Quantum Leap - SciFi Wire: Scott Bakula Interview

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Quantum Leap's 20, and Scott Bakula travels back in time with us

By Jenna Busch
04/03/09

Scott Bakula—who played the time-jumping Sam Beckett for five seasons on TV's Quantum Leap, from '89-'93—talked exclusively with SCI FI Wire about the show's 20th anniversary celebration last weekend in North Hollywood, Calif., and whether a movie will ever come together. The former Enterprise captain also dished on Star Trek and his guest role on NBC's Chuck.

Bakula shared the stage at the "Leap Back" convention with series creator Don Bellisario, and after 20 years, fans are still as passionate as ever about the beloved sci-fi series.

One woman was so overcome about speaking to the star of the show that she was unable to ask her question. When Bakula walked out into the audience to hug her, she told him that she knew his character's social security number by heart and immediately rattled it off.

We spoke exclusively with Bakula in a telephone interview on Thursday. Following is an edited version of our conversation.

A brief excerpt:

What do you think it was about the show that made it so popular?

Bakula: Well, I think Sam represented everyman, and there was a naivete about him. The very simple nature of the show being about someone literally walking in someone else's shoes and seeing the world through their eyes. We're so involved in our own lives, but when you think about being that woman over there, pushing that stroller with the two little babies, and what is her life like. And all of a sudden we're in her life. We knew what was going on. ... The nature of his character was, because of his big-hearted kindness and his willingness to be involved in other people's lives, ... humanity is always looking to help each other and look out. Sometimes it takes big tragedies. Look what the people in New Orleans did or the people in New York did. Or the people on the plane that went down in the Hudson. Look how they handled it. They reached out and helped each other. This was just one man in a TV show. It was very simple and kind of magical.