Classic Sci Fi TV: Our ongoing look back at many of the classics of science fiction and fantasy television.
What Is It? Scientist Sam Beckett discovers a means to travel short distances in time (within a lifespan) and uses himself as the first experimental traveler. But something goes wrong and he finds himself leaping into the bodies of other people where he must change history for the better while also trying to find a way to get back to his own time and his own body.
Aired: NBC, 1989-93, 5 Seasons Totaling 97 Episodes
Starring: Scott Bakula, Dean Stockwell
Created By: Donald P. Bellisaro
Is It Must-Watch Sci Fi TV? Possibly. This series has developed a reputation and it did have its share of accomplishments during its run. Search out a top ten or fifteen episode list and those should be worth checking out.
The Skinny: In the late ‘80s, sci fi was pretty sparse on the broadcast networks while at the same time Star Trek: The Next Generation was blazing a new path for the genre off-network. This show appeared on NBC’s schedule at the end of the eighties and built up a notable following that carried it through a five-year run, a longevity that was rare for sci fi on the broadcast nets at that time. Focusing primarily on Sam Becket (Bakula) along with his holographic helper Al (Stockwell), the series delivered stand-alone, character-based stories that could be fun at times and that also carried a bit of social commentary.
Some of the episodes delivered notable accomplishments for a genre entry, using Sam’s jumps into different people to offer different perspectives. I have to confess that this one does not rank high among my personal favorite sci fi shows (I hated the contrivance of Sam knowing nothing about the character which bogged down the story for the first twenty minutes), but when this one was hitting on all cylinders it was pretty darn good. The social commentary was often toned down for the Prime Time audience, but Quantum Leap could tell a good story when it wanted to.
Of course, it was the actors that really carried this show and helped boost it into the upper echelon of genre entries. For Scott Bakula, this was the role of a lifetime that really let him take chances and show his full range as an actor. He did not disappoint and has eventually become a genre icon (even later taking of command of the Enterprise). And Dean Stockwell partnered up well with Bakula as the two demonstrated a palpable chemistry. The interactions between Sam and Al carried the show along and developed a strong bond between the two travelers.
Quantum Leap was never a ratings hit, but it did well enough to stick around for five seasons despite the fact that the network kicked it around the schedule on a regular basis. It has since become a cult-favorite and definitely merits consideration as a classic sci fi TV series.
>Buy Quantum Leap on Blu-ray from Amazon.com
Cancelled Too Soon? Possibly. It came close to being cancelled in its third season, but fans staged a letter-writing campaign and NBC elected to pick it up for a fourth year. Series creator Donald P. Bellisario did not plan for the series to end with its fifth season, but he was informed by NBC execs to approach the final episode of the season as if it were the series finale because a sixth season was not assured. That episode ended with the final words “Sam Becket never returned home”, and NBC did not pick it up for another season. There were rumors of alternate endings, but Bellisario has denied those.
Should It Be Rebooted? Possibly. The premise lends itself to a reboot that could be a continuation of the original, or a completely new series. Bakula could return to the character and possibly pass along the leaping duties to a younger lead, or this one could go for a complete reboot with all new characters. Bellisario has indicated several times that he would like to return to the show, and Bakula recently stated in an interview that a return to the character would be interesting and that “the idea of walking in another man or woman’s shoes is so relevant and so important right now”. There have been rumors that NBC’s Peackock streaming service might be interested in an update of the series, but nothing substantial has occurred on that front yet.
Interesting Fact: There were several episodes planned that never happened which would have included leaps into Robert F. Kenney and into a baby. And there were also plans for a crossover with another Donald P. Bellisario show. There were talks of having Sam jump into Thomas Magnum who was the main character in Magnum P.I. That show had previously aired on CBS (it ended the year before Quantum Leap premiered), so there may have been rights issues which kept that from happening.
Where Can You Watch It? The entire series has been released on DVD and Blu-ray. It is also currently available for streaming on NBC’s website and app (with commercials), and I would expect that it would move to Peacock at some point.
Read More About the Show: Wikipedia | IMDb.com
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Technicality: Quantum Leap HAS been released on Blu-ray. In fact, it is the only source of the show that includes all the original music.
You’re correct about a possible leap into Magnum, P.I. Scott Bakula was filmed doing Magnum’s initial opening (where he turns around and looks at the camera over his shoulder) but filming went no further.
In my opinion, while there were definitely a few episodes in the final season one could skip over, overall the content and execution of Quantum Leap make it much watch TV.
My bad. You are right that it has been released on Blu-ray. Corrected now and thanks for the heads up.