Sliders.tv → Posts by RussianCabbie_Lotteryfan
This is interesting
I seem to recall Aaron used a different story of storytelling participating site. This one is different. I don't think they have many IP brands integrated yet but they have some decent investors that may give them a shot if they get enough traction with their initial product.
Seeing paramount's struggles has been ashame because they have some decent IP. But not all studios can.have their own streaming services. And all the disparate apps makes for a crappy user experience. A lot of time spent is going to YouTube and tiktok.
is Star Trek Next Generation: Generations happening? Matalas' desired follow-up to Picard? I thought I heard something about that supposedly at ComicCon. Or maybe I read it wrong.
this looks good
https://www.amazon.com/eXtra-Files-Humo … 1368084311
reminds me a little bit of Annie Fish's work (anthology book) on that one episode of Sliders
regarding Prodigy & Netflix:
Thanks for the review. A very nuanced, multi-dimensional, fair take. I am glad you were able to appreciate and get enjoyment out of aspects of it.
Agree @ireactions - he was loyal to the universe he built
@QuinnSlidr that's awesome to hear he inspired you. And that you got to take in his hospitality.
I just want to say.... I think it's non-trivial that Sliders has yet again seemingly been renewed for licensing on Peacock after it expired at the end of June. Universal has many titles its studio owns yet Peacock does not license all of them.
It's 2024. 30 years after SLIDERS debuted. Yet on a modern, premium streaming platform, it still maintains itself as relevant to today's marketplace.
Yes, Seaquest is available too, but Spielberg & Amblin got that totally remastered and in HD. It had some help, politically. Sliders is there truly based on having enough fan interest to be kept on the platform.
It's a privilege as a fan to see it there.
It took a long time for me to get over this. I still miss him though. I hope he and his terrific sense of humor is still taking in our world from above. I want him to be able to continue to follow the story that he commented on.
Sliders is officially now listed under "Golden Oldies" on the Xumo app (where the streaming quality is the best picture of any platform). So yea, that feels just great.
Also, besides David's podcast, he has a new movie out based on the book he wrote. He's earned praise for his performance.
"Reverse the Curse"
https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/ … 579b80a334
Excited for your book Annie!
Well, you can get the next one.
Also, while looking, I noticed that Sabrina Lloyd's "The Girl With Something Extra" interview ( https://earthprime.com/articles/the-gir … ing-extra/ ) describes her pre-SLIDERS career where she starred in an movie on HBO where she plays a teenaged lesbian who wants to go with her girlfriend to prom. That was actually an episode of an anthology TV show, not a film, and you can see the episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjPG0QVsFdI&t
Great find
I've always found every MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, even the ones I didn't like, were very stagey and writerly. Which is fine for me because MISSION IMPOSSIBLE is about confidence tricks and deceit and staged scenarios to manipulate marks. I'm not sure what you're referring to by fourth wall breaking.
I guess there was always such depth of logic in the writing that even if we are suspending disbelief, it felt like the scenarios could be real in that imagined world. With this film, it felt a bit more contrived and just a bit artificial and a little hallow. I don't know -- something clearly didn't work the same I think beyond the competition from two other films.
RussianCabbie_Lotteryfan wrote:The writing was just not as good on that film than some of the recent in the series.
What was wrong about the writing for you? I thought it was as strong as it had ever been, and had the same weaknesses and inconsistencies the series has always had.
I'm a bit surprised you say that. It felt a bit cliche to me. I thought it could have been an interesting concept but at the end of the day, they didnt really execute on it in a smart enough way. It didn't feel like a "real" thing that happened, it felt like a written story. Once you break that fourth wall, and it's not a truly believable world, you are just playing pretend and it's less impressive.. Either way, the creative team has enough of a history to be worthy of many more attempts and I still enjoyed the theatrical experience. I can see why the word of mouth wasn't as strong though. I also felt like, while certainly a death defying stunt, the motorcycle off a cliff just didnt translate as dramatically as they had hoped.
@ireactions
I don't think it was just one factor with Dead Reckoning Part I. If there wasn't two other big movies playing, I think it would have been profitable.... if it had two other big movies playing, but had better word of mouth, I think it would have been profitable.
The writing was just not as good on that film than some of the recent in the series. The train stuff was peak suspense for the franchise but the rest of the film just didn't quite meet the high bar of the others. I think that in combination of having other things to go see in theaters reduced audience motivations. Still surprising given all the goodwill Tom Cruise had established with it. MI films felt like american events the last couple of releases prior.
Either these things have limitations and growth will slow or flatline in their quality or it will have steady growth in quality or exponential. I think it's reasonable to assume the latter because that's how technology normally goes but I would also not be extremely shocked if the former plays out too.
Apparently x files had no series bible
fantastic interview
From a business perspective, in hindsight I wonder if having Scott Bakula and leaning more into the old series would have better served the number of episodes that got green lit. I have no idea though.
The first two seasons of SLIDERS and the first five seasons of THE X-FILES were basically neighbours filming in Vancouver. And I certainly think of SLIDERS and THE X-FILES as existing on the same multidimensional axis.
**
What are you enjoying about the books you've been listening to?
**
Every couple years, I like to re-read the SEASON 10 and SEASON 11 comic books. They had a slightly more muted, low-key (and rushed) finale than I would have liked, but they mostly resolved their stories except for two loose ends.
**
I still have the two IDW X-FILES prose anthologies from the SEASON 10/SEASON 11 era of 2013 - 2015 to read.
I like Monsters of the Week better of the two (although happy both are available -- Hoopla is completely free in markets where your library participates with them -- not sure if it's U.S. only).
The Monsters of the Week one just helped me understand subtext better, some behind the scenes stuff and also has good criticism -- it's not just fan boy stuff. All of it's criticism (and opinions overall) are rooted in reasoning and well-articulated.
It helps me understand and appreciate the show at a deeper level.
Personally, I enjoyed some of the comics by Joe Harris etc. I'm a casual fan. I like Mulder and Scully -- particularly the dynamic between the two. The same way that I got drawn to the relationship between Quinn and Arturo, even if the dynamics are quite different.
One interesting thing about the X Files and Sliders, that makes me think they are at least in the same "cinematic universe" is that a number of key actors appeared on both shows. They feel spiritually connected. I guess by virtue of the fact that these actors played different roles, one would have to conclude that they were not on Earth Prime.
I still wonder though. It's almost like they are on the same Earth Prime compared to the universes of all other tv properties, in some way.
If you guys had to guess... is Earth Prime the same for our Quinn Mallory and the Mulder and Scully we saw in the X Files documentary series?
I just discovered Hoopla has some x-files audiobooks I hadn't see before:
This book is excellent so far.
It's really tough. Fan gatherings are a leisure activity. And it's hard to spend on hotels, meals, travel and such for leisure.
I think the last movie I saw in a movie theatre was MADAME WEB and only because my job gave me a gift card. The last movie I saw in theatres on my own dime was MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: DEAD RECKONING. It just does not make sense to go to a movie theatre and pay for a $15 ticket, parking, concessions, gas and such when I have an adequate TV at home with an okay speaker system.
It may not make financial sense for a lot of people to travel to a fan convention when they could use message boards, Facebook, Reddit, podcasts and ebooks for a facsimile of meeting cast and crew and attending discussion panels.
On another note: Claudia Gray's upcoming X-FILES novel, "Perihelion", costs $28 USD. https://a.co/d/4C4yXFc
Twenty. Eight. American. Dollars. Look, Claudia Gray may be a splendid author and "Perihelion" may be the greatest literary achievement since HUCKLEBERRY FINN. But even then, it would not be worth $28 American dollars in the year of our Lord 2024. It cost less to watch MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: DEAD RECKONING in a movie theatre than it does to buy "Perihelion".
(I actually preordered the ebook from a Canadian bookseller for $12 USD awhile ago.)
Yes, I think what they found was after doing the event each year over the last two years and things getting expensive, they were not getting enough repeat customers (or new ones to make up that lost). Event though an annual convention sounds wonderful, it was hard to pull it off. The convention still managed to be a big success with their ability to pull it off over the last two years.
That book is quite pricey but maybe it's priced higher for first buyers and they know over time it will come down inevitably? Or maybe they are just pricing it too high 
It's really nice to see more stories with the original characters. Something sliders never got.
This is sad and reflective of how hard it is to put together these events
I just discovered Hoopla has some x-files audiobooks I hadn't see before:
https://www.hoopladigital.com/audiobook … n/12244243
https://www.hoopladigital.com/audiobook … s/15992453
And a philosophy ebook
https://www.hoopladigital.com/ebook/the … s/11883924
Unfortunate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20TAkcy3aBY
Absolutely brilliant take down of those who are pushing for increased AI, by the maestro Jon Stewart. These IT billionaires will destroy us all, and no, I'm not kidding.
Incredible -- especially on the prompt engineer stuff.
Unfortunately, even with the warnings, we'll still head in the same (inevitable) directions.
hmm, didn't realize Coogler was pitching a reboot. I think the obvious focus has to be on AI, which is IMO the gravest threat to humanity ever created. Aliens and other such traditional conspiracies are no longer believable.
Apparently, that might be the case. As apparently Dean Haglund may have mentioned it 15 minutes into this interview:
Yeah, when typing up Wade's, I looked up the LinkedIn page for Robin Torme and I was astonished and impressed by the many, many things she's been in her life: an animal welfare activist and rescuer, anti-human trafficking advocate, a journalist, a private detective, a championship surfer, a swimsuit model, an undercover investigator. I have this suspicion that Robin is a former espionage agent who retired from active duty to focus on animal rescue.
That is incredible. I knew only a couple of those things.
Even though Tracy and Robin didn't have kids, they had their animals, and I'd like to think without completely knowing it, he had all of us, too. We certainly had him.
I apologize for not reading/commenting on this. For whatever reason, someone outside of Quinn delivering a eulogy just hits harder with regard to breaking the fourth wall and the finality of Tracy's death. I guess that's because i associate Quinn as a bit of a representation of Tracy himself. Even if that was not his intention.
well this is not the type of stories I want to see:
Maybe the next generation of algorithms will handle poorer source content better. Then again maybe not. We can only hope.
Thank you for your posts Ib and Matt (by way of Grizzlor).
I'm listening to a song called "Mural" from the Pleasantville soundtrack. It reminds me of Tracy's life.
QUANTUM LEAP 2.0 is a creative success. As someone who is not a fan of the original show, QL2.0 demonstrated the potent power of the show's peculiar blend of empathy, science fiction, social justice and its wit, charm, and humour. QUANTUM LEAP brought a 1989 concept into 2022 and onward with inventiveness, drive and vision: a diverse cast, a love story across time, gorgeous visual realizations of different periods and settings, superb performances, and scripts filled with daring and charm.
If Season 2 is indeed the end, QUANTUM LEAP 2.0 ends on a moment of triumph, relief, reunion and adventure. I would love to see more, but I do not think brevity is a reason to think poorly of a show that offered a strong note of closure. I would love to see a grand finale with more final notes on Ian, Jen, Magic and Janis and also Sam Beckett, but Season 2 leaves me very satisfied with both its conclusion and the way that last shot hints at so many wonderful adventures for Addison and Ben.
Certainly, a good point. I was coming from the perspective (fear) of QL not justifying the act of networks/studios reinvigorating properties. For example, with X-Files (not to send us off on a tangent), the new 911 show did better than that (I believe X Files season 11). It just demotivates networks that revivials or reboots work that well. Another proxy is how John Wick franchise blew Blade Runner continuation out of the water from a business perspective. I want QL to succeed because I don't like how networks and studios kill shows and then never give them life again. It's rude to the consumer imo.
Quantum Leap is on the far end of the bubble for a third season. Universal Television's head just did an interview and they are basically waiting to see what NBC says, and NBC is going to weight it against other shows they want to maybe bring on fresh. The ratings are slightly under the broadcast average for its time slot but not far off NBC's fall drama average. If it doesn't get a third season, I think it will be safe to say the reboot will be viewed as a moderate success at best (if that).
I wish Tracy was still with us. Damn it.
How lucky we were.
"What's going to happen to you if you do something brave"
I'm not arguing with her idea of making brave decisions, I do think Dakota is failing to acknowledge most of these creative execs are working in an industry with not a ton of roles, and they don't necessarily have a pretty face (or a one of a kind skill, necessarily) to cushion themselves. Yes, they are making defensive decisions, which ultimately leads to poor art. I just think she could have acknowledged a lot of these execs are scared because its their livelihood and it's hard to stick in that industry with clear misfires or controversies or bad press. So yea, a lot of them just try to hang on as long as they can make the ride last.
@ireactions clever post. I can imagine the professor is still railing, as only he would do. Remmy really brought it home.
well this is super interesting
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/wy … ce-special
I wish tracy was still here.
This is interesting:
I'm still bothered tracy's life was cut short.
Sigh.
At the 1hr25m mark of the podcast dieselmickey posted, Tracy talks about a pretty interesting episode he outlined for next generation. I think it went unproduced?
So I'm late hear this news. I actually found out about it today with the latest podcast from the Inglorious Treksperts. They did an episode dedicated to Tracy Tormé. It's mostly about his time on TNG, but there are Sliders mentions (unfortunately, the podcast hosts couldn't remember Cleavant Derricks' name). Included are several recordings from Mark A. Altman's interview with Tracy for Altman's oral history of Trek book. Worth a listen to hear the man in his own words.
Thank you!
No, you didn't misinterpret. I'm just saying that I assume she'd come back if the contract makes it worth her time. I hope she comes back - she's a good character and fairly vital to Ed's story.
Oh I see, sorry.
So the actors are no longer contract I guess? Well, that would make sense.
I hope the show continues. I know its not a massive hit but there's nothing else quite like it on tv.
I saw this having not watched a lot of the latest episodes and with a lot of catching up to do, so I guess I'm talking out of both sides of my mouth.
I know Palicki spoke negatively about her experience, but I assume if they pay her properly for her time (including any time she's not working), I assume she would come back. She hasn't really worked much since the Orville ended (which may be her choice), but even if it was some sort of smaller role, I don't think she'd just not come back. At least, that's not what I got from her interview with Michael Rosenbaum.
I think that was the issue for her. The contracts I guess put a hold on the actors to ensure their availability, which basically means the actors can't work other gigs because the schedules may conflict then once the orville needs them. To go into production, it's a lot of moving parts (and uncertain shooting schedules) and the contracts want to ensure availability from the actors.
I am not sure though if I misinterpreted your post.
regarding the Orville
https://screenrant.com/the-orville-seas … acfarlane/
In this finale idea: Quinn and Arturo make a desperate, final bid to return home and rig the timer to send the sliders backwards on their path through the interdimension, revisiting worlds they previously encountered, seeing the outcome of their actions which are sometimes good and sometimes bad, and enabling the story to resolve any unfinished plots (Kromaggs, Logan, the wrong Arturo, the Professor's illness, etc.).
The climax would have Wade, Rembrandt and Arturo returning home but Quinn stranded. Wade, Rembrandt and Arturo would choose to give up home in order to find and save Quinn; they are lost in the multiverse once again (albeit with a working timer). The sliders would declare that their friendships are what matter most and so long as they have each other, they are home.
This is really just the perfect finale and wrap up. You know the travels continue on; it reinforces the bond the four have; and it allows the interesting "What Ifs" not just of altered worlds but worlds they altered.
I've added a link to your post, Ib.
Also added a link to another source on Heat of the Moment (which was the website done by the person who worked on Sliders 3 - maybe Damron?), and updated a bunch of other stuff.
When I read the Avatar thing, it surprised me quite a bit, because you would have though Jim Cameron would have been upset with Tracy. But Tracy was working with Gale Anne Hurd years earlier and maybe it got smoothed over, idk. Certainly, it's quite quite interesting, even if it's hard to fathom how they would do it unless it was done in a different animation style. The Avatar game that came out though looked amazing so who knows.
Tracy definitely had a Barney and Betty Hill project going at one point, I think even before Sliders, as ireactions mentioned. Technically he produced an I Am Legend script 10 years before the Smith film, but he angrily tossed it in the trash!
I would have to double check whether he wrote anything for Picard. He was mentioning to Cardinal Sin once about the producers considering a Dixon Hill episode, which was followed by Gil bashing the series for 10 minutes. However, I kinda recall Tracy sounding like nothing ever came from the request.
?
Yes, I should maybe put "alternative version" of I Am Legend, but then maybe that doesn't belong since he has a lot of different versions of whatever he got made. The final contribution I think he estimated was 20 percent or so in what made it in.
The Picard thing, I am pretty sure he said he actually wrote something. Maybe it was just a pitch, but I think he had a full outline/treatment or even script rather than just an idea in his head. I believe he talked about it twice (so any details you have from Cardinal Sin's episode with more specifiity would be great).
My memory is jogging now but I believe the Tracy episode idea on an obscure website related to nicotine being illegal or something, or nicotine in general. Does that ring a bell for anyone?
I've added Sliders Lost Episodes DOC link to the oriignal post, and can integrate later tracy's actual episodes.
I've updated the orignal post with Long Slide Home, and a Star Trek two Spocks ideas for an episode and included a bunch of titles/projects mentioned in the replies to this thread.
I'm realizing now there's another Sliders torme episode idea that was covered in a hard to find site I discovered about 4-5 years ago that I am trying to track down as well.
Sliders.tv → Posts by RussianCabbie_Lotteryfan
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