Fate's Wide Wheel: A Quantum Leap Podcast with Sam & Dennis

We must be bold…we must be innovative…we must be…*obnoxious breathing*…NUUUUUUUUUDE!

Or is this episode called “Unchained Melody”? Sam leaps into Chance Cole, a prisoner on a Southern chain gang in 1956. Cole is shackled to fellow inmate, Jasper Boone, who has been wrongfully imprisoned for series of store robberies. Somehow, Sam and Al must prove Jasper’s innocence from inside the prison. We discuss the episode … Continue reading Unchained – November 2, 1956 →

On March 26th, 1989, or favorite TV show debuted on NBC is a special two-hour movie event. We discuss what 30 years of Quantum Leap has meant us, as well as some thoughts from our listeners.

Sam leaps into Billy Beaumont, a traveling huckster who promises to literally make it rain. Sam arrives as Billy and his assistant, Clinton, are pulling into Billy’s drought-ridden hometown of Clover Bend, Texas. In the original history, the drought continued for several more months, and Billy left town with his brother’s wife, Annie. Can Sam … Continue reading A Single Drop of Rain – September 7, 1953 →

Sam leaps into Jack Stone, a Malibu, California police detective. When Sam finds an eviscerated body immediately after leaping in, his psyche is thrown into turmoil, giving him nightmares and possible visions of his own impending death, even as he tries to solve the woman’s murder. Our “guestiest guest” Chris Steward returns to discuss an … Continue reading Dreams – February 28, 1979 →

Some family issues came up this weekend, preventing us from recording. So we’re revisiting one of our favorites from Season 3, Black on White on Fire. We often talk on this show about Quantum Leap episodes that haven’t aged well, especially with our more socially-conscious 2018 sensibilities. Here’s one that is – all too unfortunately – … Continue reading Throwback Episode: Black on White on Fire – August 11, 1965 →

Sam’s a chimponaut! Sam leaps into Bobo, a chimpanzee in the early days of the space program. Sam was to prevent the disappearance (and later, the unnecessary death) of Bobo, and another chimp named Cory. Sam Fain and Dennis discuss an episode that at first glance seems gimmicky and just an excuse to put Scott … Continue reading The Wrong Stuff – January 24, 1961 →

CW for this episode: Frank discussion about rape, victim-blaming, and victim-shaming Sam leaps into a Katie McBain, a rape victim, as she is in the hospital after her attack. As Katie, Sam pursues charges and a trial against the man who assaulted her, in a community that does not want to believe her. Given the … Continue reading Raped – June 20, 1980 →

Sam is Frank Bianca, a super hot and super popular L.A. hairdresser, there to stop his girlfriend and son from being killed after the boy possibly witnessing a murder.

Sam leaps into Clyde (in a rare case, no last name is given), as he is being inducted into the KKK in 1965 Alabama. As Clyde, Sam must save the life of a civil rights activist. This episode of QL has several utterance of the “N word”. We spend a good portion of the first … Continue reading Justice – May 11, 1965 →

Sam leaps into Archie Necaise, a deputy sheriff in Jackson’s Point, Mississippi, as Hurricane Camille is about to hit. As Archie, Sam must prevent the death of his girlfriend, Cissy, who was originally was killed in the storm.

Sam leaps into Lester “Doc” Fuller, a minor league baseball player there to help both Doc’s fallen career, and that of an up-and-coming hotheaded pitcher (played by Neal McDonough). Dennis is kind ‘meh’ on the episode, while Sam thinks it’s one of the best of the fourth season.

Hello Leapers! We’re back with a new episode, talking about Season 4’s premiere, THE LEAP BACK. Sam leaps home! Al leaps into 1945! We finally meet Ziggy and the rest of Project Quantum Leap, and Sam is reunited with his forgotten wife. We are joined by guest, Karyn Saxon, to discuss the episode. We talk … Continue reading The Leap Back – June 15, 1945 / September 18, 1999 →

Happy Tuesday, Leapers! Our next episode talking about the 4th season premiere will drop next week. In the meantime, let’s jump back to the season 3 premiere, THE LEAP HOME, PART 1. Laurence Brown of LOST IN THE POND joins us to discuss the episode.

When Sam leaps into a mental institution and receives electroshock therapy moments after arriving, he is – as Al puts it – pushed over the line, and begins to take on the personalities of some of his previous leapees. If that isn’t disturbing enough, Sam’s mental state is making it difficult for Project Quantum Leap … Continue reading Shock Theater – October 3, 1954 →

Sam leaps into Eddie Elroy, a college student who finds himself in the family business of selling bomb shelters, on the eve of the Cuban Missile Crisis. As Eddie, Sam must prevent the murder of a neighbor who tries to enter the Elroy’s shelter during a false scare.

Sam leaps into Terry Sammis, a.k.a. Nikolai Russkie, one-half of the tag team wresting duo The Battling Russkies. Shortly after Sam arrives, the duo get a shot for the title in a championship match. In the original history, Terry’s brother, Ronnie, die from cardiac arrest during the match. Sam must find a way to keep … Continue reading Heart of a Champion – July 23, 1955 →

Sam leaps into Jesus Ortega…just as he is being strapped into an electric chair and being told by a guard to “think of some place far away.” He receives a last-minute reprieve the governor, and 48 hours to prove Jesus’ innocence. Sam Fain and Dennis discuss the episode.

Sam leaps into Gordon O’Reilly, a bounty hunter taking his latest catch, Diane Frost, to justice. Diane has been accused of forging $1 million worth of checks from her boss. She confesses to doing it, but swears she did it for a good cause: Her boss had swindled the money from elderly people, including her … Continue reading A Hunting We Will Go – June 18, 1976 →

Sam leaps into Jeffrey “Tonic” Mole, lead singer of the KISS-esque 70s band, King Thunder. In the original history, Tonic was originally killed by someone in the crowd as he was leaving after a concert in Detroit. Sam must figure out who is going to kill Tonic, and suspects abound! In the meantime, Sam gets … Continue reading Glitter Rock – April 12, 1974 →