Dr. Samuel Beckett, a scientist, created a machine operated by Ziggy (an AI computer) that lets you to travel back in time. Being impatient to see the results of his work, he entered the chamber and activated it... and then disappeared. What the machine does is makes him jump into someone else's body somewhere in the past (but only in the past from the day he was born to present, which is why his friend Al, could travel to an early period before Sam was born in his one and only adventure during season 4 premiere). Sam can see that person in the mirror and nobody seems him or hears him as Sam, but rather as the person whose body he is inhabiting (and he is not limited by gender and will jump to both male and female characters). During his time in the past, the soul of a person he jumped into is back in the chamber in the present. Now, his only goal is to come back home, and he can only do that by jumping from one person to another. The down side is that he does not remember much about himself (especially the fact that he has a wife waiting for him), and for some reason Al is not supposed to tell him or there could be some complications. Each time he is in some person's body he has to do something good to finish being there and jump to a next body, and with each new jump he hopes to jump back home to present to his own body. But each time he is in someone else's body, he must jump before the time runs out or he could get stranded there in that person's body forever.
Appearances
Quantum Leap
Main cast, played by Scott Bakula
- Episode 1x01: Genesis - September 13, 1956 (Mar 26, 1989)
- Episode 1x02: Star-Crossed - June 15, 1972 (Mar 31, 1989)
- Episode 1x03: The Right Hand of God - October 24, 1974 (Apr 7, 1989)
- Episode 1x04: How the Tess Was Won - August 5, 1956 (Apr 14, 1989)
- Episode 1x05: Double Identity - November 9, 1965 (Apr 21, 1989)
- Episode 1x06: The Color of Truth - August 8, 1955 (May 3, 1989)
- Episode 1x07: Camikazi Kid - June 6, 1961 (May 10, 1989)
- Episode 1x08: Play It Again, Seymour - April 14, 1953 (May 17, 1989)
- Episode 2x01: Honeymoon Express - April 26, 1960 (Sep 20, 1989)
- Episode 2x02: Disco Inferno - April 1, 1976 (Sep 27, 1989)
- Episode 2x03: The Americanization of Machiko - August 4, 1953 (Oct 11, 1989)
- Episode 2x04: What Price Gloria? - October 16, 1961 (Oct 25, 1989)
- Episode 2x05: Blind Faith - February 6, 1964 (Nov 1, 1989)
- Episode 2x06: Good Morning, Peoria - September 9, 1959 (Nov 8, 1989)
- Episode 2x07: Thou Shalt Not... - February 2, 1974 (Nov 15, 1989)
- Episode 2x08: Jimmy - October 14, 1964 (Nov 22, 1989)
- Episode 2x09: So Help Me God - July 29, 1957 (Nov 29, 1989)
- Episode 2x10: Catch a Falling Star - May 21, 1979 (Dec 6, 1989)
- Episode 2x11: A Portrait for Troian - February 7, 1971 (Dec 13, 1989)
- Episode 2x12: Animal Frat - October 19, 1967 (Jan 3, 1990)
- Episode 2x13: Another Mother - September 30, 1981 (Jan 10, 1990)
- Episode 2x14: All Americans - November 6, 1962 (Jan 17, 1990)
- Episode 2x15: Her Charm - September 26, 1973 (Feb 7, 1990)
- Episode 2x16: Freedom - November 22, 1970 (Feb 14, 1990)
- Episode 2x17: Good Night, Dear Heart - November 9, 1957 (Mar 7, 1990)
- Episode 2x18: Pool Hall Blues - September 4, 1954 (Mar 14, 1990)
- Episode 2x19: Leaping in Without a Net - November 18, 1958 (Mar 28, 1990)
- Episode 2x20: Maybe Baby - March 11, 1963 (Apr 4, 1990)
- Episode 2x21: Sea Bride - June 3, 1954 (May 2, 1990)
- Episode 2x22: M.I.A. - April 1, 1969 (May 9, 1990)
- Episode 3x01: The Leap Home Part I - November 25, 1969 (Sep 28, 1990)
- Episode 3x02: The Leap Home Part II (Vietnam) - April 7, 1970 (Oct 5, 1990)
- Episode 3x03: Leap of Faith - August 19, 1963 (Oct 12, 1990)
- Episode 3x04: One Strobe Over the Line - June 15, 1965 (Oct 19, 1990)
- Episode 3x05: The Boogieman - October 31, 1964 (Oct 26, 1990)
- Episode 3x06: Miss Deep South - June 7, 1958 (Nov 2, 1990)
- Episode 3x07: Black on White on Fire - August 11, 1965 (Nov 9, 1990)
- Episode 3x08: The Great Spontini - May 9, 1974 (Nov 16, 1990)
- Episode 3x09: Rebel Without a Clue - September 1, 1958 (Nov 30, 1990)
- Episode 3x10: A Little Miracle - December 24, 1962 (Dec 21, 1990)
- Episode 3x11: Runaway - July 4, 1964 (Jan 4, 1991)
- Episode 3x12: 8 1/2 Months - November 15, 1955 (Mar 6, 1991)
- Episode 3x13: Future Boy - October 6, 1957 (Mar 13, 1991)
- Episode 3x14: Private Dancer - October 6, 1979 (Mar 20, 1991)
- Episode 3x15: Piano Man - November 10, 1985 (Mar 27, 1991)
- Episode 3x16: Southern Comforts - August 4, 1961 (Apr 3, 1991)
- Episode 3x17: Glitter Rock - April 12, 1974 (Apr 10, 1991)
- Episode 3x18: A Hunting Will We Go - June 18, 1976 (Apr 18, 1991)
- Episode 3x19: Last Dance Before an Execution - May 12, 1971 (May 1, 1991)
- Episode 3x20: Heart of a Champion - July 23, 1955 (May 8, 1991)
- Episode 3x21: Nuclear Family - October 26, 1962 (May 15, 1991)
- Episode 3x22: Shock Theater - October 3, 1954 (May 22, 1991)
- Episode 4x01: The Leap Back - June 15, 1945 (Sep 18, 1991)
- Episode 4x02: Play Ball - August 6, 1961 (Sep 25, 1991)
- Episode 4x03: Hurricane - August 17, 1969 (Oct 2, 1991)
- Episode 4x04: Justice - May 11, 1965 (Oct 9, 1991)
- Episode 4x05: Permanent Wave - June 2, 1983 (Oct 16, 1991)
- Episode 4x06: Raped - June 20, 1980 (Oct 30, 1991)
- Episode 4x07: The Wrong Stuff - January 24, 1961 (Nov 6, 1991)
- Episode 4x08: Dreams - February 28, 1979 (Nov 13, 1991)
- Episode 4x09: A Single Drop of Rain - September 7, 1953 (Nov 20, 1991)
- Episode 4x10: Unchained - November 2, 1956 (Nov 27, 1991)
- Episode 4x11: The Play's the Thing - September 9, 1969 (Jan 8, 1992)
- Episode 4x12: Running for Honor - June 11, 1964 (Jan 15, 1992)
- Episode 4x13: Temptation Eyes - February 1, 1985 (Jan 22, 1992)
- Episode 4x14: The Last Gunfighter - November 28, 1957 (Jan 29, 1992)
- Episode 4x15: A Song for the Soul - April 7, 1963 (Feb 26, 1992)
- Episode 4x16: Ghost Ship - August 13, 1956 (Mar 4, 1992)
- Episode 4x17: Roberto! - January 27, 1982 (Mar 11, 1992)
- Episode 4x18: It's a Wonderful Leap - May 10, 1958 (Apr 1, 1992)
- Episode 4x19: Moments to Live - May 4, 1985 (Apr 8, 1992)
- Episode 4x20: The Curse of Ptah-Hotep - March 2, 1957 (Apr 22, 1992)
- Episode 4x21: Stand Up - April 30, 1959 (May 13, 1992)
- Episode 4x22: A Leap for Lisa - June 25, 1957 (May 20, 1992)
- Episode 5x01: Lee Harvey Oswald Part I - October 5, 1957-November 22, 1963 (Sep 22, 1992)
- Episode 5x02: Lee Harvey Oswald Part II - October 5, 1957-November 22, 1963 (Sep 22, 1992)
- Episode 5x03: Leaping of the Shrew - September 27, 1956 (Sep 29, 1992)
- Episode 5x04: Nowhere to Run - August 10, 1968 (Oct 6, 1992)
- Episode 5x05: Killin' Time - June 18, 1958 (Oct 20, 1992)
- Episode 5x06: Star Light, Star Bright - May 21, 1966 (Oct 27, 1992)
- Episode 5x07: Deliver Us from Evil - March 19, 1966 (Nov 10, 1992)
- Episode 5x08: Trilogy Part I (One Little Heart) - August 8, 1955 (Nov 17, 1992)
- Episode 5x09: Trilogy Part II (For Your Love) - June 14, 1966 (Nov 24, 1992)
- Episode 5x10: Trilogy Part III (The Last Door) - July 28, 1978 (Nov 24, 1992)
- Episode 5x11: Promised Land - December 22, 1971 (Dec 15, 1992)
- Episode 5x12: A Tale of Two Sweeties - February 25, 1958 (Jan 5, 1993)
- Episode 5x13: Liberation - October 16, 1968 (Jan 12, 1993)
- Episode 5x14: Dr. Ruth - April 25, 1985 (Jan 19, 1993)
- Episode 5x15: Blood Moon - March 10, 1975 (Feb 9, 1993)
- Episode 5x16: Return of the Evil Leaper - October 8, 1956 (Feb 23, 1993)
- Episode 5x17: Revenge of the Evil Leaper - September 16, 1987 (Feb 23, 1993)
- Episode 5x18: Goodbye Norma Jean - April 4, 1960 (Mar 2, 1993)
- Episode 5x19: The Beast Within - November 6, 1972 (Mar 16, 1993)
- Episode 5x20: The Leap Between the States - September 20, 1862 (Mar 30, 1993)
- Episode 5x21: Memphis Melody - July 3, 1954 (Apr 20, 1993)
- Episode 5x22: Mirror Image - August 8, 1953 (May 5, 1993)