Leap Date:
October 6, 1979

Teaser:

As a Chippendale dancer named Rod "The Bod", Sam must suffer though the women throwing themselves at him while making sure a hearing-impaired woman realizes her dream of becoming a dancer instead of becoming a prostitute and dying of AIDS.

Audio from this episode:

Sam: No, I think you can dance better than me.

Song: Daybreak

TV Guide Synopsis (TVGuide.com)

Sam leaps into the role of a male exotic dancer who must help a hearing-impaired dancer (Rhondee Beriault) avoid falling out of step and into a tragic life---and death. Joanne: Debbie Allen. Mario: Louis Mustillo. Valerie: Heidi Swedberg. Martin: Henry Woronicz. Sam: Scott Bakula.

Broadcast Date:

March 20, 1991 - Wednesday

Synopsis & Review:

Sam leaps into the body of a male exotic dancer and the featured attraction at a strip club called Mario's Hideaway in New York City. He is dresses in a Zorro-like outfit complete with mask and black fedora. Chippendale's dancers gyrate behind him as women wave money around and one grabs and kisses him! The club owner announces to everyone to give it up for Rod "The Bod!" Oh, Boy.

Sam is dragged from the stage and women start to pull clothing off of him. Sam is out of his element and tries to cover up with his hat as Al arrives and begins to dance along amongst the ladies, who move through his holographic image. Sam escapes to the dressing room and slams the door behind him, ladies attempting to follow him in. He says, "I've never been degraded like that in--" with Al interrupting with, "I'd give anything to be degraded like that!"

Al informs Sam that he is Rod McCarty, a former split end for U.S.C., but his career was sidelined when his knee was blown out. Ever since, he's been touring with the Chippendale's. Sam says this is horrible and Al disagrees saying most guys would kill to be in a room with sex-crazed women. Al says they don't know why he's there yet and it might be 24 hours before Ziggy predicts. In the meantime he tells Sam to "Shake your booty." Al fades out, but doesn't use the Imaging Chamber door.

Back in the club, Sam is dressed and goes to the bar for a beer. A waitress comes up next to him to pick up a drink order. The bartender tells her to wait because he has a margarita coming. She ignores him and walks away with the other drinks. The club owner, Mario, comes by and the bartender tells him that the blonde has been ignoring him all night long. Valerie Nevsky, Mario's assistant comes up behind Mario and they all talk about Rod staying another night since the club is making so much money. Sam says, no, he's looking forward to his "next" gig.

At a table nearby, Diana Quinna, the waitress is cleaning off a patron's table, who starts to hit on her. She doesn't answer his remarks, and the guy grabs her arm and says "Hey! I'm talking to you." Sam goes over and tells him not to get too friendly with the waitresses. They walk away. Sam introduces himself as Rod, and she simply says, "Diana."

On the dance floor is Joanna Chapman (who goes by Joanne for most of the episode), choreographer of a major jazz dance company. She sees Sam and dances to him. He indulges her with some pretty good dance moves! Diana joins in on the dance floor. Mario pulls her off the floor and says she needs to work. Having wowed her with his own dance moves, Joanna informs him of an open audition she is holding. Sam says he doesn't dance, but Joanna says he did some pretty good moves with her on the floor. Sam says, no... that's work. Joanna wants to see him "work." He tells Joanna and her friend that he will see them later, and she says, "You can count on it." As he walks away, she says to her friend, "Get my phone number, honey!"

Sam walks through the club and notices Valerie giving a card to the man who earlier had grabbed Diana's arm. Back at the bar, the bartender asks Diana a question, but she doesn't answer. He asks her what's the matter with her. Sam realizes, "She's deaf." Al pops in and says, "Which is the reason you're here."

According to Al, he's there to prevent Diana from turning to prostitution because she can't keep a job. In the original history, she gets arrested 26 times for soliciting before she dies of AIDS in 1986. Sam says he has never been around a deaf person before. Al says he had a thing for a deaf girl once, who was his lab partner at M.I.T. and she wouldn't sleep with him. Sam tells Al that he overheard Mario talking about Diana dancing at some bachelor parties. Al says that's striping, and probably how she got into hooking.

Sam talks to Mario alone in the dressing room. He informs Mario that Diana is deaf and makes a deal with him that if he keeps her as just a waitress and not a stripper, Sam will cancel his next gig and dance there. Mario says "Call me Monty Hall" and they shake on the deal.

After hours, Sam finds Diana with the music turned up loud, practicing a dance routine. Once Diana realizes he is watching her, she stops the music, annoyed that he was watching her. Sam offers to walk her home and makes motions with his fingers to try and explain what he means. She shows him in real sign language how to say "walk." The she waves at him and asks if he knows what that means. He responds, "Bye." She nods and walks away. Sam stops her and says it's too dangerous to walk alone. Diana asks Sam if she wants her to protect him!

Sam follows her anyway and, on the street, she says to stop following her. Sam spots a hot dog stand and says he's just going to get a hot dog. He asks if she wants one and she says she doesn't eat meat. The stand operator recognizes her and asks if she wants her usual. Diana smiles after Sam guesses her usual is mustard on a bun. The operator gives her the sign for "thank you." She signs back, "You're welcome." Sam tries to learn it.

As they walk on, Sam asks Diana why she doesn't tell people she's deaf. Diana responds that people treat her different, "like I have the plague." Sam says that might be because hearing people don't want to feel stupid. He says he doesn't know how to talk to her. She tells him just to speak to her; that she can read lips. Unless they speak to fast or cover their mouth. Sam realizes that's why she couldn't understand Otto, the bartender, because of his thick mustache. Sam asks Diana if she can hear at all. She says while signing, "White noise, fake sound." She says she can feel the rhythm and beat. She explains that when she turns the music up, it's like she can hear the music. She feels the vibrations passing through her body. "When I dance, it feels like a dream." She says she knows music in a way Sam will never know. "When I look around, I see music everywhere. There's music in the stars; the way they sparkle. I feel them. There is music in the lights as they dance on the water at night. And how the leaves chase each other, laughing like children at play. When I feel the wind on my face, the wind is my music." She and Sam smile at each other.

As they walk on, Diana explains that she came to New York to dance, and waitressing is just a way to survive until she gets a break. Sam lets her know there was a choreographer at the club earlier. Diana knows of Joanne Chapman, who she says is incredible. Sam asks her to go to the open audition on Monday. Diana asks, "What if I'm not good enough." Sam responds, "What if you are?" She smiles and kisses him softly and says goodnight. She enters an apartment building as Sam walks on, whistling happily. However, moments later, Diana exits the building and gets into her VW bus parked on the street. She opens the moon roof and lays on her bed, looking up at the Empire State building. She didn't want Sam to know she was homeless.

The next day at the club, Mario tells Diana that Rod said she wasn't interested in dancing at parties. Diana says he had no right to tell him that. Mario says he already booked the gig, but if she's short on money, they can find another way to pay him back. She shakes her head and walks over to Valerie nearby. Valerie says she might be able to help her and to come back tomorrow.

In the dressing room, Sam is learning sign language from a book. Al comes in through the Imaging Chamber door and jokes that he thought Sam was out of Kleenex or something, from the sign he was practicing involving a movement close to his nose. Sam ask what he has on Joanna Chapman. While he keys it into the handlink, Sam shows him the sign for "Quantum Leap." Sam says he thinks he's there to get Joanna to give Diana a dancing job. Al is skeptical since Diana hasn't even graduated high school. Sam says she can do it there in New York while she's dancing. Al says, "As what? A stripper at bachelor parties?" Sam says he's already taken care of that. A knock comes at the door and it's Diana, furious at Sam. She smacks him and says he had no right to tell Mario about not dancing at parties. She tells Sam to stay away from her and storms out.

Sam goes back to the apartment building where he left Diana before. A woman sweeping outside directs him to the VW parked across the street. Sam notices the parking ticket on the windshield and knocks on the glass. Diana comes out and is mad that Sam is still bothering her and that she thinks he sees her as a poor little deaf girl who needs hearing people to protect her. Sam says it's not about that, and that she is good enough to get into Joanne's dance company. Diana begins to sign to Sam without speaking. Sam says he can't understand her. She says, "Good, now you know what the world feels like to me!" Sam says this isn't about her being deaf, it's about her being afraid to fail. Diana says she can't dance Joanne's style. Sam says she's at a turning point. Diana asks if he is doing this because she's deaf. He responds, "No, because you're good." She smiles and they both sign, "Okay."

That night, Diana practices her dance technique with Sam looking on. She becomes frustrated and Sam starts dancing with her to the song, "Daybreak." (See a clip of this scene in the music section on this page.)

The next day, Diana does well at the audition. She makes it through two cuts, but then Joanne instructs them to improvise, which Diana doesn't see. Joanne stops the dancers and asks her what's wrong. We see from Diana's perspective as the sound is cut from the episode and she can't hear what is being said. Sam tells Joanne that she's deaf. Joanne tells Diana that she is a lovely dancer, and she'd like to give her a shot, but she doesn't think she can give her the attention she would need to succeed with her company.

Diana leaves to find her van being towed. She goes to see Valerie and asks if she found a dance job yet. Valerie says she has a job available, but it's like a date. Just the one time to tide her over until she gets a dance gig. Valerie offers her a small loan to go buy a new dress and shoes. Diana reluctantly takes the card Valerie offers her and leaves.

Sam arrives and asks Valerie if she has seen Diana. Valerie evades the question. The bartender tells Sam that Diana was just in there talking to Valerie. Sam confronts Valerie. She admits she set Diana up with a date. Al says Valerie was arrested in 1974 for prostitution. Valerie says she's not ashamed of what she does. Sam then asks her, if she could go back to the first time, would she do it? Al says Ziggy found Diana at the Park Grove Hotel room 1203. Sam runs out to find her.

Sam bursts into the room demanding to talk to Diana. The man in the room says he will call security, and Sam says to call them. He pushes past and finds Diana in the bathroom. She is angry again and says she failed at the audition and what she does is none of Rod's business. She tells him that he sells himself every night. Sam explains that he sells an illusion - it's not him. Diana says this is all she has left. Sam says that isn't true, that she is very talented. Security arrives and asks Diana if Sam is harassing her. Diana says no, and they leave together. Sam says it's going to be okay.

Sam goes to see Joanne Chapman again. Sam asks her to reconsider Diana. Joanne explains that it's taken a lot to get her dance company off the ground and being black didn't make it easier to do that. Sam states that somebody gave her a chance, and she should consider giving one to Diana. She agrees. Diana dances for Joanne. It's a beautiful dance and Al says she's really terrific. Joanne watches in awe.

When Diana finishes her demonstration, Joanne slaps Sam as the other dancers applaud. He asks what that was for and she responds, "For almost letting her get away from me!"

Al says Diana makes it big. In three years she becomes Joanna's lead dancer and finishes high school. "You did it, Sam." Sam replies, "No, she did it."

Joanne apologizes to Diana and says she was so wrong to turn her away. Diana asks, "So you teach me?" Joanne says, "Maybe we'll teach each other." They hug.

Al says, "Well, Sam. I think it's time to..." making the "Quantum Leap" sign with his hands. Diana signs, "Thank you" and Sam responds with the sign for "You're welcome." Al waves as Sam leaps.

Personal Review by gelfling1220:

There are several reasons why this is one of my favorite episodes. For one, there is the accurate portrayal of a deaf character. Quantum Leap excels in its portrayals of people with handicaps and in this respect the episode is very educational, from the information Diana conveys about being deaf to the simple words and phrases she signs as she talks to Sam. The audience learns as Sam does and the information is nicely integrated into the plot.

This episode is also notable for showcasing the dancing talents of Scott Bakula, in two of the episode’s major scenes. They must have been quite interesting to film, since it is rumored that Bakula was on massive painkillers for the episode, having injured his foot in filming "Runaway". Like the episode itself, the dances vary, being both fun and dramatic, such as Sam and Joanne’s lively boogie in the middle of the club, to Diana’s beautiful final dance.

In the end, this is a great episode, ideal for anyone who wants to see strong human drama, great choreography, or just happens to like the idea of Sam being a Chippendale.

Music:

Scene where Sam leaps into Chippendale:
"Ladies Night" by Kool and The Gang

Second scene where Sam is Chippendale:
"For The Love Of Money" by the O'Jays

Scene where Sam dances with the chreographer in the nightclub:
"Getaway" by Earth, Wind and Fire

Scene where Sam sees Diana dance by herself in the nightclub:
"Another Star" by Stevie Wonder.

Scene at the end where Diana dances for Joanne:
"Daybreak" by Cheryl Lynn

Al took fencing classes.

Al's Women:

Al's lab parter at M.I.T. was deaf, and she refused to sleep with him.  ("Boy, could she read lips!")

Al's Outfits Worn in the Episode:

1. White shirt, black and purple tie and paisley burgundy vest. 

2. Silver jacket, white shirt with floral pattern, blue tie with the sunglasses pin and blue pants. 

3.Shiny gray suit coat and matching pants, orange dress shirt, bolo tie.

4. Multi-pattern brown and teal shirt, skinny silver tie, black shimmery vest, and white pants with black speckles throughout.

Miscellaneous Trivia:

Words in American Sign Language shown (not as part of one of Diana’s speeches):

Walk
Bye
Protect
Thank You
You’re Welcome
Good Night
Boring
Don’t know
What
Do
Deaf
OK
Lies
Heartache
Dawn
Who
Imagine
Spending the night (literally "sleep together")
Fear
Quantum Leap (literally "Magical Traveler")

The episode title refers to the Tina Turner song "Private Dancer."

When Dianna starts signing to Sam (to prove to him how it feels not to understand), she is saying “you’re bothering me, leave me alone. Ever since I was seven years old, I can do it myself”.

Guest Cast Notes:

Rhondee Beriault as Diana Quinna: Rhondee Beriault was born in 1967. She is an actress, known for I Love You, But (1998), Quantum Leap (1989) and Alexander Graham Bell: The Sound and the Silence (1991). She is deaf in real life.

Debbie Allen as Joanna Chapman: Deborah Kaye Allen was born in Houston, Texas, to African-American parents, Vivian Elizabeth (Ayers), a poet and art director, and Andrew Arthur Allen, an orthodontist. As a child, Debbie, her older brother, Andrew (called Tex), and her older sister, actress Phylicia Rashad, lived in Mexico to escape US racism. Their mother decided to live there to give the Allen children a brief experience of not having to endure the chronic racism and segregation that was typical of Texas during the 1950s. Debbie and Phylicia are fluent in Spanish. Debbie graduated from Jack Yates Senior High School in Houston, TX in 1967. She graduated cum laude from Howard University in 1971 with a BFA in Classical Greek Literature, Speech, and Theater from Howard University. She used her experiences from attending Historically Black College Howard to inform her production and direction of the TV show A Different World (1987). Although her parents divorced, Debbie remained extremely close to her father until his death. With Phylicia she has production company "D.A.D." which stood for "Doctor Allen's Daughters". Her Pulitzer-nominated poet mother Vivian is, the artistic and free spirit that has influenced and encouraged the remarkable creativity that so marks Allen as a performer.

Louis Mustillo as Mario: Mustillo was born in Buffalo, New York. He has guest starred in over 50 episodes of television and appeared in over 20 films. He was a series regular on a good but short lived show called Man of the People (1991), starring James Garner. He appeared for two seasons on Dreamworks' first hour-long drama, High Incident (1996), executive produced by Steven Spielberg. He had a recurring role on The Sopranos (1999) as Tony Soprano's gardener, Sal Vitro. He appeared in The Narrows (2008) and was recently seen on the ESPN mini-series The Bronx Is Burning (2007) as famous real-life sports writer Maury Allen. Mustillo wrote and starred in "Bartenders", a one man stage show that ran for a year at the John Houseman Theatre in New York City. His hobbies include visiting museums and exploring all New York has to offer.

Heidi Swedberg as Valerie Nevsky: Heidi Swedberg was born on March 3, 1966 in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. She is an actress, known for Galaxy Quest (1999), Hot Shots! (1991) and Dragonfly (2002). She has been married to Philip Holahan since 1994. They have two children. Contrary to popular belief, her Seinfeld (1989) character, Susan Ross, was not killed off because her on-screen beau Jason Alexander disliked her. Alexander has clarified he very much likes Swedberg personally and considers her to be talented, but was concerned her sense of humor and comedic style contrasted with that of the regular Seinfeld cast. He initially worried this would come across poorly, but eventually realized that her performance worked to the show's advantage, as Susan was not conceived as being a bad person, merely one who just didn't fit in with the Seinfeld gang.
She plays and teaches ukulele and fronts a popular kid's band, Heidi Swedberg and the Sukey Jump Band. They have released two albums, "Play" (2009) and "My Cup Of Tea" (2013). Best known as the unfortunate (and lacking in taste) fiancée of George Costanza on Seinfeld (1989) who dies after licking cheap toxic envelopes (bought by George) to mail out wedding invitations. Daughter of Kay, a high school English teacher, and Jim Swedberg, a laser physicist. She attended Sandia High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from 1980 to 1984.

Robert Schuch as Otto: Robert Schuch was born on August 12, 1949 in Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA. He was an actor and producer, known for NYPD Blue (1993), Quantum Leap (1989) and Babylon 5 (1993). He was married to Susan Ruttan. He died on August 23, 2012 in Hollywood, California, USA. He was briefly married to Susan Rattan of L.A. Law (1986). Their divorce occurred during the filming of the Season One finale. The divorce was used to promote the two part finale in which Schuch portrayed a snake handler whose snake had eaten a pig at a circus and caused a lawsuit.

Henry Worgnicz as Martin: Henry Woronicz has been an actor, director, producer and teacher for more than 40 years. He has acted or directed at many of the nation's leading theatre companies, including the American Player's Theatre, American Conservatory Theatre, American Repertory Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Arden Theatre Company, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Delaware Theatre Company, La Jolla Playhouse, The Shakespeare Theatre, Baltimore Center Stage, Meadow Brook Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, and Syracuse Stage, as well as the Boston Shakespeare Company, Seattle Shakespeare Company, and the Utah, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Alabama Shakespeare Festivals. In 1996, he directed a Chinese language production of School for Scandal at the Hong Kong Repertory Company. Acting credits include: (Broadway) Julius Caesar starring Denzel Washington; (Film) Primary Colors, Living Out Loud, The Good Catholic, Ms. White Light; (Television) Seinfeld, Ally McBeal, Cheers, Pickett Fences, Third Rock from the Sun,, Star Trek TNG and Voyager, Law & Order, and Law and Order:SVU. Henry spent eleven seasons with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival as a resident actor and director, and served as OSF's Artistic Director from 1991 to 1995. In 2009, he served in a consulting capacity as Executive Producer of the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. From 2009-12, as an Associate Professor on the School of Theatre faculty, he was head of the MFA Acting Program at Illinois State University. In 2013, he received a Craig Noel Award for Outstanding Solo Performance from the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle for his performance as the Poet in An Iliad, by Denis O'Hare and Lisa Peterson, directed by Lisa Peterson. He was also a Visiting Professor in the Department of Theatre, Drama, and Contemporary Dance, at Indiana University, Bloomington, from 2014-17.

Marguerite Pomerhn-Derricks as Gina: Marguerite Pomerhn Derricks was born in 1961. She is known for Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997), Little Miss Sunshine (2006) and Spider-Man 3 (2007).

Melinda Cordell as Winnie: Melinda Cordell was born on February 26, 1941 in Shelby, Ohio, USA. She was an actress, known for Greenwich Village Story (1963), Lou Grant (1977) and Quantum Leap (1989). She was married to Nicholas Pryor. She died on April 7, 2015 in Fresno, California, USA.

Charles Emmett as Officer Arden: Actor Charles Emmett has really been acting and writing since he was eight years old. In Portland, Oregon. His third grade teachers, Mrs. Collins, and later Ms. Feingold would encourage him. "If you want to write.., just write. Just write and see what happens..." At eight years old, Charles wanted to be the next William Shakespeare. In his mind, Charles became the black Woody Allen instead. But with a twist. When he saw the film, 'What's Up Tiger Lily?' by Woody Allen, Charles realized Woody Allen could help him become an expert on healing a nation through entertainment. The tragedy at the World Trade Center in New York on September 11, 2011, prompted Charles to form 'Americans United America', a non-profit entertainment organization geared toward uniting all Americans through quality, funky, hilarious, educational, enlightening entertainment. In 2015 Charles directed his second short film, 'Tricks Of The Trade', (The REAL Reason Why Actors Act). This film is the last of the five demo projects for Americans United For America. Charles' very first film for Americans United For America, 'An Average American Marriage', won "Best Directorial Debut" at the 2013 New York International Independent Film Festival (Los Angeles Edition). The film: 'An Average American Marriage', is a poignant take on our contemporary times incorporating everything that makes us seem different and shoving it through a truth blower aimed right at your face with love and respect for the human condition. The film also won "Best Short Film" and "Audience Award" at the 2012 ITN Film Distribution Festival in Los Angeles, California. Charles has also produced over forty Public Service Announcements, (PSAs). These PSAs, "ONE Nation: Get Out There And Vote! and Volunteer In Your Community!" were selected and distributed across the United States for the 2008, 2010, 2012 & 2014 local and national elections. The film and PSAs were all produced through Americans United For America, Inc. Charles' over fifty movie and TV acting credits include: Trial & Error (2017), Shameless, Adam Ruins Everything, The Real O'Neals, Parenthood, Angel From Hell, Grey's Anatomy, Growing Up Fisher, 'Truth Be Told', Dads, Switched At Birth, 24, Prison Break, Star Trek: Voyager, and many more.

Frank Novak as Lou: Frank Novak was born in Chicago, Illinois. He attended Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the University of Illinois in Chicago, Illinois and the University of Massachusetts in Boston and Dorchester, Massachusetts. He graduated with a B.A. in Classics(Greek and Latin).He studied acting with Jean Shelton, Nina Foch and the late Jeff Corey.

Harry Cohn as Louie: Harry Cohn is known for Taxi Driver (1976), Two Moon Junction (1988) and Quantum Leap (1989).

Christopher Solari as Rod "Rod the Bod" McCarty (Mirror image): Chris Solari is known for Quantum Leap (1989), Moonwalker (1988) and Great Balls of Fire! (1989).

Guests Who Appeared In Other Episodes Of Quantum Leap:

Debbie Allen is a famous choreographer known especially for the movie "Fame." She also directed "Revenge of the Evil Leaper."

Say What?

Sam doesn't seem like the dancing type, but he somehow knows some great moves, despite hating the 1970's time period!

The mirror image near the beginning of the episode doesn't have the lipstick marking that Sam has.

Sam's sign language guide, a very thin manual, has the word "Quantum" in it.

When Sam knock on the door, Dianna somehow knows to open it. 

Vehicles from the 1980's can be seen on the street, such as the police car and the tow truck. Although this being 1979, it's not as noticable as it would be if the year was supposed to be pre-70's.

Quotable Quotes:

Al: Sometimes I hate being right

Al: I thought you ran out of Kleenex or something… 

Sam: I sell an illusion… It isn’t me! 

Diana to Sam (translated from ASL): Stop bothering me! For seven years I’ve been able to manage by myself. I want to do it by myself! 

Al: Why does your Swiss Cheese memory remember things I wanna forget?

Sam: Twenty-four hours? What am I supposed to do in the meantime?
Al: Shake your booty!

I'd give anything to be degraded like that!
-- Al, "Private Dancer"

He's so CUTE!  Take my phone number honey.
-- Joanne, "Private Dancer"

She was my lab partner at MIT.  She was one of the brightest women I've ever known.
And she wouldn't sleep with you.
No, why does your swiss cheese memory always remember what I want to forget?
-- Al and Sam, "Private Dancer"

That pratfall looked real!
It felt real.
-- Joanne and Sam, "Private Dancer"

Please, just tell me that it isn't the 70's again!
-- Sam, "Private Dancer"

I know music in a way you will never know. When I look around, I see music everywhere. There's the music in the stars. The way they sparkle, I feel them.  There's music in the lights as they dance in the water at night.  And how the leaves shake each other, laughing like children at play.  When I feel the wind on my face, the wind is my music.
-- Diana, "Private Dancer"

I'm crazy?  You're the one living in a tow-away zone.
-- Sam, "Private Dancer"

You strip.
There's a difference.
I don't see it.
Neither do I, but...
-- Diana and Sam, "Private Dancer"

OK Ladies, let's hear it for that star of the Chippendales - Rod the Bod!
-- Mario, as Sam leaps in, "Private Dancer"

Shake your booty!
-- Al, "Private Dancer"

Don't bother.  I've been on my own since I was 7.  I can do it myself.  I want to do it on my own.
-- Diana, signed to Sam, "Private Dancer"

Best Scenes:

Sam’s reaction to his leap-in.

Sam and Joanne dancing at the club.

Diana explaining to Sam what she can hear.

Sam and Diana’s dance.

Sam showing Al how to sign "Quantum Leap."

Production Credits:

Theme by: Mike Post
Music by: Velton Ray Bunch
Co-Executive Producer: Deborah Pratt
Co-Executive Producer: Michael Zinberg
Supervising Producers: Harker Wade
Co-producers: Paul Brown, Jeff Gourson
Produced by: Chris Ruppenthal
Created by: Donald P. Bellisario
Written by: Paul Brown
Directed by: Debbie Allen

Executive Producer: Donald P. Bellisario
Associate Producer: James S. Giritlian
Executive Story Editor: Tommy Thompson
Director of Photography: Michael Watkins, A.S.C.
Production Designer: Cameron Birnie
Edited by: Jon Koslowsky, A.C.E.
Choreographed by: Debbie Allen
Unit Production Manager: Ron Grow
First Assistant Director: Paul Sirmons
Second Assistant Director: Rob Mendel
Casting by: Ellen Lubin Sanitsky
Set Director: Robert L. Zilliox
Costume Designer: Jean-Pierre Dorleac
Costume Supervisors: David Rawley & Donna Roberts-Orme
Sound Mixer: Mark Hopkins McNabb
Stunt Coordinator: Diamond Farnsworth
Sound Editor: Paul Clay
Music Editor: Donald Woods

Panaflex ® Camera and Lenses by: Panavision ®

This motion picture is protected under laws of the United States and other countries. Unauthorized duplication, distribution or exhibition may result in civil liability and criminal prosecution.

Copyright © 1991 by Universal City Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The characters and events depicted in this photoplay are fictitious. Any similarity to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

Bellisarius Productions and Universal, an MCA Company

Podcasts:

Quantum Leap Podcast - Private Dancer: Part A

Squeeze into your Speedos and don your Zorro mask! It’s time to take that magic jump into Private Dancer!

On this episode of the Quantum Leap Podcast, hosts Allison Pregler, Christopher DeFilippis and Matt Dale cut a rug to this season three episode, where Sam helps a deaf dancer take her shot at fame!

Listen to The Quantum Leap Podcast on this episode here:

Quantum Leap Podcast - Private Dancer: Part B

You guys give up, or are you thirsty for more? We magic jump back into Private Dancer one more time in this Part 2.

On this episode of the Quantum Leap Podcast, hosts Hayden McQueenie, Natasha Zoë Dean, and Lesley Wentzell Dive deeper into this season three episode, where Sam helps a deaf dancer take her shot at fame!

Listen to The Quantum Leap Podcast on this episode here: