The King is Back
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Seasons 1 & 2
DVD Box Set
Region 1 NTSC
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Seasons 1 & 2
DVD Box Set
Region 2 PAL
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Season 1 DVD
Half Box Set
discontinued
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(Sliders Story No. 8, starring Jerry O'Connell)
- written by Tracy Tormé
- directed by Vern Gillum
- music by Mark Mothersbaugh
- Production # 70408
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Story: The Sliders escape to a world
where Rembrandt's double became the undisputed
king of rock & roll, before becoming lost at
sea in a boating accident. When Rembrandt
accepts manager Captain Jack Brim's offer
to star in a comeback concert, ex-Spinning Topp
co-singer Maurice Fish threatens
the return of the king, and it isn't long before
everyone is seeing double....
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DVD Extras include (season 1 & 2 set only):
- "The Making of Sliders" featurette (14 minutes)
with Cleavant Derricks (Rembrandt),
and writer/creator Tracy Tormé.
Buyers' Guide Review
by Martin Izsak
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(A more in-depth analysis, containing "SPOILERS" and intended
for those who have already seen the program, can be accessed
here.)
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"Sliders" turns out another of its first season winners, making good
on an idea so right for this show that it just had to be done.
The opening teaser is actually a bit lame though.
While it works as a teaser, it is a tired theme
on this show, reminding one of the final moments of many previous episodes
that should have come up with much better concluding dynamics, and reminding
one that Quinn has yet to prove himself as a hero during the concluding
action of an adventure.
The main premise of the series is then spectacularly demonstrated
as the sliders cross from one world to another. Nice one. Season One
has been consistently generous with providing the necessary effects
for this process.
The episode takes some time to slowly reveal the premise of the
adventure at hand, mostly because there is just so much fun to be had
with it. Our four series regulars sink their teeth into it, and
deliver their usual charm and chemistry. This time they are aided
by recurring minor character Gomez Calhoun who once more is there to greet
them at this world's most convenient hotel. William Sasso makes his
second appearance as Gomez here, gelling well enough with the rest
of the cast to create a bit of a break-out performance and become more
memorable to the show's audience. Thus his future longevity was well
deserved.
Some of the other supporting characters in the story seem a bit
more like caricatures than real people, but perhaps that's not too
uncommon for the show-biz background that most of them spring from.
One trusts that Tracy Tormé's connections to that world
via his father Mel Tormé give him enough insight into the reality
of such a world. Captain Jack Brim seems to have a personality so loud
it was designed to sell itself in 30 seconds on cue like clockwork,
yet Jack has a scene of being actively concerned for Rembrandt
that goes a long way to balancing his character.
Nice.
Maurice Fish, one of Rembrandt's former "Spinning Tops" background
singers, is also back to give the plot a bit of jeopardy. This he does,
while he and Rembrandt pile in as much laughter as possible into their
scenes, dark humour though it may be.
There is more to say about how things get resolved,
but as usual such spoilers are saved for the
In-depth Analysis version of this review.
The real drama sustaining interest in this episode concerns Rembrandt
living out his career fantasy through his double's identity,
and kudos must go to the creativity of the production team
in bringing that to the screen. Their choices bring extra subtleties
to an excellent show.
The concert itself is a good length on the screen, with excellent
supporting cutaways to the three other Sliders on the sidelines highlighting
and deepening the drama for the audience. Rembrandt's music is enjoyable,
without being overbearing as his solo was at the end of
the pilot story. The story has a very satisfying
and moving finish, and feels like one of the better accomplishments
of their first season adventures. Very nice for a late-season story
leading into the finale.....
This story has become available on DVD.
Click on the Amazon symbol for the location nearest you
for pricing and availability:
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Seasons 1 & 2
DVD Box Set
Region 1 NTSC
for the North American market:
in the U.S.
in Canada
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Seasons 1 & 2
DVD Box Set
Region 2 PAL
for the U.K.
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Season 1 DVD
Half Box Set
discontinued
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