Why Sliders Failed

Date: 07/27/2002
From: JThunder101

LACK OF FOCUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is it in a nutshell. The show had a great premise, an amzing cast and talented people behind the scenes.

However, the FOX network wanted to better demographics. Folks, whenever people start talking about demographics this is a sure sign that things are probably going to go downhill fast.

Sliders had a great pilot and a number of good episodes. I liked the episodes featuring the woman dominated society, protected dinosaurs that could offer hope for the sick with new medicines, the episode where Quinn met a younger version of himself and the introduction of the Kromaggs.

If the show would have continued on those veins, it really could have been something.

However, we got a show that kept changing focus. At one time Quinn and Wade had romantic feelings towards one another, later it was Remy and Wade and later on it was Quinn and Maggie.

Also Maggie was brought in to create some conflict. Although I agree conflict among the main chacters is good, this show was an exception. I liked the fact that the group was considered something of a family...it had a cool ``us versus the world'' vide to it, which I think really was the heart of this show.

They were constantly faced with new dangers and the fact they banded together to face them really made the show for me. That was lost when they were at each other's throats.

However we ended up getting episodes that were bad takes on popular movies, some zombies and stories that made no sense (remember the episode where time was going backwards or living fire...my head still spins at those.)

Still I do give some credit to Kari W. in turning Maggie from an abrasive character into a more well-rounded character. The rest of the cast (in all its forms) did the best they could.

I blame the powers that be.

I think by the time the show came to SCI-FI, they started to turn it around with better stories, but by the last season, so much had changed and there was very little that could be done.

I think SLIDERS had the potential to be the next STAR TREK in terms of telling those stories that can make us look at ourselves and the world we live in from a fresh perspective.

When are the network suits going to learn that ``retooling'' usually means a death sentence for any series.

It failed with SEAQUEST DSV, MILLENIUM and SLIDERS.

I will give SLIDERS some credit. Having 88 episodes is quite an accomplishment for any genre series. They had good episodes and bad episodes, but I think if someone would have taken the reins a lot sooner, it could have really been a really outstanding show rather than just a good show.

JThunder101

It was Tracy Torme's Show

Date: 07/27/2002
From: Grizzlor

Torme guided the show quite well the first 2 seasons. after he left, it went downhill. Part of the lack of focus you mention is because every season had a new list of producers and writers. And beyond Torme/Weiss, the creators, only a few people honestly cared about doing the show. Those include people like Marc Scott Zicree, Chris Black, Blake/Jackson-maybe, maybe Damron. The rest only were in it for the work, good or bad. And that included the actors too.

You are correct

Date: 07/27/2002
From: Recall317

There's even more to it, and a lot of websites have done a fantastic job documenting the series, but in a nutshell...you're on target.

R317

I also agree

Date: 07/27/2002
From: Artteac

Most of the really good shows have the same person in charge and that person has a vision of what the show should be and sticks with it. Since the production team changed, and kept changing, each person had their own vision of what it should be. In addition, politics played a part. That led to John Rhys Davies leaving, as well as Sabrina Lloyd. Another factor was the change in network. SciFi wanted three men and one woman (at that time), and that also led to Sabrina leaving. And the economics of basic cable TV helped to Jerry and Charlie leaving as well.

It all started with the professor.

Date: 07/27/2002
From: eber3

When the prof was killed off that was the start of the end. After that the whole show changed, and then continued to change even more. Somebody had the bright idea to kill him to make room for boobala b--ch and then it just kept getting worse.

pulsar world was death sentance..

Date: 07/30/2002
From: cadefawkes

WHEN THE EP OF THE PULSAR DOOMED WORLD WAS BROADCASTED, ALL SLIDER FANS KNEW THAT TROUBLE WAS EMINENT. RICKMAN WAS A GOOD VILLIAN AND I WAS GLAD THEY PURSUED THAT (UNLIKE LOGAN), YET ADDING MAGGIE WAS UNNECCESARY AND A MISTAKE, REGARDLESS HOW SEXY SHE WAS. KILLING AURTURO WAS THE WORST THING FOX DID, AND THEIR RATINGS DIED WITH THEM. HIS DEATH WAS THE END OF THE FAMILY THAT THE SLIDERS WERE.THATS WHAT MADE THE SHOW UNIQUE, THEY WERE FAMILY. ANYWAY, PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT THE AURTURO WHO DIED WAS THE FAKE AURTURO ARE WISHFULL THINKERS. TOO MUCH EMOTIONAL CONNECTIONS HAPPENEED FOR THAT TO BO TRUE. AND THOUGH I DO LOVE THE CHACHTER OF COLIN, THE KROMAGG RAVVAGED EARTH PRIME WAS RIDICULUS.

Original URL http://bboard.scifi.com/bboard/browse.cgi/1/5/545/1501974
Nominated by Blinker