Quantum Leap (1989–1993)

Scientist Sam Beckett finds himself trapped in time--"leaping" into the body of a different person in a different time period each week.

Creator:

Donald P. Bellisario

Stars:

Scott Bakula, Dean Stockwell, Dennis Wolfberg

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 15 wins & 37 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Scott Bakula	...	Dr. Sam Beckett (97 episodes, 1989-1993)
Dean Stockwell	...	Admiral Al Calavicci (97 episodes, 1989-1993)

Storyline

Doctor Sam Beckett led a group of top scientists into the desert to research his theory that a man could time travel within his own lifetime. Unfortunately, in order to save his funding, he was forced to enter the accelerator prematurely and vanished. He then found himself in someone else's body with partial amnesia. His only contact from home is Al, a holographic image only he can see and hear. Setting right things which once went wrong, Sam leaps from life to life, hoping each time that this is the final leap home.

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Plot Keywords:

time travel | amnesia | hologram | astronaut | hyperspace | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Family | Mystery | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 March 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

A través del tiempo

Filming Locations:

Big Sky Ranch - 4927 Bennett Road, Simi Valley, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Belisarius Productions, Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 60 min (97 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

4:3

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the episode "Catch a Falling Star - May 21, 1979" Ernie Sabella plays Manny who in "Man of La Mancha" plays Sancho Panza. Many years later Sabella played the role of Sancho in the Broadway revival of the show.

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Goofs

For the famous "mirror reflections" in which Sam sees who he leaps into, the series used the old trick of a dual set with a clear glass in the "mirror". Scott Bakula would stand on one side and the actor playing the person he leaped into on the other. If you look really close at the glass, you can see sometimes Scott Bakula's reflection. (Especially if the mirror is near a source of light like sunshine).

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Quotes

Al: Don't tell me, let me guess, you've been invited to a costume party and you're going as a baked potato.

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Connections

Spoofed in Family Guy: The Father, the Son and the Holy Fonz (2005)

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Soundtracks

"Quantum Leap Main Title"
Written by Mike Post
Courtesy of Music Corp. of America (BMI)

User Reviews

Fertile show that could've gone on longer

The network gave up on this one quickly,which is a shame.

The adventures of Quantum physicist Dr.Sam Beckett(Scott Bakula,never better it would seem)were documented from week to week as he was sent to leap into the lives of people that spanned the main character's lifetime. Nobody can see him in the situation he's in except for a guide by the name of Al Calovicci(Dean Stockwell,about as sharp a character actor as they come).

The show's initial flush of success in its first season and a half would be slowed by the network's lack of confidence in the show's plateauing ratings,despite a VERY loyal fan base. In fact,if I'm to understand it correctly,had it NOT been for the loyal fans of the show,it probably would've been quietly ushered off the air about a year or two earlier than it actually was.

I LOVED this show. Sure,the conceits of time travel in a movie/TV show can be hokey and can stretch the levels of disbelief,but this show still captured the wonder and possibilities of righting wrongs and recapturing the American past Beautifully. Interesting character leaps and a great interplay between Sam and Al made this show all the more watchable.

Maybe someone,someday will decide to do a movie of the this show.Until then,the DVDs I suppose will have to do.