Oh boy! In a bit of unexpected television news, a blast from the past seems to have secured a place in its own future for at least another year. Given how long its been since “Quantum Leap“ left the airwaves, on a cliffhanger, in 1993, one could safely there wasn’t a tremendous amount of expectation for a 2022 revival.
After all, this series wouldn’t feature Scott Bakula as Dr. Sam Beckett, nor would it have the late, great, Dean Stockwell as his buddy Al. Despite this, the newest version is “Quantum Leap” is leaping into season two.
Despite being in the same universe, this iteration of the time-travelling drama/adventure series takes place 30 years later. Dr. Ben Song (Raymond Lee) can transport himself back in time and inhabit the body of whatever person he happened to leap into. Per the rules of this universe, he can only leap into time periods in which he has lived. Often times with the goal of fixing something from the past that went terribly wrong for someone…consequences to the greater scheme of time be damned!
According to NBC, the pilot for the revival series pulled in a 2.0 rating in the key 18-49 demographic. It also accrued 10.8 million viewers on all platforms since airing on September 19th. By all platforms, the network means both NBC broadcast networks and Peacock streaming.
Despite Bakula not being involved in the series, he did give the project his blessing. Bakula was given a script for the pilot, but declined to appear. He did note it was a very difficult decision to make, but wishes the very best for the cast and crew who would be continuing the adventures without him. He also noted the importance of a show which touted the idea of experiencing life from the perspective of another person’s place in society.
With another season of “Quantum Leap” on the horizon, who knows what the future holds. Maybe we can still hope Dr. Samuel Beckett will return. Season 1 is slated for 18 episodes, and is currently airing. NBC renewing this early is a sign NBC must like what they’re seeing. Here’s hoping for continued success.
