Blogging from A to Z 2022 - Quantum Leap

Welcome to Day 17 of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge (2022) I will be discussing topics of interest to those who identify as women this year. The Book Connection is lucky number 78 in a list of more than 140 bloggers who are participating in 2022. I encourage you to check out the list and visit other blogs with topics of interest. 

QUANTUM LEAP

The science-fiction show Quantum Leap aired from 1989 - 1993. It starred Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell as Dr. Sam Beckett and Admiral Al Calavicci. The premise of the show is that during a government experiment on time travel, Sam steps into the Quantum Leap Accelerator and vanishes. Instead of traveling within his own lifetime, Sam finds himself trapped in the past, leaping into a variety of people and driven by an unknown force to change history for the better. Al, as an observer from his own time, is his only guide, appearing as a hologram that only Sam can see and hear. Sam leaps from life to life, seeking to right what once went wrong, and hoping the next leap will be his leap home. 

Though I am not a huge fan of science-fiction, I loved Quantum Leap. Probably because I enjoy history, and Scott Bakula isn't tough to look at either. :) 

One interesting concept of the show is that Sam could leap into any gender. IMDB states that Sam leaped into nine women or teenage girls. Here is the rundown on those episodes:

• "What Price Gloria? - October 16, 1961" - Sam leaps into the body of Samantha Stormer, an attractive secretary, who learns she was promoted because her creepy boss (Buddy) wants to sleep with her. Buddy is already having an affair with Samantha's roommate, Gloria. Though Buddy has told Gloria he will leave his wife, Sam knows he needs to convince her to break it off to avoid heartbreak and her eventual suicide. 
• "Another Mother - September 30, 1981" - Sam leaps into the body of Linda Bruckner, a divorced mother of three. Sam must prevent her oldest son from running away and never being heard from again.
• "Miss Deep South - June 7, 1958" - As Darlene Monte, Sam enters a beauty pageant. Not only must he prevent a fellow contestant from posing for nude photos, he must make sure Darlene comes in third place. [This episode might not be as well received if it aired today.]
• "8½ Months - November 15, 1955" - Sam leaps into the body of a pregnant  teenager. Her mother died and her father wants nothing to do with her. The child's father is off at college and wanted her to terminate the pregnancy. Unless Sam can convince her father to support Billie Jean, she will end up living a life of regret and searching for the child she gave up for adoption. [Not sure how well this one aged without watching it again.]
• "Raped - June 20, 1980" - Sam leaps into the body of rape victim Kate McBain. When he decides to press charges against the rapist, he discovers it will be hard to prove Kate's date raped her.
• "A Song for the Soul - April 7, 1963" - Sam leaps into the body of fifteen-year-old Cherea, an African-American singer who dreams of starting a group with her two friends. Sam and Al aren't in sync on why Sam is there. Sam believes it is to prevent one of Cherea's friends (Lynell) from running away. Sam thinks it is to improve Lynell's relationship with her father, who does not support her singing career.
• "Liberation - October 16, 1968" - When Sam leaps into the body of Margaret Sanders, he discovers she and her daughter were arrested at a women's lib rally. Margaret's activism puts a strain on her marriage, and Al fears the leader of the local women's movement will be shot unless she cancels the next rally. 
• "Dr. Ruth - April 25, 1985" - If you were at least a teenager in the 80s, you will remember Dr. Ruth Westheimer. In this episode, Sam leaps into Dr. Ruth's body as she is in the middle of her call-in radio show giving advice to Annie Wilkins, who believes her boss is pressuring her to have sex.
• "Revenge of the Evil Leaper - September 16, 1987" - Sam leaps simultaneously with ex-Evil Leaper Alia. As Liz Tate, Sam finds himself with Alia in a female prison where they are accused of murdering a fellow inmate. Zoey, Alia's observer, manages to leap into the same place and time, so keeping Alia's location a secret from Zoey, who is the prison warden, is the main challenge. 

Do you like when shows tackle tough issues? Did you watch Quantum Leap? How do you think it did in handling women's issues?