Fate's Wide Wheel: A Quantum Leap Podcast

Leaping in from snowy Chicago, Sam and Dennis are here to give you the rundown on their top ten episodes of Quantum Leap. We wade through some honorable mentions, talk about why we purposely decided to leave off some of the more popular episodes, and give the reasons behind our respective top ten picks. Plus, stick around to the very end to hear about what's next for Fate's Wide Wheel!

"Time's a little funny here." Truer words were never spoken. We have come to the end of the televised adventures of Sam Beckett - at least, for now. Cokeburg, PA, August 8, 1953. Sam Beckett walks into a bar, orders a beer, looks into the mirror, and everything changes. Arguably the most momentous episode of our beloved series, we give you an equally momentous - in size, anyway - episode of Fate's...

It's the penultimate episode of our beloved show. Nothing to get all shook up about... Dammit... TV guide worthy puns abound as Sam leaps into an 18-year old Elvis Presley on the verge of discovery... Well, according to Project QL time, that is. Of course, nothing is ever easy for Sam as he makes a mess of things almost immediately and has to fix things to ensure Elvis' success while also making l...

Only three episodes to go, Leapers! We’re back with with our re-watch of “The Leap Between the States". Sam secedes from the regular rules (thank you, TV Guide, for that brilliantly horrible pun), and leaps back almost a hundred years further than his own lifetime, into the life of his great-grandfather, Captain John Beckett, of the Union army. After the initial shock of finding himself in an era...

Just four TV episodes remaining of our beloved series! This week, we’re chatting about “The Beast Within”. First mistaken for a “Bigfoot” creature upon leaping in, Sam is actually Henry Adams, a Vietnam vet living in the woods of rural Washington. He must prevent his fellow vet, Roy, a fellow vet, from succumbing to a seizure the following night, and meanwhile, helping to heal a troubled friendshi...

This episode seems like it brings everything full circle for our little podcast hosted by Sam & Dennis. Our hero, Sam Beckett, leaps into Dennis Boardman, the chauffeur to Marilyn Monroe. Yes, *that* Marilyn Monroe. Season Five of our favorite show continues its trend of leaping Sam into the lives of celebrities and historical figures. Sam has arrived just days before the icon’s suicide, and Z...

Well, here we are. It's the end of the road for the Evil Leaper storyline. What do we think of Alia's final bow? Wait... Alia's in this?!?! But seriously, it's an interesting leap with a lot to love but some serious problems as well. Don't worry, Thames isn't one of them. Join us as we venture into Mallard Women's Correctional Facility and discuss an episode that's chock full but perhaps misses th...

Our 100th episode! “She’s not gone, Al. Alia. Is. Not. Gone, “ Sam ominously warned us at the conclusion of “Deliver Us From Evil”, a few episodes back. In “Return of the Evil Leaper”, the evil leaper…well…returns! Sam has leaped into college student, Arnold Watson, “The Midnight Maruader”, a wanna-be on-campus caped crusader in 1956. As Arnold, Sam immediately butts head with Mike Hammond, macho...

Is this an episode with real teeth? We're careening towards the end of the series with our discussion of "Blood Moon". Sam - the co-host, not the hero - has dropped more than few hints as to his feeling about this episode along the journey, but how did his rewatch measure up to his memories? What does Dennis think of this episode compared to, say, "Curse of Ptah-Hotep" or "Portrait For Troian"? Wa...

We are back! After conquering some technical difficulties we were able to up our game and welcome back Karyn Saxon as a guest host for Dr. Ruth. The box of gimmicks that was Quantum Leap's fifth season rolls on when Sam leaps into Ruth Westheimer. Sam has to deal with his own prudishness, a will they/won't they tension filled office romance, and a victim of sexual harrassment as he fills the dimin...

Listeners, we’re back after a brief hiatus with a new episode. This week, we’re talking about Season Five’s “Liberation - October 16, 1968”. Sam leaps into Margaret Sanders, a wife and mother in…(Connecticut? Boston? We’re not sure.) Margaret and her daughter have become involved in the local feminist movement, led by activist Diana St. Cloud. In a couple of days, a protest is going to turn violen...

Sam leaps into Marty Elroy, a bigamist and small-time gambler who’s bad with money. Sam’s two families have converged in Pompano Beach, Florida. While he attempts to juggle his responsibilities between Marty’s two families, he must pick which one to stay with - and Ziggy says each has a 50/50 chance of being the right choice. We discuss an episode that has a lot of potential in its premise, but ul...

This week, we’re excited to talk about “The Leap Home, Part III”. Wait. That’s not an actual episode. But that could well be the title. Sam returns to his hometown of Elk Ridge, Indiana, during Christmas of 1971. Sam has leaped into Willie Walter’s Jr., a young man whose upbringing is not all that different from Sam’s. As Willie, Sam finds himself in a bank hold-up situation alongside his brothers...

We conclude our re-watch of the Trilogy episodes. In Part 3, Sam returns to Potterville, Louisiana, leaping into the life of attorney, Larry Stanton. As Stanton, Sam must again save the life of Abigail Fuller, this time defending her in the trial of the murder of Leta Aider. Meanwhile, Sam also meets the daughter he fathered with Abigail in the previous leap, Sammi Jo. We discuss the conclusion of...

Our re-watch of the “Trilogy” episodes continue. Sam leaps back into Potterville, Louisiana, this time into Will Kinman. Will is now a deputy sheriff, but much more important, he’s the fiancé of Abigail Fuller. Abigail isn’t a child anymore, but is still haunted by bad luck - on the day of her and Will’s wedding, little Purvis Takins, a boy she babysat the night before, has gone missing. The town’...

Season Five of the show continues to explore new ground, this time having Sam leap into the same people’s lives over the span of 20 years, in a three-part episode. Sam leaps into Sheriff Clayton Fuller, in the town of Pottersville, Louisiana. His 10-year-old daughter, Abigail, is caught up in the death and potential murder of one of town’s people. Sam must find out the truth in this Southern Gothi...

As “Quantum Leap” entered its fifth season, the show was under pressure to try new things to bring up the ratings. One of those new things was the concept of “The Evil Leaper”. After being hyped in commercials from the beginning of the season, Alia, along with her holographic guide, Zoey, finally arrive in the season’s seventh episode, “Deliver Us From Evil”. Meanwhile, Sam has returned to life of...

We may be sheltering in place but that's not going to stop us from bringing you our ongoing coverage of season 5! Sam leaps into 79-year-old Max Stoddard in the midst of a UFO sighting. This is an episode that feels very much at home in season 5 but has some trappings of earlier "living room drama" insallments of the show. We talk about the family drama and how it supports the more sci-fi elements...

We had the opportunity to interview "Nowhere To Run" guest actor David Anthony Marshall a couple of weeks ago. You previously heard the Quantum Leap-related bits on that episode. But we had such a great time talking to David that we are releasing the whole shebang - uncut and unedited - for your listening pleasure. Be sure to check out what David is working on now by visiting www.davidanthonymarsh...

Are you killin’ time at home because of the coronavirus lockdown? Well, you’re in luck because we have a new episode for your listening pleasure, talking about Season 5’s “Killin’ Time”. (See what we did there?) Sam leaps into Leon Stiles, a serial killer who has taken a mother and daughter hostage in their home, in 1958 Oklahoma. In just a couple of hours, Sam will be killed by a vengeful sheriff...

We have a special treat - [David Anthony Marshall](http://davidanthonymarshall.com), the Hippie in the bar scene, joins us to chat about his time working on Quantum Leap and more! This week we cover season 5’s “Nowhere to Run”. Sam leaps into Captain Ronald Miller, recuperating after the loss of his legs in a San Diego veteran’s hospital. In addition to keeping his paralyzed roommate from taking h...

We talk about one of the fluffiest of fluff episodes following the dramatic season opener. Along the way, we discuss Shield’s previous movies, the wild parties at Project Quantum Leap, and how this episode gives us an Al that is just the right mix of sexist. Sam leaps into young Nikos Stahatos, a Greek sailor working aboard a luxury yacht. Sam finds himself in the Aegean Sea with one of the passen...

We kick off our coverage of the final season of our beloved show. Season 5 of “Quantum Leap” premiered with the episode fans were told would never happen: Sam leaps into Lee Harvey Oswald. Stuck leaping into the alleged assassin at various points in his adulthood from 1957 to 1963, Sam takes on more and more of his leapee’s personality, raising the dangerous possibility that history will repeat it...

A handful of Quantum Leap episodes certainly need no introduction for hard-core fans, and this is one of them. Sam leaps into Al, a.k.a. Bingo, as a young Navy pilot. Ensign Calavicci has been accused of the rape and murder of Marci Riker, the wife of a Commander. When Sam inadvertently changes history, he drastically increases the odds that Al will be executed. We pick apart one of our faves, tal...

You are about to witness the strength of Bob Saget. Leapers! We’re back this week to talk about Season 4, episode 21, Stand Up - April 30th, 1959. Sam leaps into Davey Parker - one half of the comedy duo Parker and MacKay (Saget). Despite a rough start with Sam leaping in mid-routine, the duo get a shot doing their act in Vegas, thanks in no small part to their third, Frankie Washarskie (Amy Yasba...