Jimmy - October 14, 1964

Episode aired Nov 22, 1989
TV-PG
1h

IMDb RATING

8.5/10

735

YOUR RATING

Scott Bakula, John D'Aquino, and Laura Harrington in Quantum Leap (1989)

Action Adventure Drama Mystery Sci-Fi

Sam leaps into a young intellectually disabled man and has to keep him out of an institution.Sam leaps into a young intellectually disabled man and has to keep him out of an institution.Sam leaps into a young intellectually disabled man and has to keep him out of an institution.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.5/10

735

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
The bedtime story that Jimmy tells Corey is actually the opening crawl from "Star Wars" (1977), starting with the famous line, "A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away....." .

Goofs
While Jimmy (Sam) and his brother share their lunch on the pier at work, the brother grabs an individually wrapped Twinkie from Jimmy. Twinkies did not come individually wrapped in 1964. You could only purchase them in a twin-pack.

Quotes
Al: There was a girl named Trudy. She was retarded, Sam. Her IQ was lower than Jimmy's. And all the kids in the neighborhood, they used to tease her. Kids can be cruel. They'd call her names, like dummy and monkey face. And I hated it. And I used to get in fights all the time over this. But that's what big brothers are for, right? My mother couldn't handle it. That's probably why she ran off with this stupid encyclopedia salesman. But my dad tried to keep us all together. And he was a construction worker. He went from job to job, and then when it took him to the Middle East, I wound up in an orphanage, and she wound up in an institution. When I was old enough, I went back there for her, but it was too late. She was gone, Sam! Pneumonia they said. How does a 16-year-old girl die from pneumonia in 1953, Sam? We're not gonna lose Jimmy! Right?

Connections
Featured in Quantum Leap: So Help Me God - July 29, 1957 (1989)

Soundtracks
My Guy
(uncredited)
Written by Smokey Robinson
Performed by Laura Harrington

User reviews7

Review

Featured review

8/10

we could learn from this one

*this comment assumes you know the plot and will not be offended at giving plot points*

This is a great episode with more heart than actual humor and a topic and lesson we could all stand to learn from. at this point Sam's memory is still pretty swiss-cheesed but that does not affect his conscience or his knowledge of people. in all of his leaps, I'd say this is his first real struggle. it is his task here to conquer human nature in a way. let's face it we do tend to fear what we don't understand and sometimes would rather *not* see what's in front of our faces. here Sam has a chance to change that or at least improve it.

Personally, i think one of the main reasons that this is such a good episode is that in one slightly emotionally tense scene(soliloquy really) we learn a bit about Al's past and exactly why he is holding on to this case so hard. it seems that a case of mental retardation in his own family resulted not only in separation but in tragedy. separation in this sense is tragedy I know but there is more to this story point than that.

it would be an interesting psychology or human behavior lesson to watch this episode and try to determine the motives of each character before they are revealed. but watching it for the sheer force and exciting(as well as entertaining) events works too. the glimpse into the next leap that comes in every episode had me hooked to find out. perhaps it will have the same effect on you? 5 of 5 stars!