Donald Belisario's last project for Universal, Quantum Leap, marks its 25th anniversary this month.
Leap was a mid-season replacement when it bowed in March 1989 on NBC, and was a sci-fi-centric variant on the concept of the movie, "Heaven Can Wait", which in turn was a remake of an earlier film. In this case, scientist Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula) ends up hopping from one life to another, occupying someone else's consciousness to ensure that history remains on course.
In that regard, this is also a little variant on an earlier time-travel series that Universal made for NBC, Voyagers!, but while that series was aimed at families, and especially kids, Leap was adult entertainment, considering that Bakula often had to dress in drag if Beckett leaped into the body of a woman. The parents groups would've had a field day if Leap aired earlier than 10 pm (ET).
Now, let's take a look at an open from Season 4:
Reruns have aired on NBC-Universal-Comcast channels such as SyFy and the now-defunct G4, so they have the rights, but not the inclination to air the series anywhere at present.
Rating: B.
I loved QL during most of its run, although a little less so when repeated recently on cable. The chemistry between Stockwell and Bakula was amazing and the show's saving grace.
ReplyDeleteI've noticed some eps (mostly from the last seasons) aren't written as well as earlier ones and worse still, broke its own rules (no leaping into famous people or traveling outside Sam's lifetime).
There were also times in which the settings weren't as they should have been - but then again I'm nitpicky when it comes to getting past details (and mindsets) right.
I never minded Bakula's occasional forays as female leaps; to me it was a challenge for him to "be a woman" and it was comical in the way "Uncle Miltie" would do drag.
What I really hated was Bakula being a chimp for one leap! Gah!!
I think they jumped the shark when Bakula had to do a voice-over for the chimp. I don't think I've seen that episode, but I've heard about it.
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