Donald Trump Appeared in an Episode of ‘Quantum Leap’ – But Not the Real Donald
In the era of reboots, producers seem to be picking any and every TV show for a second chance in the modern age. Quantum Leap seems like it would be an obvious choice.
Its premise is timeless, and similar shows are having a good run on streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime. In Quantum Leap, Dr. Sam Beckett used quantum mechanics to jump from his body to another with the goal of changing the course of history.
With shows like Black Mirror and The Umbrella Academy dominating the small-screen right now, it’s surprising that Quantum Leap hasn’t been re-visited yet.
‘Quantum Leap’ implied that Dr. Beckett met a young Donald Trump
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According to Mental Floss, Quantum Leap aired between 1989 and 1993. At the time, Donald Trump was a real-estate mogul and New York socialite. No one would have guessed at the time that The Donald would have a future in politics, much less that he would hold the highest elected position in the country.
At the time, his social position meant he was often referenced or even included in popular movies and television shows. Trump had a cameo in Home Alone 2, and was the inspiration for the character Biff in Back to the Future.
Although Home Alone 2 got the real thing, Quantum Leap probably didn’t have the budget for Trump. But they did find a way to include him in the show. The episode “It’s a Wonderful Leap — May 10, 1958” features Dr. Beckett as a taxi cab driver.
Of course, Dr. Beckett knew about Trump Tower, since it was already part of the skyline in 1990s New York. In the episode, however, he picks up a boy and his father in his cab, and mentions the building, which didn’t exist yet.
The show is hinting that Dr. Beckett gave a young Donald Trump the idea for Trump Tower.
‘Quantum Leap’ was ahead of its time in a lot of ways
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The Donald Trump tidbit was just a drop in the bucket when it comes to all the layers in Quantum Leap.
The show was ahead of its time in a lot of ways, even when it wasn’t convenient for the show’s producers. They put a spotlight on animal rights and the treatment of laboratory animals in the episode “The Wrong Stuff — January 24, 1961.” In the episode, Dr. Beckett actually leaps into the body of a chimp that is being held in a lab. The show worked with Dr. Jane Goodall on the episode, and she was happy with the way it highlighted the abuses of animals in laboratories.
Quantum Leap featured a gay character, even though it got pushback at the time. “Running for Honor – June 11, 1964” was groundbreaking, and tackled the case of a young gay cadet in the Navy during the days of “Don’t ask, don’t tell.” The network lost money on the episode, but in the end it cemented Quantum Leap as groundbreaking.
Will ‘Quantum Leap’ get a reboot?
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Considering less groundbreaking shows are coming back for round two, Quantum Leap certainly deserves a modern look. Not only is the subject popular today, but it is a great medium for tackling social issues, something that society needs now more than ever.
The cast of Quantum Leap is ready if the call does come for a second chance.
According to TV line, Scott Bakula, who played Dr. Beckett, is down for a reboot. Bakula has a lot of options. He’s been on Star Trek and NCIS. It’s not as if Quantum Leap was his only hit, but he believes in it enough to do it again. Of course, he may not be needed for a reboot.
A new show could have a new leaper, although the original series did end with Dr. Beckett stuck in the past. That may mean Bakula could come back to reprise his role.
