Leap Date:
January 27, 1982

Episode Adopted by: MikeKraken
Additional info provided by: Alan Mercer and Brian Greene

Teaser:

In what seems like a cross between Geraldo and the X-Files (featuring Jerry Hardin from the X-Files!), Sam leaps into a TV reporter who, when challenged by a co-worker to do just one real investigative piece, discovers a secret chemical weapons plant hidden inside a local corporation. But the company will do anything to keep it's secret - even murder.

Audio from this episode:

Sam: Get me the President!

TV Guide Teaser:

Sam (Scott Bakula) reports as the host of a tabloid talk show, and he sniffs out a dangerous story with another reporter (DeLane Matthews). Earl: Alan Oppenheimer. Saxton: Jerry Hardin. Tim: Michael Heintzman. Rick Upfield: Marcus Giamatti. Gruel: Don Gibb. Foreman: Victor Talmadge. Esther: Barbara Tarbuck. Al: Dean Stockwell.

Promo:

Leap Date:

January 27, 1982

Synopsis & Review:

Sam leaps into the middle of a talk show in the style of Heraldo Rivera! He faces the audience and is quickly jerked back to the stage where a large man in a biker helmet shouts, "What about the 1st amendment?" Another smaller man jumps up and shouts, "That doesn't include animal sacrifices and you know it!" Sam jumps in between the two arguing men. He gets pushed around between the two and then head-butted by the larger man! Sam falls into a chair and moans, "Ohhhhh boy."

Later that day, Ed Saxton sits onstage as Sam welcomes the audience to s special edition of Roberto... "What happens when reporters are wrong. This show should be particularily interesting because I'm the reporter. But before we begin, I'd like to take a moment to pay tribute to my colleague Jani Eisenberg, who passed away this morning from a severe asthma attack."

The staff of the TV station looks remorseful and sad in the background. Sam then welcomes Ed Saxton to the show and the audience claps. Sam apologizes for accusing Saxton of running a secret government warfare program at his plant. Ed smiles and says, "Don't mention it." Sam goes on to describe his accusation of a leak that killed dozens of sheep and had no proof. He says he would have needed some sort of evidence. He turns to Saxton and says, "Something like this", as he holds up Jani's inhaler. Sam approaches Saxton and asks that if he was running such a program at his plant, that it might be easy for him to put a secret chemical into the inhaler and slip it to someone that was trying to expose his secret, like Jani Eisenberg. Smiling nervously, Ed says "That doesn't prove anything."

Behind Sam, Saxton sees Jani - alive and well - appear on the set. The audience and Earl looked shocked to see her alive. Sam says, "Just think. If there were some secret chemical in here... one squirt and..." He holds it to Ed Saxton's face and continues, "A person could die." Sam squeezes the inhaler and mist comes out in Ed's face. Saxton panics, covering his face and ducking down.

Sam shakes Saxton and tells him to take it easy, because he bought that inhaler at the store that morning. Al adds, "But you deserved it, you weasel." Sam continues again, "But the one you planted on Jani Eisenberg last night is in the hands of the Destiny County Sheriff's Department. Yesterday I needed proof. Today, I just got it."

Jani walks up to Saxon and says, "It is my extreme pleasure to hand you this search warrant." Ed stands up and says he won't stay there another minute. A sheriff's officer and Earl stop Saxton from leaving and Al gives the final history report. "Sam, that does it. Saxton is indicted and convicted for murder and attempted murder, so get ready to leap!"

Earl comes onstage and congratulates Roberto on a hell of a show and asks him to do the wrap-up. Sam raises his microphone and closes out, "Tomorrow on Roberto... we've got a man who says he's lost 1,000 pounds of fat." The audience laughs. "We've got a woman who claims she hears old radio stations through her teeth. And finally a personal story about the time I was kidnapped by aliens and held in an all-white room." Al smirks, knowing he's talking about the leapees in the Waiting Room at Quantum Leap.

As the audience claps and the show goes off-air, Jani approaches Sam and says, "I owe you $100." Sam smiles and offers a new deal. "I tell you what, why don't I just buy you a nice bottle of champagne." Jani smiles and replies, "Nah..."

Al looks surprised by her answer as Sam leaps.

Synopsis by Brian Greene

Miscellaneous trivia:

"Roberto!" airs live at four o'clock in the afternoon.

Dr. Laura Schlessinger appears as a guest, playing herself.

Probably the first episode that we see a desktop computer on the show.

Near the beginning of the episode, Sam is talking to somebody in the television studio, and up in the corner on the television monitors, you can actually see (for a split-second!) the King Thunder music video from "Glitter Rock" playing on one of the screens!

On the Blu-ray release in the U.S., the chapter setting jumps past the opening credits unusually. The first chapter jump usually jumps to a point just after the opening theme song.

Bloopers:

Kiss With History:

This episode is inspired by the tabloid talk show, "Geraldo." It was an American daytime television tabloid talk show hosted by Geraldo Rivera that aired in syndication from September 7, 1987, to June 12, 1998. The last two seasons aired under the title The Geraldo Rivera Show.

Guest Cast Notes:

DeLane Matthews as Jani Eisenberg: DeLane Matthews was born on August 7, 1961 in Rockledge, Florida, USA. She is an actress and writer, known for A Way Back In (2010), Evasive Action (1998) and General Hospital (1963). She has been married to Lennie Loftin since October 27, 2009. She was previously married to Tyrone Power Jr..

Alan Oppenheimer as Earl Skinner: Alan Oppenheimer is an American actor from New York City, who started his career in the 1950s. By the 1970s, Oppenheimer started performing voice acting roles. He eventually emerged as one of the most prolific voice actors in the United States, with roles in numerous series and films. His better known roles include the evil emperor Ming the Merciless in "The New Adventures of Flash Gordon" (1979-1982), the tyrant Overlord and his mind-controlling Vizier in "Blackstar" (1981), the arrogant narcissist Vanity Smurf in "The Smurfs" (1981-1989), the evil sorcerer Skeletor, the shape-shifting animal Cringer, the heroic Man-at-Arms, and the aquatic villain Mer-Man in "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" (1983-1985), the pacifistic naturalist Beachcomber, the sailor Seaspray, and the gun-enthusiast and munitions expert Warpath in "The Transformers" (1984-1987), the android wizard Prime Evil in "Ghostbusters" (1986), and the cryptic advisor Merlin in "The Legend of Prince Valiant" (1991-1993). In 1930, Oppenheimer was born in New York City. His father was the stockbroker Louis Oppenheimer. In 1958, Oppenheimer married costume designer Marianna Elliott. They had three children. He received a divorce at some point prior to the mid-1980s. In 1984, Oppenheimer married the professional tennis player Marilyn Greenwood. Their marriage lasted less than a decade, and ended in a divorce. In 1992, Oppenheimer re-married his first wife Marianna Elliott. Their marriage lasted until her death in 2003. He has remained single since her death. In 1993, Oppenheimer had a guest star role in "Star Trek: The Next Generation". He played the Klingon cleric Koroth. His character cloned the long-dead messianic warrior Kahless, in hope of restoring his peoples' faith in their religion.In 1994, Oppenheimer played the ill-fated star-ship captain Keogh in "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine". After successfully completing a rescue mission, Keogh fell victim to a suicide attack (along with most of his crew). In 1997, Oppenheimer played an unnamed ambassador of the Nezu in "Star Trek: Voyager". His character attempted to enlist the USS Voyager to rescue his planet from destruction. This was Oppenheimer's last role in a "Star Trek" television series. Oppenheimer has mostly avoided live-action roles since 1998. In 2022, Oppenheimer voiced Skeletor again for an appearance in the film "Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers". By 2022, Oppenheimer was 92-years-old. He has never fully retired, though he has played less prominent roles in recent productions. He remains popular to animation fans for his iconic roles in several classic series.

Jerry Hardin as Ed Saxton: A highly engaging, charismatic, and reliable character actor with a long and distinguished career spanning half a century, Jerry Hardin has been gracing both the big and small screen, and stage, with many enjoyable performances, highlighted by a relaxed and pleasing Southern twang. Born November 20, 1929, in Dallas, Texas, where his father was a rancher, Hardin was raised outside the city, where he first began acting in school productions. This would lead to a scholarship to Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, and a Fulbright scholarship to the Royal Academy for Dramatic Art in London. He had his first (uncredited) film role in the classic drive-in flick, Thunder Road (1958), starring Robert Mitchum, and, by 1961, had racked up an impressive amount of over 75 theatre credits. He became incredibly prolific in the 1970s, when his film career really took off, and he also started appearing regularly on TV series, including Gunsmoke (1955), Starsky and Hutch (1975), The Streets of San Francisco (1972), Little House on the Prairie (1974), The Rockford Files (1974), Miami Vice (1984), L.A. Law (1986), Melrose Place (1992), Murder, She Wrote (1984) and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993). A particularly memorable performance, by Mr. Hardin in this medium, was that of Mark Twain in episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987). He would also prove to be in high demand for film roles, appearing in the likes of Wolf Lake (1979), Heartland (1979), 1941 (1979), Honky Tonk Freeway (1981), Reds (1981), Missing (1982), Honkytonk Man (1982), Cujo (1983), The Falcon and the Snowman (1985), Warning Sign (1985), Big Trouble in Little China (1986), Wanted: Dead or Alive (1986), The Hot Spot (1990), The Firm (1993), Ghosts of Mississippi (1996), Hidalgo (2004) and Are We There Yet? (2005). His performance as one of the subtly sinister senior partners in The Firm (1993) impressed The X-Files (1993) creator Chris Carter enough that Carter would create the character of "Deep Throat" with him in mind, and it's this role that is definitely one of Hardin's most famous. A noteworthy stage performance of his was in the play, "The Rainmaker", working alongside Jayne Atkinson, Woody Harrelson and David Aaron Baker.

Michael Heintzman as Tim: Michael Heintzman was born in Bismarck, North Dakota, USA. He is known for A Dog Year (2009), Quantum Leap (1989) and Me and the Boys (1994). He has been married to Patti Pelican since 1992.

Marcus Giamatti as Rick Upfield: Marcus is best known for the role of "Peter Gray", on the long-running CBS drama Judging Amy (1999). Marcus is also an accomplished, professional bass guitarist, playing in several bands in Los Angeles, including the alternative country artist Olivea Watson (2007 Gibson Artist Of The Year). Marcus is also a session musician, and a member of Musician's Local 47. His extensive theater credits include stints on Broadway in Horton Foote's "Young Man From Atlanta", and "Measure For Measure" at Lincoln Center. Off-Broadway, Marcus has appeared in numerous shows at MTC, The Lambs and WPA. Regionally, he has worked at The Guthrie, Seattle Rep., Yale Rep., Long Wharf, over 20 productions at The Williamstown Theater Festival, Hartford Stage, New Jersey Shakespeare Festival, The Goodman, and The Eugene O'Neill Playwrights Conference. He is the older brother of Paul Giamatti.

Donald Gibb (as Don Gibb) as Jeeters: Massive (6' 4"), muscular behemoth Donald Richard Gibb was born on August 4, 1954, in New York City, New York and raised in California. He attended the University of New Mexico on a basketball scholarship, then transferred to the University of San Diego, where he played football and was a member of the varsity basketball team. He had a roster spot on the San Diego Chargers prior to embarking on an acting career. With his brawn, bulk, scraggly beard and mustache, deep, growly voice and forceful screen presence, Gibb has frequently been cast as scruffy bikers, loutish rednecks and over-aggressive macho athletes. He started out in movies in the early 1980s with uncredited bit parts in Any Which Way You Can (1980), Stripes (1981), and Conan the Barbarian (1982). He achieved enduring cult fame as the outrageous Ogre in the hilarious Revenge of the Nerds (1984), reprising this role in the second and fourth sequels. He was likewise memorable as raucous martial arts fighter Ray Jackson in the exciting Bloodsport (1988) and wildman tennis player Ripper in the amusing Jocks (1984). He had a recurring role as fierce defensive lineman Leslie "Dr. Death" Crunchner on the HBO situation comedy 1st & Ten (1984). Among the television series Donald has done guest spots on are Alice (1976), The A-Team (1983), Magnum, P.I. (1980), Knight Rider (1982), The Facts of Life (1979), Hunter (1984), Night Court (1984), MacGyver (1985), Quantum Leap (1989), The X-Files (1993) and The Young and the Restless (1973). Donald Gibb lives in Chicago, Illinois and is the co-owner of and spokesman for the Chicago karaoke bar Trader Todd's.

Barbara Tarbuck as Esther: Trained on a Fulbright Grant to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, Barbara's New York theatre work includes "Landscape & Silence" by Harold Pinter, "Water Engine" by David Mamet, Neil Simon's "Brighton Beach Memoirs" and "Broadway Bound", Joseph Chaikin's production of "America Hurrah!", and "Enter The Night" by Maria Irene Fornes. Recent regional standouts include "Long Days Journey Into Night" at Dallas Theatre Center, "Death of a Salesman" at San Diego Repertory, "The Cripple Of Inishman" at the Geffen, "Wonderful World" at Laguna Playhouse, "Six Characters in Search of an Author" at Williamstown, and "Blue Window" and "Sidney Bechet Killed a Man" at South Coast Repertory. Favorite screen roles: the woman with 12 dogs on ER (1994), the aged mother on Cold Case (2003) who comes to terms with her murdered son's homosexuality, Dwayne Johnson's mother in Walking Tall (2004), and Kevin McKidd's mother on Journeyman (2007).

Dr. Laura Schlessinger as Herself: As one of the most popular talk show hosts in radio history, Dr. Laura Schlessinger offers no-nonsense advice infused with a strong sense of ethics, accountability, and personal responsibility; she's been doing it successfully for more than 30 years, reaching approximately 8.25 million listeners weekly. Her internationally syndicated radio program is also heard on XM Satellite Radio, CelleCast, and is streamed on the Internet and podcast via StreamLink. She's a best selling author of eleven adult books and four children's books, which range from the provocative (New York Times chart topper "The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands") to the poignant (children's book title "Why Do You Love Me?"). Her support of children and family values is legendary, and she is, indeed, "her kid's mom." She writes a monthly column for NewsMax, a twice-weekly column for The Santa Barbara News-Press, and a daily blog. She has received an award from the Office of the Secretary of Defense for her Exceptional Public Service, and among her numerous other honors, has been the first and only woman ever to win the National Association of Broadcasters' prestigious Marconi Award for Network/Syndicated Personality. In addition, Dr. Laura holds multiple trophies for sailboat racing, and is a Black Belt in martial arts. In the last several years, she has designed and handcrafted elegant jewelry for charitable causes, most recently for Operation Family Fund, which provides financial assistance to families of military personnel severely injured or killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. She has raised over $1 million for Operation Family Fund from the sale of her jewelry on her website, and from the proceeds from her 2007 Birthday Bash. Her eleventh and newest book, "Stop Whining, Start Living" was released by HarperCollins in March, 2008, and became an instant New York Times bestseller. Several years after this episode aired, Dr. Schlessinger went on record as saying that homosexuality was a biological “error”, a statement that would no doubt have prevented her from being invited on such a liberal show as Quantum Leap.

Charles Dougherty as Man with Glasses: Charles Dougherty is known for Alice in Wonderland (1985), Bones (2005) and Quantum Leap (1989). He has been married to Mary Lou Belli since 1982. They have two children.

Dennis Fimple as Red Norton: Excellent and engaging character actor Dennis Fimple was born 11 November, 1940, in Ventura, California and raised in the nearby town of Taft. His father, Elmer was an electrician, and his mother, Dolly was a beautician. Dennis first became interested in acting after he portrayed Tom Sawyer in a junior high school play. After graduating Taft Union High School, Fimple attended San Jose College on a scholarship, and majored in both speech and drama. He also earned a teaching credential at San Jose College. Dennis worked in a Cheetos factory by day and acted in dinner theater at night in his early days. Fimple eventually moved to Hollywood, where he initially worked as a teacher by day and a delivery man at night, prior to getting his first break; a 2-episode guest appearance on Petticoat Junction (1963). Best known as the lovably dim-witted Kyle Murty on the comedy Western television program, Alias Smith and Jones (1971), Dennis popped up in many TV series throughout the years including; Here Come the Brides (1968), M*A*S*H (1972), The Rockford Files (1974), Starsky and Hutch (1975), Battlestar Galactica (1978), The Dukes of Hazzard (1979), Matt Houston (1982), Highway to Heaven (1984), Knight Rider (1982), The A-Team (1983), The Incredible Hulk (1977),Simon & Simon (1981), Sledge Hammer! (1986), Quantum Leap (1989) Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996) and ER (1994). Fimple was frequently cast as scruffy rural types in both films and TV shows alike. Among his most memorable movie roles are the amiable Curly in the delightful Claudia Jennings' drive-in classic, Truck Stop Women (1974), easygoing moonshine runner Dewey Crenshaw in Bootleggers (1974), likable eager beaver college anthropology student Pahoo, in the terrific Sasquatch cinema outing Creature from Black Lake (1976), the goofy Sunfish in the much-maligned King Kong (1976) remake, and cloddish fur trapper, Posey in the superior horror-Western The Shadow of Chikara (1977). His last film part was as the madcap Grandpa Hugo Firefly in Rob Zombie's enjoyably trashy 70's horror exploitation pastiche, House of 1000 Corpses (2003). Dennis was not only an avid reader, but also a lover of antiques and collectibles. He's the father of son Chris. Dennis Fimple died at age 61, of complications from a car accident at his home in Frazier Park, California on August 23, 2002.

Victor Talmadge as Foreman/Hank: Victor (Vee) Talmadge is an accomplished actor, director, and playwright. He received a B.A. from Cornell in 1977 and his M.F.A. from the California Institute of the Arts in 1980. Throughout his ten years in New York, Mr. Talmadge was involved in numerous activities, besides acting extensively off-Broadway and regionally in established modern and classic pieces, he collaborated on new projects with playwrights Robert Schenken, Jeff Jones, and Shelby Brammer. He co-founded and served as Literary Director for the award-winning New York theater company, Empire Stage Players. It was during this period that Mr. Talmadge's one-act play, Kiss Goodbye the Howling Beast, was a finalist at the Actors Theatre of Louisville Short Play Competition. Mr. Talmadge taught playwriting for Johns Hopkins University and served as Adjunct Assistant Professor of English for City University of New York. With Bay Area playwright/actor, Lane Nishikawa, he recently completed The Gate of Heaven, a play about a 442nd (Japanese American) soldier who liberates a Jewish prisoner from Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany during World War II. Mr. Talmadge has acted at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, American Conservatory Theatre and the Magic Theatre in San Francisco. He has directed at the Bay Area Playwrights Festival and has guest starred in a number of television and film projects.

Sherri Lynn Rothman as Dawn: Sherri Lynn Rothman is known for Quantum Leap (1989) and Who's the Boss? (1984).

Gregg Binkley as Deputy: Gregg has worked steadily in film and television for over 30 years. He has played roles in films directed by Mel Brooks, Clint Eastwood, the Coen Brothers, and Woody Allen. He was first discovered while waiting tables in character at the popular Beverly Hills 50's-themed diner, Ed Debevics where he worked as the "security guard" Barney Fife. Rick Dees saw him there and put him on his late night show on ABC, Into the Night with Rick Dees. Gregg was a series regular for the one year run of the show. He later went on to star as Harold Skolnick in the films Revenge of the Nerds 3 and 4. Soon after, Gregg was cast as "Dan the Del Taco Guy" in the very successful advertising campaign that lasted six years and covered 58 television commercials and many more radio spots and personal appearances. During that time Gregg also portrayed Don Knotts in the NBC movie of week Behind the Scenes of Three's Company. Later, he was cast as Kenny James in the Emmy award winning pilot episode of the NBC hit show My Name is Earl. Gregg went on to portray Kenny in 20 episodes during the four year run of the show. Two years later he was cast as a series regular on the hit show, Raising Hope on Fox. Gregg played the grocery store manager Barney Hughes in 71 episodes during the four year run of the show. More recently, Gregg has directed shows for Pure Flix including Hitting the Breaks, Malibu Dan and The Beverlys. His recent acting credits include guest starring roles on NCIS: Los Angeles, Young Sheldon and NCIS. In 2017 he founded Gregg Binkley's "Working Actors Workshop." In 2024 he released the inspirational book GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER: Finding Success in Acting and Life, which has been endorsed by many Emmy award winners including Bryan Cranston, Greg Garcia and Eric Stonestreet. Gregg lives in Los Angeles with his wife and three children.

Paul-Felix Montez as Ernesto: Paul-Felix Montez is known for State of Grace (1990), Quantum Leap (1989) and Frankenhooker (1990).

Andrew Roa as Roberto Gutierrez (Leapee on studio camera): Andrew Roa is known for Picking Up the Pieces (2000), If (2003) and Quantum Leap (1989).

Dailies from the set:

Say What?

The second hand on the newsroom clock is frozen.

The issue of World Weekly on the set shows Jeffrey Dahmer, who was not known publicly until 1991.

Rick’s ID badge doesn't have a barcode. How can he enter the secret room?

When they leave the plant, Al seems to relocate to a different area instead of using the Imaging Chamber door to go back to the Control Room with Ziggy as he suggested he would.

Sam types a much different code into the computer than the hack code Al reads out to him.

When Roberto is shown on the monitor at the end, we hear Sam's voice instead of Roberto's.

Production Credits:

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

Executive Producer: Donald P. Bellisario
Associate Producers: James S. Giritlian, Julie Bellisario
Coordinating Producer: David Bellisario
Director of Photography: Michael Watkins, A.S.C.
Production Designer: Cameron Birnie
Edited by: M. Edward Salier A.C.E.
Unit Production Manager: Ron Grow
First Assistant Director: Ryan Gordon
Second Assistant Director: Kate Yurka
Casting by: Ellen Lubin Sanitsky
Set Director: Robert L. Zilliox
Costume Designer: Jean-Pierre Dorleac
Costume Supervisor: David Rawley
Art Director: Ellen Dambros-Williams
Sound Mixer: Barry D. Thomas
Stunt Coordinator: Diamond Farnsworth
Sound Editor: Greg Schorer
Music Editor: Bruce Frazier
Special Visual Effects: Roger Dorney, Denny Kelly

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 © 1992 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 in association with Universal Television, an MCA Company