Bonus Retro Review: “Ground Control to General Tom”
We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to bring you this bonus retro review of the 90s sci-fi series SLIDERS as part of a special fundraiser to help fellow podcaster and friend Albie Burdge send his daughter Serenity Burdge to Space Camp in April of 2026. And we’re a go for launch as we discuss Season 5, Episode 9, “The Return of Maggie Beckett” (original airdate: August 13, 1999 on Sci-Fi).
Maggie’s feelings for her father are tested when she lands on a world where her double was a famous astronaut…and her father is responsible for covering up her death.
This episode was written by Chris Black and directed by Peter Ellis.
FANDOM ENTANGLEMENT co-hosts Damon Sugameli & Mike Bloxam team up with Albie Burdge (STATION 823 | TREKSPLORATION), Christopher DeFilippis (TREKSPLORATION), Stacie Wilcox (KORMAN PRODUCTIONS DEEP DIVE TV PODCAST), and Matt Hutaff (EARTH PRIME) as they temporarily go out of sequence to discuss one of the tail-end episodes of the series. Before that, Matt shares some of his experience attending Space Camp when he was younger. We also go a bit off-course with some Quantum Leap talk (which is to be expected when a bunch of experienced Leap-heads gather together): namely, trying to determine if Maggie’s father (General Thomas Beckett) is indeed the older brother of a certain time-traveling scientist from another universe. But we ultimately course-correct our trajectory to get back into Season 5 shenanigans. Chris also provides his signature tongue-in-cheek episode recap as we delve into the pros and cons of not only the episode but the post-O’Connell Brothers era in general. It’s a sneak peek into the future of Sliders and where we’re eventually headed. But no worries, we’ll revisit the episode proper at some point later in time. Until then, we hope you enjoy our analysis and review!
This is Episode 7 in a series of video reviews in collaboration with The Quantum Leap Podcast, Station 823, Al’s Place Quantum Leap Fan Site, Treksploration, Korman Productions and That Star Trek Podcast rallying our support towards this fundraising effort. Please consider donating to the cause. Every bit helps! More information can be found here:
https://gofundme.com/SerenitySpaceCamp
“Send Serenity to Space Camp” playlist:
- Episode 1: SPACECAMP (collaboration) • Space Camp (1986)┃REVIEW
- Episode 2: SPACECAMP After Dark (collaboration) • Space Camp After Dark Movie Review
- Episode 3: QUANTUM LEAP (2022), Episode 1×02, “Atlantis” (Korman Productions Deep Dive TV Podcast) • Quantum Leap Revival Revisited: Season 1 E…
- Episode 4: QUANTUM LEAP (1989), Episode 4×07, “The Wrong Stuff” (The Quantum Leap Podcast AFTERSHOW!) • The Wrong Stuff┃QUANTUM LEAP AFTERSHOW!
- Episode 5: STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION, Episode 2×12, “The Royale” (That Star Trek Podcast) https://open.substack.com/pub/thatsta…Audio only
- Episode 6: STAR TREK: VOYAGER, Episode 6×08, “One Small Step” (Treksploration) • Star Trek: Voyager “One Small Step” REVIEW Live version also available
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Reductive Arts
Record and they do the rest.
https://reductivearts.com/
Use Promo Code: FANDOM5
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Follow Stacie and her co-host Dave Korman at:
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Check out Matt’s website, which features a veritable who’s who and in-depth information about the series: https://earthprime.com/
Also contact him via email: matt.hutaff@gmail.com
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Check out these resources for a veritable who’s who and in-depth information about the series:
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Recorded on December 3, 2025.
Episode edited by Albie Burdge.
Main theme produced and composed by Danny Lux.
No copyright infringement is intended.
Episode main cast:
- Cleavant Derricks (Rembrandt “Crying Man” Brown)
- Kari Wuhrer (Maggie Beckett)
- Robert Floyd (Mallory)
- Tembi Locke (Diana Davis)
Episode guest cast:
- Winston Rekert (General Thomas Beckett)
- Rob LaBelle (Mr. Xybo)
- Steve O’Connor (The Leader)
- Carl Gabriel Yorke as Technician