Tormé
chat recap
Date: 06/16/2001
From: QBall79
After HOURS of scouring the web for a place to hold the long-awaited event (long-awaited being since Thursday), sliders fans from around the globe had their way with Sliders creator Tracy Tormé (okay, maybe that's not the BEST way to word it... they watched him get on and off a few times, and eventually they got to chat with him... Umm, yeah).It all started in a specially set-up room on Sci-Fi's server, the #Lamplighter. We were all set to go, Tracy was almost in, and all of a sudden both I and Tf were kicked and banned from the server. It turns out some rat bastard decided to start nuking right before our chat. So we moved to Steve's chatroom at Earth62.net.
For some reason, Tracy's browser couldn't read the applet, so we had to come up with another option. Finally our French friend Greg chimed in, saying he had a chatroom on HIS website. So we headed over to his place and the chatting FINALLY commenced.
Official footage is available HERE:
http://www.sliders.fr.st/Maineng.htmlSpecial thanks goes out to my "co-moderator" TemporalFlux for being there to moderate even if we didn't end up moderating, Vortex62 for offering his facilities, Greg Dubos for being online at the right time and offering HIS facilities AND posting a transcript of the event, everyone who showed up and participated, and last but not least, the man himself, Tracy Tormé.
That's about it. Enjoy the transcript!
Q-Ball79
http://www.slidersweb.net/
THANK
YOU ALL!!!!
Date: 06/16/2001
From: MissingSliderRyan
All the hassle was worth it. :-D It was unreal when Tracy pushed back his meeting to chat with all of us.
This unmoderated chat worked for the most part. Just a few times when Tracy got hit with too many questions. Thanks Q-Ball and Tf for your "moderating".
Thanks Q-Ball, Tf, Tex and Greg and the man himself, Tracy for making this chat possible.
MSRP.S.
Thanks to all of you on AIM for pointing me in the right direction before the chat.
P.S.S.
Totally loved the Luck of the Draw questions. :-D
P.S.S.S.
Ratboy had nothing to do with the chatroom getting nuked. ;-)
P.S.S.S.S.
Y, that map lead to nowhere, didn't it? LOL
Long,
but pointless.
Date: 06/17/2001
From: FogBoy
That pretty much sums that up. I guess I'm glad I missed it.Oh well, he's a cool guy to have participated. Too bad nothing interesting came of it.
Pointless?
Date: 06/17/2001
From: MissingSliderRyan
I saw this chat as an opportunity to thank someone who's entertained, inspired and given me ideas to contemplate. I go to these chats specifically for this reason. Whether or not my questions get answered, doesn't matter to me as much as me expressing my thanks to that person for his or her time, talent and creativity. In Tracy's chat, I thanked him for on behalf of all the fans for Sliders and he expressed his appreciation.
I had the opportunity to attend the chats of Adrian Paul when he was promoting Highlander: Endgame and Nicholas Lea when he was promoting Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye. I thanked them both for giving the fans their time and talent in creating their characters. When I saw Nana Visitor, Kira on DS9, and Jack Wagner, Frisco on General Hospital and Dr. Peter Burns on Melrose Place, in person, I expressed my thanks to them. They really appreciated hearing that from me. They need to know that they have the fans support them in the long hours that they put in. It makes everything worthwhile.
Without Sliders, my life would be different. I haven't written any fanfic or any done any writing in some 15 years. It wasn't until I came online and found the Sliders community that I began to write again. I found some really good friends which I never would have if Sliders was never made. For these reasons, I will also be thankful for this show.
When I'm lucky enough to attend a chat or see someone in person, I always thank them because that may be the only opportunity that I will have to attend. Also, it may be the only chat or only appearance this person has the time to do. For a writer, actor, actress, producer, author, etc. to take the time to do a chat gives the fans their chance to ask questions and to express their thanks for affecting their lives in some way.
MSR
Well,
FogBoy...
Date: 06/17/2001
From: QBall79
You aren't the only one who's glad you missed it. That pretty much sums that up.Q-Ball79
http://www.slidersweb.net/
What
exactly were you expecting Fogboy?
Date: 06/17/2001
From: Alternity_Orange
Torme left Sliders in late 96. His involvement past that consisted of nothing except a few phone calls and occasionally interacting with his fans. He's said in the past he didn't even watch the show after that. Were you expecting news about the movie? He's said before that he knows nothing about it beyond a brief conversation he had with RKW and that he probably wouldn't be involved if there was one. He casually chatted with those of us there, plugged his new stuff only when asked, and did answer a few of our questions about S1-S2 where he could. Sorry you were so disapointed but I can't imagine what you were looking for. I thought it was enjoyable.
The
short of it:
Date: 06/17/2001
From: FogBoy
The man rarely talks to us, so I was hoping for some new info, as opposed to very brief same-old statements1) Some more real info on Heat of the Moment (again, he's still dodgy about it even though he has jack to hide, and he still acts like no one should care even though no one would be asking if they didn't).
2) Details on how/where he lost control of the program, straight from the horse's mouth.
3) Anything he knew about the loss of Sabrina, as it occurred around the area where he would've left (or after?).
4) Direct statements on where he and Peckinpah clashed.
5) Episode ideas that never came to be.Etc, etc, etc...
Basically, something that would've made the existence of the chat worthwhile and informative.
The
long of it
Date: 06/17/2001
From: Alternity_Orange
I'm not trying to start a fight with you or anything. I was just surprised that you seemed so borderline angry about this chat. You're right that we don't hear from him much, I myself have sent him a letter and a couple of e-mails that were never answered, but at least he takes the time occasionally to talk to Qball79 and a few others. Think about it this way, Sliders was his "baby" that was taken away from him and then turned into something he despised. We're lucky he talks to any of us about it. Did you every lose a girlfriend to some other guy? Would you want to spend a lot of time talking about that girlfriend later to people who wanted to know everything about her including what she did after she left you? Silly analogy I know but think about it a little. As to your points;1. Heat of The Moment; I thought the plot and full storyline was generally known to the community at large. No we don't know every piece of dialogue but I don't think there's really any big questions about the episode. The only confusion I've seen pop up about it sometimes is that some fans have thought it was what Tracy intended as the "last ever episode" of Sliders. In this chat he stated it was not ever supposed to be the last ep, so some people did learn something new. I don't think he's witholding the script for nefarious purposes. He just doesn't have anything to do with it at the moment and likewise doesn't want to distribute it for free. It's his script, he can do what he wants with it. We have uncovered one lost Sliders script recently, which wasn't easy believe me, maybe someday we'll get this one. I think it might be a big letdown for some if and when we get it though because of all the attenetion that's been focused on it. There really isn't a conspiracy.
2. Some of us have heard things from him in detail about this, most of us have only heard the generalities. You are right that he doesn't speak publically about losing the show except in vague terms. I think the reason here is libel. He certainly couldn't go telling Starlog what an asshole Peckinpah is. Small chats like this are probably the only venue in which he could. Nobody really asked him though.
3. Tracy was long gone by the time Sabrina left. He wouldn't know anything more than us about that.
4. Again, he can't legally say bad things about the man in direct terms. But I bet if you asked him in a chat like this one to name something, he'd tell you.
5. Tf is the best one to ask about this of course. However I've always thought that there weren't that many unused ideas in the early days. There were a couple, Blood and Splendor being the most notable but we know why that wasn't made. Sliders didn't stockpile scripts like Star Trek does. Mostly everthing that was written was filmed or turned into something else later down the line. Tf did ask about that Beauty World idea but it seems like it never even got to full script form.
Most of your problems seem to be in the questions asked. If he ever chats again you should try to make it. You'll probably get some of the answers you're looking for if you ask.
My
reply to Fogboy...
Date: 06/17/2001
From: Informant
1) He told us a whole lot about "Heat Of The Moment". The told us what happens to the characters in it. That was the plot. What more would you like him to tell? Short of releasing the script itself, he's pretty much told us everything.
2) The guy doesn't trash people. Like was said, probably because he could get in trouble... still, who do you respect more, the guy who gets into fights and goes on to trash the other people, or the guy who just moves on and deals with it himself?
3) He wouldn't know about Sabrina.
4) See answer 2.
5) He did the Beauty World one. Aside from that, do you realize that he probably doesn't even remember a whole lot of the episodes that were never made? The guy has been writing tv shows for a long time. He's gone through a lot of ideas. Plus, at each story breaking meeting that writers have, many ideas are tossed around and dropped. This is like asking you to name some passing thoughts to had back in 1994. We know some episodes that weren't made. We got lucky. But this guy can't possibly remember all of them. Even the ones we already know. He's made it clear that it's hard to remember a lot of things from back then.
I thought the chat was fun. I enjoyed it. I thought he was a nice person to chat with, and I hope we can do it again in the future. I wasn't expecting any shocking revelations or Earth shattering news.
Nah,
Orange...
Date: 06/18/2001
From: FogBoy
I'm not angry. You can even see in my first reply that I think it's cool that he even talks to us.But I don't think the analogy makes any sense at all. It was his baby yes, and, well, it's still his most beloved creation. Even a little behind the scenes chatter about what life was like on the set would've been fun, but ultimately, I was just a little disappointed to see that it was, well, like I said - long but pointless. Whenever he comes out of the woodwork, oh-so-rarely, to chat with us, I'd hope he wouldn't just repeat himself. I'd rather see him offer us a tiny new tidbit about something. Talk about Doorways, talk about the set life, talk about the delay between first and second season, talk about getting certain guest stars. There's a million things to say, things only he knows that we on the outside don't, and in my two posts, I've only mentioned a few tiny examples.
I
agree with FogBoy
Date: 06/18/2001
From: SlidersRocks
Yea the chat was pretty much a waste of my time I would know because I was there. As the chat started I was excited to be able to ask my questions. But when I asked my first question which was about Bennish and why he come back in year 5 his answer was brief and pointless. He didnt go into any detail what so ever. He basically said "that deal fell threw" ummm yea I know that GIVE DETAILS! Then I asked another question about the implant and weather the illness Arturo had was a result of that. Again he was being sarcasic and said "no fox wanted to fire him" OK it would have be nice to tell us why he had the illness. But anyway I got pissed and left about 10 minutes later. The chat sucked big time.Dean
Sliders: The Other Side
www.geocities.com/Area51/Dimension/6238/
*Feigns
shock and surprise*
Date: 06/18/2001
From: QBall79
I was expecting this from SlidersRocks. In fact, when I first read FogBoy's post, I thought he WAS SlidersRocks until I reached the part where he mentioned he wasn't there.First of all, SR, your questions WERE answered, and if you call THAT pointless, it's only because you asked POINTLESS QUESTIONS. The deal fell through with Gaffney, and since Tracy wasn't involved in the fifth season (you'd know that if you'd paid the slightest bit of ATTENTION), that's the only explanation he had. If you want further details about HOW the deal fell through, ask David Peckinpah or Bill Dial.
Tracy gave Arturo the illness because FOX WANTED TO FIRE JRD! What more do you need? He wasn't being SARCASTIC! He's given the SAME answer EVERY FREAKIN' TIME he's been ASKED that question.
In fact, each of the questions you asked had been asked AND ANSWERED before -- so in essence they were pointless.
Next time, kiddo, pay attention and don't be disappointed if the answers to those old questions don't ever change.
As to both FogBoy and SlidersRocks, to call this chat pointless is to miss the entire point of the chat. Did Tracy have new info about "Sliders"? Well, yes, but that's beside the point. Did he plug his new projects? Yes, but only when he was asked about them. Why didn't he volunteer all this stuff? Because that wasn't the POINT of the chat.
The point was that Tracy Tormé wanted the opportunity to chat with fans of Sliders, just as many of us go online to do the same thing. Just because he created the show doesn't mean he should be obligated to say anything deeper or more stimulating than the average joe, because that wasn't the point of this chat.
But you know what? He gave us new info ANYWAY, because we asked. Hell, he postponed a friggin' MEETING just to chat with the fans, not for purposes of self-promotion or dispensation of cool info, but because he wanted to connect with us. FogBoy and SlidersRocks, by your own admission, you came to the chat with purely selfish motives. You came with the attitude of "What can Tracy do for ME?" When Tracy didn't deliver, you called the chat pointless. The rest of us just enjoyed the time we had to kick back and chat it up with a cool guy who happens to be the creator of one of our favorite shows.
Next time Tracy wants to chat with fans, please don't show up unless you actually want to chat with him.
Q-Ball79
http://www.slidersweb.net/
Hey,
Q-ball. . .
Date: 06/18/2001
From: SouthernSlider
Remember me? Cliche-Lady. Well, here's another. "You can't please all of the people all of the time." So don't even try. You and TF did a great job getting this together, and most of us appreciate it greatly. For those that didn't care for the chat, don't let them get under your skin. It's their choice not to care for it.I was unable to attend, but I did read the transcript. Although some questions went unanswered and some I would like to have seen, went unasked, I still enjoyed what I read, and was glad to find Tracy Tormé so amiable. It was really nice of him to stick around despite the problems at the beginning, and to postpone a meeting was above and beyond the call of duty.
Thanks to all that had a hand in this.
And one more cliché for Q-ball: Don't sweat the small stuff.
SS
Something
I noticed that might help...
Date: 06/18/2001
From: Slider_Quinn21
Okay, first of all, I asked a question about As Time Goes By. I sent it to QBall and he posted it. When it wasn't answered, QBall posted it again. It was the one about the rift...It was answered then. Yes, it was a brief answer, but I got an answer, pure and simple.
Minutes later, Tracy had to ask the name of that episode.
That made me think. Why wouldn't he know the name of the episode, even though he was involved in the making of it and it was just mentioned twice?
TF then told me something I didn't realize. If Sliders had continued, it would be its seventh anniversary. So, Tracy left about 4-5 years ago.
So, even though this was his "baby", he has moved on. He doesn't go back and study things because he has new projects to move on to. Everything he knows about Sliders(mostly) is from his memory.
So, you're basically asking him to remember things about things that were only spoken about in meetings that took place 4-5 years ago. How do you expect him to remember that? If you want that kind of information, go to the DoC. It has plenty of information of that nature.
So, I didn't go into that chat expecting Tracy to uncover the secret plot for Sliders Season 6 or Sliders: The Movie. Sure, I went in hoping to learn things, but I went in to talk to the man who created Sliders. I wanted to thank him for reviving my love for writing. I wanted to thank him for creating Sliders, something I have enjoyed for years.
That's why I went there...
take
a chill pill QBall79
Date: 06/18/2001
From: SlidersRocks
Hey QBall79 what's up, well yea my questions were answered but come on I already knew those answers....lets just say I wanted a little more explanations. Those two questions is all I really wanted asked and I feel maybe if it was moderated he would of gone into a little bit more detail. First with the thing about Gaffney is because they speak to each other all the time he would tell Tracy why he didn't get the job. And the thing about Arturo having an illness well we knew fox wanted him out and I just wanted to know what kind of illness he had in store for Arturo...was it a tumor or something else? I think he would be able to further explain on those two. Some people in my mind think of Tracy as some sort of god in the world of sliders. I for one don't. This man was a co-creator, a writer for 5 episodes and an executive producer for season 2 and some of three. I for one preferred the first season executive producers because the first season had a funnier feel to it and season 2 could of been funnier/character based more. Season 2 seemed to be all about the history of the worlds and not anymore about 4 people that like each other and want to go home. And by the way thanks for the nice comments about me....<weeping> "you hurt me more than words could say" lol. And I have no idea what you mean when you say i came into this thinking "What can Tracy do for ME?" Because all I wanted to know were those two questions and his opinion on another one and those answers he gave just weren't good enough for me anyway. He's a writer he could of been more creative with his responses. And again I have no idea what you have against my QBall79 because I just have an opinion so stop with the SlidersRocks bashing alright kiddo. I never said anything mean against you....you meany head.
Dean
Done
and done!
Date: 06/18/2001
From: FogBoy
Giving Torme thanks for what he did is nice and all, but if that's your reason for going to the chat, why not stop in, say thanks, and leave? If he's not going to say anything else interesting or worthwhile, what does it matter?Ultimately, though, QBall is right - if you're not gonna like it, why go? Well, I didn't go. And I won't go in the future, so hey, everybody wins.
I have to say now that I'm pleasantly surprised at how this conversation has gone. Some people act like I personally attacked their god, but no one here has sunk to the lows of insults and ankle-biting attacks that I've seen many boarders do in times of such disagreements. All in all, I'd say there was some good behavior on display in here, and it's nice to see that even heated conversations such as this have been kept in check. It ain't a flame war, and that feels like a miracle.
FogBoy,
you fucking son of a...
Date: 06/19/2001
From: Brand_S
JUST KIDDING!Ah, well. Either way it's not a big deal to me. The only reason I went is because school had just ended (which, by extension, meant my time in Job #1 is over), I had the day off from Job #2, and I had nothing better to do at the time.
Anyhow, don't worry, FogBoy, or anyone else. There's nothing about the chat that I really thought was a big deal. I mean, Tracy is the reason we even have Sliders, and he's a great guy, and I feel privileged for having chatted with him, but TemporalFlux and SpaceTime are closer to being the be-all, end-all of Sliders wisdom and information than Tormé.
Just don't come to me for any of that. I missed the majority of Season 4, and I'm not gonna bother watching it because I already know I'm not going to give it a fair chance after the stomach trip Revelations triggered for me.
Now, if Cleavant Derricks did a chat, then I could understand everyone jizzing/creaming themselves.
Anyhow, I'm just glad to see that everyone was able to get on the same page before a flame war broke out. Now I'm just scared I'll say something that gets misinterpreted and everything will go sour.
S
Arturo's
illness...
Date: 06/19/2001
From: Informant
I honestly don't know that Torme had any deep thoughts as to what illness Arturo had. He left after "The Guardian", he was just making it easy for the new people to write Arturo off in a drmatic way... too bad they wwre drooling morons and opted for taking every ounce of dignity from the character before blowing him up. Seriously, could they hate Arturo more? The brain sucked him, shot him and blew him up.. in one episode! (granted, it was a two parter)
I'm perfectly happy with what Torme said. It think I got more than I expected. I would have prefered knowing more about how the show would be different had he pitched it today instead of then, but it was my own fault for being too stupid not to ask. Otherwise, I thought the chat was cool and Tracy was cool.Whoever said that TF would be the better person to go to for detailed Sliders info is right. If you asked me the details of a story that I spent a couple weeks writing five years ago, I couldn't even start to remember. I'm surprised that he remembered as much as he did.
Original URL http://bboard.scifi.com/bboard/browse.cgi/1/5/545/26109
Nominated by Blinker
