Quantum Leap

Quantum Leap

Quantum Leap

Dr. Sam Beckett

Ranked #15 in TV Guide's list of the "25 Top Cult Shows Ever!" (30 May 2004 issue).

Sam has leaped into nine women.

Sam leaped into every year from 1953 through 1987 at least once, except the years 1977, 1984, and 1986. Sam has leaped into the years 1862 and 1945, the only times that he has leaped out of his lifetime.

Ziggy's opening narration says that "only Sam can see and hear" Al, but the series gradually shows that animals, very young children, the mentally disabled, and people near death can also see and hear him (as well as seeing Sam's true form).

Al sometimes does things that he really shouldn't be able to as a hologram. The most frequent is riding in cars, but at times he's also walked up stairs, walked up hills, and visibly leaned on walls.

The number of Sam's siblings and their back stories change from the start of the series up until the 2-part episode "The Leap Home". In the first season, Sam mentions having a sister named Katie. In the 2-part pilot "Genesis", Sam mentions that she married a Naval Officer named Jim Bonney. However, in the first season episode "The Kamikaze Kid", which hinges on Sam stopping a sister from marrying an abusive boyfriend, Sam mentions that Katie married and abusive alcoholic, later named "Chuck" in the "Leap Home" episode. Also, in early episodes, Sam never mentions having an older brother named Tom until the "Leap Home" episode.

Sam: The fact that you were a practicing pervert at the age of 5 has nothing to do with the rest of the world!

Al: There are five stages of love. The first is denial, then the second is sex, then there's acceptance, then there's divorce... and then there's more sex, if you're lucky.

Al: Their only desire is for you to pamper them, and play with their...