Editing Quantum Leap (1989 TV series)

{{short description|American science fiction television series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = Quantum Leap (1989 TV series) NBC logo.svg
| genre                = {{plainlist|
* [[Adventure fiction|Adventure drama]]
* [[Science fiction on television|Science fiction]]
}}
| creator              = [[Donald P. Bellisario]]
| starring             = {{Plain list|
* [[Scott Bakula]]
* [[Dean Stockwell]]
}}
| narrated             = {{Plain list|
* Deborah Pratt (intro)
* Scott Bakula (episodes)
}}
| theme_music_composer = [[Mike Post]]
| composer             = [[Velton Ray Bunch]]
| country              = United States
| language             = English
| num_seasons          = 5
| num_episodes         = 97
| list_episodes        = List of Quantum Leap (1989 TV series) episodes
| producer             = {{Plain list|
* Donald P. Bellisario
* [[Deborah Pratt]]
* Harker Wade
}}
| location             = [[California]]
| runtime              = 45 minutes
| company              = {{Plain list|
* [[Donald P. Bellisario|Belisarius Productions]]
* [[Universal Television]]
}}
| network              = [[NBC]]
| first_aired          = {{Start date|1989|3|26}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|1993|5|5}}
| related              = [[Quantum Leap (2022 TV series)|''Quantum Leap'' (2022 TV series)]]
}}

'''''Quantum Leap''''' is an American [[science fiction on television|science fiction]] television series, created by [[Donald P. Bellisario]], that aired on [[NBC]] for five seasons, from March 26, 1989, to May 5, 1993. The series stars [[Scott Bakula]] as Dr. [[Sam Beckett]], a physicist who, believing he has invented a way to travel through time, voluntarily subjects himself to an experiment that he believes will prove the validity of his controversial  theories. Sam “leaps” into the fluid of [[spacetime]] and apparently disappears forever. However, it is soon revealed that Beckett's consciousness is alive and able to transfer to and inhabit the bodies of other people existing on his timeline. The artificially intelligent computer he created operates with the assumption that in order to return home, Sam must change events in the past in order to "correct" the future course of events, which have somehow been changed in an undesirable way by an unknown agent.

[[Dean Stockwell]] co-stars as Rear Admiral [[Al Calavicci]], Sam's womanizing, cigar-smoking companion and best friend, who appears only as a [[holography|hologram]]. Al is able to research the life Sam currently inhabits, providing advice when needed, and he is the only person able to see Sam when Sam has travelled through time, and is therefore the only witness who can testify that project Quantum Leap has been successful. 

The series, which combines humor, drama, romance, social commentary, and science fiction, was ranked number 19 on ''[[TV Guide]]''{{'}}s "Top Cult Shows Ever" in 2007.<ref name="topshows">{{Cite news |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/top-cult-shows-40239/ |title=TV Guide Names the Top Cult Shows Ever |work=[[TV Guide]] |date=June 29, 2007 |access-date=May 16, 2022 |archive-date=March 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321113749/https://www.tvguide.com/news/top-cult-shows-40239/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/shows-like-supernatural-what-to-watch-next-netflix-hulu-hbo-max/|title=8 Shows Like Supernatural to Watch if You Miss Supernatural|website=TV Guide|date=January 11, 2022|access-date=May 16, 2022|archive-date=May 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220507104718/https://www.tvguide.com/news/shows-like-supernatural-what-to-watch-next-netflix-hulu-hbo-max/|url-status=live}}</ref>

A [[Quantum Leap (2022 TV series)|revival series]], following the original show's continuity, ran on NBC from 2022 to 2024.

==Premise and characters==
{{See also|List of Quantum Leap characters}}

In the very near future, [[physicist]] Dr. [[Sam Beckett]] ([[Scott Bakula]]) theorizes that time travel within one's own lifetime is possible, and obtains government support to build project "Quantum Leap". Some years later, having already spent $43 billion, the government threatens to halt funding, as apparently no progress has been made. Sam then decides to test the project accelerator himself to save the project, telling no one. He is immediately thrown back in time, but upon awakening, finds that while he physically exists in the past, he appears to everyone else as a person into whom he has "leapt", and has a partial amnesia related to his own identity.<ref name="Cerone">{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-07-15-tv-384-story.html |title='Quantum Leap' is Scott Bakula's Idea of an Actor's Dream |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |first=Daniel |last=Cerone |date=July 15, 1990 |access-date=May 16, 2022 |archive-date=May 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516154349/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-07-15-tv-384-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="dpbyt" /><ref name="Connor">{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/30/arts/review-television-comeback-for-wimps-in-new-series.html |title=Review/Television; Comeback for Wimps in New Series |work=[[The New York Times]] |first=John J. |last=Connor |date=March 30, 1989 |access-date=February 12, 2017 |archive-date=November 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108030705/http://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/30/arts/review-television-comeback-for-wimps-in-new-series.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Chunovic, Louis 1995">Chunovic, Louis, ''The Complete Quantum Leap Book'', Citadel Press (1995)</ref>

A hologram of his best friend, [[United States Navy]] [[Rear admiral (United States)#Rear admiral|Rear Admiral]] [[Al Calavicci]] ([[Dean Stockwell]]), appears, visible and audible only to Sam, who explains to Dr. Beckett that it appears he must fix something that "went wrong" in time. Al is aided by project Quantum Leap’s artificially intelligent supercomputer, nicknamed Ziggy, who is described as a "[[quantum computing|parallel hybrid computer]] with a massive ego". Despite successfully changing the past in episode 1, Sam continues to leap, seemingly guided by what is eventually described as “an unknown force" that wants him to put right events in the past that once went wrong, for reasons unknown. Thence forth, Dr. Samuel Beckett leaps from life to life and time to time, attempting to "put right what once went wrong and hoping each time that his next leap will be the leap home".<ref name="Cerone"/><ref name="dpbyt" /><ref name="Connor"/><ref name="Chunovic, Louis 1995"/>

Sam has six doctoral degrees, a black belt in [[kung fu]], a photographic memory, and near-virtuosic musical talent, allowing him to easily slip into the shoes of almost anyone in the past. The somewhat bookish and naive Sam is contrasted by Al, who is, among other things, a [[promiscuity|womanizing]], [[cigar]]-smoking, five-time divorcé who spent his early years in an [[orphanage]], was active in the [[civil rights movement]], and was even a [[prisoner of war]] in [[Vietnam War|Vietnam]].

Sam and Al are the only characters to appear in every episode. The supporting characters of each episode are the friends, family, and acquaintances of the person Sam has leapt into. With a few exceptions, such as two-part or sequential episodes, these characters appear only once, though several actors have played multiple characters. Occasionally, Sam runs into real-life historical figures such as [[Buddy Holly]], [[Michael Jackson]], [[Donald Trump]], [[Marilyn Monroe]], and [[Dr. Ruth Westheimer|Ruth Westheimer]], the last of whom played herself.

The other members of the Quantum Leap team, though mentioned often, appear in only a handful of episodes. They include [[software engineering|head programmer]] Irving "Gooshie" Gushman ([[Dennis Wolfberg]]), [[psychiatry|psychiatrist]] Dr. Verbena Beeks (Candy Ann Brown), [[biomedical scientist|medical technician]] (and Al's lover) Tina Martinez ([[Gigi Rice]]), and Sam's wife, Dr. Donna Eleese ([[Teri Hatcher]]/[[Mimi Kuzyk]]), the project's director in his absence. The latter does not exist as Sam’s wife until Dr. Beckett changes history.

==Production==
===Development===
The main premise for ''Quantum Leap'' was inspired by such movies as ''[[Here Comes Mr. Jordan]]'' (1941) and ''[[Heaven Can Wait (1978 film)|Heaven Can Wait]]'' (1978), as well as the 1960s TV show, ''[[The Time Tunnel]]''. Series creator, Donald P. Bellisario,<ref name="dpbyt">Jenkins, Shelley (April 28, 2008). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4tWz9euUiI&t=721 "Donald P. Bellisario Interview"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219170325/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4tWz9euUiI&t=721 |date=February 19, 2017 }}. [[Archive of American Television]]. Published in [http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/donald-bellisario the article] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140704130231/http://emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/donald-bellisario |date=July 4, 2014 }} on April 12, 2012.</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/22/arts/review-television-an-actor-s-quantum-leap-through-times-and-roles.html |title=Review/Television; An Actor's 'Quantum Leap' Through Times and Roles |work=[[The New York Times]] |first=John J. |last=O'Connor |date=November 22, 1989 |access-date=February 12, 2017 |archive-date=July 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725230005/http://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/22/arts/review-television-an-actor-s-quantum-leap-through-times-and-roles.html |url-status=live }}</ref> saw its potential as an original [[anthology series]], though at the time, similarly themed shows were unpopular with the major networks.<ref name="dpbyt" />

The series ran on NBC<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/01/news/nbc-defends-move-on-quantum-leap.html |title=NBC Defends Move on 'Quantum Leap' |work=[[The New York Times]] |first=Bill |last=Carter |date=October 1, 1991 |access-date=February 12, 2017 |archive-date=February 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220014832/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/01/news/nbc-defends-move-on-quantum-leap.html |url-status=live }}</ref> for five [[television season|seasons]], from March 1989 through May 1993.

===Soundtrack===
The theme for the series, written by [[Mike Post]],<ref name="dpbyt" /> was later rearranged for the fifth season, except for the series-finale episode, which featured the original theme music. Scores for the episodes were composed by Post and [[Velton Ray Bunch]].

A soundtrack album was first released in 1993, titled ''Music from the Television Series 'Quantum Leap' '', dedicated to [[John Anderson (actor)|John Anderson]], who played Pat Knight in ''The Last Gunfighter''. It was released by [[GNP Crescendo]] on [[CD]] and [[cassette tape]].

{| class=wikitable
|-
! No. !! Track<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000001P1G/ |title=Quantum Leap - Soundtrack |website=Amazon UK |date=November 19, 1993 |access-date=September 10, 2017 |archive-date=August 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813161849/https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000001P1G/ |url-status=live }}</ref>!! Composer(s) !! Length !! Episode
|-
! 1
| Prologue (Saga Sell) || [[Mike Post]], [[Velton Ray Bunch]], [[Deborah Pratt]] <small>(voiceover)</small> ||1:05||
|-
! 2
| ''Quantum Leap'' (Main Title) || Mike Post ||1:15||
|-
! 3
| Somewhere in the Night || [[Scott Bakula]] || 3:32 || Piano Man
|-
! 4
| Suite from the Leap Home || Velton Ray Bunch || 3:37 || The Leap Home, Part 1
|-
! 5
| [[Imagine (John Lennon song)|Imagine]] ||John Lennon|| 3:05 || The Leap Home, Part 1
|-
! 6
| Sam's Prayer || Velton Ray Bunch || 1:52 || A Single Drop of Rain
|-
! 7
| [[Blue Moon of Kentucky]] ||Bill Monroe|| 1:41 || Memphis Melody
|-
! 8
| [[Baby, Let's Play House]] ||Arthur Gunter|| 2:13 || Memphis Melody
|-
! 9
| Shoot Out || Velton Ray Bunch || 3:03 || The Last Gunfighter
|-
! 10
| Medley from ''[[Man of La Mancha]]'' || Scott Bakula || 6:18 || Catch a Falling Star
|-
! 11
| Bite Me || Velton Ray Bunch || 3:29 || Blood Moon
|-
! 12
| Alphabet Rap || [[Dean Stockwell]] || 2:05 || Shock Theater
|-
! 13
| Suite from "Lee Harvey Oswald" || Velton Ray Bunch || 14:55 || Leaping on a String
|-
! 14
| Fate's Wide Wheel || Scott Bakula || 3:05 || Glitter Rock
|-
! 15
| A Conversation with Scott Bakula || Scott Bakula <small>(interview)</small> || 12:02||
|-
! 16
| ''Quantum Leap'' (Prologue and Main Title Reprise) || Mike Post, Velton Ray Bunch || 2:20||
|}

==Episodes==
{{Main|List of Quantum Leap (1989 TV series) episodes}}{{Series overview
| color1     = #3B53A9
| link1      = List_of_Quantum_Leap_(1989_TV_series)_episodes#Season 1 (1989)
| episodes1  = 9
| start1     = {{Start date|1989|3|26}}
| end1       = {{End date|1989|5|17}}
| color2     = #E0C6E3
| link2      = List_of_Quantum_Leap_(1989_TV_series)_episodes#Season 2 (1989–90)
| episodes2  = 22
| start2     = {{Start date|1989|9|20}}
| end2       = {{End date|1990|5|9}}
| color3     = #00A98C
| link3      = List_of_Quantum_Leap_(1989_TV_series)_episodes#Season 3 (1990–91)
| episodes3  = 22
| start3     = {{Start date|1990|09|28}}
| end3       = {{End date|1991|05|22}}
| color4     = #FF6052
| link4      = List_of_Quantum_Leap_(1989_TV_series)_episodes#Season 4 (1991–92)
| episodes4  = 22
| start4     = {{Start date|1991|9|18}}
| end4       = {{End date|1992|5|20}}
| color5     = #EECB53
| link5      = List_of_Quantum_Leap_(1989_TV_series)_episodes#Season 5 (1992–93)
| episodes5  = 22
| start5     = {{Start date|1992|9|22}}
| end5       = {{End date|1993|5|5}}
}}

===Broadcast history===
The ''Quantum Leap'' series, though initially scheduled to air on Friday nights, was almost immediately moved to Wednesday evenings. Later on, as the show became more successful, it was moved to Fridays. In late 1992, it began to air on Tuesdays. The series finale aired on a Wednesday in May, 1993.<ref name="dpbyt" />

The most frequent time slot for the series is indicated by ''italics'':
* Sunday at 9:00–11:00 pm on NBC: March 26, 1989
* Friday at 9:00–10:00 pm on NBC: March 31, 1989 – April 21, 1989
* ''Wednesday at 10:00–11:00 pm on NBC: May 3—17, 1989; September 20, 1989 – May 9, 1990; March 6, 1991 – May 20, 1992''
* Friday at 8:00–9:00 pm on NBC: September 28, 1990 – January 4, 1991
* Tuesday at 8:00–9:00 pm on NBC: September 22, 1992 – April 20, 1993
* Wednesday at 9:00–10:00 pm on NBC: May 4, 1993

In the United Kingdom, the show began on [[BBC Two]] on February 13, 1990,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/0d39b86a7c8349219b81d5dc65f955bc|title=Quantum Leap|date=February 13, 1990|issue=3452|pages=41|via=BBC Genome|access-date=March 30, 2020|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806162710/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/0d39b86a7c8349219b81d5dc65f955bc|url-status=live}}</ref> airing Tuesday evenings at 9:00 pm. The final episode was scheduled to be aired on June 14, 1994, but altered schedules after the death of British dramatist [[Dennis Potter]] earlier that month delayed the airing until June 21, 1994.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/92691553a45c4ffabfa750269c767852|title=Quantum Leap|date=June 21, 1994|issue=3675|pages=80|via=BBC Genome|access-date=March 30, 2020|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806230916/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/92691553a45c4ffabfa750269c767852|url-status=live}}</ref> Repeat episodes continued on the channel at various times until December 28, 1999.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/263159cb03b14fe6bc0d56549f86aa4d|title=Quantum Leap|date=December 28, 1999|issue=3957|pages=145|via=BBC Genome|access-date=March 30, 2020|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806181021/https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/263159cb03b14fe6bc0d56549f86aa4d|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Quantum Leap Week ====
During the summer of 1990, NBC scheduled a "Quantum Leap Week". Over the course of five consecutive nights, repeat episodes of the show were broadcast in an effort to drum up interest in the fledging series.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NBC PUTS 'QUANTUM LEAP' ON OVERTIME |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1990-06-25-9006240084-story.html |access-date=May 18, 2022 |website=Orlando Sentinel |date=June 25, 1990 |language=en |archive-date=October 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017091702/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1990-06-25-9006240084-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The "Quantum Leap Week" was repeated during the summer of 1991. Each of the weekly events was supported by a series of advertisements. In each were a series of "[[man-on-the-street]]" attempting to say "Quantum Leap Week" fast, with varied levels of success.<ref>{{Citation |title=The 1st Quantum Leap Week commercial | date=February 12, 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUU56dYgW58 |language=en |access-date=May 18, 2022 |archive-date=May 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518165714/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUU56dYgW58 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=The 2nd Quantum Leap Week commercial | date=February 12, 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMkH_Ffk-wE |language=en |access-date=May 18, 2022 |archive-date=May 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518165716/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMkH_Ffk-wE |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Home media===
[[Universal Pictures Home Entertainment|Universal Studios]] has released the entire, [[digitally remaster]]ed, ''Quantum Leap'' series on [[DVD]].<ref name="qldvdr1" /><ref name="qldvdr2" /> Some controversy arose when fans discovered that many songs had been replaced from the soundtrack due to music rights issues. For the fifth season, Universal included all of the original music.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://quantumleappodcast.com/music-replacement-in-quantum-leap|title=Music Replacement in Quantum Leap – Quantum Leap Podcast|access-date=March 30, 2019|archive-date=March 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330154207/https://quantumleappodcast.com/music-replacement-in-quantum-leap/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On April 13, 2016, Mill Creek Entertainment announced that it had acquired the rights to the series and re-released the first two seasons on DVD on June 7, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Quantum-Leap-Seasons-1-and-2/22175|title=Quantum Leap DVD news: Re-Release for Seasons 1 & 2|website=TVShowsOnDVD|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416030920/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Quantum-Leap-Seasons-1-and-2/22175|archive-date=April 16, 2016}}</ref>

On February 7, 2017, Mill Creek re-released ''Quantum Leap - the Complete Series'' on DVD and also released the complete series on [[Blu-ray]] for the first time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Quantum-Leap-The-Complete-Series/22903|title=Quantum Leap DVD news: Announcement for The Complete Series|website=TVShowsOnDVD|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222153847/http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Quantum-Leap-The-Complete-Series/22903|archive-date=December 22, 2016}}</ref> The 18-disc set contains all 97 episodes of the series, as well as most of the original music restored for all seasons.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan="2"|[[Television season|Season]] - DVD name !! rowspan="2"|[[List of Quantum Leap episodes|Episodes]] !! colspan="3"|[[DVD]] release date
|-
! [[DVD region code#1|Region 1]] !! [[DVD region code#2|Region 2]] !! [[DVD region code#4|Region 4]]
|-
| Season 1 - The Complete First Season || style="text-align:center;"|9 || June 8, 2004 || November 8, 2004 || May 2, 2005
|-
| Season 2 - The Complete Second Season || style="text-align:center;"|22 || December 14, 2004 || October 31, 2005 || February 7, 2006
|-
| Season 3 - The Complete Third Season || style="text-align:center;"|22 || May 10, 2005 || December 12, 2005 || June 7, 2006
|-
| Season 4 - The Complete Fourth Season || style="text-align:center;"|22 || March 28, 2006 || June 26, 2006 || November 2006
|-
| Season 5 - The Complete Fifth Season || style="text-align:center;"|22 || November 14, 2006 || December 26, 2006 || February 21, 2007
|-
| Seasons 1–5 - The Complete Series<br />(The Complete Collection) || style="text-align:center;"|97
| November 4, 2014<ref name="qldvdr1">{{Cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MN9PQBO/ |title=Quantum Leap: The Complete Series (Region 1) |website=Amazon |date=November 4, 2014 |access-date=September 10, 2017 |archive-date=January 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129074528/http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MN9PQBO/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| October 8, 2007<ref name="qldvdr2">{{Cite web |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000SLR0BS/ |title=Quantum Leap - The Complete Collection (Region 2) |website=Amazon UK |date=October 8, 2007 |access-date=September 10, 2017 |archive-date=June 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601061901/https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000SLR0BS/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| N/A
|}

=== 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>

==Reception==
The series had a slow start in the ratings, and its timeslot was moved often, but it did well in the 18–49 demographic. The finale was viewed by 13 million American households.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-05-07-ca-32482-story.html|title='Quantum Leap' Ratings Jump on Final Telecast|first=STEVE|last=WEINSTEIN|date=May 7, 1993|via=Los Angeles Times|access-date=May 16, 2022|archive-date=May 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516154350/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-05-07-ca-32482-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2004 and 2007, ''Quantum Leap'' was ranked number 15 and 19, respectively, on ''[[TV Guide]]''{{'s}} "Top Cult Shows Ever".<ref name="topshows" />

===Awards===
Along with 43 nominations, ''Quantum Leap'' received 17 awards (listed below).<ref name=TelevisionAcademy>{{cite web |title=QUANTUM LEAP {{!}} (all time Emmy) Awards & Nominations |work=[[Academy of Television Arts & Sciences]] |url=https://www.emmys.com/shows/quantum-leap |access-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-date=April 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428045847/https://www.emmys.com/shows/quantum-leap |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/tv/show/159148/Quantum-Leap/details |title=Quantum Leap - Awards |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=February 12, 2017 |archive-date=February 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224091540/http://www.nytimes.com/tv/show/159148/Quantum-Leap/details |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096684/awards "Quantum Leap, Awards"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401075912/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096684/awards |date=April 1, 2016 }}. [[IMDb]]. Based on [http://www.nbc.com/classic-tv/quantum-leap the original citation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216194139/http://www.nbc.com/classic-tv/quantum-leap |date=February 16, 2015 }}. [[NBC]].</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Award !! Category !! Winner(s) !! Episode
|-
|rowspan=2| 1989 ||rowspan=2| [[Primetime Emmy Award]] || [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (One Hour)#1980s|Outstanding Cinematography for a Series]] || [[Roy H. Wagner]] || "[[Quantum Leap (season 1)#ep1|Genesis <small>(Part 1)</small>]]"
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series#1980s|Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling for a Series]] || Virginia Kearns || "[[Quantum Leap (season 1)#ep6|Double Identity]]"
|-
|rowspan=3| 1990 || [[Viewers for Quality Television Award|Quality TV Award]] || Best Actor in a Quality Drama Series ||colspan=2| [[Scott Bakula]]
|-
| [[47th Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Award]] || [[Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film#1980s|Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film]] ||colspan=2| [[Dean Stockwell]]
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award]] || [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (One Hour)#1990s|Outstanding Cinematography for a Series]] || [[Michael W. Watkins]] || "[[Pool Hall Blues]]"
|-
|rowspan=6| 1991 ||rowspan=2| [[Viewers for Quality Television Award|Quality TV Award]] || Best Actor in a Quality Drama Series ||colspan=2| [[Scott Bakula]]
|-
| Best Supporting Actor in a Quality Drama Series ||colspan=2| Dean Stockwell
|-
| [[Edgar Award]] || [[List of Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Episode in a TV Series winners|Best Television Episode]] || Paul Brown || "[[Good Night, Dear Heart]]"
|-
| [[43rd Directors Guild of America Awards|DGA Award]] || [[Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Drama Series#1990s|Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series]] || [[Michael Zinberg]] || "[[Quantum Leap (season 3)#ep33|The Leap Home <small>(Part 2)</small> - Vietnam]]"
|-
|rowspan=2| [[Primetime Emmy Award]] || [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Makeup for a Single-Camera Series (Non-Prosthetic)#1990s|Outstanding Makeup for a Single-Camera Series]] || Gerald Quist<br />[[Michael Mills (make-up artist)|Michael Mills]]<br />Jeremy Swan || "[[Quantum Leap (season 3)#ep32|The Leap Home <small>(Part 1)</small>]]"
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (One Hour)#1990s|Outstanding Cinematography for a Series]] || Michael W. Watkins || "[[Quantum Leap (season 3)#ep33|The Leap Home <small>(Part 2)</small> - Vietnam]]"
|-
|rowspan=2| 1992 || [[Viewers for Quality Television Award|Quality TV Award]] || Best Actor in a Quality Drama Series ||colspan=2| Scott Bakula
|-
| [[49th Golden Globe Awards|Golden Globe Award]] || [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama#1990s|Best Actor – Television Series Drama]] ||colspan=2| Scott Bakula
|-
|rowspan=4| 1993 || [[Viewers for Quality Television Award|Quality TV Award]] || Best Actor in a Quality Drama Series ||colspan=2| Scott Bakula
|-
| [[Young Artist Award]] || Best Young Actress Guest-Starring in a Television Series ||colspan=2| [[Kimberly Cullum]]
|-
| [[American Cinema Editors|ACE Award]] || [[American Cinema Editors Award for Best Edited Drama Series for Commercial Television#1990s|Best Edited One Hour Series for Television]]<!--- name at the time ---> || Jon Koslowsky || "[[Quantum Leap (season 4)#ep62|A Song for the Soul]]"
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award]] || [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (One Hour)#1990s|Outstanding Cinematography for a Series]] || Jon Koslowsky || "[[Quantum Leap (season 5)#ep76|Lee Harvey Oswald]]"
|-
|}

==Other media==

===Books===
;Nonfiction
* Barrett, Julie, ''The A–Z of Quantum Leap''. [[Macmillan Publishers#Divisions|Boxtree Ltd.]], London 1995. {{ISBN|0-7522-0628-1}}
* Chunovic, Louis, ''Quantum Leap Book''. Boxtree Ltd., London 1993. {{ISBN|1-85283-866-3}}
* Schuster, Hal, ''The Making of Quantum Leap''. [[HarperCollins]], London 1996. {{ISBN|0-06-105438-0}}
* Dale, Matt, ''Beyond the Mirror Image''. TME Books, UK 2017. The limited edition first print hardcover was funded via Kickstarter in late 2016 and included both black & white and colored pages. Due to popular demand, the book was reprinted, though the 2nd edition did not include colored pages and came with a book jacket/dust cover. 
;Fiction
* Robitaille, Julie, ''The Beginning''. Transworld Publishers|Corgi, London 1990. {{ISBN|0-552-13642-5}}. Re-published in U.K. by Boxtree Ltd., London 1994. {{ISBN|1-85283-392-0}}. (Novelization of the pilot episode)
* Robitaille, Julie, ''The Ghost and the Gumshoe''. [[Transworld Publishers|Corgi]], London 1990. {{ISBN|1-85283-397-1}}. Re-published in U.K. by Boxtree Ltd., London 1994. (Novelization of "Play It Again, Seymour" and "A Portrait of Troian")
* [[Ashley McConnell|McConnell, Ashley]], ''Quantum Leap: The Novel''. [[Ace Books]], 1992. {{ISBN|0-441-69322-9}}. Re-published in the UK as ''Carny Knowledge''. Boxtree Limited, London 1993. {{ISBN|1-85283-871-X}}
* McConnell, Ashley, ''Too Close for Comfort''. Ace Books, 1993. {{ISBN|0-441-69323-7}}.
* McConnell, Ashley, ''The Wall''. Ace Books, 1994. {{ISBN|0-441-00015-0}}.
* McConnell, Ashley, ''Prelude''. Ace Books, 1994. {{ISBN|0-441-00076-2}}.
* [[Melanie Rawn]]: ''Knights of the Morningstar''. Ace Books, 1994. {{ISBN|0-441-00092-4}}.
* Melissa Crandall: ''Search and Rescue''. Ace Books, 1994. {{ISBN|0-441-00122-X}}.
* McConnell, Ashley, ''Random Measures''. Ace Books, 1995. {{ISBN|0-441-00182-3}}.
* Storm, L. Elizabeth, ''Pulitzer''. Boulevard, 1995. {{ISBN|1-57297-022-7}}.
* [[C. J. Henderson (writer)|Henderson, C.J.]] and [[Laura Anne Gilman]], ''Double or Nothing''. Boulevard, 1995. {{ISBN|1-57297-055-3}}.
* Walton, Barbara E., ''Odyssey''. Boulevard, 1996. {{ISBN|1-57297-092-8}}.
* [[John Peel (writer)|Peel, John]], ''Independence''. Boulevard, 1996. {{ISBN|1-57297-150-9}}. Re-published in the U.K. as ''Leap into the Unknown''. Boxtree Ltd., London 1996 {{ISBN|0-7522-0137-9}}.
* Storm, L. Elizabeth, ''Angels Unaware''. Boulevard, 1997. {{ISBN|1-57297-206-8}}.
* Davis, Carol, ''Obsessions''. Boulevard, 1997. {{ISBN|1-57297-241-6}}.
* Schofield, Sandy ([[Dean Wesley Smith]] and [[Kristine Kathryn Rusch]]), ''Loch Ness Leap''. Boulevard, 1997 {{ISBN|1-57297-231-9}}.
* Kent, Melanie, ''Heat Wave''. Boulevard, 1997 {{ISBN|1-57297-312-9}}.
* DeFilippis, Christopher, ''Foreknowledge''. Boulevard, 1998 {{ISBN|0-425-16487-X}}.
* Peterman, Mindy, ''Song And Dance''. Boulevard, 1998 {{ISBN|0-425-16577-9}}.
* Davis, Carol, and Esther D. Reese: ''Mirror's Edge''. Boulevard, 2000 {{ISBN|0-425-17351-8}}.

===Comics===
[[Innovation Publishing]] produced a series of comic books that ran for 13 issues from September 1991 through August 1993. As with the television series, each issue ended with a teaser preview of the following issue and Sam's exclamation of "Oh, boy." Among the people into whom Sam found himself leaping in this series were:<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.finifter.com/quantum-leap/information/comics.html |title=Quantum Leap Comic Guide |first=Phil |last=Zeman |date=January 19, 1995 |access-date=February 24, 2015 |archive-date=March 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315111304/http://www.finifter.com/quantum-leap/information/comics.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Issue !! Title !! Person !! Date
|-
| 1 ||"First There Was a Mountain, Then There Was No Mountain, Then There Was" || High school teacher named Karen Connors in [[Memphis, Tennessee]] || March 25, 1968
|-
| 2 ||"Freedom of the Press" || [[Death row]] inmate named Willie Jackson, who must prevent a murder on the outside || June 11, 1962
|-
| 3A ||"He Knows If You've Been Bad or Good ..." || Part-time [[Santa Claus]], who goes by the name of Nick || December 20, 1963
|-
| 3B ||"The Infinite Corridor" || Student at MIT named Matt Randall, who is researching [[quantum physics]] || April 2, 1968
|-
| 4 ||"The 50,000 Quest" || Contestant amid the [[quiz show scandals]] || August 15, 1958
|-
| 5 ||"Seeing is Believing" || Newspaper reporter/columnist, who responds to a girl seeing a [[UFO]] || November 14, 1957
|-
| 6 ||"A Tale of Two Cindys" || Teenaged girl with an identical [[twin]] sister || February 12, 1959
|-
| 7A ||"Lives on the Fringe" || Professional golfer with the [[American mafia|Mafia]] after him || 1974
|-
| 7B ||"Sarah's Got a Gun" || Bus driver, who discovers [[child abuse]] || May 19, 1953
|-
| 8 ||"Getaway" || Bank robber, while the leapee tours the project with Al || 1958
|-
| 9 ||"Up Against a Stonewall" || Sequel to "[[Good Night, Dear Heart]]": Stephanie Heywood is released from prison after serving 12 years for manslaughter. || June 22, 1969
|-
| 10 ||"Too Funny For Words" || Stand-up comedian, who befriends a fading silent movie star || June 13, 1966
|-
| 11 ||"For the Good of the Nation" || Doctor studying the effects of [[LSD]] on human subjects || July 1958
|-
| 12 ||"Waiting" || Gas-station attendant with a lot of time on his hands || April 24, 1958
|-
| 13 ||"One Giant Leap" || An [[Extraterrestrial life|extraterrestrial]] aboard an orbiting spaceship || June 5, 1963
|-
| [14] || "Two Dweebs and a Little Monster"|| Not published ||
|}

Few of the comic stories referenced episodes of the television series, with the exception of the ninth issue, "Up Against a Stonewall".

==Continuation==

===Proposed films===

====Television film====
In July 2002, the [[Syfy|Sci-Fi Channel]] (which at the time was airing reruns of the show) announced development of a two-hour [[television film]] based on ''Quantum Leap'' that would have served as a [[backdoor pilot]] for a new series, with Bellisario as executive producer.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/art-sfc.html?2002-07/09/12.30.sfc |title=New Leap, Tremors On Sci-Fi |publisher=[[Syfy]] |date=July 9, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060709102508/http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/art-sfc.html?2002-07%2F09%2F12.30.sfc |archive-date=July 9, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

====Feature film====
In July 2010 during the ''TV Guide'' panel at [[San Diego Comic-Con]], Scott Bakula said that Bellisario was working on a script for a projected ''Quantum Leap'' [[feature film]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/comic-quantum-leaping-1020879/ |title=Comic-Con: Is Quantum Leaping to the Megaplex? |work=[[TV Guide]] |first=Damian |last=Holbrook |date=July 23, 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100725114200/https://www.tvguide.com/news/Comic-Quantum-Leaping-1020879.aspx/ |archive-date=July 25, 2010 |access-date=May 16, 2022}}</ref> Bellisario confirmed in October 2017 at the [[L.A. Comic Con]] that he had finished the script.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=http://ew.com/tv/2017/10/28/quantum-leap-movie-script-la-comic-con/ |title=Quantum Leap creator reveals he wrote a movie script |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |first=Mary |last=Sollosi |date=October 28, 2017 }}</ref>

===Revival===
{{Main|Quantum Leap (2022 TV series)}}
In January 2020, Jeff Bader, NBC's head of program planning and strategy, announced that the network was considering a reboot of ''Quantum Leap'' for the launch of its [[Peacock (streaming service)|Peacock]] streaming service.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.slashfilm.com/571589/exclusive-nbcs-peacock-considering-quantum-leap-revival-as-millennials-drive-saved-by-the-bell-and-punky-brewster-returns-tca-2020/ | title = Exclusive: NBC's Peacock Considering 'Quantum Leap' Revival As Millennials Drive 'Saved by the Bell' and 'Punky Brewster' Returns | first = Fred | last = Topel | date = January 12, 2020 | access-date = May 16, 2022 | work = [[Slash Film]] | archive-date = May 16, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220516154349/https://www.slashfilm.com/571589/exclusive-nbcs-peacock-considering-quantum-leap-revival-as-millennials-drive-saved-by-the-bell-and-punky-brewster-returns-tca-2020/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

In January 2022, NBC greenlit a pilot episode of a ''Quantum Leap'' sixth season revival. Bellisario is involved, while the showrunners include Steven Lilien and Bryan Wynbrandt, with Deborah Pratt and [[Martin Gero]] as executive producers. The pilot will take place 30 years after the conclusion of the original series, with a new team reviving Project Quantum Leap to understand both it and the fate of Sam Beckett.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/quantum-leap-reboot-nbc-1235074815/ | title = 'Quantum Leap' Sequel Pilot Greenlit by NBC | first = James | last = Hibbert | date = January 13, 2022 | access-date = January 13, 2022 | work = [[The Hollywood Reporter]] | archive-date = June 17, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220617190614/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/quantum-leap-reboot-nbc-1235074815/ | url-status = live }}</ref> [[Raymond Lee (actor)|Raymond Lee]] was signed to star in the pilot in the role of Dr. Ben Song, the person that ends up traveling back in time through the Quantum Leap project.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://deadline.com/2022/03/raymond-lee-star-quantum-leap-nbc-1234971138/ | title = 'Quantum Leap': Raymond Lee To Headline NBC's Reboot Pilot | first = Nellie | last = Andreeva | date = March 4, 2022 | access-date = March 4, 2022 | work = [[Deadline Hollywood]] | archive-date = March 4, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220304192458/https://deadline.com/2022/03/raymond-lee-star-quantum-leap-nbc-1234971138/ | url-status = live }}</ref> [[Ernie Hudson]] was cast as Herbert "Magic" Williams, the lead of the new Quantum Leap program and a Vietnam War veteran whom Sam leaped into in the [[Quantum Leap (season 3)#ep33|season three]] episode "The Leap Home (Part 2) – Vietnam".<ref>{{cite web | url = https://deadline.com/2022/03/quantum-leap-ernie-hudson-nbc-reboot-pilot-1234973289/ | title = 'Quantum Leap': Ernie Hudson Joins NBC Reboot Pilot | first = Nellie | last = Andreeva | date = March 8, 2022 | access-date = March 8, 2022 | work = [[Deadline Hollywood]] | archive-date = May 22, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220522235052/https://deadline.com/2022/03/quantum-leap-ernie-hudson-nbc-reboot-pilot-1234973289/ | url-status = live }}</ref> NBC gave the green light for a full season order in May 2022.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://deadline.com/2022/05/quantum-leap-reboot-pilot-picked-up-to-series-nbc-1235017782/ | title = 'Quantum Leap' Reboot Picked Up To Series By NBC | first = Nellie | last = Andreeva | date = May 5, 2022 | access-date = May 5, 2022 | work = [[Deadline Hollywood]] | archive-date = May 9, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220509222023/https://deadline.com/2022/05/quantum-leap-reboot-pilot-picked-up-to-series-nbc-1235017782/ | url-status = live }}</ref> In July 2022, it was announced that Dean Georgaris joined as showrunner.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title=''Quantum Leap'': Martin Gero Steps In As Showrunner, Dean Georgaris Joins As EP, Pilot Writers To Stay On |url=https://deadline.com/2022/07/quantum-leap-martin-gero-showunner-dean-georgaris-exec-producer-steven-lilien-bryan-wynbrandt-1235076811/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=July 29, 2022 |date=July 25, 2022 |archive-date=August 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220829025914/https://deadline.com/2022/07/quantum-leap-martin-gero-showunner-dean-georgaris-exec-producer-steven-lilien-bryan-wynbrandt-1235076811/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It premiered on September 19, 2022, airing on Monday nights.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title=NBC Fall 2022-23 Schedule: Friday Comedy Block Sends 'Blacklist' To Midseason, 'La Brea' Returns To Tuesday |url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/nbc-2022-23-schedule-the-blacklist-la-brea-quantum-leap-the-voice-chicago-law-order-1235024254/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=May 16, 2022 |date=May 16, 2022 |archive-date=May 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516140141/https://deadline.com/2022/05/nbc-2022-23-schedule-the-blacklist-la-brea-quantum-leap-the-voice-chicago-law-order-1235024254/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2022/06/29/nbc-announces-fall-premiere-dates-445510/20220629nbc01/|title=NBC Announces Premiere Dates|publisher=[[NBC]]|via=[[The Futon Critic]]|date=June 29, 2022|access-date=June 29, 2022}}</ref>

In September 2022, original series star [[Scott Bakula]] confirmed that he had been asked by producers to reprise his role as Sam Beckett in the revival, but ultimately decided against it, saying in a statement on [[Instagram]], "As the show has always been near and dear to my heart, it was a very difficult decision to pass on the project".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2022/09/scott-bakula-reaction-quantum-leap-reboot-involvement-pass-1235119537/ |title=Scott Bakula Addresses 'Quantum Leap' Reboot Involvement Speculation, Says It Was "Very Difficult Decision" To Pass On New Series |first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |date=September 15, 2022 |access-date=September 16, 2022 |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |archive-date=September 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915232842/https://deadline.com/2022/09/scott-bakula-reaction-quantum-leap-reboot-involvement-pass-1235119537/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On April 5, 2024, it was confirmed that the series had been canceled after two seasons.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2024/04/quantum-leap-canceled-nbc-2-seasons-1235877093/ |title='Quantum Leap' Canceled By NBC After 2 Seasons |first=Nellie |last=Andreeva |date=April 5, 2024 |access-date=April 5, 2024 |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] }}</ref>

== In popular culture ==
''[[Source Code]]'', a 2011 [[Science fiction film|science-fiction]] [[action thriller film]], was directed by [[Duncan Jones]]. Jones said in reading its script that he was reminded of ''Quantum Leap'' and as a reference to the show, cast Bakula in a voice cameo role, including giving him one line of "Oh, boy" in the script.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.mtv.com/news/1661141/source-code-jake-gyllenhaal/ | title = 'Source Code': Five Hidden Pop-culture Influences | first = Eric | last = Ditzian | date = April 1, 2011 | access-date = February 23, 2020 | work = [[MTV]] | archive-date = February 23, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200223183843/http://www.mtv.com/news/1661141/source-code-jake-gyllenhaal/ | url-status = dead }}</ref>

Special episodes of ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'' ("[[Detained (Star Trek: Enterprise)|Detained]]", 2002) and ''[[NCIS: New Orleans]]'' ("[[NCIS: New Orleans (season 1)#ep9|Chasing Ghosts]]", 2014), both series that featured Bakula as lead, included Stockwell as a guest star to reunite the two actors from ''Quantum Leap''. Further, "Chasing Ghosts" was directed by [[James Whitmore Jr.]], who had directed 15 episodes, and acted in three episodes, of ''Quantum Leap''.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.tvguide.com/news/ncis-new-orleans-scott-bakula-quantum-leap-reunion-thanksgiving-episode-1089717/ | title= NCIS: New Orleans' Scott Bakula Teases the Quantum Leap Reunion: "It Was a Good Day for the Old Guys" | first= Liz | last= Raftery | date= November 24, 2014 | access-date= February 23, 2020 | work= [[TV Guide]] | archive-date= February 23, 2020 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200223184718/https://www.tvguide.com/news/ncis-new-orleans-scott-bakula-quantum-leap-reunion-thanksgiving-episode-1089717/ | url-status= live }}</ref>

The 2017 episode "[[It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (season 12)#ep125|The Gang Turns Black]]" of the series ''[[It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia]]'' features numerous ''Quantum Leap'' references. When the gang finds themselves in different bodies, Sweet Dee suggests that they are "quantum leaping". Bakula has a guest appearance, as himself, supposedly researching an upcoming role, but in fact working as a retirement home custodian due to lack of residuals.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Superfan |date=January 5, 2017 |title=Scott Bakula's Depressing and Hilarious Appearance on ''Always Sunny'' Premiere |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/scott-bakulas-depressing-and-hilarious-appearance-on-always-sunny-premiere-091312238.html |website=Yahoo! |access-date=May 27, 2022 |archive-date=October 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016184059/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/scott-bakulas-depressing-and-hilarious-appearance-on-always-sunny-premiere-091312238.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the 2019 film ''[[Avengers: Endgame]],'' [[Scott Lang (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Scott Lang]] brings the show up as one of many examples of time travel in fiction allowing one to change one's own past, contrasting [[Bruce Banner (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Bruce Banner]]'s explanation that time travel works differently in [[Marvel Cinematic Universe|their universe]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/why-avengers-endgame-time-travel-plotholes-should-be-forgiven-1206333 | title = Why 'Avengers: Endgame' Time Travel Troubles Can Be Forgiven | first = Phil | last = Pirrello | date = May 1, 2019 | access-date = January 13, 2020 | work = [[The Hollywood Reporter]] | archive-date = January 14, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200114010023/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/why-avengers-endgame-time-travel-plotholes-should-be-forgiven-1206333 | url-status = live }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{Epguides}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060709095938/http://www.scifi.com/quantum/castcrew/ Archive of Syfy ''Quantum Leap'' official site] with Bakula and Stockwell interviews.
* ''[https://www.peacocktv.com/watch-online/tv/quantum-leap/5133549348198251112 Quantum Leap]'' on [[Peacock (streaming service)|Peacock]]

{{Quantum Leap}}
{{Donald P. Bellisario}}
{{Authority control}}

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