It is always disappointing when a show is cancelled, something most of us have experienced countless times over the years. When our beloved long-running series gets sent out to pasture, or an up-and-coming show meets an early demise, it’s not rare for fans to take to social media to air out their grievances and drum up support for the recently departed. But what did fans do when back in the day, before social media was a thing, and when the internet was still in its infancy?

I recently picked up a 1993 edition of Starlog magazine at a comic book store, and the “Communications” section was full of Quantum Leap fans complaining about its cancellation, the show’s final episode, and other aspects of the series. Being the son of a father obsessed with the show and having paid attention to discourse over the years, I knew fans were mad. I just didn’t know they were this mad.

One Fan Called The Cancellation A ‘Horrendous Travesty’ And Organized A Write-In Campaign

I’m going to leave out the names of the fine folks who wrote into Starlog back in the summer of ‘93, but there were some choice comments about all matters of nerdom. From offering support for Space Rangers, to yelling about the Sci-Fi Channel not being pure science fiction (I wonder what they think of the channel now), and some bickering about spaceship design on Star Trek: The Next Generation, there was so much.

None comes close to the anger and pure bitterness of one fan who wrote a pointed missive laying out his complaints, not with the show, but the “horrendous travesty” of NBC pulling the plug:

The fan would go on to point out an issue that has long impacted shows, and continues to today on the 2026 TV schedule: the shuffling of timeslots. He would go on about networks, making it difficult for fans to find the programs they like by moving them around or putting them up against a rival network’s top show. So, what did he want other Quantum Leap fans to do about this? Well, a letter campaign, duh:

Before the days of social media, a letter campaign was the way to go. Too bad it didn’t persuade NBC to reverse course, though the network later rebooted the series before also cancelling it after two seasons.

Another Couple Asked For Help With Their Questions And Theories

There was another comment further down in the “Communications” section where a couple wrote in asking for help with their questions and theories following the Quantum Leap finale, “Mirror Image.” Unlike today, where you can immediately turn to the internet for clarification or conversations about something, it was a different story in 1993, as they wrote:

Most of these theories dealt with Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula) either dying or changing the past so much that he ended up not being born, Al Calavicci (the late Dean Stockwell) never joining the project, or the Bartender (played by Bruce McGill) being God. They never got those answers…

I really wonder what these people are up to 33 years after sending some very passionate letters to Starlog. Now I need to go back to that shop and see if I can track down the next issue. Until then…

Are you a fan of TV shows like NCIS, JAG and Quantum Leap? Thank television producer Donald P. Bellisario, as he created these popular series and many others from the 1980s to early 2000s. NCIS is even still going strong, as it’s about to enter its 23rd season on the 2025 TV schedule this fall. Various actors from these shows got together this past weekend to celebrate Bellisario’s 90th birthday, including Scott Bakula, who affectionately poked fun at the man while giving a speech at the party.

JAG actress Catherine Bell shared a snippet of the speech Bakula gave to the attendees on her Instagram Stories. The actor, who starred as Sam Beckett in the original Quantum Leap, amusingly busted Bellisario’s chops with these words:

Look, having to overcome that kind of adversity as a child in the 1940s, it’s no wonder Donald Bellisario became a successful television producer! Seriously though, good-natured ribbing is to be expected at a celebration like this. Scott Bakula (also of Star Trek: Enterprise fame) and Bellisario go way back, so the former definitely has the leeway to tell a story like that about the latter, and everyone knows it’s coming from a friendly place.

Along with Scott Bakula and Catherine Bell (who played Sarah MacKenzie in all but the first of JAG’s seasons, as well as three episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles), other notable attendees at Donald Bellisario’s birthday party included NCIS actors Michael Weatherly, Cote de Pablo, Sean Murray, Brian Dietzen, Gary Cole and Diona Reasonover. Bell also reunited with JAG costars Patrick Labyorteaux, Karri Turner and Steven Culp, with Bell specifically mentioning in her Stories that she hadn’t seen the former two in about 20 years. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention that Bakula is also part of the NCIS franchise from his time as Dwayne Pride on NCIS: New Orleans, though Bellisario wasn’t involved in that spinoff’s creation.

Happy 90th birthday, Mr. Bellisario, and here’s to more celebrations in your future! If any of you reading now feel like revisiting the original Quantum Leap, it can be streamed for free on Roku. Otherwise, break out your Paramount+ subscription to check out JAG and all of the NCIS shows, which will include the platform-exclusive NCIS: Tony & Ziva in a few weeks.

Even the best shows need to end, and some of the classics had endings that are still remembered to this day. Apologies if you don’t see some of your favorites like Lost or The Sopranos on this list, as those series ended outside of the “classic” cutoff of 2004. But now, let’s get into some comfort shows, cult favorites, and overall stunners, and see how they all ended.

Cheers

In “One For The Road,” Sam Malone (Ted Danson) was this close to running off one last time with Diane Chambers (Shelley Long). But after the couple decided they’re better apart, Sam heads back to Cheers, in a finale that would become one of the highest rated TV episodes on IMDb, and surely wouldn’t be undone by any future guest appearances on a Frasier Crane spinoff.

Newhart

After eight seasons, Newhart’s series finale “The Last Newhart” seemed to have sold the entire town the Stratford Inn resided in… save for that respite run by Dick Loudon (Bob Newhart). However, in one of the most ingenious endings of TV history, the entire series turned out to be a dream in the mind of The Bob Newhart Show’s Dr. Robert Hartley (also Newhart). Now that is a proud member of the club for TV shows that ended well.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show

WJM-TV's Six O'Clock News gang is fired… except for everyone’s favorite blowhard Ted Baxter (Ted Knight). With The Mary Tyler Moore Show’s cast of comedic ringers sharing a famous final hug, and the same box of tissues, our friends send the long running sitcom out during “The Last Show” the exact way it came in: with heartfelt laughs.

Friends

“The Last One” is, thankfully, not on the list of the most ridiculous Friends episodes. And how could it be, with the two-part finale seeing the gang finally move into their own lives. Ross (David Schwimmer) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) finally agree to set their relationship status to “they will,” and sweethearts Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler (Matthew Perry) move to suburbia to start their family’s life.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Sunnydale’s Hellmouth finally collapses… taking the entire town Buffy The Vampire Slayer called home with it. But not before claiming the lives of Spike (James Marsters) and Anya (Emma Caulfield), and helping Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) realize that there are plenty of other Slayers that she can assist in a world still filled with supernatural danger. And of course Angel (David Boreanaz) and Giles (Anthony Stewart Head) return, to make “Chosen” a proper send off.

The Dick Van Dyke Show

Rob Petrie (Dick Van Dyke) writes a memoir, which sends us into The Dick Van Dyke Show’s flashback laden finale “The Last Chapter.” Unfortunately for him, the publisher isn’t as pleased with the results as his wife Laura (Mary Tyler Moore). That’s ok, Alan Brady (Carl Reiner) plans to adapt it into a TV show; which puts a beautifully funny bow on this sitcom classic.

Angel

Angel (David Boreanaz) finally seems to defeat the forces of evil at Wolfram & Hart, with several of Angel’s gang of misfits surviving the aptly titled “Not Fade Away.” Unfortunately for fans, the spinoff to Buffy the Vampire Slayer ends on a pumped up cliffhanger that doesn’t feel like the end of a series. Not to mention the death of Wesley Wyndam-Pryce (Alexis Denisof) probably still rubs some fans the wrong way; especially when creator Joss Whedon admitted to the A.V. Club that the former librarian would have survived… if the show hadn’t been canceled.

Roseanne

While ABC’s Roseanne would not only find itself revived, but also spun off into the sequel series The Connors, the original run of Roseanne Barr’s hit sitcom ended on a rather odd note. After a final season of increasingly weird and out of place twists, Roseanne Conner was revealed to have become a writer, and husband Dan (John Goodman) had actually died… a decision that would be retconned in a series revival decades after the fact.

Frasier (NBC)

Everyone Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) knows and loves is moving on in their lives, with the Cheers mainstay having his own new lease on life waiting for him in Chicago. Moving to the Windy City for a new job and the woman he loves, “Goodnight, Seattle” was a finale that was sure to have the final say, and not be undone by a future Paramount+ revival series.

Blackadder

For four seasons Blackadder saw Rowan Atkinson and a who’s who of British comedians, including but not limited to Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Rik Mayall, and Miriam Margolyes, sending history up with a laugh. But in the series finale “Goodbyeee,” the World War I centered story ended with our heroes engaged in one final push into combat, which somberly transitioned to a field of poppies. Lest we forget.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Leave it to Star Trek: The Next Generation to show us once more that “All Good Things…” do indeed come to an end. With Q (John DeLancie) resuming the prosecution of humanity he began in the series’ premiere, the finale sees Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) become the species’ greatest defender. The captain finally joins the ship’s regular poker game, with a future of motion picture and legacy-quels awaiting.

ER

Cook County General Hospital’s life on TV ended pretty much the way it started. As ER finally said goodbye with the episode “And In The End…” Dr. Carter (Noah Wylie) and his colleagues were swamped with cases that came from the same industrial accident. Ushering in what looks like the start of Rachel Greene (Hallee Hirsh) and her medical career, and with a recent reunion of old friends lingering in the air, life goes on.

Seinfeld

You’d be hard pressed to find a finale as controversial as Seinfeld’s “The Finale.” Jerry (Jerry Seinfeld), George (Jason Alexander), Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), and Kramer (Michael Richards) are all tried and convicted for violating the Good Samaritan law in Massachusetts, thanks to a parade of character witnesses who claim they are indeed the worst. It’s ok, Curb Your Enthusiasm’s series finale would relitigate, and seemingly correct this choice, in the funniest way possible years later.

Beverly Hills, 90210

One of the mainstays of ‘90s TV fittingly said farewell in 2000, as Beverly Hills, 90210 struck up “Ode To Joy” and sent West Bev’s finest fully into adulthood. Don’t worry: Kelly (Jennie Garth) and Dylan (Luke Perry) finally committed to each other in the end, in a decision that surely wouldn’t be undone by a CW legacy-quel series decades after the fact.

M*A*S*H

“Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” wasn’t just the last episode of M*A*S*H, it was a two and a half hour TV movie sending the men and women of the 4077 into that good night gracefully. The gang commemorated the end of the Korean War, and their eventual returns to civilian life. But not before ​​B.J. Hunnicutt (Mike Farrell) sends Hawkeye Pierce (Alan Alda) a final message that would live in television history.

The Fugitive

“The Judgment” finally brought an end to The Fugitive’s search for the One Armed Man, with Dr. Richard Kimble (David Janssen) being exonerated for the murder of his wife. In a two-parter that was staggered between two weeks of airtime, Part II was billed as “The Day The Running Stopped,” with Dr. Kimble and his dogged pursuer Lt. Philip Gerard (Barry Morse) parting ways as friends.

St. Elsewhere

St. Elsewhere’s Season 8 finale "The Last One" implied the entire series to be the creation of Tommy Westphall (Chad Allen), the autistic son of series regular Dr. Donald Westphall (Ed Flanders). That decision led to what Unsupervised Nerds dubbed “The Tommy Westphall Universe,” which implies that other series like Cheers, Homicide: Life on the Streets, and even Law and Order: SVU exist in that same sphere, thanks to various crossovers and references.

The Golden Girls

“One Flew Out of the Cuckoo's Nest” saw The Golden Girls closing the Lanai one final time, thanks to Dorothy (Bea Arthur) marrying Lucas (Leslie Nielsen), uncle to fellow housemate Blanche (Rue McClanahan). The two-part episode ended the seven season run of the network TV mainstay, while leading to one of the great TV spin offs you might have forgotten, The Golden Palace.

Dinosaurs

While Dinosaurs seems rather short-lived when compared to some of these other titans of TV, ABC’s four-season sitcom still landed a crushing blow with its series finale “Changing Nature.” As a chain of events doomed Pangea to perish in a freshly begun ice age, we see Earl Sinclair (Stuart Pankin) and his family struggling to find hope in the bleakest of situations.

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’s series finale, the two-parter entitled "I, Done," spawned a meme thanks to the moment where Will (Will Smith) looks around at the mansion he called home for six seasons one last time. As the Banks family move on to the next chapters in their lives, the West Philadelphia transplant actually stays in California, ready to get an education and finally make a name for himself.

Family Matters

For a series that started with Steve Urkel (Jaleel White) as a secondary comic relief, Family Matters’ final episode “Lost in Space Part 2” showed how far the series had shifted in nine seasons. With Steve actually engaged to Laura Winslow (Kellie Shanygne Williams), and a mission to space ending in what felt far from a series finale, the show that switched networks from ABC to CBS during its run saw its nosy neighbor become the star of the show.

Star Trek

Star Trek’s initial five-year mission actually only lasted three seasons on the NBC network, and “Turnabout Intruder” showed just how abruptly this cancellation was carried out. In what seemed like another day aboard the USS Enterprise, Captain Kirk (William Shatner) switched bodies with former lover Dr. Janice Lester (Sandra Smith), who then proceeds to try and kill Kirk to assume his command. By the end, everyone’s back in their own bodies, with a future in the motion pictures just around the corner!

Home Improvement

The three-part epic “The Long and Winding Road” saw Home Improvement end on a note that was both bittersweet, and totally bonkers. With Tim (Tim Allen) and Jill (Patricia Richardson) deciding to stay in Detroit after watching Al (Richard Karn) getting married in their backyard. While Jonathan Taylor-Thomas’ Randy would be a no-show for the finale, the series ended with the Tool Man’s ultimate hare-brained scheme: towing and tugging the family home to wherever they might choose to move to in the future.

The Wonder Years

In an act that resembles the bittersweet nostalgia The Wonder Years always embodied, "Independence Day" provides us with closure through one last narration from older Kevin (Daniel Stern). Young Kevin (Fred Savage) and Winnie (Danica McKellar) weren’t the endgame we all expected, family wounds were healed, and life went on.

Quantum Leap

Say the words, "Sam Becket never returned home" to any Quantum Leap fan, and they’ll probably glare at you as if you’d kicked their puppy. But that’s exactly how NBC’s sci-fi fan favorite ended in the episode “Mirror Image: August 8, 1953.” Dr. Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula) was doomed to this horrific fate, and a misspelled name in the final title card, before sadly never returning.

Dallas

In a series as wild as Dallas, a crazy finale was all but assured. Sure enough, the Season 14 two-parter “Conundrum” saved the nuttiest for last, as J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) saw what life would have been like if he had never been born… and then was assumed to have shot himself after seeing the result. Five years later, the TV movie Dallas: J.R. Returns would prove that he didn’t shoot himself, allowing the Texas oil man to continue his reign of soapy terror.

The Cosby Show

After 8 seasons and 201 episodes, The Cosby Show saw “And So We Commence” closing the book on the Huxtables once and for all. What starts with Cliff (Bill Cosby) getting into another comedic scrape over graduation tickets eventually gives way to his son Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) graduating from college. As the show drew to a close, our last image was of Cliff and wife Clair (Phylicia Rashad) dancing to the tune of a freshly fixed doorbell.

ALF

“Consider Me Gone” saw ALF ending after four seasons on NBC in a cliffhanger that was initially labeled “To Be Continued…” As ALF/Gordon Shumway (Paul Fusco) attempted to return home to Melmac, the nefarious Alien Task Force intercepted him at the last minute, and that was it. At least until the sequel movie Project ALF would provide a fitting, if not disappointing end, six years later, naming our alien wisecracker an official ambassador of Earth.

The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

The two-part episode “The Seven Wonders of the World Affair” drew The Man from U.N.C.L.E. to a close, with Napoleon Solo (Robert Vaughn) and Ilya Kuryakin (David McCallum) achieving the following result: "The battle (between good and evil) ends once and for all in favor of good." If only Guy Ritchie’s fan favorite film adaptation could have gotten the same ending.

Benson

Benson never intended to have a cliffhanger ending, but that’s exactly what “And the Winner is…” gave fans at the end of Season 7. Salon actually revealed that three different endings were filmed… with a tie being the most likely choice, leading into the hypothetical Season 8. But as it stands, Benson (Robert Guillaume) and Governor Gatling (James Noble) will forever be in a tie for the governorship.

Get Smart

In an ingenious spoof of Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels, Get Smart ended in a way similar to how The Man with the Golden Gun started. In “I’m Curiously Yellow,” Maxwell Smart (Don Adams) is brainwashed by an evil KAOS agent to sabotage his home agency CONTROL. But, as you might expect, the day was eventually saved… in an ending that kind of felt like another day at the office.

Freaks And Geeks

Nobody wanted to see NBC’s Freaks and Geeks end after just one season of magic, but alas that’s what "Discos and Dragons" did. After eighteen episodes of adolescent dramedy, Linda Cardellini’s Lindsay Weir ditched an academic event to follow the Grateful Dead on tour. Honestly, that feels like a rather poetic, if still unfortunate, way for creator Paul Feig’s beloved series to end.

Has there ever been a better time for the science fiction genre than the 1970s and the 1980s? We are not just referring to the now classic sci-fi movies of the time, but especially the series that transported us to new worlds from the comfort of our own homes week after week. Let's take another journey back in time by celebrating some of the best sci-fi TV shows from the era.

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994)

A prime example of a spin-off as good as the original is Star Trek: The Next Generation, which might even be the finest iteration of Gene Roddenberry’s widely celebrated franchise. Sir Patrick Stewart's Screen Actors Guild Award-nominated performance as Captain Jean-Luc Picard especially brings this Emmy-winning hit chronicling the adventures of the U.S.S. Enterprise-D crew into masterful territory.

The Six Million Dollar Man (1974-1978)

Some characters are known for their classic TV catchphrases, but Steve Austin from The Six Million Dollar Man is one of the few who is, instead, known for an iconic sound effect: na na na na na na na. Based on Martin Caidin's novel Cyborg, the series starred Lee Majors as Austin — a pilot who is made "better, faster, and stronger" with mechanical enhancements after suffering a near-fatal test flight crash.

V (1984-1985)

In NBC's hit, Emmy-nominated miniseries V from 1983, the Earth becomes infiltrated by lizard-like extra-terrestrials who pretend to come in peace before their intentions of exterminating the human race and harnessing all of the planet's most valuable resources are discovered. The alien invasion story continued in the 1984 miniseries V: The Final Battle and this traditional series that lasted one season and saw more of one of Robert Englund's best performances as one of the few friendly "Visitors," Willie.   

Mork And Mindy (1978-1982)

One of Robin Williams' greatest TV performances originated in a Season 5 episode of Happy Days, in which Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard) is visited by an eccentric alien named Mork, who's from the planet Ork. Soon after, the character landed his own spin-off called Mork & Mindy, in which he moves in with a human woman named Mindy McConnell, played by Pam Dawber, in 1970s Colorado. 

Knight Rider (1982-1986)

One of the most charming unlikely duos in TV history comes from creator Glen A. Larson's Knight Rider — a classic TV show that might be due for a movie reboot. It stars David Hasselhoff as a skilled lawman who, after a failed attempt to kill him, is given a new face and the new name Michael Knight. He is partnered with a high-tech, unusually powerful car equipped with an advanced AI called KITT (voiced by William Daniels).

Buck Rogers In The 25th Century (1979-1981)

One of comic book fiction's most influential cosmic heroes was brought to the small screen in developers Glen A. Larson and Leslie Stevens' NBC hit, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. Gil Gerard starred as the Emmy-winning drama's titular hero: a modern-day astronaut who finds himself accidentally sent hundreds of years into the future, where Earth has fallen under totalitarian rule after a devastating nuclear war.

The Hitchhikers's Guide To The Galaxy (1981)

A story often referred to as "Monty Python in space" is The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which creator Douglas Adams originally wrote as a radio play before adapting it into a now-celebrated novel. Also celebrated is the 1981, six-episode TV adaptation which beautifully brought to life the story of a human's post-Earth adventures with a whacky group of space travelers.

Space: 1999 (1975-1977)

The mid-to-late 1970s' answer to Lost in Space was the U.K.-produced Space: 1999. Starring Academy Award winner Martin Landau and Barbara Bain, the cosmic adventure drama followed the crew of Moonbase Alpha, who struggle to find stability when they are accidently sent hurtling out of the Earth's orbit. 

Voltron (1984-1985)

Before there was the live-action Power Rangers franchise, there was the animated Voltron series, which was later rebooted for Netflix as Voltron: Legendary Defender. The American-Japanese production boasted a similar plot involving young heroes defending evil by piloting robots that can combine into one giant mechanical warrior.

Battlestar Galactica (1978-1979)

Glen A. Larson's most celebrated creation might be Battlestar Galactica, which follows a crew searching for the long-lost planet Earth in a dystopian future. The short-lived, Emmy-winning cult favorite was rebooted into an even more acclaimed drama for Syfy, which featured a new Battlestar Galactica cast not just replacing, but redefining, beloved characters like Dirk Benedict's "Starbuck," who was later played by Katee Sackhoff.

Quantum Leap (1989-1993)

Creator Donald P. Bellisario crafted one of the most inventive time travel story concepts with Quantum Leap. Following an accident with his groundbreaking tech, Dr. Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula), with help from the holographic Al (Dean Stockwell in one of his best TV shows), is forced to jump from person to person and era to era righting wrongs of the past and hoping each time that his next leap will be the leap home

Doomwatch (1970-1972)

Few science-fiction TV shows from the 1970s (or 1980s) are more thematically relevant in modern times as Doomwatch. The British drama followed a group of biological researchers keeping tabs on strange biological and technological disasters.

The Transformers (1984-1987)

Long before Michael Bay revamped their popularity with the live-action Transformers movies, the Autobots and the Decepticons were really in their prime when they starred in their own TV show. The animated series, which premiered the same year as the original action figures' initial "rollout," notably starred legendary voice actor Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime.

Sapphire & Steel (1979-1982)

Joanna Lumley and David McCallum actually play the eponymous elements in Sapphire & Steel, respectively. In the British series from creator Peter J. Hammond, the interdimensional agents materialize into human form on Earth to investigate unusual cases.

Red Dwarf (1988-Present)

If you are looking for a show like The Orville, the British cult favorite Red Dwarf is a perfect match. Boasting the look of a cosmic B-movie epic but the tone and laugh track of a quirky sitcom, the British cult favorite has endured several cancellations and lasted decades after its late '80s debut, thanks to its devoted fanbase.

Blake's 7 (1978–1981)

Fans of sci-fi stories about ragtag groups of unlikely heroes taking on corruption and evil should seek out the U.K.-based thriller, Blake's 7. Airing for four seasons on the BBC, it stars Gareth Thomas as the leader of a crew made up of convicts and outcasts who unite to fight a tyrannical regime.

Amazing Stories (1985-1987)

From executive producer Steven Spielberg, Amazing Stories is a collection of wondrous tales exploring the greatest depth of the imagination, such as a school custodian who inexplicably absorbs knowledge from the classrooms he cleans up. Admittedly, however, the series veers away from sci-fi and often feels like a fantasy or even a horror anthology TV show in some episodes, such as one in which a movie nerd gets to live the plot of Psycho for real.

The Incredible Hulk (1977-1982)

Decades before Marvel's famous big, green superhero was a role shared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies by Edward Norton and Mark Ruffalo, it was a role shared by Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno on The Incredible Hulk. Developed by Kenneth Johnson, the Emmy-winning series remains one of the most iconic and entertaining Marvel TV shows of all time.

ALF (1986-1990)

ALF (the title character of the hit NBC sitcom) is known for his sarcastic quips and hunger for felines. However, when you compare him to most other extra-terrestrial characters introduced at the time (on TV and in classic '80s movies alike), the way he treated his adoptive human family was endearing.

The Tomorrow People (1973-1979)

Creator Roger Price's The Tomorrow People is a British drama following a group of teens who represent the next steps in human evolution with enhanced cognitive abilities such as telepathy and teleportation. The coming-of-age series has been reimagined twice since its initial run — first in the early 1990s and more recently for the The CW.

Max Headroom (1987-1988)

One of the oddest pop culture sensations of the 1980s was a stuttering computer-generated TV presenter called Max Headroom, who was really actor Matt Frewer in heavy prosthetics. After debuting in a British made-for-TV cyberpunk satire film, the character hosted a music video compilation and later became the star of a short-lived dramatic series set in a dystopian future run by television networks.

UFO (1970-1971)

Unidentified flying objects are not only real but a prevalent threat in creators
Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's British drama, UFO. Set 10 years in the future, the series follows the Supreme Headquarters Alien Defence Organization (otherwise referred to as SHADO for short) and their effort to defend the Earth from insidious extra-terrestrial activity.

The Highwayman (1987-1988)

The closest we came to getting a TV series based on the post-apocalyptic movie classic, Mad Max, in the 1980s was creators Glen A. Larson and Douglas Heyes' The Highwayman. Flash Gordon's Sam Jones starred in the title role of the leader of a team of federal marshals who travel the country in a high-tech 18-wheeler righting wrongs in a nearly lawless near future.

Land Of The Lost (1974-1977)

An earthquake during a rafting trip sends Rick Marshall (Welsey Eure), his son Will (Wesley Eure), and daughter Holly (Kathy Coleman) into a world inhabited by dinosaurs and even stranger creatures in Land of the Lost. Producers Sid and Marty Krofft's cult favorite was later reimagined as a short-lived ABC series in the early '90s and again as a feature film starring Will Ferrell.

Terrahawks (1983-1986)

The U.K. drama Terrawhawks followed the heroic efforts of an organization sworn to protect the Earth from a malicious enemy based on Mars. Like the majority of producer Gerry Anderson and Christopher Burr's most famous series (such as Thunderbirds), the production was told with the use of puppets and miniatures, making for a visually unique experience in science fiction storytelling.

Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973-1975)

While many of the most acclaimed new Star Trek TV shows are animated these days, the first series from Gene Roddenberry's space exploration saga to adopt the medium was Star Trek: The Animated Series. William Shatner came to back to voice Captain James T. Kirk, along with many of his co-stars from the original live-action show, which was cancelled before the end of the 1960s.

Small Wonder (1985-1989)

At a time when family sitcoms with a sci-fi twist were increasingly popular, Small Wonder managed to stand out and last nearly 100 episodes in syndication — perhaps because the main focus of the series was an adorable little girl named Vicki, played by Tiffany Brisette. In the series, Vicki is a robot designed by inventor Ted Lawson (Richard Christie) who, along with his wife and son, is trying to keep her true identity a secret while she poses as his daughter. 

Timeslip (1970-1971)

Cheryl Burfield and Spencer Banks star on Timeslip as Liz Skinner and Simon Randall, who are a couple of regular English children who make an astonishing discovery that changes their lives forever. After falling through a portal, they become trapped on a journey through various eras of the 20th Century, all the while frequently coming at odds with a menacing fellow time-traveler named Commander Charles Traynor (Dennis Quilley).

Alien Nation (1989-1990)

A classic sci-fi TV show due for a remake (especially with how relevant its adversarial themes are these days) is Alien Nation, which an adaptation of the 1988 film of the same name starring James Caan and Mandy Patinkin. The series puts Gary Graham and Eric Pierpoint in the roles of a human police officer and his partner, who is part of an extra-terrestrial race that has integrated itself into society after becoming stranded on Earth.

The Bionic Woman (1976-1978)

Steve Austin from The Six Million Dollar Man was not the only mechanically enhanced hero on TV in the 1970s. Creator Kenneth Johnson developed a spin-off called The Bionic Woman, which starred Lindsay Wagner in an Emmy-winning performance of the first female cyborg, who would also team up with Lee Majors in crossover episodes and, later, a series of made-for-TV features that explored their further adventures together.

War Of The Worlds (1988-1990)

Just like the seminal H.G. Wells novel that inspired it, 1953's The War of the Worlds ended with the Martian visitors being defeated by the common cold. Creator Greg Strangis' series acts as a continuation of the alien invasion movie classic, positing that the bacterial infection only put the extra-terrestrial enemy in a state of hibernation, only to awaken as an even worse threat to humanity.

Logan's Run (1977-1978)

Based on the 1976 feature adaptation of William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson's novel, Logan's Run is set in a dystopian society in which all citizens are put to death once they reach the age of 30. A police officer (played by Gregory Harrison) wishes to continue living and takes a woman named Jessica 6 (Heather Menzies-Urich) on a search for a fabled sanctuary.

Quantum Leap's Season 2 finale set the stage for what could've been an exciting third season but, unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be. NBC canceled the revival, and based on an exec's thoughts on it going to Peacock, it doesn't seem like we'll ever see more of the show's main heroes. Fortunately, we do know what the season would've been about, thanks to a key member of the creative team.

For those needing a refresher and don't have time to rewatch the Season 2 finale, I'll quickly bring you up to speed. Addison ultimately decided to enter the Quantum Accelerator to swap places with Ben after it was believed that a new formula could allow him to return to the present at the cost of switching places. The formula seemingly failed, and Addison and Ben arrived at the next leap together. During an interview with TV Insider, co-showrunner Dean Georgaris hinted at how the series would've explored that premise: 

The show was all about shaking up typical narratives seen in science fiction, and it seemed like Season 3 would've featured more of that. Showrunners Martin Gero and Dean Georgaris expressed excitement over the creative place the series was in at the end of Season 2. So it's a bummer that we won't see this come to be. While speaking with CinemaBlend, cast member Caitlin Bassett even seemed optimistic the chances of NBC handing the revival a renewal, but it seems any celebration of that was premature. 

It's a real shame, because there were hints from Dean Georgaris that Hannah Carson's formula might've worked after all to a point and that the companions could flip-flop between who was in the loops and not. The EP also said during his interview:

It's an interesting premise because, theoretically, if people could be replaced in leaps, the program could rotate people in and out of leaps and prevent anyone from being trapped there for too long. Now, this isn't to say that was 100% what the producers had planned, since Dean Georgaris was upfront about the fact that planning for Season 3 was still in the early stages. So, all in all, there's no telling how much of this would've stuck or not. 

Quantum Leap's cancellation robbed viewers of a quality network science fiction series, and such a productions seems to be in increasingly short supply these days. The show never had the opportunity to coax original series star Scott Bakula to return, but did name-drop his character, Sam Beckett, from time to time. What is known is that the series never had plans of recasting Sam, so if Bakula hadn't agreed to return, we would've never seen the franchise's OG protagonist at all.

As of writing, it doesn't appear as though QL has any shot of being saved by a network or streamer. If there's any upside, the series is still available to stream with a Peacock subscription, and the first two seasons are remain very entertaining. The only downside is that the show is saddled with an unsatisfying ending, and the three Leapers are now stuck with no hope of returning to their time. 

I would love to see Quantum Leap receive a greenlight for Season 3 at some point, especially now that we have an indication as to where the story was heading. But, quite frankly, it feels impossible that a network will swoop in and save it. Stranger things have happened in the past, however, so maybe now is the time to drum up the fan campaigns and get people on social media talking!

Quantum Leap's Season 2 ending made it clear there were plans for a potential Season 3, and Caitlin Bassett shared her positive renewal hopes when speaking with CinemaBlend in January. Suffice it to say, I was saddened when the series was canceled at NBC, but held out hope for its Peacock chances, given recent movies like Law & Order: Organized Crime shifting to the streamer. We now have some answers, thanks to some top brass at the network.

Jeff Bader, President of Program Planning Strategy at NBCUniversal Entertainment, was asked by TVLine about Quantum Leap getting the same treatment as Law & Order: Organized Crime by way of having a new season ordered specifically for those with Peacock subscriptions. Unfortunately for hopefuls like me, the exec offered a pretty blunt response confirming the sci-fi reboot isn't making the jump to streaming, and explained why that's the case:

Peacock subscribers will get to watch Season 5 of Law & Order: Organized Crime on the platform next season in part because a vast majority of its viewership was already doing so. While the decision may keep Stabler away from Benson and more episodic cameos on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, it sounds like the spinoff is still thriving, just in a different way.

The story is a bit different when it comes to Quantum Leap, according to Jeff Bader. In about as kind of a way as possible, the executive made it clear that when it comes to the viewership and ratings, the sci-fi revival was not hitting the same mark as the crime procedural:

In short, it sounds like the odds of us getting answers to that Season 2 ending that threw me for a loop are slim to nil if Peacock is its only saving grace. It's technically possible other networks can pick up the series for a third outing, but it remains to be seen if any other studioes would view the revival as a good fit that would find more success under their branding.

NBC isn't the only network cutting primetime shows either in 2024, as CBS also dropped several fan-favorites from its lineup that shocked audiences. Of course, the fans are always the ones that believe there's no justification by way of most cancellations, but the television industry is a business, after all.

If the viewership numbers aren't there to inspire confidence in keeping a particular show on the air, chances are high that it'll get pulled, which sounds like it was the case with Quantum Leap. In a way, that feels better than the situation where a show like So Help Me Todd was pushed out of primetime due to scheduling issues, despite earning promising numbers. Looks like two more souls have lost their chance of finding a way back to their own timelines. I guess if Sam Beckett is still alive out there, he'll have some company!

Quantum Leap is finished at NBC, but those wanting to still check the series out, its first two seasons are up on Peacock. I'll keep my hopes high that there's some chance for the series to be saved, but based on these recent comments, the odds don't look too good.

We’re getting into that time of the year again, TV viewers. I’m talking about the stretch that includes May sweeps, during which networks reveal what’ll be airing in the coming season. That excitedly means that we’ll learn what’s set to return and premiere but, on the flip side, it’s also when cancellations are announced. And, sadly, amid NBC’s renewal spree, it axed a show after two seasons – Quantum Leap. Fans of the science fiction offering – a.k.a. “Leapers” – seemed disappointed by this turn of events. Now, two of the series’ lead actors, Raymond Lee and Caitlin Bassett, have responded to the fanbase. 

Just like the fans, the actors themselves had been incredibly passionate about the series throughout its run. So it’s not surprising that following the confirmation of its demise, they spoke out. Raymond Lee, who played lead character Ben Song, took to his Instagram to react to the news and address devoted Leapers. He shared a sentimental note through which he conveyed his gratitude: 

He polished off those sweet sentiments with a heart emoji that was added to his caption. Likewise, his co-star Caitlin Bassett (who played Addison Augustine), took to her own Instagram to address the series devotees. She shared a still of her character as well has a lovely “farewell” to those who’ve been invested in the program:

Picked up during the summer of 2022, Quantum Leap is a revival of the 1989 show of the same name starring Scott Bakula. It was originally believed that the actor would reprise his role as Sam Beckett – a physicist who can jump through space time – for the new series. However, Bakula later revealed that he had to pass on the new show, which was a “very difficult decision” for him. With that, the follow-up centered around Ben Song, the new lead physicist on the new iteration of the eponymous program. And, like Beckett, he eventually finds himself trapped in the past and living other people’s lives. All the while, Addison, also a former Army intelligence officer, would appear to Song as a hologram and aid him in his tasks.

The cancellation news is certainly a major blow for the fanbase, especially given that some were thrown for a loop by Season 2’s finale. CinemaBlend actually had the opportunity to speak with showrunners Martin Gero and Dean Georgaris about QL’s finale and Season 3 renewal chances. In regard to the latter, they didn’t have any concrete updates to share at the time, though they believed the series was “just strong and getting stronger” creatively and said that they had “a lot of stories [they] can tell.” 

It sadly seems that said sci-fi tales won’t be told, which is indeed a bummer. Nevertheless, it seems that Raymond Lee and Caitlin Bassett are taking this turn of events in stride. Here’s to the two seasons of fun storytelling and here’s wishing the two stars all the best in their next chapters.

You can still stream both seasons of Quantum Leap using a Peacock subscription. Also, if you’re looking for other shows to watch, be sure to look over the 2024 TV schedule.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Quantum Leap Season 2 episodes "As The World Burns" and "Against Time." Read at your own risk!

Many are still reeling after the wild ending of Quantum Leap that threw some for a loop, which just speaks further to the need for this quality sci-fi series to see Season 3 on NBC. This fan had some time with the showrunners recently, and in addition to getting their breakdown of the ending and thoughts on renewal chances, I asked about the nods to Star Trek and learned James Frain's inclusion in the season was not just pure coincidence, but a result of showrunner Martin Gero watching Discovery. 

Frain made a late entry to Season 2 to play the previously unseen tech billionaire Gideon Rydge, who Ian stole from in order to get the technology to find Ben in time again after he went missing. By the season's end, we learn Rydge was actually Hannah Carson's son Jeffrey, who discovered Ben's secret and blamed him for the death of his father after the time traveler tried to warn Hannah via letter about her husband's heart problem. The time-meddling resulted in a fight between them, and he died in a car crash after leaving the house. 

Jeffrey then amassed a fortune after eavesdropping on Ben's stock tips, changed his name, and dedicated decades of his life to building a tech empire just so he could exact revenge on the Quantum Leap program. It was a role that required a lot of nuance and an almost cocky attitude. Martin Gero talked about how he had just finished watching James Frain as Spock and Michael Burnham's father Sarek in Discovery and had the chance to cast him not long after: 

While there are some definitive differences between Sarek and Gideon, the overall cool factor while looking and sounding brilliant tracks between the two. James Frain was a delightfully ruthless character in Quantum Leap, and was responsible for Magic's firing, and Jenn's death. 

Both of those things, and much more was retconned by the end of Quantum Leap Season 2. By using the butterfly effect, Ben was able to influence younger Jeffrey to change his mindset about the program and what it can achieve. The change still resulted in Jeffrey becoming a billionaire, though he kept his given name and became the largest donor to the program. Executive producer Dean Georgaris talked about the skill required to play Jeffrey, and how James Frain was able to replicate the adult version first portrayed by young actors: 

James Frain's inclusion was not the only Star Trek nod in the final episodes, thanks to an iconic moment by Ian. The tech genius of the program quoted Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan while trying to crack the code found by Tom Westfall to bring Ben home. Dean Georgaris confirmed there are some fans of the franchise on the writing staff, and I'd reckon some are as excited as we are about the upcoming Trek shows on the horizon. 

It's possible that James Frain could return in Quantum Leap Season 3, assuming that a renewal happens. Caitlin Bassett told CinemaBlend positive signs were pointing toward renewal, but thus far, NBC has not announced a decision on whether or not the show will be back. Ultimately, viewership will play some factor, so those hoping to see it return may want to stream the latest episodes with a Peacock subscription. 

Quantum Leap Season 2 is finished, and we're still waiting on word from NBC on whether it will return for more episodes. As one of the best science fiction shows on television, I'm hoping to see it return and for the opportunity to see where this story heads now that Ben and Addison are back together again. 

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Quantum Leap Season 2 episodes "As The World Burns" and "Against Time." Read at your own risk!

Quantum Leap just wrapped up Season 2 on NBC, but not before giving its audience the thrill of the season with an unexpected twist. Unfortunately, after what went down, we must now wait for news on whether the show will return for Season 3. On that note, the showrunners were kind enough to speak with CinemaBlend and share the latest on that front. They also provided keen insight into why this season ended with Ben and Addison being reunited but trapped in the leap. 

I had tons of big questions about the Quantum Leap Season 2 finale, so it was great that both Martin Gero and Dean Georgaris were on hand to talk to about the end of this season. During our conversation, Georgaris talked about how Season 2 served up an endgame-level curveball fans wouldn't necessarily expect, which played into why they didn't want to end on a cliffhanger in which we don't know the result of Addison's leap:

As fans likely remember, Season 2's opening featured the upsetting reveal that Addison moved on after Ben's presumed death during his three-year absence. Not only that, but she was also seeing another person. Fans weren't happy with the change, and even Caitlin Bassett revealed to CinemaBlend tht she had doubts about it. But, now, at the end of the season, we have a better idea of what the showrunners were working toward. 

Quantum Leap managed to win many over on Addison's new boyfriend, Tom Westfall, to the point that I was sad when they broke up. Now that the same happened with Ben's fling through time, Hannah Carson, it's clear that the point of this storyline was to explore whether Ben and Addison can rekindle their previous love in Season 3. It also makes the dynamic of completing a leap much more complex, which offers a chance to tell new stories, should the series get the chance. Caitlin Bassett told CinemaBlend she was optimistic about a renewal, but Dean Georgaris said there are no new updates to share at this time: 

Big twists and an entertaining storyline can maintain viewers' interest in a show. However, if fans really want to increase the odds of a renewal, they would do well to spread the word about Quantum Leap and the fact that it's streamable with a Peacock subscription. Viewership is still the key factor when it comes to a show's survival, especially for those that air on primetime network TV. There are already so many promising shows on the 2024 TV schedule, so I'm just hoping we'll learn that  Season 3 will happen and begin later this fall. 

Though Quantum Leap is done for the season, there's still plenty of reason to revisit Seasons 1 and 2 on Peacock. I still maintain my stance that it's one of the best science fiction shows one can watch right now, so fans owe it to themselves to let as many people as possible know about the series. 

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Quantum Leap episodes "As The World Burns" and "Against Time." Read at your own risk!

Quantum Leap apparently really loves to keep the fans guessing, as the NBC series delivered another stunner in the final moments of Season 2. The results of the team using Hannah Carson's algorithm were shown, and it's looking like the team's problems will get worse before they get any better. 

Addison was supposed to take Ben's place via the quantum accelerator, but something went wrong because they both arrived at the next leap location together again. We're still waiting to hear whether or not Quantum Leap will return for Season 3, but for now, I have a few questions about future episodes, especially in regards to this big scene. 

Is Addison Really Stuck In The Past With Ben?

I'll admit Quantum Leap had me fooled for a minute. I was briefly convinced that Caitlin Bassett's Addison would become the new lead in Season 3 and that Raymond Lee's Ben Song would flip-flop roles and play her Holoassistant. In hindsight, I should've known it was foolish to believe Hannah Carson's equation would be executed flawlessly, and I should've guessed something would go wrong and land both Ben and Addison linked together in the past. 

My question is, however, how long will this last? Will Addison be able to be brought back to the present within an episode or two, or is she stuck for a season or more? The problem with season finale twists is they don't leave much time for the show to answer all these questions, so we'll have to wait and see. 

Who Will Be The New Holoassistant?

Addison being in the leaps with Ben opens up a new position for a Holoassistant, which people have subbed in for in the past. I know I said in the past I wanted Ernie Hudson's Magic to have more screen time on Quantum Leap, and he might get it with this new development. The same is true for Jenn and Ian, who have also filled in the past, particularly after Addison and Ben broke up. 

One character I'd love to see return is Tom Westfall, Addison's now ex-fiancé. I think now that we can definitively rule him out as an enemy of the program, it would be good to see him reunite with Addison and maybe give an "I told you so" if she's able to rekindle her romance with Ben. Westfall's actor Peter Gadiot is a part of the cast of One Piece, so who knows what his availability might be should Season 3 happen?

Is There Really No Way To Bring Someone Back From The Leap Program?

Addison's situation at the end of Quantum Leap Season 2 would suggest that Hannah Carson's equation didn't work the way it was intended, and now there are two people stuck in time as a result of the quantum accelerator. Is it finally time to admit that maybe there's no way to bring someone back after sending them through time? 

It's a great question that this Quantum Leap fan would love to know the answer to. I understand that the show could sabotage its own premise if the team figures out a way to pull people out of the timeline, so it's easy to see why the show continues to bungle the opportunities to bring Ben back thus far and objectively made the situation worse by the end of Season 2. 

At the same time, I still see a world in which Quantum Leap can continue as a series while allowing its leapers to return home after the job is done. Season 2's finale showed that the stakes are still very real even if Ben doesn't die, and that meddling in the future can have unintended consequences. Who knows how many other evil villains Ben could create while trying to do what he thinks is best? Hopefully, we will find out the answer in Season 3, assuming we get to see it. Caitlin Basset told CinemaBlend that there were encouraging signs of renewal, so I trust that!

Quantum Leap is finished with Season 2 at NBC, but those with a Peacock subscription can relive the entire season. For those who were holding out hope and are now disappointed Scott Bakula didn't return in this finale either, the classic series is available to watch as well!

Spoilers from Quantum Leap Season 2 can be found in this article!

Quantum Leap Season 2 is loaded with surprising moments, but that had to be expected, given how it kicked off. Viewers were hit with the one-two punch that while Dr. Ben Song experienced no loss of time between leaps, he had been missing and presumed dead for three years. To make matters worse, his fiancé Addison had grieved, moved on, and had a new boyfriend. The storyline definitely deepened Season 2's storyline like the showrunners hoped, but not everyone was happy about it. Actress Caitlin Bassett was one of the people stressed out about the change at first and even feared she'd be likened to a famous Breaking Bad character. 

Caitlin Bassett spoke to CinemaBlend not too long ago about Quantum Leap's wild reveal and how she feared people might liken her to Anna Gunn's Skyler White in Breaking Bad. I learned this when I asked Bassett about her reaction to the storyline when she first heard about it, and was shocked at her first emotion when learning about Addison's story: 

Caitlin Bassett didn't want Addison to be the new "Skyler White," and given the hatred for the character that exists to this day, I don't blame her. Fans tend to overlook that Walter White was a flawed and selfish individual from the start, and look more to her meddling as the real purpose of their dysfunction. Bassett created such a great character in Season 1; I could definitely understand her fear of undoing it all for a new romance.

When Peter Gadiot's Tom Westfall was introduced on Quantum Leap, my gut instinct was he was a secret villain manipulating Addison. Over the course of the season, however, we learned he was a solid guy. Quantum Leap won me over so much on Tom that I was sad when they took a break after she had second thoughts on marriage.  

I wouldn't be surprised, however, if there were many happy to see him go, seeing it as one less obstacle to Addison and Ben being a couple again. Caitlin Bassett shared her thoughts on the hate about the storyline and even shared she was a little frustrated at first as well: 

While it might've ruffled some feathers at the start, Quantum Leap's decision to break up Ben and Addison really drove the story to some interesting places. Ben is still in a love story with Hannah Carson across time, and was able to share a major romantic moment with someone for the first time since he leapt. The storyline with Hannah remains a major factor as we head into the finale of Season 2, so we'll see what happens there. 

We still don't know what the status is for another season, but Caitlin Bassett told CinemaBlend there are encouraging signs that point to Quantum Leap Season 3. As always, ratings and viewership will factor into a decision, so those who want to see it stick around should definitely prioritize watching the finale on NBC or with a Peacock subscription. 

Quantum Leap's two-hour finale kicks off on NBC on Tuesday, February 20th at 9:00 p.m. ET. Tune in and be prepared for what should be an electric finale, and keep with CinemaBlend as we talk about what may be next for Ben and the rest of the program. 

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Quantum Leap episode "The Outsider." Read at your own risk!

I can tell Quantum Leap is in the back half of Season 2 because it feels like every week there's some big game-changing moment to talk about. After Gideon Rydge arrived at the end of last week's episode, fans knew there were going to be some consequences for Ian stealing his microchip to find Ben and then Jenn helping him cover it up. Suffice it to say that "The Outsider" was a tough episode all around, and we lost two major characters that may or may not return in the future. 

For those who missed the episode live and haven't had a chance to watch with a Peacock subscription, this was a big episode. Be warned: there will be spoilers that pick up on the major twist for Addison in the previous episode, and a member of the team who had to take the fall for Ian's actions. Now, let's talk about who left, and what the odds are of their return. 

Herbert "Magic" Williams

Gideon Rydge decided to drop all criminal charges against Ian and Jenn, assuming he received his pound of flesh. Magic was unwilling to let either take the fall for their actions, especially since he felt they were necessary to help crack the code in bringing Ben back home. With no other options, Magic resigned as head of the Quantum Leap program, much to the dismay of Jenn. 

I wasn't surprised that Magic took the fall despite having nothing to do with the chip being stolen or the coverup. What I would be surprised by is if Ernie Hudson does leave Quantum Leap for good. That might just be because I want him to have more screen time, but as the most notable veteran actor in the series, it would be a big loss to see him go. 

Another possibility with Magic potentially leaving Quantum Leap is perhaps Gideon Rydge steps in and creates chaos in the program. He has influence in the government so it wouldn't be wild to assume he could, and seeing as the program is still using his technology, he has a vested interest in continuing to monitor what all it is capable of.

James Frain is an accomplished actor who could fill a void left by Hudson if he does leave and make the big bad of Season 3 ever-present in the building going forward. As much as I'd hate to see Hudson leave, who knows what availability he'd have once he joined the Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire press tour?

Tom Westfall

Tom returned as the Department of Defense representative to investigate Ian's crimes and suggest what action should be taken. It was a big win for the team, and I find it hilarious that I thought he was the secret villain of this season at one point. Unfortunately, it seems that Tom has decided in their time apart that he and Addison weren't meant to be together, and he wished her well in bringing Ben home before exiting. 

At first, I thought this was Quantum Leap writing off Peter Gadiot, who officially won me over in Season 2 as Addison's new boyfriend. Now that Magic is gone, however, I do wonder if he'll step in as the new supervisor of the program, as he had done in the interim when the project was first brought back. It'll certainly be awkward if that does happen, but we'll have to wait and see if he'll return. 

Quantum Leap airs on NBC on Tuesdays at 10:00 p.m. ET. Season 2 is buzzing along, and Caitlin Bassett feels optimistic about Season 3. So, let's hope we see that renewal come along soon because I really want to know where this story is headed after the season ends. 

Quantum Leap Season 2 is entering its second half and, with the wild reveal during the midseason finale that Ben might be able to return home, there are surely viewers who are eager to know how this next batch of episodes will play out. Of course, some are looking even further ahead and wondering if the NBC primetime sci-fi series might be handed a third season by the network. Nothing is set in stone just yet (as far as we know), but CinemaBlend learned some details from star Caitlin Bassett that has me hopeful for more adventures in the future. 

The actress was kind enough to speak to CinemaBlend ahead of the return of Quantum Leap and of course, about what lies ahead for Addison in the coming episodes. The series only just wrapped production on Season 2, so I was curious as to whether Caitlin Bassett had any idea whether or not NBC would renew the series. Bassett admitted she didn't know anything definitive but shared some promising signs are pointing toward a potential renewal:  

To be clear, no one at NBC has made a definitive announcement on Quantum Leap Season 3, as of this writing. Caitlin Bassett, however, seems to like the chances of it happening, though, and could see the signs of a potential renewal while on the set of the show. Yet anything can change when it comes to the 2024 TV schedule, so fans will need to tune in and support the rest of the season to ensure it has the best odds of returning.

Should Quantum Leap return for Season 3, there is a very real question that Season 2 has to answer. If the writers find a way to bring Ben back to his timeline, how would the eponymous project operate going forward? Would it open up the series even further, considering that Ben's life wouldn't depend on succeeding in every mission he is given? 

There's also a question of whether Ben even wants to go back at this point or continue helping people. Caitlin Bassett's Addison has moved on with her new boyfriend, Tom, and while she's reunited with Ben as his holo-assistant, it seems clear that the romance between them is dead. Fortunately, Ziggy has put Ben in the path of Hannah Carson, played by new Season 2 regular Eliza Taylor, and that passionate kiss between them seemingly affirmed their path as a new couple. 

Perhaps Ben is fine where he is and would sooner pursue his new relationship with Hannah, which presumably wouldn't be possible in his modern day. I mean, sure, love knows no bounds, but I'd be unsure if Hannah would be interested or willing to pursue a relationship with him in her late 70s or 80s. I can't blame her if so, they only met a handful of times over a couple of decades. 

Whatever the creative team have planned for the future, I do hope fans get to see it. I've been rewatching Season 1 with a Peacock Premium subscription, and there's no denying on my end that this is the best sci-fi show currently on network television. Let's hope that Caitlin Bassett's intuition proves to be true and more stories set in this engaging universe as told. 

Quantum Leap returns to NBC with a new episode on Tuesday, January 30th, at 10:00 p.m. ET. Be sure to tune in or set your DVR to see the exciting follow-up to the midseason finale, which is bound to have some answers about what's next for Ben following the massive reveal. 

Quantum Leap Season 2 closed out its first batch of episodes with a significant reveal but shared little details on what it could mean for the rest of the season. Fortunately, a star of the NBC series was able to provide a little insight, which will reassure those anxious about how Ben will react when he learns Tom might've found a way for him to return to his present timeline. A key character could also play a factor in all of that, based on what this star had to say. 

Nanrisa Lee took some time to chat with TVLine about Season 2 of Quantum Leap and the potential game-changer that there may be a viable way to send Ben back to the present timeline. Lee confirmed that this won't be a storyline that'll get wrapped up swiftly and, in teasing a resolution, she said:

As mentioned by the star, a big part of the series has revolved around the quest to get Ben Song back home. It would be silly if the characters didn't at least try this method, though I do wonder what the plan is here. After all, if Ben returns home, Quantum Leap would effectively end as a show, right? 

Not necessarily, as I theorized that the ability to bring Ben back could change how Quantum Leap works going forward, from a stakes perspective. For example, every episode must end with Ben's success, or he'll risk being trapped in that time period indefinitely. If the program had a way to pull him back regardless of his completion status, it would raise the stakes of the episodic stories and mean that the character could fail to save the day on occasion and alter the universe in upsetting ways. 

It's also possible that after his big moment with Hannah, Ben may not be so keen on returning to the present. He's in love with her and, now that Addison has moved on with Tom, he may be more interested in trying to figure out a future with Hannah, if possible. Nanrisa Lee didn't have much to say about Ben's future with Hannah, but she did drop the hint that Eliza Taylor's Season 2 character could play a more significant role here than previously assumed:

When CinemaBlend spoke to Quantum Leap co-showrunners Martin Gero and Dean Georgaris, Gero hinted at Hannah's significance. At the time, however, we didn't know that Tom would find a way to bring Ben back. So it seemed that the assertion that Ben and Hannah were linked was due to their romance was the only reason Ziggy kept pulling them together. Is it possible that Ben divulging the secrets of the program to Hannah will encourage the scientist to seek out a way to save him?

The only thing I know for sure is with Addison and Ben back on good terms, we need something else to carry the main plot along. The notion of Hannah being the key to Ben's return home would make for a great development, assuming it is possible. 

There's also the fact that if Quantum Leap can bring back people from leaps, Scott Bakula's Sam Beckett could be brought back as well. Bakula decided not to be a part of the series before it started, though many in the series have confirmed they'd love to see him included. We also know the series won't recast Bakula's character, so could an even bigger reveal come later should the team crack the code to bring back the Leapers? We'll just have to wait and see.

Quantum Leap returns with new episodes on NBC in 2024 and hopefully, more answers than the questions it left fans with following the midseason finale. Catch up on the season right now with a Peacock subscription, and don't risk missing out on one of the best sci-fi shows to hit network TV in some time. 

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Quantum Leap Season 2 episode "A Kind Of Magic." Read at your own risk!

Many strange things have gone down in Quantum Leap Season 2 so far, which made it a less than ideal time for Ben to travel back to the 1600s. Fortunately, he was able to evade being burned at the stake despite seeming like quite the bewitching person for his vast knowledge of future events and medical techniques that far exceeded what was known at the time. But then something unexpected and unfortunate went down, with Addison now back in as the holo assistant, which I have mixed feelings about.

Just one episode after Ben shared a big moment with Hannah Carson, his ex-fiancé is back in the saddle as his guide through the leaps. Whether or not that's purely a coincidence, I'll leave it up to the reader to decide (but no), all while I'm wrestling with how I feel about the decision to bring her back so soon. I have two thoughts pulling me in different directions on whether or not this was the right move for Quantum Leap, though I guess I'll have to live with the choice regardless. 

I Was Enjoying Seeing The Other Characters Help Ben

When Quantum Leap dropped the upsetting update that Addison moved on after Ben was presumed dead, I quickly found a silver lining. With them on the outs, I realized that there was an opportunity for us to see more of Jenn, Ian, and Magic acting as the holo assistant instead. Sure enough, that happened, and it led me to realize actors like Ernie Hudson deserved much more screen time. 

Now that she's back in with Ben, I can only assume we won't see those characters back in the leaps for a while. It's a shame because we don't see Ben interact with those characters as often, but maybe that will change. Perhaps Nanrisa Lee is thankful for her character to be stuck at HQ, considering she struggled when Jenn took Addison's place, but I want more of her in leaps. 

Addison Doesn't Have Much To Contribute If She's Not Ben's Holo Assistant

While Ben and Addison's breakup deepened Season 2 in some ways, there's no denying that it kind of sidelined the latter's character development. Addison can't be the boss because that's Magic's job. She can't be the computer whiz because that's Ian, and Jenn handles security. There isn't much for Addison to do at the headquarters besides moping and hanging out with her new boyfriend, Tom Westfall, who I still have my eye on. 

To keep her out of the adventure wasn't fair to Caitlin Bassett, who is a great actress, so I knew this was inevitable. Even if Ben and Addison aren't together, removing her from the leaps took away one-half of the best part of the show, so with that being said, it's good to see the duo back together again. I just wish it wasn't as platonic friends, but I guess I can always revisit Season 1 with my Peacock Premium subscription if I want to see them together again. 

Quantum Leap airs on NBC on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. I'm curious to see how Addison's return as holo assistant will impact the rest of the season and Ben's potential relationship with Hannah that we think still might happen. 

I try not to be a person of many grudges, as those sorts of feelings don’t exactly get you anywhere. But there’s a special place in my heart that harbors a good number of bad feelings pertaining to the cancellation of TV shows I really happened to dig. So pull up a chair and prepare, as I’m about to rattle off 32 TV cancellations I’m still mad about.

Alcatraz

One 13 episode season in 2012 was all we got of this supernatural mindbender, where prisoners that randomly disappeared from Alcatraz returned decades later. When this show vanished, it left one of its leads in a potentially fatal cliffhanger, and deprived the world of weekly doses of Sam Neill. 

The Last Tycoon

Based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s book of the same name, The Last Tycoon entertained Prime Video subscribers in 2017. Nine episodes was all we got of Matt Bomer’s tragically dreamy studio head, in a series that used old Hollywood to scratch the itch that Mad Men left behind. Scripts for Season 2 are sitting somewhere in writer Billy Ray’s office, waiting for someone to call “Action!”

Resident Evil

When your story depends on jumping back and forth between the present and the future, the gap in the middle is where the fun lies. And for Netflix’s Resident Evil, we’ll never get the full story about what the Wesker family went through between pre and post-apocalyptic events. Though with the untimely passing of Lance Reddick, it would have been daunting to find a new Albert to fill his shoes.

Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip

Aaron Sorkin’s dramedy take on the behind the scenes of an SNL clone failed to capture the energy of actually funny sketches. That could have easily been worked on, as Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip was a very effective drama, with Matthew Perry and Bradley Whitford anchoring an amazing ensemble that included Amanda Peet and Sarah Paulson, among others.

Perry Mason

Perry Mason’s Season 2 finale became a series finale, thanks to HBO’s surprise cancellation. Which means Matthew Rhys’ titular detective will be cooling his heels in prison indefinitely, with no updates on how he picks up the pieces in the aftermath of his latest bombshell of a case. Another period-set beauty that’s been yanked too soon.

Westworld

One more season. That’s all Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy needed to close out Westworld properly. I don’t care if Season 4’s finale seems to tie things off, there was one more season of robot madness to be had, and as a Michael Crichton fan I feel cheated.

Lovecraft Country

While there were some serious rumors behind the possible reason for Lovecraft Country's cancellation, I still mourn what was supposed to happen in Season 2. With a radically different United States forming what Blavity reported to be the story behind Lovecraft Country: Supremacy, Mischa Green’s wild visions were too awesome to cancel this early.

Drive

There was a time when Fox was known for its cancel-happy nature, and 2007’s Drive was caught up in that era. An illegal cross-country race had several pairs of contestants racing for glory and survival, with Nathan Fillion, Melanie Lynskey, and Emma Stone among them. Only six episodes were made, with two being aired as online exclusives, and the overall story remaining unfulfilled.

Castle

You know it’s a problem when you’re an eight season show like Castle and your series finale is still a rush job. I still get whiplash when considering Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) and Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) going from a near fatal shooting to a happily ever after, one scene long time jump, set seven years into the future.

Counterpart

J.K. Simmons learning to live with his parallel universe self, in a Cold War-tinged espionage thriller. That’s all I should have to say when it comes to Starz’s Counterpart, which was cancelled after two seasons. This is the type of show that definitely should have had a longer life, even if it was just a five season wonder like Alias. 

Agent Carter

Somehow, somewhere in the ABC boardrooms, Agent Carter just wasn’t doing well enough to stay on the air. Meanwhile, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. went on for seven seasons. Not to knock that other series, but Hayley Atwell’s Sharon Carter deserved a lengthier run that enriched the MCU.

Human Target

Watching Human Target was, almost literally, a blast of weekly entertainment. Mark Valley, Jackie Earle Haley, and Chi McBride’s DC Comics action/comedy was light, fun, and packed with thrills. Each new assignment for their team was a treat to behold, and the “mission of the week” style varied things up enough that it was exciting to learn what was next.

Dark Angel

here was a mythos in play in James Cameron's Dark Angel, and plans for a third season of Jessica Alba’s genetically engineered hero Max already in the works. Cameron wrote and executive produced on the show, as well as directed what became the series finale for Season 2.

M.A.N.T.I.S.

Legendary actor Carl Lumbly got to be a TV superhero in M.A.N.T.I.S., and the role fit him like the suit that gave Dr. Miles Hawkins the ability to walk again. A superhero/man of science that flies around in a cool stealth ship and fights crime? And he’s played by Carl Lumbly? This two season epic never got its due, with a bummer ending supposedly closing the loop, and that’s an injustice.

Gentefied

I’m sensing the old fashioned Netflix 28-day viewership rule was what canned Gentefied, a glorious dramedy about the Morales family and their ups and downs in California. Celebrating the Latinx experience, while also focusing on the sociopolitical issues the family faced, it was a heartwarming as it was hysterical. 

I Am Not Okay With This

You shouldn’t legally be allowed to end a series like I Am Not Okay With This on a cliffhanger that massive. With Sydney (Sophia Lillis) moving into an uncertain future with her telekinetic powers, and after that shocking departure of a main character, Netflix’s one season wonder still has me wanting to see the next chapter.

Pen15

I got attached to Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle’s awkward adventures through middle school in Pen15. There was still a lot of ground for the girls to cover, and not having them around makes my Hulu subscription a little less funny.

I Love You America, With Sarah Silverman

Sarah Silverman’s I Love You, America was a mix of sketch comedy and discussion that tackled issues of the modern world in 2017. Running for only one season, it was a great compliment to other shows like Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, as it helped us all see the world a bit clearer through laughter.

Free Agents

Remakes of international shows like Free Agents don’t always work. But when they do, it’s usually because of amazing teams like Hank Azaria and Kathryn Hahn. Playing co-workers awkwardly navigating a workplace romance, half of its 8 episodes aired on TV, until its cancellation.

The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien

The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien ended way too soon, full stop. NBC’s decision to revert the show to its previous host, Jay Leno, was one of the most upsetting late night decisions in history. A little over half a year was all Conan got in the big chair, but wow did he make it work. 

The Tick

Amazon’s attempt at making The Tick into a series was absolutely worth the time and energy given to making its two season run. Peter Serafinowicz and Griffin Newman’s The Tick and Arthur were a match made in comedy heaven, and the constant questioning of reality made it all even more enjoyable to follow. 

The Critic

Even before I became a professional entertainment journalist, The Critic was the type of sarcastic animated comedy I have always dug. Jon Lovitz’ Jay Sherman was bounced around between networks, and even got a short lived run of online shorts. None of it was ever enough, as the sharp writing and movie parodies never missed.

Mr. Mayor

NBC’s Mr. Mayor ended after two seasons, setting up the ultimate cliffhanger with Mayor Neil (Ted Danson) and Deputy Mayor Arpi (Holly Hunter) squaring off in a mayoral race for control of L.A. But at least Jayden (Bobby Moynihan) got some good news to close things out, which left me with one last precious laugh before the curtain. 

The Mick

Fox’s two-season sitcom The Mick was flat out hysterical on its own merit, as Kaitlin Olson’s irresponsible aunt made for a problematic babysitter. However, fan theories that it was secretly the show that It’s Always Sunny’s Sweet Dee imagined herself a part of in “The Gang Saves The Day” episode only makes me miss it that much more.

The Millers

Will Arnett, Beau Bridges, J.B. Smoove, and Margo Martindale formed a solid main bench for CBS’s The Millers, and to the show’s credit it did last two seasons. At the same time, that wasn’t nearly enough for me; and this is coming from someone who’s super picky about their sitcom preferences.

Mr. Sunshine

Matthew Perry running a sports arena sounds like a fun logline. The reality lived up to the potential, as one season of ABC’s Mr. Sunshine banked on Perry’s sarcastic charm. Surrounding him with co-stars like Andrea Anders, Nate Torrence, and Allison Janney only sweetened the pot, but the show didn’t even get to air all 13 episodes produced before cancellation.

A.P. Bio

A.P. Bio always seemed to be fighting to make the grade, even after making the jump from NBC to Peacock. Four seasons saw Glenn Howerton scheming to make his life better, while developing somewhat of a heart over time. Unfortunately, this series has sat down and shut up forever.

The Strain

The Strain was supposed to last for four to five seasons, with FX ultimately ending the series in Season 4. Adapting Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan’s trilogy depicting a vampire apocalypse, the trimmed episode orders and four season run was satisfying to a degree. At the same time, I still wonder what new twists could have happened in that phantom Season 5.

Firefly

Will the cancellation of Firefly ever be forgiven? I certainly don’t think so. Even with the confusing episode order and Fox’s lack of support for the show, the adventures of the Nathan Fillion-led crew of outlaws was pure joy. And no, Serenity didn’t curb my appetite for future chapters; it only made it grow.

The Crazy Ones

Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar as a father/daughter ad exec team was almost like capturing lightning in a bottle. CBS had that lightning with The Crazy Ones, and its single 22-episode season is all the proof one needed. For a sitcom to be this funny, and to have equally funny outtakes to run each week, is nothing short of a miracle.

Dark Shadows (Revival)

It wasn’t NBC’s fault that the Dark Shadows revival happened to debut at the same time the Gulf War was raging in 1991. Ratings were hard to secure, and we only got 12 episodes of Barnabas Collins (Ben Cross) and the supernatural/gothic happenings that surrounded his family. Don't expect the Johnny Depp reboot if you seek this one out, because this revival was closer to the serious tone of the original.

Quantum Leap (OG)

Look, I know we have the new Quantum Leap, and everyone wants the potential return of Dr. Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula). That still doesn’t make up for the final episode of NBC’s original series in 1993 ending with nothing but a title card telling us that Sam never made it home. Ziggy tells me that’s still 100% not cool, and needs to be fixed pronto.

And there you have it: a bushel of TV cancellations that still, to this day, has me wondering "what if..." It'll never stop either, as there's always a new series or an ongoing narrative just waiting to be plucked before its time. Again, while I don't like to hold grudges, it's almost a sure-fire conversation starter if you mention one of these shows while I'm around.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Quantum Leap episode "Secret History." Read at your own risk!

Quantum Leap Season 2's "Secret History" was a big one for Dr. Ben Song, who may have already (so to speak) found a new love interest after the surprise split with Addison. This shocking development came after the re-appearance of Hannah Carson, played by new Season 2 regular Eliza Taylor, who shared a kiss with at the end of the episode, sparking all manner of agog reactions and questions about what it means for the future. Fortunately, CinemaBlend chatted directly with Taylor and co-star Raymond Lee about the smoochy moment, and heard their thoughts on what's happening with each character. 

Dr. Ben Song is having a rough season, as he recently learned he was missing for three years, and his fiancé Addison is now in a serious relationship with another man. The breakup is pretty fresh to the time traveler, which had me turn to Raymond Lee for answers on what's happening in Ben's mind when he went for that kiss. Here's how he explained that impulse:

Co-showrunners Martin Gero and Dean Georgaris hinted where Season 2 is headed to CinemaBlend, and also noted there's a natural connection between Ben and Hannah. Raymond Lee went a step further to point out how statistically improbable it is that two physicists would cross paths twice on a leap and the strong attraction that is created between them as a result. Is it fate that these two are together, or is Ziggy intentionally putting Hannah in Ben's path for a reason? 

Eliza Taylor couldn't share what's ahead for Hannah in the rest of Season 2, which will return the week after Thanksgiving, but she did offer some interesting insight for fans to mull over as they binge the latest episodes with a Peacock subscription. Hannah has seemingly found someone she wants to know everything about, which is heartwarming and gut-wrenching at the same time, all things considered. In her words:

Romance and time travel can be complicated, but there are fictional couples who make it work. Doctor Who's Doctor and River Song come to mind, but maybe it's a little premature to compare Ben and Hannah to that sci-fi coupling after one kiss.

After all, one could categorize this as a rebound for Ben, who went from engaged to single in what felt to him like an instant. Considering part of the reason for this breakup and bombshell time jump reveal was to deepen Season 2's emotional storytelling, I could see Ben ultimately regretting or becoming conflicted after the kiss. 

Unfortunately, it might be a while before we see more of Ben and Hannah, considering the returning episode will show him in 1600's Salem. Unless she's some sort of witch, she probably won't be alive during that episode, and if she is, I don't like her chances of surviving the leap. Executive Producer Chris Grismer talked about this leap when it was revealed during the trailer and noted it as a leap to be excited about. With an extended wait to see how things play out, I have nothing else to do but be excited and wonder what else is happening in this big season. 

Quantum Leap returns with a new episode on Wednesday, December 6th, at 8:00 p.m. ET. Keep an eye on CinemaBlend for more on the hit NBC series in the meantime.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Quantum Leap episode "Secret History." Read at your own risk!

Quantum Leap has brought back Season 2 regular Eliza Taylor as Hannah, and after she shared a tender kiss with Dr. Ben Song, viewers are no doubt very interested in how she fits into this story. "Secret History" also featured Ben meeting Tom Westfall for the first time, and Ian and Jenn confronting the individual stealing data from the program. By the end, I didn't know which questions I should be asking going forward, so I talked to co-showrunners Martin Gero and Dean Georgaris for help. 

I had the honor of speaking with Quantum Leap's showrunners for this game-changing episode and had to know what questions fans should be asking at the end of "Secret History." Martin Gero said it's difficult to talk about the questions that should be asked, but had some guidance for what fans shouldn't be worrying about as we move into the next few episodes:

Ben had not crossed paths with someone from one of his leaps more than once, and the odds of it happening coincidentally are astronomical. Ziggy is putting Hannah in his path for a reason, but what could that be? 

Martin Gero was happy to give one part of the answer to fans, as well as some more insight into the beauty of a storyline like this. He also talked about having a guest star like Eliza Taylor and not wanting to lose someone so great after one episode:

Hannah has been a welcome addition to the show, especially for Ben, who is on the rebound following his breakup with Addison. The kiss is another example of how the three-year time skip deepened Season 2 and provided more emotional stories. Of course, it's hard to say whether or not there's any real future with Ben and Hannah, especially considering they never know where they may meet next. 

Outside of the events of the episode, co-showrunner Dean Georgaris spoke to the larger message of Quantum Leap Season 2. He evoked the words of Tom Westfall while talking about the mission of the quantum accelerator and what it means for all involved:

The larger questions Quantum Leap poses are what keep me watching episodes on repeat with my Peacock subscription and why I think all fans of the original should watch the new series ASAP. I'm intrigued by what all of this could mean for the rest of Season 2 and where the adventure is headed. Are Ben and Hannah linked because Ziggy believes they're the right people for each other at this time? 

The best solution might just be to sit back and enjoy the ride because there's so much to appreciate beyond the reveal of a potential new enemy. I really love the cast tagging in as Holo assistants and would love for Ernie Hudson's Magic to get more screen time because of it. We also continue to get more Sam Beckett references in Season 2, which has me optimistic Scott Bakula could eventually show up. 

Quantum Leap will return with a new episode on NBC on Wednesday, December 6 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Season 2 has a bright future, and while I don't know exactly what's ahead, the hints from the showrunners make it sound like this will be must-watch television. 

Quantum Leap is well into Season 2 at this point, but some fans are still reeling from the massive reveal that kicked the season off. While few were surprised that Ben didn't make it back home, it was a shock to learn he'd been missing for three years following the Season 1 finale, and was presumed dead. When Ben finally returned, he discovered that much had changed in his absence, such as ex-fiancé Addison having a new boyfriend. Now, weeks after the reveal, the showrunner explained the logic behind that big breakup to CinemaBlend, as well as how it "deepens" Season 2.

I had the wonderful opportunity to speak to Quantum Leap showrunners Martin Gero and Dean Georgaris about what's played out in Season 2 to date, so I had to ask why they split up one of TV's best new couples immediately as its sophomore season began. I was admittedly skeptical about Gero providing any explanation that could justify Addison having a whole other boyfriend in Tom Westfall, but after hearing his reasoning, it makes a lot of sense. As he put it:

Quantum Leap Season 1 was a fantastic watch, and I highly recommend it to anyone with a Peacock subscription who liked the original series. As Martin Gero said, the purpose of the crew in the quasi-reboot's inaugural season was to provide exposition, and considering the series was a fresh revival at the time, it worked. Of course, Season 2 meant they needed to justify having the present-day ensemble involved, and in a way that wasn't just having them tell Ben what he has to do. 

Martin Gero said the team worked on solutions to figure out what happened after Ben's leap at the end of Season 1, and he, co-showrunner Dean Georgaris, and others ultimately came up with the idea that would both keep the main cast outside of Raymond Lee's character relevant, but also deepen the story as well: 

Season 2 has used its unique approach to further develop several characters' stories, and it's led to some great episodes so far. Fans have seen Magic act as the holo assistant, which resulted in a fantastic performance from Ernie Hudson, who needs more screen time. We also saw Ian reconcile with their ex Rachel, whom we met in Season 1, and is even entangled with a potentially new evil organization in Season 2. Personally, I still have my eye on someone else and am not convinced Tom Westfall isn't the secret villain behind everything.

Even if he still isn't my favorite person, I must concede Addison's boyfriend does further deepen the dynamic and ties Ben into the story of the present day as he learns about everything that transpired in the time he lost between leaps. If we had to lose Addison and Ben as a couple to get Season 2 off to as strong of a start as it is currently, then I have to agree it was the right decision for the crew to make. 

Quantum Leap Season 2 still has a ways to go with its story, and with the re-emergence of Eliza Taylor's Hannah Carson in "Secret History," more clues as to where this adventure is headed might spring up. Taylor is listed as a series regular for Season 2, so one has to wonder just how many more leaps Ben will run into her. Also, assuming there are more run-ins, won't she start to get a little suspicious about this batch of people who all seemingly act the same at crucial moments in her life? 

Quantum Leap airs new episodes on NBC on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Season 2 is headed in all sorts of directions fans should be excited about, so make it a point to tune in and prepare for whatever wild ride Ben is headed toward at the end of the season. 

Quantum Leap and Magnum P.I. were two of relatively few scripted shows that returned in the fall of the 2023 TV schedule, with both shows completing a number of new episodes before the WGA writers strike and SAG-AFTRA actors strike shut down production on the small screen. That was good news for fans of those series (although Magnum P.I. fans also got news of the cancellation), but both will be off the air on November 8. Fortunately, NBC has already revealed when they'll be back with new episodes, and the wait won't be too long. 

Quantum Leap and Magnum P.I. usually air at 8 p.m. ET and 9 p.m. ET, respectively, followed by a One Chicago repeat on NBC's Wednesday nights. On November 8, the Republican Presidential Debate will take over primetime on the network, leaving no room for the two shows or another Chicago P.D. repeat. The break will fortunately only last for one extra week, however. Both Quantum Leap and Magnum P.I. will return with new episodes on Wednesday, November 15 in their usual time slots. 

And NBC has already released descriptions for the new episodes that will air on November 15, which will hopefully be worth the wait for fans who weren't exactly hoping for the Republican Presidential Debate instead of Raymond Lee as Ben Song and/or Jay Hernandez as Thomas Magnum. To start the night, Quantum Leap will head back to the middle of the 20th century, per NBC's description:

The new episode of Quantum Leap is called "Secret History," and Ben clearly has a big task ahead of him. Whether that will involve more screentime for Ernie Hudson's Magic after his recent storyline remains to be seen, and there are still questions about new Season 2 threats to the program. 

Thomas Magnum is facing a different kind of challenge with the new episode of Magnum P.I. on November 15, called "Run with the Devil." NBC's description previews: 

Well, an Amish boy in Hawai'i with a case is certainly something that Magnum and Higgins haven't encountered before in nearly 100 episodes of Magnum P.I.! It'll be interesting to see if T.C. is interested in Rick's attempts to find him a date in the wake of his breakup with Mahina, but at least his recovery from the spring finale cliffhanger seems to be going well!

Whether or not you watch NBC on November 8, you can find both Quantum Leap and Magnum P.I. back in their regular 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. time slots on November 15. You can also revisit earlier episodes of both shows streaming now with a Peacock Premium subscription.

Warning! The following contains spoilers from the Quantum Leap episode "One Night In Koreatown." Read at your own risk!

Quantum Leap Season 2 has shaken up the team dynamic, as Ben's unexplained three-year absence effectively ended his relationship with Addison. With her taking a break from being the holo-assistant, others have volunteered to step up and guide the hero through other challenges to prevent disaster and him being trapped in time. Big boss man Herbert "Magic" Williams was called upon in the latest episode, and the experience made me realize how Ernie Hudson is another reason OG fans who haven't kept up need to watch this show ASAP. 

As one of the heads of the quantum leap program, Magic is always in the mix back at HQ, helping with research and problem-solving. This latest adventure showed a few shortcomings of that role and how a little more Magic in Quantum Leap would make an already phenomenal show even better. 

Magic's Struggle With Alcoholism Was A Captivating Addition To His Story

I can't express enough how much I loved Magic's wife confronting him about relapsing into alcoholism after finding his half-finished bottle of alcohol hiding at home. To this point in Quantum Leap, Magic hasn't been portrayed as anyone other than the boss who always knows what to do at the right time. When Magic said he doesn't get "rattled" due to being a former Navy Seal, I believed him because the series hasn't hinted at anything else.

Of course, the episode is constructed around Magic feeling the pressure of being responsible for Ben's success as they both witnessed the brutality of the L.A. Riots firsthand following the Rodney King verdict in 1992. The experience reminded Magic of his own past run-ins with officers in Detroit and the frustration and powerlessness felt in the situation. That, paired with the fear of failure and losing Ben again, caused a miniature breakdown that Magic needed time to work through. 

That's normal, and as a recovering addict, Magic made the right call at the end by postponing the anniversary dinner with his wife and asking if they could head to an A.A. meeting instead. Ernie Hudson really knocked it out of the park by showing a man on the brink who needed a wake-up call, and I'd love to see him deliver another performance like that in the future. 

Magic Can Have More Stories Tied To His Past With Sam Beckett

There are more opportunities to use Magic in future episodes of Quantum Leap. The character serves as the connective tissue to the original series, as Sam Beckett leaped into Magic and saved several lives during Vietnam. With questions about how Ben was lost for three years and has no recollection of what happened, could the door to Sam's whereabouts be reopened?

CinemaBlend spoke to an executive producer about that and confirmed this bombshell reveal could impact Sam Beckett's story. We also had some optimistic news about a Season 2 reference back in 2021, but really all we know for certain is that Quantum Leap won't recast Sam. 

With no meaningful updates on whether or not Scott Bakula would reprise his role for the new Quantum Leap, I'm left to wonder if this could hinder the most important Magic story yet to be told. He's just as invested in bringing Sam home as Ben, but will this series come and go without any resolution on that front? We can only continue to tune into NBC or with our Peacock Premium subscriptions to find out. 

Quantum Leap airs on NBC on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Season 2 is shaping up to be just as great as Season 1, if not a little better. Here's hoping we can get a little more Magic to send it over the top, and maybe some more of that painful but interesting ride that is Ben and Addison's breakup. 

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Quantum Leap Season 2 episode "The Lonely Hearts Club." Read at your own risk!

It took four episodes, but Quantum Leap finally gave a clue about who the big bad of Season 2 might be. It looks like the huge mystery of why Ben was missing for three years without realizing it will be moved to the back burner because Ian uncovered evidence that there could be a big data leak in the program. This seems like a clear setup for a mysterious antagonist, but I can't help but wonder, is the real villain someone else? 

Quantum Leap is throwing a lot at viewers in Season 2, and I have a sinking suspicion it's to hide a villain lurking in plain sight. Before I put on my tin foil hat, however, let's revisit the big reveal in the episode, which could jeopardize the recent re-launch of the program just after it got off the ground. 

Ian Learned Of A Potential Leak In Quantum Leap's Programming

Tom Westfall has the Quantum Leap program back up and running but made it clear that they will have to prove to the government that it's worth the cost. This started with a review of expenses, and after he noticed a significant energy spike since the program went back online, Ian was asked to investigate. 

Ian's investigation led them to call up their partner Rachel, who we first met back in Season 1 when they were exes. It seems a reconciliation happened in the three-year time jump, and Quantum Leap revealed her boss actually provided a powerful chip to help rebuild a key part of Ziggy, which ultimately led to Ben being found. 

The problem, Ian revealed, is that the energy spikes are linked to data being sent from the chip to Rachel's workplace. It's unknown whether or not the company knows what data is being sent, but a private company obtaining knowledge of secret government time travel would be a big deal that could get the project shut down all over again. 

The situation could be even worse than that, however, as it's possible this organization already knew about Quantum Leap and is now capable of making a quantum accelerator. Mind you, I'm still on the lookout for "evil leapers," who were very much a factor in the original series. 

Is Tom Westfall The Real Enemy Of The Quantum Leap Team?

It might be because I'm still mourning the breakup of Addison and Ben, but I can't shake the feeling that something is off about Tom. Am I the only one who thinks it's super convenient that the man she dated a year after thinking Ben died is capable of getting the Quantum Leap program back up and running after all this time? That's super convenient and makes me wonder if there is a secret motive for helping.

It's also a bit strange how accepting Tom is of spearheading the effort to save his girlfriend's fiancé, who was previously assumed dead. Granted, after reviewing the episode with a Peacock Premium subscription, I remembered that Tom lost his wife before meeting Addison, so perhaps there's empathy there. 

Or, there's a possible motive for Tom to use the quantum accelerator for his own needs, whatever they may be. I'm not sure what that is yet, but it just seems too perfect that the new character all the main characters trust so implicitly is sitting at the top of the program with full authority over it. He could easily abuse this power for his gain, and I'm watching for him to do it. I could be blinded by my love for Ben and Addison, but Tom doesn't have my trust just yet. 

Quantum Leap airs on NBC on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Season 2 is rolling right along, and it's as wild as showrunner Martin Gero teased long ago. I'm just hoping we learn who the big bad of this season is and if Ben has any shot of making it back home.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Quantum Leap Season 2 episode "Ben & Teller." Read at your own risk!

Season 2 of Quantum Leap hasn't been great for Dr. Ben Song. Right on the heels of learning he's been missing for three years in his present timeline, the hero learned that the Quantum Leap program has been shut down for a year. Worse than that, he was assumed dead, and after grieving, Addison is now in a relationship with a new man. It's a devastating blow to those who felt Ben and Addison were the sci-fi couple of 2022. Still, there is an "interesting ride" following this upsetting situation, according to executive producer Chris Grismer.

It's a real bummer that Addison has a new beau. Based on what little we know of Peter Gadiot's Tom Westfall, however, he seems like a good guy. I'll give him credit for understanding Addison's need to see her fiancé she previously thought was dead. Still, it doesn't erase the pain of knowing this might be the end of Addison and Ben. I asked Chris Grismer about the decision, and while he couldn't speak to the decision to split up the two, he did reveal why this will be an entertaining storyline to follow:

There's no denying that Ben and Addison's complicated relationship introduced some major drama. Had we learned that Tom was this awful guy or that the relationship wasn't that serious, it would've been much easier to dismiss this new fling. Unfortunately, he's as perfect as his actor Peter Gadiot is in his role as Shanks in One Piece, and the rest of the crew seems to really like him. 

If it wasn't clear by the awkward dynamic between Ben and Addison, this pairing may not see a ton of adventures together in Quantum Leap Season 2 as they work their way past the hurt. The good news is that from this heartache will come some new dynamics, as Chris Grismer shared there will be more interaction between Ben and Ian, Magic, and Jenn: 

Revisit Quantum Leap Season 1 with a Peacock subscription, and you'll remember we had a small taste of Ben working with his other friends. I know that I'm a big fan of seeing Ben work with Ian more, but there was also some fun seeing Jenn in the mix as well. Actress Nanrisa Lee probably needed to brush up on keeping hold of that hologram device, but I'm sure she figured it out. 

From a behind-the-scenes standpoint, Season 2 of Quantum Leap just opened the door to actor Raymond Lee working directly with many other actors he didn't spend much time with in Season 1. I look forward to seeing Ben, who is one of the reasons I highly recommend people watch this show, in the mix with other people this season. I also want to see him meet Addison's new boyfriend, though I'm sure it's way too soon for that at the moment. 

Quantum Leap airs on NBC on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. This latest episode gave everyone a big reason to make this appointment viewing, so clear that schedule and tune in for all the wild places we'll see Ben go. 

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Quantum Leap Season 2 premiere "This Took Too Long." Read at your own risk!

Dr. Ben Song is finally back on our television screens, and Quantum Leap's other characters were very surprised to see him. While Ben worked to complete a leap without the help of his friends back in the present timeline, he did it largely on his own, at least until Ian finally popped in at the end to see him. Ben didn't have long to talk to his friend but heard enough to learn that he'd been considered missing for three years, and then presumed dead. CinemaBlend talked to one of the NBC sci-fi drama's executive producers, who shared how that reveal factors into the rest of the season. as well as how it could have more large-scale ramifications that could affect Scott Bakula's Sam Beckett. 

Ahead of the latest premiere, executive producer Chris Grismer was on hand  to speak to CinemaBlend about the Quantum Leap program has been shut down as Ben's friends have been dealing with his absence for three years. Viewers may have a lot of questions about that sizeable time-frame, considering Ben was seemingly unaware he'd lost any time at all. Grismer assured me that answers will come as Season 2 unfolds, saying:

Ben is in shock at the end of Quantum Leap's Season 2 opener, and who could argue against that being the only logical reaction? My jaw was on the floor as well, as my mind raced about what it could possibly mean. If the program was shut down, how did Ian even find Ben? Furthermore, where are Magic, Jenn, and Addison? Fortunately, it appears these answers will come in time, according to Chris Grismer, but man, what a way to set the stage for this new batch of episodes. 

The mystery of Ben's time distortion is riveting, and it also had me wondering if and how it could play into the whereabouts of Scott Bakula's Sam Beckett. The revival series confirmed in Season 1 that he never made it back home, and thus was either still leaping or dead. One can't help but draw some parallels, considering the same unknown fate surrounded Ben until Ian found him. 

When I asked the showrunner if this new storyline could re-open the door on speculation regarding Sam's situation, Grismer told me: 

There's still no word on whether or not Scott Bakula will appear on the new Quantum Leap, though he gave the revival his blessing early on. CinemaBlend did learn from showrunner Martin Gero that the show's execs have no intention of recasting the role, so if Sam Beckett does return, it'll be Bakula playing the character. 

Even if Sam's return isn't in the cards for Season 2, it will be good to hear some new theories regarding his disappearance and how he went missing between leaps and lost no time between the premiere and the cliffhanger ending of Season 1. My mind is already spinning with theories, which means I will need to fire up my Peacock Premium subscription all over again to watch this awesome premiere. 

Quantum Leap is back on NBC and airs on Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. Despite the wild reveal in the premiere, Ben still has a job to do in each and every leap he arrives at. In short, expect the fun, drama, and hijinks to continue, in addition to more wild reveals as we dive deeper into the season. 

Quantum Leap Season 2 is nearly here, but aside from a trailer and some pictures of new cast members, fans are still largely in the dark about what this season is about. Some are undoubtedly eager to learn more ahead of the premiere after seeing where Season 1's pretty big cliffhanger left the characters. CinemaBlend recently spoke to executive producer Chris Grismer about just that, and while he didn't offer up any answers about the cliffhanger, he did point out two game-changing moments from the Season 2 trailer that fans should be paying more attention to. 

When I spoke to Quantum Leap's EP about the early days of Season 2, I asked about what direction the story is headed, with Season 1 laying out Ben's story and thwarting the efforts to shut down the program. Grismer wouldn't get specific as to where this story was headed in full, but did shine a light on the idea that Ben's leaps are taking him to some extreme places that were previously thought impossible within this universe. In his words:

Season 1 of Quantum Leap already had Ben break one big rule of leaping from the O.G. series, in that Sam Beckett was never able to travel beyond his own lifetime. With that said, Season 2 will push that to the extreme as Ben is going way back in time to the 1600s for an adventure that I'm sure will have him completely out of his element. Unless they're planning on revealing he's a vampire, but that seems unlikely even in this wild storyline.

The new season will take leaps a bit further, as Ben will go across the globe to Egypt. Sam Beckett rarely made a leap that took him outside of the United States, and Ben didn't jaunt beyond the U.S. throughout the entirety of Season 1. Of course, we learned the reason for that was because he was constructing a path to save Addison. As for why Ben is in Egypt in Season 2, that's a whole other mystery, but I'd love to see him do some Indiana Jones-style adventure while there. 

One thing that isn't a mystery, or shouldn't be, is that Ben did not make it back to the present day in Quantum Leap. The trailer still shows the protagonist leaping from location to location, and showrunner Martin Gero had no problem telling CinemaBlend in an interview after Season 1 that he wouldn't be making it back. I hate that for Ben, but with so many exciting things in the trailer, including a journey back into the future timeline, I can live with it. Check out the trailer below. 

If that preview doesn't encourage a rewatch all of Season 1 right now, which is easy to do with a Peacock subscription, I'm not sure what will. I am unbelievably psyched to see the series return for more adventures, especially after seeing how quickly Season 2 was picked up by NBC. 

Quantum Leap kicks off on NBC on Wednesday, October 5th, at 8:00 p.m. ET. Tune in and strap in for what might be a wilder ride than the one that granted the Season 2 renewal. I still wouldn't hold my breath for Scott Bakula's return, but the door is supposedly open according to producers. 

The countdown is on for the return of Quantum Leap to NBC in a fall TV season that is short on new content, thanks to the WGA writers strike and SAG-AFTRA actors strike. The last episode of the Season 1 finale was cryptic, with showrunner Martin Gero weighing in on what would happen next. There are big questions about where Season 2 picks up, and while fans will have to wait until the October premiere to see Ben Song and Co. back in action, NBC released some details about the cast, including new series regulars, guest stars, and a Manifest familiar face returning to the network. 

Eliza Taylor, known for her starring role in The CW's The 100 through opposite her real-life husband, joins Quantum Leap as a series regular to play a complicated woman by the name of Hannah Carson, to whom there's more than initially meets the eye. While she is a regular for Season 2, she won't appear until the third episode, which will presumably air in late October after the second season premiere on October 4. While there's not a whole lot known about Taylor's new character, it seems safe to say that she's a far cry from The 100's Clarke Griffin!

Peter Gadiot, who appeared in the first season of Showtime's Yellowjackets, is on board as a regular as US Army Officer Tom Westfall. The new character has a place in Army Intelligence. He'll have an important role with the project, and is a humble and spiritual warrior who wins the admiration of others. It's not clear just yet when he'll debut, but given that he'll be part of overseeing the project, it seems likely that he'll appear quite early on in Season 2. What has been confirmed is that viewers won't have long to wait to see a Manifest star back on NBC!

Melissa Roxburgh starred in Manifest on NBC for three seasons before the show was cancelled and rescued by Netflix, and she's on board Quantum Leap to appear in the Season 2 premiere. The actress, who shared her thoughts on how Manifest ended, is a guest star. The premiere of the new season is called "This Took Too Long!" and will involve Russia in 1978. If Roxburgh's character is part of the 1978 plot in Russia, it seems unlikely that she could reprise her role, but it's too soon to say. It's possible that she'll be involved in the project. 

Also guest starring in the Season 2 premiere are The Borgias' Francois Arnaud, Hannibal's Aaron Abrams, and The Boys' P.J. Byrne. As new series regulars, Eliza Taylor and Peter Gadiot join returning stars Raymond Lee (Ben Song), Caitlin Bassett (Addison Augustine), Ernie Hudson (Herbert "Magic" Williams), Nanrisa Lee (Jenn Chou), and Mason Alexander Park (Ian Wright). 

Season 2 of Quantum Leap will premiere on Wednesday, October 4 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC in the 2023 TV schedule, in what is usually Chicago Med's time slot. It will lead in to Season 5 of Magnum P.I., which just released a teaser of what to expect of Magnum and Co. this fall. If you want a fix of Quantum Leap ahead of the October 4 return, you can check out the full Season 1 streaming with a Peacock Premium subscription!

NBC’s Quantum Leap revival emerged as one of the biggest freshman hits of the 2022-2023 TV season, earning a Season 2 renewal early and giving showrunner Martin Gero the freedom to end the Season 1 finale on a cliffhanger without worrying about cancellation. The cryptic final scene left fans with more questions than answers to ponder over hiatus, on top of the lingering mystery of whether Sam Beckett will ever appear. While viewers will have to wait to see what’s next for Ben Song and Co., Gero spoke with CinemaBlend to give an update on whether Scott Bakula could reprise the role… or Sam could be portrayed by somebody else. 

Quantum Leap didn’t even need all 18 episodes of its first season to prove that it can stand on its own with relying on the original series, but the show did drop references to the show that debuted in 1989 and ran until a disappointing finale in 1993 that ended without letting Sam find his way home. So, it would be a treat for fans of the original and newcomers who have experienced these references to get to see Sam in the flesh, but has there been any progress in recruiting Scott Bakula to reprise the role? Speaking with CinemaBlend’s Mick Joest, showrunner Martin Gero shared:

Gero’s comment that “the door’s always open” is reason to at least hold out hope that Bakula will one day reprise his iconic role, but the goal is for the sequel series to be able to stand on its own without relying on callbacks. Back before the new NBC show premiered, Bakula opened up about making the “very difficult decision” to pass on making an appearance, and he seemed to show no ill will toward anybody involved as he wished them luck. In response in the fall, Gero said that he would “respectfully always ask him” to do Quantum Leap, but that he respects that actor’s wishes. 

The new show has certainly created a rich cast of characters to drive the story without needing to try and bring in stars from the original, but longtime fans will undoubtedly always associate Sam Beckett with the very premise of the series. While Bakula is iconic to the role, could Sam be recast so that he could be brought into the fold without the actor needing to sign on? Martin Gero addressed the idea:

Well, Martin Gero certainly didn’t mince words or beat around the bush about the idea of recasting Sam Beckett! Apparently, the options for Sam are either for Scott Bakula to return or Sam never to come back on screen at all. Based on the showrunner’s promise of a “pretty wild” second season, it sounds like the show isn’t going to need Bakula or Sam to guarantee more of the action and stories that made Quantum Leap an early hit for NBC. 

Unfortunately, there’s no news at the time of writing about when exactly that second season will premiere on NBC, although hopefully it will be part of the fall lineup again. For now, you can find some upcoming viewing options on our 2023 TV premiere schedule. If you're not ready to say goodbye to Quantum Leap yet, though, you can always revisit the first season of the revival and/or the original series streaming with a Peacock Premium subscription. 

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Quantum Leap Season 1 finale, "Judgment Day." Read at your own risk!

Quantum Leap set the stage in its penultimate episode for an epic Season 1 finale, and oh boy, did it deliver. Dr. Ben Song went from the future back to his own body to thwart Richard Martinez's goal of killing the team and managed to do so without drastically altering the timeline. Unfortunately, fans were left wondering what comes next, thanks to a cryptic final scene. Luckily, showrunner Martin Gero has the answers we're looking for. 

After Ben successfully saved the day and secured his future relationship with Addison wasn't altered, viewers saw him leap out of his past body. The final scene showed the quantum accelerator spinning and ended with Addison reacting to something offscreen we didn't see. I spoke to showrunner Martin Gero about the decision to end the season on such a cliffhanger, and he said the series' early success definitely played a factor in that happening: 

Quantum Leap scored an early Season 2 renewal from NBC, which afforded the team the ability to make a suspenseful Season 1 finale that didn't tie off all the loose ends. Martin Gero previously teased that the idea for Season 2 is wild, so viewers should have their expectations high for what's to come. 

Martin Gero was willing to give out one detail ahead of Season 2 about what's next on Quantum Leap, in case it needed to be said. Gero confirmed the one big thing fans might be wondering after the Season 1 finale and teased that it'll play into the events of Season 2:

If Ben Song is not making it back to the present, what is Addison reacting to? It would make sense if she's reacting to the fact that the quantum accelerator is empty, but it's too soon to say for sure. Maybe the quantum accelerator pulled someone out that wasn't Ben? We can only speculate, but given the hint that Season 2 of Quantum Leap is wild, I'm not ruling anything out. 

There is one thing I'm ruling out, though, and that's Leaper X Richard Martinez. Martin Gero confirmed that while the future government sent Martinez after Ben in an effort to prevent nuclear war, we won't be seeing that storyline going forward: 

Quantum Leap will be moving on from that story thread, so I guess fans should only expect the unexpected going forward. I'm happy to hear that news, as this season has not lacked creativity in the slightest, and the cast is incredible. There is so much potential for hijinks for Ben to get into in the future. 

As mentioned, Season 2 of Quantum Leap is guaranteed and is currently being worked on. It sounds like we'll have more or less a blank slate in terms of what to expect in the future. Given the open-ended nature of the franchise, where we never know where Ben can show up, a blank slate sounds like the best-case scenario and has me psyched for the future of this NBC series. 

Quantum Leap is done for the season at NBC, but definitely worth watching for those who still haven't checked it out. Those with a Peacock Premium subscription can watch Season 1 of the sequel series as well as the original series and gear up for what should be an exciting Season 2. 

Updated with video.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Quantum Leap episode "The Friendly Skies." Read at your own risk!

Quantum Leap showed Ben in an unexpected place at the end of its Season 1 penultimate episode, and it broke the rules from what we'd seen in the original series. Now that the Season 1 finale is near, I have one major question as we wait for what's next for Ben as he meets up with Ian in the future.  

The end of "Friendly Skies" showed Ben re-emerge in what seemed to be his own body and what looked to be the remnants of the Quantum Leap lab. Ben wondered why it was snowing in Los Angeles and was informed by a future version of Ian that it was actually the effects of "nuclear winter." The scene closed with Ian explaining they'd been waiting for Ben for a long time. That's right – Ben somehow managed to make his way to the future, which is something Sam Beckett never did. 

It seems that future Los Angeles was devastated by nuclear war, but my question is, who caused it? We know that Richard Martinez was sent on a mission to stop something and that Ben's goals got in the way of his mission. Is Martinez trying to stop Ben from inadvertently causing a global conflict and nuclear war, or is it the other way around? Is Future Ian trying to stop events Richard set in motion via Ben? 

Future Ian, who has lived through this disaster, will likely have more answers. The only thing we know about this character so far was that they were the person who first used the accelerator to talk to Ben back in the present day and possibly the person who encouraged Ben to leap. Ben's still missing a chunk of his memories, but maybe Future Ian will help remind him of their mission. 

And while we don't know for sure that Ben is back in his own body, that does seem to be the case considering Ian recognized him without being in a holo program. This could mean that it is possible to escape the leap cycle, which is potentially good news for Sam Beckett. Is it possible that he's also somehow alive in this future, and there's a secret Scott Bakula cameo we don't know about? 

Honestly, there's a good chance that Sam Beckett has nothing to do with Quantum Leap's Season 1 finale, and that's completely fine with me. This season has paced out its heartwarming and heartstopping moments perfectly, and now we're on the cusp of what looks to be a bonkers Season 1 finale with the promise that Season 2 is even wilder. I'll be curious to see what we learn and what other rules of the original series will potentially be broken going forward. 

Quantum Leap Season 1 is almost done at NBC, so tune in for the Season 1 finale on Monday, April 3rd at 10:00 p.m. ET. Catch up on this season now with a Peacock Premium subscription, and maybe binge the original series after the finale to bide time until Season 2. 

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Quantum Leap episode "Ben, Interrupted." Read at your own risk!

Quantum Leap has spent most of its first season teasing viewers with so many mysteries, and now it's finally time for some answers. "Ben, Interrupted" was an episode that diehard fans will no doubt want to revisit with their Peacock Premium subscription as soon as it's available due to all that was revealed. The episode answered some major lingering questions about Martinez and revealed the traitor to the program. It even made a callback to the original series, and after it all was said and done, my jaw was on the floor. 

As I said, this is going to be a Quantum Leap episode that fans will want to revisit. As for those already ready for a rundown and want to speculate further? You've come to the right place. Let's hit the highlights of this episode and why I'm absolutely dying to see what happens in the next two weeks. 

Martinez Isn't A Good Guy After All

Richard Martinez and his intentions have been a mystery for most of the season. Even in the last episode, it seemed like he might actually be an ally. Unfortunately, Janice was the bearer of bad news and revealed that part of Ben's intention of leaping was to trap Martinez in a leap to prevent him from completing his mission. Of course, doing so meant that Ben would also be stuck, so the team went against Janice's advice and decided to trust Martinez and work alongside him to complete the leap. 

Martinez rewarded that trust by helping Ben complete the leap but also by stabbing him in the neck in the hopes that he'd die before the leap was completed. As Martinez explained, Ben was an obstacle in completing his objective and had to be taken care of. It was quite a shock, especially after Quantum Leap went to such great lengths to make him seem like a decent person! Ben ultimately survived to make his next leap, but just barely. 

Ziggy Is The Traitor, But How?

Janice Calavicci had the Quantum Leap team on high alert when she suggested a traitor was in the program and even had them questioning Ian when it was revealed a future version of them had used the program to leap. Janice didn't have a clear read on who the mole was initially but revealed to Magic in this episode that it all became clear to her recently. The traitor who seemingly had all the answers and knew the team's every move was none other than Ziggy! 

Yes, the project's unassuming, super smart, and expensive A.I. is reporting on the Quantum Leap team, but how? My guess would be that there's some spyware installed on the program that has it sending information to another team of leapers looking to work against Ben. We may even know who, thanks to a great reference made earlier in the episode. 

Are The Evil Leapers Still Active?

It doesn't seem like a coincidence that the same episode in which we learned that Ziggy is up to no good also had Ian name-dropping the "Evil Leapers." As fans of the original Quantum Leap know, the Evil Leapers worked against Sam Beckett and tried to "Set wrong what was once made right." 

Who are the Evil Leapers, and is Martinez working for them? Well, I can't imagine that an organization looking to kill Addison is working toward the greater good, but I could be wrong. After all, wouldn't we all risk the world to protect our loved ones? I'm not 100% ready to say the Evil Leapers are still active, but I'm certainly not ruling it out. 

Quantum Leap is winding down Season 1, but there are still two weeks left of episodes to catch on NBC on Mondays at 10:00 p.m. ET. This episode was absolutely bonkers, so I can't even imagine what's on the way in the final two episodes. 

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Quantum Leap Season 1 episode "Ben Song For The Defense." Read at your own risk!

Quantum Leap picked up in its latest episode with Ben in a courtroom as a public defender saddled with an enormous caseload. He also had to help a teen wrongfully convicted of murder, despite having no legal experience. Addison decided to tag in Jenn to serve as his hologram assistant, given her law degree, and Jenn quickly learned helping Ben in that role was much different than her usual duties. Ironically enough, actress Nanrisa Lee learned the same thing, as the actress spoke to CinemaBlend about trading places with Caitlin Bassett for the episode. 

Nanrisa Lee's Jenn has spent most of this season helping out Ben from the Quantum Leap lab or by going on missions to track down people of interest related to the big mysterious threat Ben is attempting to stop. In the latest episode, Jenn had to interact with just Ben and try to help solve the murder case despite being invisible to all others in the leap. I asked Lee if it was weird to have Jenn in scenes where most of the other characters ignore her, and she revealed it was just as much of an adjustment for her as it can be for guest stars: 

Jenn and Ben weren't as natural of a pairing as Addison and Ben, but that's to be expected. After all, the latter Quantum Leap characters are engaged, and Ben couldn't even remember who Jenn was throughout their adventure due to his memory loss. Jenn did help Ben remember Magic, though that only made the sting of him not remembering her a bit more painful. 

Behind the scenes, Nanrisa Lee confirmed to CinemaBlend that she loved the opportunity to actually film with series lead Raymond Lee. She also noted that Caitlin Bassett gave her a "crash course" in how to act when serving as the hologram assistant and noted that one bit of the job was trickier than the rest: 

I never would've guessed the hand link could be so unruly! In either case, Nanrisa Lee was able to complete the episode with the hand link intact so that Jen could tag Addison back in for the next adventure. While it doesn't seem like Jen will hop back into leaps to assist Ben on Quantum Leap anytime soon, we do know that something bad is on the way for Addison. 

In the event she's taken out of action, Ben might have to rely on Jenn, Magic, or Ian to get him to the next leap until he finds his way home. Unfortunately, we know that Sam Beckett is either still leaping or is dead, so there is a chance that Ben might never find his way back. I'm remaining optimistic, however, especially with the reveal that a future version of Ian leapt to meet up with Ben prior to his mysterious mission. 

Quantum Leap airs on NBC on Mondays at 10:00 p.m. ET. Anyone with a Peacock Premium subscription can watch both the original series and the revival, and I highly recommend it. 

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Quantum Leap Season 1 episode "Family Style." Read at your own risk!

One could say that Dr. Ben Song's latest leap in Quantum Leap was out of the frying pan and into the fire, especially given the restaurant setting of "Family Style." Ben found himself in the body of the daughter of a restaurant worker, whose family's Indian restaurant was struggling to stay afloat after the death of her father. The hour had all the makings of a great episode that both fans and foodies would enjoy, and that's thanks in part to how executive producer and director Deborah Pratt pulled from The Bear and Jon Favreau's Chef for inspiration. 

Deborah Pratt was a co-creator of the original Quantum Leap and is currently an executive producer of the revival. She also directed the latest episode, "Family Style," and was kind enough to break down the episode for CinemaBlend in an interview. Pratt spoke about filming the the kitchen scenes, and how she had the team working to create shots that were similar to some of the most iconic scripted cooking shows and films out there: 

The Bear and Chef are two of the top options when it comes to making an episode involving food. It's cool that a series like Quantum Leap can pull from memorable works that have nothing to do with science fiction, and utilize that inspiration to bring a more authentic feeling to its weekly adventures. 

Indian food played a large part in the Quantum Leap episode, but there was a lot to get through. The episode also touched on Ben's past trauma from his mom's passing. Plus, Ian was confronted by the team for being a possible traitor, and viewers witnessed some problems that immigrants face when coming to a new country. Deborah Pratt spoke about how it all fit together to make a great episode of the NBC series: 

In the end, Ben was able to pull it all together and move on to his next leap. Viewers saw Ben transported to a naval warship, where he'll come in contact with a person with a very personal tie to his actual life. The Rookie and Arrowverse alum Brandon Routh will join the series to play Addison's father. It's a big jump from Indian food to war games in the Navy, but if any series can pull it off, it's Quantum Leap. Personally, I'm curious if this next adventure will bring us any closer to understanding why Ben leapt and how it relates to an imminent threat involving Addison. 

Quantum Leap airs on NBC on Mondays at 10:00 p.m. ET. Those behind on the season can always catch up with a Peacock Premium subscription. Based on all we've learned so far, they may want to before we get to the season finale. 

Brandon Routh is headed back to television, and if you're a fan of his work in Legends of Tomorrow prior to Ray Palmer's unfortunate departure, or even The Rookie, you undoubtedly won't want to miss his next project. The actor will return to primetime network television, this time on NBC as part of one increasingly popular sci-fi series. We're going to see Routh appear on Quantum Leap soon, and he's playing a role that I can't wait to learn more about. 

Brandon Routh will play Alexander Augustine in Quantum Leap, the father of Caitlin Bassett's Addison. IGN revealed Dr. Ben Song will jump into a naval warship in 1989 during war games. Ben will have Routh's Augustine as his commanding officer and will have to help with what's said to be a "dangerous rescue mission." Routh provided a statement about his appearance in the February 28th episode, called "S.O.S," which can be seen below:   

It's interesting that this episode will include Addison's father, and I'm curious if this will answer one of the massive mysteries surrounding the NBC series thus far. We know that Ben jumped in part to save Addison, though we don't know all the details of what's going on and how he needs to save her. Is it possible that Ben will be trying to prevent something bad from happening to Addison's father? 

For example, if Addison's father had died in 1989, there's a chance that Addison might never exist. Quantum Leap hasn't given a rundown of character ages, so we don't really know if Addison was conceived before or after this event. 

In any case, it'll be interesting to see Ben interact with Alexander Augustine and for Addison to see her father at a younger age. One would think that Addison would be at an advantage and not have to call on Ziggy so much for any information on her dad, but I could be wrong. Imagine Addison finds out something unsavory about him via Ziggy, and how devastating that would be! 

Brandon Routh picked a great time to guest star on Quantum Leap, as the series recently dropped its biggest twist yet with the reveal that Ian is potentially leaping into bodies as well. At the moment, it appears that Ian is hiding something and might even be the traitor to the program that Janice Calavicci suggested could be working against them. Each week could only bring more answers, so now is the time to revisit old episodes with a Peacock Premium subscription and recall past events before Routh's big episode. 

Quantum Leap returns with a new episode on NBC on Monday, February 20th at 10:00 p.m. ET. Showrunner Martin Gero has already teased a "wild" Season 2, so anyone interested who hasn't had a chance to watch yet needs to do so to prepare.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Quantum Leap episode "Let Them Play." Read at your own risk!

Quantum Leap's latest episode featured a massive reveal for Ian that fans are likely still talking about, though there were certainly a lot of moments from "Let Them Play" that deserved further discussion. NBC brought a groundbreaking trans story to primetime television and gave the sci-fi drama's audience a firsthand look at the struggle that trans kids face, as well as the community efforts that go into maintaining such resources. One such example was a support group scene featuring several trans kids and their parents, which writer and director Shakina Nayfack was kind enough to break down for CinemaBlend.

I had the pleasure of speaking to Shakina Nayfack, the Quantum Leap writer who penned and directed the latest episode, "Let Them Play." I asked Nayfack if she could break down the support group scene, in which we saw actress Josielyn Aguilera's Gia loosen up and joke about Hunger Games with some friends. It was a far cry from the attitude the character displayed at her high school, and made for a touching scene overall. Shakina Nayfack shared with me why she wrote the scene, and how it hopefully helps to further educate anyone on the trans experience: 

Shakina Nayfack wanted to touch on the positivity that exists and flows through the trans community, and the often prevalent sense of understanding, which is exactly what made the support group scene shine. It also featured a touching monologue from a parent voicing her wishes for society to see these children the way they wanted to be seen by others.

Originally, the actors playing Gia's friends in Quantum Leap had a larger presence in the episode. Shakina Nayfack ultimately changed her mind on that, and came up with an awesome idea that made for one of the most unique scenes of Season 1 thus far. Nayfack took CinemaBlend inside her reasoning for how the scene played out, and the decision to have each of the younger characters stare directly into the camera: 

The scene was very powerful, and admittedly moved me to tears. It's wonderful that Quantum Leap's revival has continued the tradition of telling stories from all walks of life, which is hopfully a trend that carries on into Season 2, which has already been teased as being "wild" and full of twists. 

That's not too hard to believe such claims, given the end of "Let Them Play," in which Magic and Jenn discovered Ben was in contact with a person named Dottie before jumping. Now it appears as though Dottie was being possessed by another leaper, and that leaper was Ian. Are they a traitor to the Quantum Leap program, or have they been hiding some other big secret this whole time? We can only wait and see as this mystery continues to unfold. 

Check out the trailer for the next episode, airing on NBC on Monday at 10:00 p.m. ET. 

This season is really heating up, but we seemingly still have a long way to go before anything is known about this big mystery surrounding Ben's leap.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Quantum Leap Season 1 episode "Let Them Play." Read at your own risk!

Quantum Leap just delivered one of its most powerful episodes so far on many levels. Viewers were treated to an emotional story about a trans teen's journey for acceptance in her high school and a massive twist that only deepens the mystery that's slowly unraveling as the season plays out. This was also a huge episode for Mason Alexander Park's Ian, so it was a fortunate that "Let Them Play" director and writer Shakina Nayfack was on hand to talk out Ian's biggest moments. 

Ian's heaviest moment in Quantum Leap came during a heart-to-heart with Addison, as she tried to help Ben prevent events that might cause Gia, a trans teen on a high school basketball team, from running away. Ian discussed the increased statistics of negative consequences for trans kids who run away, which made it imperative they prevented Gia from running away like Ziggy predicted would happen.

Ian then dropped the bombshell that they tried to commit suicide as a teen, which shocked Addison. The Quantum Leap character said their attempt was influenced by the feeling they were "floating in a gray space" in a world where everyone was black and white. Shakina Nayfack spoke to CinemaBlend about writing the emotional monologue, and discussions she had with Mason Alexander Park about how to present this scene that other trans kids may relate to:

In the episode, Ian went on to say that they were lucky to have a strong support system in place when they attempted to take their life, but others aren't so lucky. Ian explained that Gia's support system was basketball, and without it, she was lost. 

The monologue was written, but it was on Mason Alexander Park to execute and deliver another banger of a scene for Ian. They didn't let viewers down, and based on Shakina Nayfack's description of filming that scene, the Quantum Leap cast and crew knew that from when it was first shot: 

Ian then had a major role in Quantum Leap later in the episode, and this time for a completely mind-blowing and unexpected reason. Magic and Jenn tracked down Dottie, the person Janice Calavicci named as someone who could help unravel the mystery behind Ben's big jump. Magic realized that Dottie, played by Shakina Nayfack, was someone who had been occupied by a leaper. Magic asked Dottie to see a sketch of the individual she'd been dreaming about since "losing time" and was shocked to see Ian's face on the sketch pad. 

We knew there was a future leaper, and maybe even Scott Bakula's Sam is kicking around somewhere in the universe. The reveal that Ian might also be hopping into bodies is a truly surprising twist and could point to them being a traitor to the Quantum Leap program. Shakina Nayfack couldn't share any spoilers on what's to come but did point out it was awesome to pen an episode that featured a major reveal regarding Mason Alexander Park's character:

Quantum Leap just delivered the twistiest of twists, to the point that I'm about to use my Peacock Premium subscription to revisit old episodes to keep a closer eye on Ian. Obviously, there's more to the story here that will be revealed in time, but I can't imagine Ian has a completely valid excuse for hiding secretly leaping from the rest of the team. Just what is going on here? 

Quantum Leap airs on NBC on Mondays at 10:00 p.m. ET. This season is rolling right along, but there's still a long way to go because we're reportedly in for a wild Season 2 once this season wraps up. 

Quantum Leap's latest revival has resonated with fans both new and old, and that's partially because of its continued efforts to replicate the feeling and tone of the original series. One of the ways it does that is by telling groundbreaking stories that highlight people from all walks of life. And NBC will continue that tradition with an upcoming episode called "Let Them Play," which puts a transgender teen front and center. The episode is written and directed by transgender activist writer, director, and actress Shakina Nayfack, who revealed that the network took on her idea with "no hesitation." 

I had the privilege of speaking with Quantum Leap writer Shakina Nayfack about her upcoming episode, which sees Dr. Ben Song put into the body of a transgender teen's parent. I spoke to Nayfack about how, even in 2023, it's rare to see such powerful transgender stories shown on primetime shows on network television. During our conversation, I also asked Nayfack about the process of pitching this episode and learned that the process was made easier due to the fact that NBC and the executive producers behind the science fiction series were more than willing to tell this story: 

It's definitely wonderful to hear that the Quantum Leap team was on board with the idea from the jump. And of course, what's also great is that the powers that be took all the steps to ensure they had people in place to ensure "Let Them Play" hit all the right notes in order to tell a compelling (and multifaceted) story that highlights the experience of a transgender individual. 

In "Let Them Play," Ben is transported into the father of Gia Mendéz, a transgender teen on the high school basketball team. As Gia's father and the coach of the team, Ben is in the position to let Gia play and live out her dreams but is up against a school administration that's pushing against it due to pressure from parents and other outside forces.

Ben is certainly faced with some hard decisions in the upcoming episode, and that runs counter to what Shakina Nayfack experienced. She explained that the special part of crafting this Quantum Leap from a behind-the-scenes standpoint was how easy it was to make happen:

Quantum Leap viewers can expect a captivating story that explores a number of the situations trans kids as well as their parents, face amid everyday life. All the while, fans should also brace themselves for more details on the traitor-relate mystery happening in the present-day timeline, as Addison and the team work with Janice Calavicci to slowly unravel the mystery as to why Ben began this wild journey without warning. If ever there was a time to grab a Peacock subscription and catch up on Season 1 ahead of the already-confirmed second season, this is it. 

Quantum Leap airs "Let Them Play" on NBC on Monday, February 6th at 10:00 p.m. ET.  Those who can't catch the episode on premiere night can always check it out on Peacock afterward. 

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Quantum Leap Season 1 episode "Leap. Die. Repeat." Read at your own risk!

Quantum Leap continues to present Janice Calavicci as a mysterious character in Season 1 and it's possible she's even the puppet master pulling the strings on whatever future event led to Dr. Ben Song's leap. While the team might still be leery of Janice and think she's the villain in all of this, the latest episode of the NBC series did a good deal to suggest she might not be the bad guy after all. 

"Leap. Die. Repeat" was a big episode for Janice, even if she didn't have as much screen time as some of the other cast members. Here's what Quantum Leap revealed that could point to Janice being a great ally to the team and may encourage fans to revisit her previous scenes with a Peacock Premium subscription. 

Magic Mentioned Janice Wanted To Work In The Quantum Leap Program

Magic dropped a bombshell toward the end of Quantum Leap's episode when he revealed Janice Calavicci originally wanted to participate in the program. Magic confided in Jenn that despite Janice wanting to carry on the legacy of her father (a.k.a. Al Calavicci himself), he held her out of being considered as a favor to her mother: 

Magic and Jenn then talked about whether or not they'd still view Janice as an enemy had she joined the Quantum Leap program. Jenn added that she might have even considered her a friend if she wasn't suspected as a threat. I personally wondered if this is a hint at an eventual friendship between Jenn and Janice, but so far, they're still at odds. 

Janice's Plan For Getting Ben Out Of The Time Loop Worked

I'll admit that Janice's plan to "let Ben continue the time loop" despite the chance of him permanently dying wasn't exactly a genius-level plan, but as Magic noted, it worked. While the Quantum Leap characters worried about Ben's fate and wondered if there was a way for them to prevent his perma-death once he ran out of people to leap into, Janice seemed confident he'd figure it out. 

My theory is that Janice knew enough about Ben's jump to have figured out he'd successfully make it out of the time loop situation to impact future events. If this is the case, it's proof she's not impeding Ben's current path, which doesn't seem malicious. Granted, I'm putting some faith in Janice here that she's a force for good simply because she let Ben live. Based on the previous point that she wanted to be in the program from the start, I'm willing to say she had pure intentions in helping the team navigate the time loop crisis.

Janice Told Addison Someone Else Is Involved In Ben's Leap Plan

The most convincing evidence that Janice Calavicci isn't the villain of Quantum Leap Season 1 came right at the end of the episode. Janice briefly decided to break her string of cryptic responses and silence, and she fed Addison some information that might just convince Ben's fiancée to trust her. Janice revealed that Ben spoke to someone who convinced him to leap before he ever made contact with her, and she knew their name. 

Quantum Leap revealed this mystery goes at least one person deeper, which certainly hurts the idea that Janice was some puppet master pulling the strings this whole time. I'm still sure she knows more than she's willing to let the team in on, though that might be tied to her general theory that there's a traitor working within the Quantum Leap team. 

Also, let's remember that the first basic rule of time-travel shows is not to reveal future events because it can alter the timeline. Anything Janice knows can alter the in-motion plan should she reveal it too soon, so she's right to stay silent at times. In short, we don't know for certain she's not a villain, though all the signs in this episode point to it being someone else. 

Quantum Leap airs on NBC on Mondays at 10:00 p.m. ET. We're inching closer and closer to the real story behind Season 1's big mystery, and I'm just hoping the payoff will be yet another reason for sci-fi lovers to check this series out. 

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Quantum Leap Season 1 episode "Paging Dr. Song." Read at your own risk!

Quantum Leap's team finally has the elusive Janice Calavicci in custody, but she wasn't exactly a fountain of information when questioned. While Janice was largely uncooperative throughout the episode, she decided she would share one key piece of advice with Addison. She walked away from the situation wary of Janice, but I think there's reason to take the advice even if Janice can't be trusted. 

While Ben Song spent the episode stuck in the '90s as a doctor trying to save the lives of three different people, Addison got some tough advice from Janice, who essentially advised her to stop asking Ben for more intel about what he remembers before leaping and that she also needed Ben to keep his mouth shut about things he remembers: 

There's a chance that Janice could be trying to prevent the Quantum Leap program from getting a step ahead of her own secret nefarious plans, though I'm inclined to think she's being genuinely helpful. After all, what she's saying makes sense, and Quantum Leap fans need look no further for evidence than a Peacock Premium subscription loaded with previous episodes worth rewatching. 

Anytime that Ben has messed with the timeline, Ziggy's algorithm has drastically increased or decreased his odds of success in that situation. If Ben is on a mission to save Addison, then anything he does or doesn't remember could impact the odds of him ultimately saving her. Ben chose to jump without explaining anything to her or others in the Quantum Leap program, so one could assume that part is vital to his plan's success. 

Janice continued on with her advice to Addison and once again alluded to the idea of a traitor amongst the Quantum Leap characters. Janice pointed out that, at this point, Ben can only trust himself, and keeping secrets helps prevent those who sent that future leaper after him:

Prior to this conversation, Janice spoke to Jenn in the episode after hearing about Richard Martinez and said that "there is an order" before quickly getting quiet. Was Janice talking about an order as in a shadow organization working against the project, or was she saying that there's a sequence of events in time that has to play out accordingly? We will just have to wait and see and hope that Ben can keep his mouth shut about any new thoughts that pop in his head in the meantime.

Quantum Leap airs on NBC on Mondays at 10:00 p.m. ET. It's one of many shows kicking off the new year, so be sure to check out all the other shows arriving in the coming weeks with our 2023 TV schedule. 

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Quantum Leap Season 1 episode “Fellow Travelers.” Read at your own risk!

The Quantum Leap team finally tracked down Janice Calavicci, but her capture presented more questions than answers. Jenn managed to find Ben’s accomplice in Belize, and while Janice wasn’t too helpful in answering questions, she did drop something on Jenn that has her (and likely some viewers) thinking. Janice suggested that Ben reached out to her because he didn’t trust someone on the team, but who could that be? 

I’m not going to pretend I know what Quantum Leap is planning or even if Janice is telling the truth. With that said, I do have some ideas that might encourage fans to think twice about their favorite characters and maybe even revisit past episodes with a Peacock Premium subscription. Let’s dive in and talk about which characters could be sabotaging the program. 

Herbert "Magic" Williams

Magic seems like the perfect candidate to sabotage the Quantum Leap program or even misuse it to further his own agenda. As for what that agenda might be, let’s remember who visited our mystery leaper in the present timeline. Assuming Richard Martinez was secretly working for Magic for some dastardly deed, he’d definitely appear clueless and aloof when Magic and Jenn visited him. That said, it does seem strange for the head of the program to sabotage his own initiative, so maybe Magic isn’t behind this. 

Ian Wright

Ian is, without a doubt, the most wholesome, likable, and maybe even the smartest of the Quantum Leap bunch. As chief architect of Ziggy, Ian would likely be able to sabotage things the team wouldn’t understand and wouldn’t be able to stop. Does anyone else remember that Ian griped because Ben rewrote all of Ziggy’s code before jumping and losing his memory? It’s possible Ben did it to accomplish his goal of saving Addison like currently assumed, or maybe because he didn’t trust Ian. 

Jenn Chou

Could Quantum Leap’s head of security be the traitor Ben didn’t trust? It seems unlikely, given her surprise at the news of a traitor, though she could’ve faked that surprise. It’s entirely possible that while Ben hinted to Janice there was someone he didn’t trust on the team, he didn’t tell her who. I’m not entirely sure why Jenn would want to sabotage the program, but we’re looking at all the options here!

Addison Augustine

Ben jumped back in time to “save Addison,” but he also did all of this while telling Addison nothing before he jumped. While Ben doesn’t fully remember all of the reasons why he jumped just yet, there is something strange about him keeping his fiancé in the dark about some apparent threat to her life. Is it possible Ben’s attempt to save Addison is ultimately him halting her eventual betrayal of the Quantum Leap project? That would be the twistiest of twists, and I’m not going to rule it out!

Ben Song

The only other suspect left to consider is Ben Song, and admittedly, it’s hard to believe the NBC series would make its lead the villain. Unless, of course, Scott Bakula is coming back as Sam and will lead things in Season 2, and this is all Ben’s villainous origin story, but that doesn’t appear to be true. All of this said, it’s hard to say who for sure the traitor might be, and I’m excited to find out in the coming weeks!

Quantum Leap airs on NBC on Mondays at 10:00 p.m. ET. Season 2 is already confirmed, so anyone on the fence should certainly catch up and enjoy what was one of my favorite shows of the fall television season. 

Quantum Leap returned to television with a new revival, and while it doesn't currently have Scott Bakula on board, that hasn't stopped it from finding an audience in Season 1. The series is evidently getting enough attention between NBC viewers and Peacock Premium subscribers that the network has officially ordered a Season 2 already. The cast and showrunner Martin Gero were understandably psyched for the news, and while the cast celebrated with a fun video, Gero decided to talk a bit about what is on the way for the next season. 

NBC celebrated the Quantum Leap renewal on its Instagram page, and did so with the help of the cast. Check out the video, which features Raymond Lee, Caitlin Bassett, Mason Alexander Park, Nanrisa Lee, and Ernie Hudson reacting in a slightly NSFW way: 

For those confused, it seems like this is a nod to Dr. Ben Song's reaction right before he was launched into space on a rocket ship in the pilot. There's been some debate amongst fans about whether or not this is the equivalent to Sam Beckett's "Oh boy" catchphrase, and while this video might not solidify the legacy of "Oh shit," at least there's another season on the way for the cast and crew to try and make it a thing. 

As for what else Quantum Leap might pursue, one has to wonder if there will be more efforts to try and bring back Scott Bakula as Sam Beckett. The series confirmed in its pilot that if Beckett is still alive, he's still leaping. In the real world, Bakula has revealed he's not currently involved with the series. Showrunner Martin Gero mentioned that he'd continue to ask Bakula to return, and that he thought it would be pretty exciting to have the former star involved at some point. 

Another season of Quantum Leap also means there's more time for Martin Gero to further flesh out the story that the first season has only begun telling. Gero took some time on Instagram to thank the fans for their support and offered the slightest bit of information in regard to what's ahead for Season 2: 

Quantum Leap has a lot going on at the moment, as the Quantum Leap program is in jeopardy of being shut down thanks to government oversight. There's also a mystery leaper Ben is unintentionally following through jumps, and investigating that man in the present timeline only opened up more questions for Magic and the crew. 

Let's not forget the whole mystery behind why Janis Calavicci, daughter of Al, is seemingly sabotaging the project and how Ben is connected to all of that. Ben lost his memories in the jump, so he can't help the team out as to why he was working with Janis, though as he continues to jump, he may remember the answer eventually. 

And if all that wasn't enough to keep its audience invested, Quantum Leap still has its classic episodic jump format where Ben has to help others and find his way into the next leap. I'm assuming those next leaps won't be the ones that take him back to his time anytime soon, but who knows? Maybe we'll be surprised ahead of Season 2!

Quantum Leap returns to NBC as part of the 2023 TV schedule on Monday, January 2 at 10:00 p.m. ET. Now might be the perfect time for anyone who was waiting to check it out to catch up by watching on Peacock and see why the series scored its renewal. 

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Quantum Leap episode “What A Disaster.” Read at your own risk!

Quantum Leap introduced a mystery leaper in the last episode, and thankfully, didn’t leave its audience hanging too long in regards to who he was. We even learned some details about his background which could inform us on why he's leaping in time alongside Ben. Weirdly enough, the show had a lot of answers on this individual and what he’s about, though I’m not completely sold yet on Richard Martinez and his story. 

Yes, the mystery leaper has a name, which means the short-lived but awesome nickname of “Leaper X” coined by Ian didn’t last too long. Ian uncovered that Richard Martinez was in the military, and had an exemplary career to date. It was clear he was skilled but was he hiding some major secret behind how he was leaping through time? 

Based on Magic and Jenn’s visit to Martinez at his mother’s home, the guy was as squeaky clean as his record. Despite the grilling from the team, Martinez seemed more than willing to answer all of their questions and gave no hint that he was even aware of the Quantum Leap program, let alone leaping through time. The duo left convinced he was telling the truth. Since Martinez didn’t give an evil smirk or hint to the audience that he was secretly a bad guy, I’m inclined to believe it as well. 

It’s just hard to believe that he is secretly sneaking into the facility to perform leaps, or that he’s moonlighting for some unknown organization that has similar tech. That doesn’t jive with the Martinez that Jenn and Magic met in the present timeline, but the machine saw what it saw. He is allegedly jumping through time, so is it possible he didn’t start in Ben’s timeline? 

One theory posited during Quantum Leap was that Martinez is oblivious to all of this because he hasn’t learned of or jumped for the project yet. It’s possible one Martinez is from the future, though how far back they couldn’t say. It’s hard to imagine this guy suddenly becoming a villain, unless of course the next few years are awful enough to push him over the edge.

Another possibility is that Martinez isn’t a bad guy targeting Ben Song as he leaps through time. While his message to Ben to stop following him if he values his life seemed threatening, Martinez also came off as a blunt person in his conversation with Jenn and Magic. He might’ve been merely trying to sway Ben off if he thought that was possible, and maybe he was instructed to do so by the future Quantum Leap team. (He’d be a great addition to the cast.) That would be a fun twist!

At the same time, I struggle to completely shake the feeling that Martinez was hiding something from Magic and Jenn. Don’t get me wrong – he did absolutely nothing to show that on screen, but there’s something that doesn’t track with all this. The only thing I feel sure of at this point is Martinez isn’t secretly Sam Beckett. Showrunner Martin Gero said he’ll keep asking Scott Bakula to join, so perhaps we should just focus on this latest reveal and not on the former star who passed on appearing? 

Quantum Leap airs on NBC on Mondays at 10:00 p.m. ET, and fans can catch up on previous episodes if they have a Peacock Premium subscription. Join in on the fun of what’s happening with Martinez!

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Quantum Leap episode “Salvation or Bust.” Read at your own risk!

NBC’s Quantum Leap is generating a lot of positive buzz among fans of the original, and that’s thanks in part to how well it captures the spirit of the Scott Bakula-led series. While the show is without Bakula for now, it does have a super-talented cast and might’ve just introduced an important organization that longtime fans will know well. It’s possible the show just introduced its first Evil Leaper, and I definitely have questions about all of that. 

The reveal happened right at the end of “Salvation or Bust,” in which Quantum Leap’s Dr. Ben Song was approached by an anonymous citizen of the Old West town he saved, Salvation. The stranger called out Ben in the saloon, and said the following: 

That’s quite a way to end an episode, but are we to assume that this individual was tied to the Evil Leapers? Here are some thoughts I’m kicking around after the reveal, including my suspicion that everything is not as it appears. 

Is This An Evil Leaper, Or Someone Else? 

I think any longtime Quantum Leap fan who saw this moment almost immediately assumed this mysterious time traveler is a part of the Evil Leapers. For those unaware, this organization worked against Sam Beckett’s good deeds during the original series, and were, well, evil. This new person could be with them, and given the fact that the Evil Leapers were a memorable part of the original series, it makes sense they’d come into the story sooner than later.

Having said that, television shows in 2022 are a bit more nuanced than in the late '80s and early '90s. What feels like an obvious setup for an “Evil Leaper” could be something else entirely. After all, nothing this person said was inherently evil. The fact that they did know exactly who Ben is does feel a bit suspicious, however, and obviously, this could be someone who also has people helping them through jumps as well. 

There’s a part of me that wonders if that was Sam Beckett after the reveal that he could still be leaping, but given where things currently stand and what’s being said about Scott Bakula’s involvement, that’s a far-fetched theory. 

Was Ben’s Code Designed To Target This Person? 

Ben Song doesn’t know why he decided to leap, as the first jump erased his memory. Quantum Leap has revealed so far that Ben developed and uploaded a bunch of new code into Ziggy before his jump, and that he might be working with an outsider to the program, Janis Calavicci. Janis isn’t involved in the Quantum Leap program, but her father Al was Sam’s hologram guide during the original series. Did Janis work with Ben on the new code, and if so, did they do this to attempt to seek out this person and others like him? 

Was Lothos Responsible For Ben Following This Mysterious Stranger? 

If the Evil Leapers are coming into Quantum Leap, then it likely means that Ziggy’s rival is as well. Lothos is the Evil Leapers’ A.I. responsible for their jumps, but unlike Ziggy, it’s a bit more advanced. Lothos is seemingly capable of sending minions to track down other Leapers, and isn’t as random as Ziggy. We should remember, though, that it sounds like Ben is the one following this other traveler, so is it possible his code contains stuff from Lothos’ program? I don’t even know what that means, but I’m hoping we get some more answers soon in the upcoming episodes. 

Quantum Leap airs on NBC on Mondays at 10:00 p.m. ET. Catch up on previous episodes with a Peacock Premium subscription right now, and get ready for this series to really kick into overdrive following this latest reveal. 

Quantum Leap is back on television, and it’s already scored additional episode orders for its Season 1 run. It’s also garnered a solid batch of praise across the internet, with fans new and old on board with Dr. Ben Song and his quest to find a way back to his time period. Despite that, there are some people still wondering if they should catch up with their Peacock subscription or tune in for an upcoming episode, and I’m here to say they need to do that ASAP. 

As someone who watched a good chunk of the original show and is currently enjoying the revival, I’m fully on board with this new era of Quantum Leap. For those still on the fence or curious if the new series is worth their time, I can assure you there are plenty of reasons to make time for this show before Season 1 is over. 

The Revival Feels Like The Original Quantum Leap, But With More Meat To It

Fans of the original Quantum Leap won’t spend long watching the revival before they recognize these two things have a lot more in common than differences. Raymond’s leaps to other individuals play out a lot like Sam Beckett’s, and thus far, the whole story progresses seamlessly into the whole “adventure of the week” format that makes the original so easy to watch. The first three episodes saw Ben hop from a getaway driver to an astronaut to a professional boxer, so yeah, there’s a lot of variety to enjoy so far.  

One thing that is different, however, is that the new Quantum Leap introduced a more serialized aspect beyond the question of whether Ben will ever get home. There’s the additional story of why Ben jumped in the first place, which is something he forgot as a result of his jump. There’s also a greater conspiracy going on behind the scenes regarding the Quantum Leap project, as Ben’s coworkers attempt to figure out why Sam went rogue and why he uploaded a bunch of new code into Ziggy, the project's AI, from Janice, Al Calavicci’s daughter. 

Quantum Leap fans get to scratch their itch for the classic adventures of the original, but also get a serialized plot that visits what’s happening outside of Ben Song’s leaps in the present day, particularly the team’s efforts to try and bring him back. What’s better is the NBC series does a great job at balancing its episodic and serialized elements, so much so that I’d reckon someone could just rewatch an episode on a whim without feeling like they need to remember everything that came before. 

The Revival Acknowledges The Events Of The Original Series

One might assume that because Scott Bakula revealed he’s not involved in the revival that the new Quantum Leap might’ve tried to write around anything involving Sam Beckett. That’s not the case, as the series premiere doesn’t just go on to openly namecheck the original time traveler, but to confirm that downer ending of the original series. Yes, that’s right, Sam Beckett never returned home, and is either continually hopping from body to body in the present day or dead.

It’s more than just about Sam, though, as Ernie Hudson’s Herbert "Magic" Williams is in the series with meaningful ties to the original Quantum Leap. Magic is a Vietnam war veteran first seen in the original series when Sam jumped into his body during “The Leap Home (Part 2) - Vietnam.” Magic recently revealed that after he learned about the project and that he was one of the people Sam leapt into and changed the course of his life, he knew he had to get the project started again in an attempt to try and bring Sam back. 

For now, there are only a few callbacks to the original series, but they’re meaningful and substantial enough that one has to believe Quantum Leap will continue to make them should the series continue for multiple seasons. Of course, there’s one obvious way the show could acknowledge the events of the original series, which segues perfectly into the next major reason to watch. 

The Show Is Seemingly Leaving The Door Open For Scott Bakula To Reprise Sam Beckett

If there’s one thing that feels really obvious about the new Quantum Leap in these early episodes, it’s that the show is being very careful with how much information it rolls out regarding Sam Beckett. Right now, the characters theorize that he’s still out in the universe either hopping from body to body or he’s dead, which feels like the ideal scenario for fans at the moment. 

Essentially, it sets the character of Sam Beckett in a holding pattern and keeps the door open for his return should Scott Bakula find time in his schedule to join Quantum Leap. That’s assuming Bakula isn’t already secretly involved in some way, of course, though we have no real reason to assume that beyond he was originally involved with the new Quantum Leap when it was first announced. I could see why Quantum Leap wouldn’t immediately want to spoil Sam Beckett’s return, as it could undermine the new cast and make them too anxious to see Bakula back in action. Again though, this is all speculative, and we have no real reason to suspect Bakula is secretly involved in the series at the moment. 

The important takeaway here is that Quantum Leap hasn’t closed off the possibility of Scott Bakula reprising his role as Sam Beckett, which means there’s a chance it can happen. Personally, I have a hunch that whatever Ben did with that new code is going to help him attempt to triangulate where Sam is and attempt to bring him home. Of course, I could be completely off base on that, but I’m eager to learn more and see if that’s where things are headed. 

Raymond Lee Is A Fantastic Lead With A Great Supporting Cast

I’m of the opinion that the original Quantum Leap was a good show made great by fantastic performances by Scott Bakula. The revival is off to a very strong start, and that’s thanks in no small part to its Dr. Ben Song actor, Raymond Lee. It’s not often I’m instantly all-in on the lead of a series and everything their character is about, but that happened with Ben Song. That’s really saying something considering his bone-headed move of jumping before the Quantum Leap tech was stabilized, but those who watch should understand quickly enough. 

And just to be clear, Raymond Lee’s performance is only bolstered by his co-star Caitlin Bassett. Their great Sam/Al-like chemistry is well worth the price of admission alone, and there’s more to love outside of that. Bassett, of course, carries a lot of the story outside of the leaps and interacts with others in the cast like Mason Alexander Park's Ian and Nanrisa Lee’s Jenn. Ernie Hudson is also an absolute gem as Magic, and will hopefully get his flowers by the time the season is up. In short, I love the talented Quantum Leap cast and can’t wait to see how much they grow in these roles as Quantum Leap continues. 

If you’re now convinced now is a great time to watch Quantum Leap, check it out on NBC Mondays at 10:00 p.m. ET. It’s one of many quality shows appearing in the 2022 TV Schedule, so be sure to take a peek at that and see what else is on the way. 

Although This Is Us ended only earlier this year, some of the stars haven’t wasted any time in picking up new gigs, including Justin Hartley. The actor returned to NBC with his newest role in the October 10 episode of the new series Quantum Leap, and he has explained why came to the new show. 

Justin Hartley guest starred as Jake, a bounty hunter, on the reboot of the popular ‘80s series alongside his wife, Sofia Pernas. Quantum Leap marks Hartley’s first follow-up to This Is Us and gave him the chance to improvise. He explained to E! News:

Given the success of This Is Us, Quantum Leap having the "same kind of vibe" tracks as something that would appeal to Justin Hartley, on top of being able to act alongside his wife. Even though the role was just for one episode, seeing him back on TV, and on NBC no less, was a joy. Hopefully, this won’t be the last time he’ll be on the network.

Meanwhile, Justin Hartley is working on another follow-up, this time on CBS. The Never Game was given a pilot order from the network over the summer. Hartley is going to be busy on the series, as he’s not only starring in it but serving as an executive producer alongside Ken Olin, a former EP on This Is Us. So fans may be able to look forward to some This Is Us Easter eggs and perhaps even a reunion or two. One can hope, anyway!

It’s hard to think about the fact that the cast of This Is Us is moving on to other roles, even though it’s already been several months since the drama aired its finale. Although it came to an emotional end, the cast clearly had fun filming the final batch of episodes, as shown by their hilarious wobble video. It’s also nice to see them working on other projects. Since The Never Game is only in its pilot stage, it may be a while until we find out if it goes to series, but at least Hartley’s Quantum Leap appearance allowed fans to see him in front of the camera again.

Although Quantum Leap was able to snag Justin Hartley for an episode, they may not be able to get an original star. Scott Bakula has been open about his decision to not return, but it seems like the series is doing just fine without him. NBC recently gave the series a full-season order, meaning that it’s on the track to possibly being renewed for Season 2.

Don’t miss new episodes of Quantum Leap on Mondays at 10 p.m. EST on NBC! Check out CinemaBlend’s 2022 TV schedule to see what else to look forward to in the coming months as the year comes to a close.

The Quantum Leap revival is off to a great start at NBC, even with former franchise lead Scott Bakula’s decision to not join the show. With that said, the series keeps mentioning his character Sam Beckett and, while we know Bakula doesn’t currently have any plans to join, the story seemingly remains open-ended for Sam to return at a later date should things change. Now, comments from showrunner Martin Gero have provided some clarity regarding where things stand with Bakula and Beckett,  despite the feelings the actor presently has.

Martin Gero took some time to share how he’s proceeding with the veteran actor's rejection and not having him involved. Gero mentioned to Collider that he will respect his decision, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to quit reaching out: 

The Quantum Leap showrunner expressed that he’d love to welcome back Scott Bakula, possibly as Sam Beckett, but he’s unsure if it’ll happen. While Bakula previously said that he’s rooting for the revival and that it has his support, he hasn’t exactly given an explicit reason as to why he’s not involved. Bakula is still an in-demand actor, however, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he simply had a previous commitment that prevents him from being involved. Bakula was linked to an NBC pilot earlier this year, but it's since been reported that the project isn't moving forward. 

It’s also possible that everyone involved is playing coy to hide the surprise that Scott Bakula will eventually join the cast of Quantum Leap. Early reports about the series once pointed to Bakula’s involvement though, obviously, it seems more likely that he's completely uninvolved at this point in time.

The revival’s premiere noted that Sam Beckett was never found after his jump and that he was either still out in the universe making jumps or dead. That feels like an intentional placeholder for Beckett to come back into the story at some point. It's also vague enough that it would give the actor some flexibility in regard to finding th time to return and shoot footage with this Quantum Leap's absolutely stacked cast. 

If Scott Bakula returning as Sam Beckett isn’t in the cards, the series seems more than content right now, building the story around Dr. Ben Song. Ben unexpectedly made a jump without his colleagues' approval or knowledge and, now, that the jump has taken away his memories. The show continues to dole out breadcrumbs that may reveal his motivations for embarking on such a dangerous journey that he may never return from. In short, it’s doing fine without Beckett for the time being, though I’m sure many fans would love to see him return at some point just as Martin Gero does.

Quantum Leap airs on NBC on Mondays at 10:00 p.m. ET. The series has only just started, so now is a perfect time to catch up and join in on the speculation for why Ben jumped without consulting anyone. Those who would like to check it out can stream the series using a Peacock subscription.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for NBC’s Quantum Leap series premiere, called “July 13th, 1985.” Read at your own risk!

NBC’s Quantum Leap revival didn’t feature Sam Beckett in the flesh, but Scott Bakula’s iconic time-traveling character did get plenty of references in the series premiere. Dr. Ben Song’s friends and colleagues tried to make sense of his decision to jump before they’d perfected their theory of bringing people back but didn't get many answers. The show also acknowledged the events of the original series and the experiment that trapped Beckett back in time decades before. 

In the decades since Sam Beckett's disappearance, Dr. Ben Song and other brilliant minds continued working to perfect the time travel method and even think they can drill down on how to bring people back from their jumps. The latter, of course, is important, as the characters later confirmed the bummer ending of the original Quantum Leap that was infamously laid out via title card. Yes, Sam Beckett never found his way home, and as far as the characters in the series know, he’s either dead or still traveling through time. 

It’s quite a grim reveal, but all hope is not lost. Viewers learn the Quantum Leap project restarted under the guidance of Herbert "Magic" Williams, and that for the past five years, they’ve worked on developing a way for someone to jump to a single point in time, and then return back to the present after jumping. Unfortunately, Ben uploaded a bunch of new data to the program before taking an impromptu jump, and thanks to amnesia he suffered as a side effect from it, he can’t explain why he did that. For now, he’s just as stuck in time and jumping into bodies Sam Beckett was, but should the team figure out how to bring him back, there’s a chance they can do the same for Sam if he’s still out there. 

Quantum Leap left the door open for Scott Bakula to reprise his role as Sam Beckett, but whether that will actually happen is another story. While there was rampant speculation he’d be involved and the actor showed enthusiasm about a revival, Bakula himself confirmed he had to turn down appearing in the project and that it was a “difficult decision” for him to do so (even with the cancellation of NCIS: New Orleans presumably freeing him up for more projects). With that said, the show presents an opportunity for Sam to make an appearance, so provided there’s an opportunity for him to appear in a future season, it might still be on the table. 

There’s also a chance that Scott Bakula and those involved in Quantum Leap are playing coy about whether or not he’ll return as Sam Beckett. Although we can only speculate, there is something curious about a response that showrunner Martin Gero gave during the TCA press tour in regard to Ben Song’s jumping ability. Gero was asked if Ben can jump into non-Americans, women, former people Sam jumped into, or even Sam, and responded with the following: 

Martin Gero certainly didn't drop all the spoilers for what's to come about who can be jumped into, which could be a sign that the character will be referenced beyond what viewers saw in the premiere. I, personally, would take that as a positive sign there’s a chance we’ll see Sam Beckett in the future, though whether that’s someone played by Scott Bakula or someone else I cannot say. The show already had to launch without actor Dean Stockwell following his death, so it’d be a shame if it ultimately has to continue on without Bakula in any capacity as well.

Quantum Leap airs on NBC on Mondays at 10:00 p.m. ET. As the fall season of television gets underway, be sure to check it what new shows are arriving to stay on top of all the fun television coming down the pipeline.

The classic ‘80s sci-fi series, Quantum Leap, is one those shows that was cancelled before it could get a proper ending, much to the detriment of its loyal fans. Though the original version starring Scott Bakula as quantum physicist Dr. Sam Beckett and the late Dean Stockwell as his best friend, Al Calavicci, never got to wrap things up (either in the form of a movie or a continuation), the show itself now has a reboot series.

If you watched or plan to watch Quantum Leap following its NBC debut on Monday, September 19th, you may be wondering where you’ve seen the actors who make up the new cast before. Well, worry not, because we are about to break down why the cast of one of the most promising 2022 fall TV shows look so familiar…

Raymond Lee (Dr. Ben Song)

Raymond Lee leads the Quantum Leap cast as Dr. Ben Song, a brilliant quantum physicist, who, like Scott Bakula’s Dr. Sam Beckett, finds himself leaping from person to person through time as he attempts to right their wrongs and change their lives for the better, as well as all of history.

Those who saw Top Gun: Maverick, which absolutely crushed at the box office upon its May 2022 release, should recognize Lee from his portrayal of fighter pilot LT Logan “Yale” Lee. The actor also appeared alongside Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum earlier in the year in The Lost City.

Over on the film side of things, Lee is probably best remembered for his turn as Sam on the AMC+ streaming series, Kevin Can F**K Himself. He was also a member of the Made for Love cast, after appearing on shows like Prodigal Son, Here and Now, and Mozart in the Jungle, to name only a few.

Caitlin Bassett (Addison Augustine)

Newcomer Caitlin Bassett appears on the Quantum Leap cast as Addison Augustine, Dr. Ben Song’s guide as he is traveling from person to person throughout time. And, as the show’s first trailer suggests, before she was Ben’s hologram companion, the two shared a romantic bond of some kind.

Unlike the rest of the Quantum Leap cast who have appeared in a variety of film and TV projects over the years, the NBC reboot is Bassett’s first professional acting gig. According to NBC, Bassett was selected from over 40,000 applicants to join the 2020 ABC Discovers Talent Showcase following a seven-year stint in the military, split between U.S. Army Intelligence and the National Security Agency. After completing three combat tours during her service, Bassett began to take theater classes.

Nanrisa Lee (Jenn Chou)

Next up is Nanrisa Lee, who shows up on the Quantum Leap cast as Jenn Chou, a digital security expert who is trying to find out why Ben Song leaped into the past, as well as how to bring him back home.

Prior to landing a role on NBC’s Quantum Leap reboot, Lee made a name for herself on the Amazon original series, Bosch, a couple years before the show was cancelled by the streaming service. In the years following that, Lee has appeared on everything from The Morning Show to American Housewife and Star Trek: Picard to Promised Land, as well as a couple dozen other TV roles on shows like Grey’s Anatomy, How to Get Away with Murder, CSI: Vegas, Good Girls, and Impeachment: American Crime Story, to name a few.

In that same stretch of time, Lee has appeared in several feature films, including Tall Trees, The Happys, The Aliens, Clocking the T, 4/20, A Lot of Nothing, and First Love.

Mason Alexander Park (Ian Wright)

Then there is Mason Alexander Park, who takes on the role of Ian Wright, the intelligent computer programmer who helps the team with the “Ziggy” artificial intelligence program that Dr. Ben Song uses to leap from person to person and throughout time. 

Park landing one of the more prominent roles on NBC’s new reboot of Quantum Leap is the latest in a string of hits for the actor over the course of the past few years. In August 2022, Park joined The Sandman cast as Desire, their second major role in a Netflix original series in as many years. In 2021, Park was cast as Gren in the live-action adaptation of Cowboy Bebop, which was unfortunately cancelled after only one season. Following the cancellation of that series, the show’s cast reacted to the decision not to move forward, with Park going on Twitter to say they were gutted by the news.

Over the years, Park has also appeared on shows like The Legend of Vox Machina, Acting for a Cause, Bucket and Skinner’s Epic Adventures, and iCarly (the original, not the Paramount+ reboot), as well as several stage productions, including Mary Poppins, South Pacific, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and several others.

Ernie Hudson (Herbert ‘Magic’ Williams)

And, rounding out the main portion of the Quantum Leap cast is Ernie Hudson, who takes on the role of Herbert “Magic” Williams, the man who has been put in charge of the Quantum Leap program by the United States military.

Though he is in no need of an introduction, it’s not going to hurt anyone if we just spend some time going over Hudson’s impressive list of accomplishments on the small screen and silver screen. First and foremost is Hudson’s portrayal of Winston Zeddemore in the Ghostbusters franchise, a character that went from someone looking for a “steady paycheck” to a successful businessman who looked to be leading the next generation in the Ghostbusters: Afterlife ending. Hudson’s other prominent film appearances include The Crow, The Basketball Diaries, and The Hand That Rocks the Cradle. 

Hudson has also had a ton of success on TV throughout his career, with some of his standout roles being on shows like the HBO prison drama Oz, St. Elsewhere, Law and Order, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Desperate Housewives, and Modern Family.

You can see these actors and more in action when Quantum Leap airs at 10 p.m. ET, Mondays on NBC. Episodes are also available to stream for those with a Peacock subscription.

Quantum Leap is on the way back to television this fall, nearly three decades after the series finale of the original show abruptly ended the story of Dr. Sam Beckett, played by Scott Bakula. Although early reports suggested that Bakula could be involved in the upcoming NBC revival, the actor himself has now clarified his connection to the series… or, more specifically, lack of connection. 

Just days before the Quantum Leap revival (starring Raymond Lee) premieres on September 19, Scott Bakula took to Instagram with a message addressed to “Quantum Leap fans around the world.” He thanked them for hanging around over the decades since the original series, but wanted to “quiet the rumors and move on.” He wrote: 

Scott Bakula’s comments track with what happened when news first broke back in January that a Quantum Leap revival might actually happen. At the time, it was reported that the actor (who was absent from primetime after NCIS: New Orleans came to an end months before) was expected to be involved. According to him now, he did receive a script in January, but it did not lead to his involvement in the revival of the sci-fi series. 

Fans of the original may be glad to see that he made a special mention of Al, played by the late Dean Stockwell, when addressing the question of how this show could happen without Sam. The actor didn’t explain exactly why he’s not involved in the new show, but he did go on to elaborate on the situation and his hopes for the project:

It evidently wasn’t an easy decision for Scott Bakula to pass on participating in NBC’s new Quantum Leap, but the actor (whose NBC pilot didn’t get the green light earlier this year) also only had good things to say about the prospect of the new take on his beloved series coming back to television. He has high hopes for the team behind Quantum Leap to recapture what worked so well back in the original five-season run from 1989 - 1993. He finished his message by saying that he wishes them “good luck and happy leaping.” Check out the full post (and Quantum Leap photo that he chose) below:

If you want to revisit Scott Bakula’s time as Dr. Sam Beckett, you can find all five seasons of the original Quantum Leap streaming with a Peacock subscription now. The new show will premiere on NBC on Monday, September 19 at 10 p.m. ET, in what is the unofficial first night of the broadcast network fall TV premiere season. Monday night also sees the returns of some of television’s other biggest network shows, including NCIS and NCIS: Hawai’i on CBS for a crossover event and 9-1-1 over on Fox with its Season 6 premiere. 

For more viewing options in the not-too-distant future, be sure to check out our 2022 TV premiere schedule to start planning ahead for the fall. 

Scott Bakula was a familiar face on network TV for the better part of a decade thanks to his starring role as Dwayne Pride on CBS' NCIS: New Orleans, but the NCIS spinoff came to an end back in 2021. Now, the actor has landed a new project at NBC that could bring him back to network TV, which raises the question: could the Quantum Leap revival at NBC be next? 

The actor was best known for his work in science fiction before portraying Pride for NCIS: New Orleans, as star of Star Trek: Enterprise and Quantum Leap, the latter of which has a sequel series in development at NBC. The latest casting news for Scott Bakula doesn’t concern Quantum Leap, but does bring him to NBC. 

Scott Bakula landed a lead role in the upcoming NBC drama pilot called Unbroken, and Variety reports that the project follows a trio of dynastic ranch families on the coast of California. They’ll deal with everything from love and war in their fight to survive, but may be able to come together to support a group of young women in their bid at the National Championship of Rodeo. 

Bakula would play a retired saddle bronc rodeo champion by the name of Ash Holleren, whose family ranch is in jeopardy with falling profits and neighbors with their eyes on his land. Along with the rest of the family, Ash will have to work to find a way back to a life of prosperity on the ranch like they had before… if they can. 

The actor joins a cast already comprised of The Code’s Anna Wood, United States of Al’s Amanda Payton (who also had some memorable appearances as Celeste in the current season of Chicago P.D. on NBC), The Bold and the Beautiful’s Delon de Metz, and American Gods’ Olunike Adeliyi. 

Now, Unbroken is currently only in the pilot stage of development, so there’s no guarantee that NBC will give the project a series order and viewers will see Scott Bakula playing Ash on television. It does have a unique premise that stands out from other offerings on broadcast TV, plus the ranch element could attract some Yellowstone viewers. (And there are plenty of Yellowstone viewers!) Bakula is a proven leading man, so there is a lot going for this project. 

But what does a potential new show at NBC that isn’t Quantum Leap have to do with Scott Bakula potentially reprising his iconic role as Sam Beckett? Well, back in January, news broke that NBC had given a pilot order to a Quantum Leap revival, with a premise centering on a new team trying to figure out more about the machine and locate Dr. Beckett, who vanished into the accelerator decades ago. Although not confirmed, it was reported at the time that Bakula was expected to be involved in the pilot. 

If Scott Bakula is already working with NBC, and if Sam Beckett wouldn’t be necessary as a series regular for a Quantum Leap revival, it’s not hard to imagine him reprising the role for a cameo or guest-star appearance. Bakula did say that he’s “thrilled to be working with” NBC for Unbroken. With both projects seemingly still in development, fans can always hope that Bakula coming to NBC is a good sign!

For now, only time will tell if Unbroken gets a series order beyond its current pilot stage to bring Scott Bakula back to TV as a series regular. If you want to revisit Bakula’s previous shows, you can find Quantum Leap streaming on Roku, and both NCIS: New Orleans and Star Trek: Enterprise with a Paramount+ subscription. If you’re in the market for some more viewing options, take a look at our 2022 TV schedule.

Quantum Leap is a classic sci-fi series that has had rumors of returning in some form or other for years, and now the potential revival is seemingly closer than ever. A sequel series is reportedly in the works at NBC, and original series star Scott Bakula is said to be involved. 

A Quantum Leap revival has gotten a pilot order from NBC, according to Variety, which cites a source stating that original star Scott Bakula (not too long after his previous network TV show was cancelled) is expected to be involved in that pilot project. The premise of the revival is said to center on a new team restarting the Quantum Leap project and trying to figure out what remains unknown about the machine… as well as Bakula’s Dr. Sam Beckett, who vanished into the accelerator 30 years ago.

There are no further details about the cast who would anchor the new Quantum Leap project if it receives a series order to become a show, and all signs point toward the revival still being in the very early stages, if it has only just received a pilot order. NBC has not commented on the reports of Quantum Leap coming back at the time of writing, although it was the home of the show during its original five-season run in the late 1980s to early 1990s. 

Donald P. Bellisario, who originally created Quantum Leap, will reportedly serve as an executive producer. Interestingly, he also created (as well as wrote, produced, and directed for) NCIS, which anchored a franchise that would go on to employ Scott Bakula for seven seasons as leading man of NCIS: New Orleans. Bellisario was not, however, responsible for the creation of the New Orleans spinoff. 

The reports of a revival in the works at NBC arrived just months after the death of Dean Stockwell, who shared the screen with Scott Bakula as fan-favorite Al. He died at home on November 7, 2021 at the age of 85. Al was a beloved and instrumental part of the original run of Quantum Leap; if the revival happens and does feature Scott Bakula in the pilot, then hopefully Al would get at least a mention. And hey, if the new characters are invested in the mysteries of the original and Sam, maybe Al will be as much of interest as Bakula's character!

The original Quantum Leap starring Bakula and Stockwell ran for five seasons and just shy of 100 episodes on NBC from 1989-1993. Similarly to Battlestar Galactica, the original remained a cult hit in the years after its end. And hopefully, a revival could also be similar to BSG, insofar as it brings the show back to pop culture and creates a new generation of fans.

Of course, SYFY's Battlestar Galactica was a reboot whereas the potential new Quantum Leap project is said to be a sequel series and revival. Still, it would be an interesting addition to the NBC lineup. Although the network has some unconventional shows like Ordinary Joe and of course La Brea, it doesn't really have a primetime sci-fi offering. In fact, the closest thing in recent years was arguably Manifest, which was cancelled at the end of the 2020-2021 TV season. 

For now, fans can only wait for official confirmation that a new Quantum Leap is in the works with Scott Bakula attached at least to the pilot. A pilot order is just an early step in the process of producing a show and far from a guarantee that a show will happen, but certainly a step in the right direction. Unfortunately, the original run of Quantum Leap isn't currently available without rental/purchase on any major streaming service, but you can check out our 2022 winter and spring premiere schedule for some TV options during the wait for more Quantum Leap updates.