ALL SCI-FI

tmlindsey · Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2022 12:30 pm Post subject:

Sadly, Sliders never was allowed to live up to its potential.

The first season was pretty good but after that it went downhill with increasing rapidity.

We had a nice conversation with John Rhys-Davies at a con years ago and he talked about being fired for constantly criticizing the writers/scripts. The episode he wrote himself was torn apart and seriously re-written and dumbed down so they could get rid of him, which was too bad since he had cool ideas, as I recall.

We talked about how it could have had some social commentary and not just the movie-ripoff-of-the-week that it turned into.

For example(s), we said that we always thought it could be fascinating for them to slide into a world where black people were still slaves, and/or a world where white people were enslaved.

But at the same con, Tracy Torme sounded like he really lost passion for the show from all of the fighting with the studio, and when he left to take care of his father, the studio didn't seem to care or want him back.

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"Have you never wondered what it would be like to walk between the ticks and tocks of Time?"

Bud Brewster · Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2022 10:50 am Post subject:

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Brother, ain't that the truth!

I bought the box set a year ago, but by the end of season three it had gone done hill to the point where I no longer enjoyed it.

In fact, I think I'll put the box set into the one of the two boxes of DVDs and BDs I've been promising to send Gordon Green for the last few years. I keep finding more and more disc I no long want (or I've upgraded to BD), so I keep delaying!
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

Pow · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2022 5:59 pm Post subject:

Yet another example of "the suits" (FOX) strangling a wonderful science fiction series because they arrogantly thought they knew better how Sliders should be produced than its creators, Tracy Torme & Robert K. Weiss.

The tragedy here being that this scenario is repeated over and over by networks throughout the decades. The networks are responsible for ruining SF TV series that they bankroll in the first place. Absurd.

tmlindsey · Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2022 8:10 am Post subject:

Pow · Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2022 10:10 pm Post subject:

From articles I have read what seems to happen is that if a TV series is a hit in the ratings, then the networks will leave a show alone and not interfere with its production. They figure that the creators/producers know what they're doing and it's one less series the network has to keep close watch on.

However, if the ratings are either weak, or not what the network thinks they should be, then the network gets involved with "improvements" for a series that they think will magically turn it around due to their "brilliant ideas."

There are unusual circumstances & politics involved in some instances. The Dick Van Dyke Show wasn't setting the world on fire during its first season. Producers Danny Thomas & Sheldon Leonard fought for it. Summertime repeats of the show came along & suddenly it found a larger audience and it was saved from cancellation.

Gunsmoke ran for twenty years on CBS. At one point it was off the new fall schedule when executives presented it to CBS founder & head William Paley. He liked the show (or his wife did in some stories) and wanted it on the CBS TV schedule that fall. And so it was.

Some networks will leave a TV series on their schedule year after year even if it isn't an outstanding performer in the ratings. They'll do that if the show has won the hearts of the critics and is receiving awards.

Other strong performing shows with very good audience numbers can get the axe due to the series not appealing to the all important Madison Avenue demographics that advertisers desire. Other series with fine ratings are dropped when a new regime comes into a network. They want to make their mark and sweep away as much of the previous regimes productions so they can get their own shows greenlit.

Sadly, dedicated fans of TV shows are caught up in all of these games and are forced to say goodbye to the series they love.

Gord Green · Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2022 10:58 pm Post subject:

You have to keep in mind the network executives look at shows and series as a "product". They don't care about the quality of the stories or the dedication of the actors, writers etc, only about the salability of the product to sponsors!

It's all about the Benjamins!
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There comes a time, thief, when gold loses its lustre, and the gems cease to sparkle, and the throne room becomes a prison; and all that is left is a father's love for his child.

tmlindsey · Posted: Tue Oct 25, 2022 10:04 am Post subject:

Jerry O'Connell's massive ego didn't help either. He forced the production to hire his no-talent brother Charlie, then insisted that Charlie take his place while he exited the show. The result was both leaving and an even more rapid downward spiral.
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"Have you never wondered what it would be like to walk between the ticks and tocks of Time?"

Bud Brewster · Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2022 1:43 pm Post subject:

Pow · Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2023 6:46 pm Post subject:

Another inspiration for Sliders for co-creator Tracy Torme was a book he had been reading about the American Revolutionary War. In this book there was a moment where George Washington was nearly killed. That got Tracy to thinking about what if GW had really died? What would happen if one key individual had died at a crucial time in history? How would the death of GW affected the war, what would be the cascade effect of such an event?

Pow · Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2023 3:05 pm Post subject:

"You have to have writers who can write — and who understand that if you're writing science fiction, you should have read some science fiction and you should actually understand some science." John Rys-Davies on why he left the series in middle of season three.

Bud Brewster · Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2023 5:19 pm Post subject:

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Wow, it's sad when the actors in show know what's wrong with it, but the producers don't. Shocked

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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

orzel-w · Galactic Ambassador Joined: 19 Sep 2014 Posts: 1876

Bud Brewster · Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2023 2:07 pm Post subject:

Pow · Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2023 11:01 pm Post subject:

Some executives arrive on a television production with the arrogance that they possess great talent which will hugely contribute a project for the better. Perhaps some even think they're saving it entirely.

Others will look over a production and realize it is indeed a fine one which doesn't require any input from them.

However, in order to ensure their job security with the powers-that-be, they proceed to make suggestions (demands) to a series, even though they are wise enough to recognize that the series doesn't need (or want) their so called help. "Cover your ass" is what they must do in the Byzantine corporate world.

Bud Brewster · Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2023 4:31 pm Post subject:

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Mike, you've definitely nailed the problem with Hollywood. It seems to be caused by the fact that "business men" at the top and "artists" at the bottom. Sad

I don't known what the solution would be. After all, it's called "show business" and not "art business" for a reason. Rolling Eyes

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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)