Leap
Con 1994:
Q&A with Scott, Dean, & Deborah
Pratt
February 19th- 20th
The footage from this convention video is about two hours in length, and a great majority of it consists of the audience members asking for photos, autographs, and telling Scott and Dean how much they love them.
There are a few moments with more substance, which are in the downloadable clips below the YouTube window.
Download in parts below, or stream the full footage above!
Leap Con 1994
Part 1:
Scott's
feelings about the character of Donna and his own character.
2
minutes 22 seconds
Leap Con 1994
Part 2:
Dean hugs a child and Scott comments on "Somewhere In The Night" and his singing career.
3 minutes 14 seconds
Leap Con 1994
Part 3:
Scott talks about directing and how his wife feels about other women lusting after him. Also, Brad (Jimmy) stops by.
3 minutes 9 seconds
Leap Con 1994
Part 4:
Dean discusses his part in "The Boogiem*n, and the convention concludes.
1 minutes 38 seconds
Leap Con 1994
Full video by Jo Fox
1
hour 51
minutes 33 seconds
Deborah Pratt and Scott Bakula
Official Photo of
Scott & Dean
Dean Stockwell
Willie Garson
Rich Whiteside
Brad Silverman
Liz Torres
Otto Coelho
Richard Herd
Carolyn Seymour
Deborah Pratt
Chas Floyd Johnson
Quantum Con 94
I was a fan of Quantum Leap since it's first airing in 1989. I'll tune in for anything with a SF label. It was easy for me to accept the premise of the show and with the first episode, I was hooked, even though QL was more life stories than Science Fiction.
In April, 1993, and for the first time in my life, I really wanted to do something to save the show when I heard that it was cancelled. My husband discovered an active group of "Leapers" on America Online and through them I learned of the Quantum Leap convention.
By the time the convention rolled around in February of 1994, even though I was flying to California alone, I felt I was meeting friends because of the relationship I had built with fellow Leapers.
Thursday morning, February 17, I worked before catching the flight to Pasadena. I had spent most of the week packing - literally - because I was a case of excited nerves and wanted to be sure I didn't forget anything. I packed several photo albums including shots off TV of QL, cameras (video and 35mm), film, 2 framed charcharadon shark teeth from a Florida phosphate mine that I had found and 2 mini photo albums to give as gifts, reading material, tripod and, oh yes, clothes.
I met up with fellow Leapers when I reached the hotel and went with them into Hollywood to buy photos and visit Dean Stockwell's star on the Walk of Fame. We then toured Universal Studios and I bought a QL tee shirt to put on over my clothes as I was freezing. We took the tram tour and saw the bridge Scott Bakula ran across in "Moments to Live."
Later, we saw Wizards where Scott sang the songs from the QL album in a mini-concert promotion event. This was Friday. Saturday morning, as soon as the doors opened, I made a beeline for the dealer's room of the convention and bought more photos and fanzines. In the dealer's room, I ran into an actor I recognized from one of the episodes. It was Willie Garson from "Lee Harvey Oswald." I struck up a conversation with him and found out he also played Seymour in "Play It Again, Seymour." That was a shock. I never made the connection. I got his autograph.
I sat in on a Behind the Scenes with Rich Whiteside but he was having film troubles and we didn't get to see a whole lot. Next was a panel with John D'Aquino, Brad Silverman, and Willie. John had a wonderful story to tell about his parents visiting him when the Los Angeles earthquake struck January 17. Between sessions, I saw John in the hallway posing for pictures and asked if he minded posing with me. He said no and Karen Voyles offered to shoot the picture.
As we were posing, John noticed I had crossed out the y on my name tag from Joy to Jo and he asked if he had made a mistake when autographing my program guide earlier. I told him no, I actually was known by both names. John, who had his arm around my shoulders (mine was around his waist) told me I was a joy. He certainly made my day!
I called Brad Silverman over and another picture was taken of the three
of us. He was the image of "Jimmy" in the QL episode by that
name. Before the picture, John reminded me that I might want to remove
my glasses. I thanked him and did. When I had the
pictures developed, I sent a 5x7 copy to John. (John D'Aquino & Brad Silverman, pictured)Saturday we also saw the bloopers reel which was great stuff. I was laughing so hard. Saturday night a group of us from AOL ate at the Olive Garden. There must have been about 30 of us.
Sunday, the first event of the day was the panel with Ray Bunch (who wrote the music for QL) and Mark Banning (of Crescendo Records which released the QL CD and tape). The panel table was set up on the left side of the stage (Pasadena Civic Auditorium - where some Emmy awards were held). My seat for the day was far stage right. I was really upset with that seat. I sent in my registration very early and had number 17 so I would get a good seat. I packed up my tripod and cameras and moved to the center section on the aisle. I didn't even leave that seat for lunch. When the woman who "owned" that seat cam along, her friend told her to let me stay there and they both sat to my left. Luckily, no one else came along to claim the seat so I wasn't forced to move.
The next event was the charity auction. I bought a couple of autographed photos from a charity hockey game Scott had participated in. I paid $70 for them. After that, the bidding went off the scale. The sling Scott wore on Murphy Brown went for $1450! True, it was autographed and came with an autographed photo of Scott and Candice Bergen. Prototype handlinks went for $700 and $790. I think they raised $12,000 to $14,000 for charity at the auction.
The next event was a panel with Liz Torres (It's a Wonderful Leap),
Otto Coelho ("Disco Inferno"), and Richard Herd ("Future
Boy"). I asked Richard about rumors to move SeaQuest to
Florida. He said they were just rumors. Of course, the
rumors became true when SeaQuest moved production to Florida the
following year. Liz told us Scott pulled her from under the cab without
help. She wasn't on a cart. The coat she wore protected her
and I remember Scott pulling down her dress as he pulled her out.
It kept riding up in that scene. Carolyn Seymour (Zoe the evil
hologram) was another guest on a panel with Rich Whiteside (the
"shadow" soldier in "A Leap for Lisa") and Brad Silverman.
Carolyn said she enjoyed playing evil people. Renee Coleman (Alia) was
also a guest but I didn't get to hear her panel. I did get her
autograph, though, and a great picture of her and Carolyn together. (Liz Torres,
Otto Coelho, and Richard Herd, pictured)After the panels, the tables were removed from the stage but the chairs remained - 4 lined up together. Deborah Pratt and Chas Floyd Johnson came onto the stage to resounding cheers. Chas was still at Universal Studios and was asked about a Quantum Leap movie. He said there were no plans for one. Chas and Deborah spoke for 10 minutes or so, then Dean Stockwell came on stage. Of course, the audience went wild. Dean was wearing a wireless mike but for the first five minutes, we couldn't understand him. Chas handed Dean his mike. I transcribed the entire happenings from the video I shot and that transcription is available through Project Quantum Leap (address is at the Quantum Cafe).
Dean was the advertised draw of the convention. When he came on stage, the first thing he said was, "Good to see ya. I'm waiting for this no show. I don't know if he's going to show." No one picked up on this clue because we couldn't hear him.
Dean was told about the sling.
DS: I hear the auction went very well.
DEBORAH PRATT: Now that you're on stage with me, I'll ask you a question. What was the favorite piece you got at the auction?
AUDIENCE: The sling. The photos.
DS: The sling. I heard about that. Were there two people who were bidding for it? Two people wanted the sling - yet this is not a Quantum Leap item. It's from Murphy what's her name.
AUD: Brown
DS: And I hear it brought $1400.
AUD: $1450
DP: Wow
DS: You got it?
AUD: I got it.
DS You got it? Tell me. What are you going to do with a sling?
AUD: laughter
AUD: I got a holster.
DS: You got a holster? Are you going to practice with it?
DP In case she gets shot, she has the sling.
DS: She spent $1400 to pick up...can you lend me $5? She probably knows about the jewels that were stuffed in it.
About 15 minutes into this segment with Dean, Scott Bakula walked onto stage without introduction. Chas and Deborah Pratt saw him in the wings and pointed. I found out much later that Scott was there from the outset but waited in the wings so Dean could have some time alone on stage. Someone in the audience got an inkling and whispered, "I see him. He's here!" If the fans went wild for Dean, they went ballistic for Scott. When the screams died down a bit, Scott said, "Hello. Sorry I'm late." Dean quipped back, "Well, it was fun while it lasted."
Dean Stockwell was supposed to appear. Scott was never advertised. We all hoped he would show but were overwhelmed when he did appear. Of course, the highlight of the entire convention was early in the Q&A when I held my hand up to ask a question and Dean called on me.
JO: Dean, I sent this back because I knew you were going to be here but I brought one for Scott as well. This is a charcarodon...
DS: I should give this to Scott?
JO: Yes sir, please. I gave, I sent one back stage to you but I didn't know Scott was going to be here...
DS: Watch out...
JO: and that's from a phosphate mine in Florida. It's a 3 million year old shark tooth.
DS: It's beautiful. Thank you so much.
SCOTT BAKULA: Thank you very much. Three million dollars!
JO: You're welcome. Thank you.
SB: You're welcome.
DS: What's the little book? (To Scott) She's taping this, you know?
SB: I know.
DS: What's the little book?
SB: Wait a minute. Open your mouth. Smile just for a second. Let me see these....(holds shark tooth next to Dean's mouth). Yeah. I never would have guessed three million but...
JO: They're pictures I shot off TV of the series...
SB (To Dean) What?
DS: It's pictures. Probably of you, don't bother looking.
SB: (To Deborah) He doesn't miss a beat. Hey, you're right. They are me.
After Scott looked through the album, looking at every page while the questioning continued, he turned to me and mouthed a silent thank you. It was a very special moment that I treasure and still enjoy on the tape. You will find a picture of Scott looking through the album on the Quantum Leap page..
Throughout this scene, I stayed calm. I was just talking to two people. We were having a friendly conversation. I wasn't thinking on anything else. However, when I got back to the hotel room and played back what I had recorded, I let out a scream that could be heard 5 doors down! That's when the emotion kicked in and I realized how kind and personal both Dean and Scott had been to me.
Another special moment during the Q&A involved another Leaper who told Dean she was a Dean fan first, and a Quantum Leap fan second. Dean pointed to Scott and asked her, "Where does that leave him?" Scott held up three fingers, looking expectantly at the Leaper. When she didn't answer, he held up four fingers, then 5, then Scott tucked the mike under his arm and held up 6 fingers. He put his hands down after the 8th finger.
When the session was over and they left the stage, Dean picked up the Teddy Bear someone had given him and Scott gathered up the shark tooth and album and left the stage with my gifts in tow. I packed my camera gear and left but ran into Deborah Pratt on the stairs outside. I stopped her as she was leaving and told her how wonderful I thought her scripts and hoped she would continue writing quality television.
See Part II of this convention story on the LeapCon 1995 page. Part III is on the LeapCon 1996 page.