To die A THOUSAND DEATHS in the ratings

Date: 9/25/99
From: Executive

But don't worry, out of the first 13 episodes of the final season this was actually the fifth one that I liked in spite of its lack of originality.

Much of what "A Thousands Deaths" featured was borrowed from 1970s concepts: First it was a combination of two feature films -- The successful WESTWORLD and it's sequal FUTUREWORLD crossed with something from 1997 - last season's "Virtual Slide". The major difference is that in those 70s sci-fi films, human businessmen and scientists were trying to take over the Earth with androids in their theme parks. In this SLIDERS episode it was holographic images projected from the thoughts of * real * people being held prisoner.

But wait -- there's more! Throw in parodies of old cop shows and movies, with the bad 70s fashions, Rembrandt's reference to SHAFT near the end (which was also spoofed when Mulder sang the Shaft in an X-FILES last year). Plus...

How about that red car with the white racing stripe painted across the exterior? Yes, that was taken * directly * from STARSKY & HUTCH - the hit 1970s cop show produced by Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg. TNT still reruns it every once in a while! In the 70s simulation, Remmy and his four-eyed, gun-happy partner were a fun duo, yet having them wear platform shoes was a misguided joke. After all, undercover cops Dave Starsky and Ken Hutchinson NEVER wore anything but sneakers!

Remmy's best line was "The meanest man in town -- Downtown Brown!" Well, I guess Leroy Brown (the baddest dude in the whole damn town) and sexy, but fiercely independent Downtown Julie Brown have nothing to worry about! That reminds me, have you noticed that in past seasons a confused Rembrandt would say "What the hell?" but now it's always "What the devil?"?

The Civil War simulation wasn't featured as much, and under the circumstances that's a good thing. If you look at this episode more as a comedy it works well, and David Peckinpah's direction also can't be faulted. The funky music was also a nice touch.

Just one problem -- what do they mean they can't find Remmy's homeworld? They already have the coordinates in the timer!! Surely Diana would know how to retrieve them if and when they even make the attempt to first gather several thousand troops to slide with them to Earth Prime to defeat the Kromaggs in a months-long international war. And if that ever happened, it would hopefully be the Kromagg troops who die a thousand deaths and not the human soliders!

THE EXECUTIVE

Familiar guest star in this episode

Date: 9/25/99
From: Executive

Hal, the maintenance guy was played by Frank John Hughes - the least none of the three PLAYERS, a flashy season-long NBC action show about ex-cons who get pardoned in exchange for using their talents to work for the FBI. Hughes co-starred with Costas Mandylor ("Picket Fences") and musician turned actor Ice-T.

What the devil...

Date: 9/25/99
From: RealmKeeper

Rembrant always said What the devil. "what the devil..?" was his line since the beginning. His double said what the hell" is "The King is Back".

RK

The devil you say, RK! ;-)

Date: 9/25/99
From: Executive

Well, Rembrandt has said "hell" a lot in the series. A minor point, but I wanted to bring it up.

I think it used to be...

Date: 9/25/99
From: QBall79

I think Remmy used to say, "What the hell" and "WHO the devil". He does say "devil" a lot now, but I like it. Maybe he has a deal with Satan now and there's a clause in the contract that he has to say "devil" everytime instead of "hell". Poor Remmy sold his 'stache to the devil!

Q-Ball79
http://go.to/SSN

More Starsky & Hutch in the episode!!

Date: 9/25/99
From: Executive

If the car wasn't enough, how about Remmy's partner calling him Huggy Bear just because of his brown leather jacket? For anyone who doesn't know, in the TV series "Starsky and Hutch", Huggy Bear (played by Antonio Fargas) was the owner of a bar and grill called Huggy Bear's The Pits. I forget his character's real name, but it was mentioned in an episode or two.

The real irony is that Huggy Bear rarely wore leather jackets, but both Starsky and Hutch usually did.

Huggy Bear

Date: 9/25/99
From: QBall79

It was actually Mallory who called Remmy "Huggy Bear". It may not have been the jacket that reminded Mallory of the character; but then again, maybe Huggy Bear did wear leather jackets quite frequently on *his* world's version of Starsky and Hutch.

Q-Ball79
http://go.to/SSN

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Nominated by Blinker