Editing Quantum Leap (1989 TV series) (section)

=== Final episode ===
At the end of season five, Bellisario was told to write an episode that could serve as a season finale or series finale, as it was unclear whether ''Quantum Leap'' would be renewed. The episode contained some answers to long-standing questions about the show, but contained enough ambiguity for a season six. When the show was not renewed, two [[Intertitle|title cards]] were attached to the end of the last episode. The first read that Al's first wife Beth never remarried, so they were still married in the present day and had four daughters. The second said Sam "never returned home." The finale was met by viewers with mixed feelings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uproxx.com/tv/the-series-finale-that-helped-us-cope-with-the-lost-finale-and-every-other-disappointing-finale-since/|title=The Series Finale That Helped Us Cope With The 'Lost' Finale And Every Other Disappointing Finale Since|date=June 5, 2014|website=UPROXX|access-date=April 26, 2019|archive-date=April 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426185744/https://uproxx.com/tv/the-series-finale-that-helped-us-cope-with-the-lost-finale-and-every-other-disappointing-finale-since/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.popoptiq.com/greatest-series-finales-quantum-leap-mirror-image/|title=Greatest Series Finales: Quantum Leap's "Mirror Image" a beautiful, metaphysical swan song|date=September 3, 2013|website=PopOptiq|access-date=April 26, 2019|archive-date=April 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426185747/https://www.popoptiq.com/greatest-series-finales-quantum-leap-mirror-image/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tvandfilmguy.com/2007/06/21/worst-finale-ever/|title=Worst.. Finale… Ever…|last=Lasser|first=Josh|date=June 21, 2007|website=The TV and Film Guy's Reviews|access-date=May 2, 2019|archive-date=May 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502153431/https://tvandfilmguy.com/2007/06/21/worst-finale-ever/|url-status=live}}</ref>

A few years{{when|date=September 2022}} after the airing of the finale, a script for an alternate ending was leaked on the internet. It implied that Al, through encouragement of his wife Beth, would become a leaper to go after Sam. Bellisario has said no script exists and that he does not know where this idea came from. In 2018, however, fan Allison Pregler purchased title cards taken from season five that contained some shots of Al and Beth together; this implies that part of the alternate ending was, in fact, shot and gives credibility to the alternate-ending scenario.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gizmodo.com/did-a-fan-just-find-proof-of-quantum-leaps-secret-lost-1823165353|title=Did a Fan Just Find Proof of Quantum Leap's Secret Lost Ending?|last=Elderkin|first=Beth|website=Gizmodo|date=February 21, 2018|access-date=May 16, 2022|archive-date=January 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129064743/https://gizmodo.com/did-a-fan-just-find-proof-of-quantum-leaps-secret-lost-1823165353|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=Movie Nights|title=Quantum Leap LOST ENDING REDISCOVERED!|date=February 18, 2018|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=8&v=U3at8cylnJc|access-date=April 26, 2019|archive-date=October 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016190401/https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=8&v=U3at8cylnJc|url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2019, a video of the lost footage was uploaded to [[Reddit]] by a contributor with the handle Leaper1953.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/lostmedia/comments/bub7ks/quantum_leap_lost_ending_footage_never_before_seen/|title=Watch: Quantum Leap Lost Alternate Ending Footage Surfaces After 26 Years|date=May 30, 2019|website=Reddit|access-date=May 30, 2019|archive-date=June 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190625073657/https://www.reddit.com/r/lostmedia/comments/bub7ks/quantum_leap_lost_ending_footage_never_before_seen/|url-status=live}}</ref> How this person obtained the footage is not known publicly. Scott Bakula confirmed that several endings were shot and that the footage was authentic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theblast.com/quantum-leap-scott-bakula-lost-footage-alternate-ending/|title=Scott Bakula is Happy Fans Can See 'Quantum Leap' Lost Footage|last1=Mazzeo|first1=Jeff|last2=Trock|first2=Gary|date=June 1, 2019|website=The Blast|access-date=June 3, 2019|archive-date=June 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603153300/https://theblast.com/quantum-leap-scott-bakula-lost-footage-alternate-ending/|url-status=live}}</ref>