TV: Quantum Leap

The "traveling angel" show, where a benevolent protagonist wanders through the world doing good and solving problems, has always been a staple of modern commercial media. From the early old-time radio adventures of "Johnny Dollar" to stuff like "Joan of Arcadia," it's just downright easy for writers to stick our hero into some new mess, in some new place.

"Quantum Leap" mixed in some light-hearted science-fictiony time travel into the formula, and it was the one show that I watched every day, hoping to see the leap home...



This show was pretty much the high point for Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell, but their chemistry on screen was so good I suppose there's no hard feelings. The series did get a little weird when they tried to shore up flagging ratings (the Lee Harvey Oswald leaps, the infamous "Evil Leaper" Alia) but I always wished they'd wrap up the series properly.

On the whole, the show was all about tolerance and helping people out. And of course, it's been parodied mercilessly: