstones, and Charlie Brown, than this cancel worthy show. Flame away!!!!!!!

WTG! actually read this one..........

Date: 8/13/99
From: daveyramone

I actually took the time to read it all, it was simply "amazing", that's all I have to say.

Original URL http://www.scifi.com/bboard/browse.cgi/1/5/545/10427
Nominated by Brand_S