Episode Adopted by: MikeKraken (2004) & Stacie Wilcox (2024)
Additional info provided by: Brian Greene

Teaser:

Sam leaps into the life of a mental patient and immediately undergoes electric shock therapy. But he is administered a severly high dosage and it brings out the personalities of several people he has leapt into. With each personality change, it becomes harder and harder for Al to communicate with Sam. If Al and Dr. Beeks can not get Sam out of the situation he is in, they may lose contact forever.

Sound file from this episode!

Al: And now I'm tuned into the mentally absent!

TV Guide Synopsis (TVGuide.com):

Sam leaps into a mental patient who gets an overloaded shock treatment, which sends him tripping through previous incarnations. Tibby: Scott Lawrence. Butcher: Bruce A. Young. Dr. Masters: David Proval. Nurse Chatam: Lee Garlington. Sam: Scott Bakula.

TV Guide Synopsis (Original):

In a season-ending cliffhanger, Sam (Scott Bakula) is a mental patient who gets an overloaded shock treatment, which sends him tripping through previous incarnations.

Commercial:

Project Date:

Al states to Sam that the present time is 43 years in the future. This places the present time at Project Quantum Leap in 1997. However, in the next episode "The Leap Back", the date shown is 1999.

Synopsis & Review:

One of my favourite Quantum Leap episodes of all, "Shock Theater" is a great review of the series thus far, reminding us of the people that Sam has helped so far and we get to see how they actually affect Sam's life. We explore a small part of the project (kind of a teaser before the next episode where we get to see the Control Room and all) with the introduction of Dr. Verbeena Beeks.

This episode exemplifies the spectacular acting talents of Scott Bakula, with him playing at least seven different characters all within one storyline. He takes on many different accents and body languages, each one its own distinct personality. Upon that, we get to see Dean Stockwell show off his acting talents as well. The co-stars also do a great job in this episode, and the writing by Deborah Pratt has to be admired as well. Lighting and the sets just set the mood perfectly for such a dark and dramatic episode of the series.

I would reccomend this as a supplementary episode to introduce somebody to Quantum Leap after "Genesis", "Star Crossed", "Honeymoon Express", and a couple of season two and three episodes.

Music:

The Alphabet Rap was written by Deborah Pratt and Mark Leggett. According to Dean Stockwell, it took him about eight takes to get the words right. A full, re-recorded version is on the official soundtrack album.

It consumes more power to bring another person online in the Imaging Chamber.

Another person can now be seen in the Imaging Chamber if they are touching the Observer, but not heard.

Sam Trivia:

We are reminded that Sam has seven degrees.

Sam assumes the personalities of the following previous Leapees:
Samantha Stormer (What Price Gloria?)
Herbert “Magic” Williams (The Leap Home: Part II – Vietnam)
Tom Stratton (Genesis)
Kid Cody (The Right Hand of God)
Jimmy LaMatta (Jimmy)
Jesse Tyler (The Color of Truth)

Flashbacks of Former Leapees:

First is Samantha Stormer ("What Price, Gloria?"), thinking that "she" is in the hospital for punching her boss, Buddy Wright. After Al makes his second appearance, Sam wakes up believing that he's Jesse Tyler ("The Color of Truth") who thinks he's in the "loony bin" for sitting down at the lunch counter. During the ink-blot tests, Butch brings in some water for "Jesse", and Sam turns into Herbert "Magic" Williams ("The Leap Home Part II - Vietnam").

The next time Sam wakes up, he takes on his fourth persona, that of Tom Stratton ("Genesis"), wondering if he broke Mach 3. After Al disappears, Sam sleeps again, waking up to Al on emergency power with Dr. Beeks (whom we finally get to meet), this time thinking that he's Kid Cody ("The Right Hand of God").

The final persona is that of Jimmy LaMotta ("Jimmy"), who has to convince Dr. Masters to give him another dose of electroshock, at the same frequency as when he leaped in.

Miscellaneous Trivia:

Scott Bakula got to play several different characters in this episode instead of just Sam Beckett.

Jean-Pierre Dorléac, the series costume designer, appeared as a Mental Patient in this episode. He is the patient that says "The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker..."

Dean Stockwell kept forgetting the alphabet during the filming of the ABC rap sequence! He had to film it about eight times to get it right.

This is only the second time in the series that we never see the leapee. The first time was when he briefly leaped into a Fireman to save a cat from a tree in "Honeymoon Express."

At The Leap Back 2009 convention, Donald P. Bellisario said that he had always imagined that Sam would start to lose touch with reality and absorb parts of the Leapees. This episode became the pilot for that story arc.

Sketches of the set for this episode are included in "The Complete Quantum Leap Book."

What happened to the Leapee, Sam Beederman? After the events of this episode, he would likely be confined permanently to the mental institution. Sam and Al have left the poor man in worse shape than when they arrived!

The persona of Herbert "Magic" Williams was also a lead character in the 2022 revival series of Quantum Leap!

Don Bellisario said that he always imagined Sam would start to lose touch with reality, as he would absorb parts of the leapees, and that Shock Theater was written to be the start of this process.

The ABC rap has three versions: The script, the filmed episode, and an extended version on the official soundtrack album.

The credits scroll at the end of this episode over a series of clips from the episode.

Daily Clips - Alternate shots & takes

Guest Cast Notes:

David Proval as Dr. Harvey Masters: David Proval launched his acting career with a starring role in Mean Streets (1973), directed by Martin Scorsese, and has been working nonstop ever since. Notable features in which he has appeared include The Phantom (1996), The Brady Bunch Movie (1995) Four Rooms (1995) and The Shawshank Redemption (1994). He is currently set to appear in the independent film White Boy (2002).

Bruce A. Young as Butch: Bruce A. Young was born on April 22, 1956. He is an actor and writer, known for Basic Instinct (1992), Jurassic Park III (2001) and Risky Business (1983).

Scott Lawrence as Tibido “Tibby” Johnson: Scott was born in Los Angeles and spent a lot of his childhood with his parents on picket lines campaigning for local civil rights. His father was the executive director of the University of Southern California, Community Services Center, and his mother worked for Operation Breadbasket and other organizations dedicated to improving economic conditions of black communities. After studying electrical engineering for two years at USC, he sat in on a friends acting class, was immediately bitten by the bug and auditioned for USC's Bachelor of Fine Arts acting conservatory the next semester. He started over as a freshman and completed the program in 1986. In 1987, Scott earned his SAG card on the feature film "Punchline". After several equity waiver plays and TV guest stars, Scott landed his first TV series regular role as Whoopi Goldberg's son on the short lived "Bagdad Cafe". The show ended in 1990 and after a few more years in Hollywood, Scott decided to pack up and move to New York to pursue his first love, the theatre. In NYC he worked in off and off-off Broadway shows and was invited into the elite Drama Department Theatre Company for which he performed Tennesee Williams' three character play, "Kingdom of Earth" with Cynthia Nixon and Peter Sarsgaard, directed by John Cameron Mitchell. Scott's proudest theater moment came when he was cast by Lloyd Richards to play Walter Lee in Lorraine Hansberry's, "A Raisin in the Sun". Lloyd fell sick but the production went on to rave reviews at Fords Theater in Washington DC, directed by Seret Scott in 1995. Scott stayed in New York for a few more years working in TV, film and theatre before returning to Los Angeles in 1998. In 1999, he was cast in a guest starring role on the pilot for the CBS drama, "First Monday". Producer/creator/ director, Don Bellasario admired his work enough to create the role of 'Cmdr. Sturgis Turner' for Scott on his long running, hit series "JAG". Scott played the role from 2000 to 2004, when the show was canceled. He continues to live and work in Hollywood, recent notable credits include "The Social Network" and James Cameron's "Avatar". Upcoming credits Include J.J. Abrams next "Star Trek" feature and "The Host", directed by Andrew Niccol. Both due for release in 2013. Scott is the very proud father of two sons, Morgan and Daniel.

Robert Symonds as Dr. Wickless: Robert Symonds was born on December 1, 1926 in Bristow, Oklahoma, USA. He was an actor, known for The Exorcist (1973), Catch Me If You Can (2002) and And Justice for All (1979). He was married to Priscilla Pointer and Elizabeth Janel Kaderli. He died on August 23, 2007 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Candy Ann Brown as Dr. Verbeena Beeks: Candy Ann Brown was born on August 19, 1958 in San Rafael, Marin County, California, USA. She is an actress, known for Ali (2001), Baby Boy (2001) and Quantum Leap (1989).

Nick Brooks as Freddie: Nick Brooks is known for Saving Private Ryan (1998), Quantum Leap (1989) and Saved by the Bell (1989).

Lee Garlington as Nurse Nancy Chatam: The American actress was born in Teaneck, New Jersey, and grew up in Delaware, Illinois, West Virginia, and Washington D.C. Garlington was recently nominated for a 2018 Primetime Emmy Award / Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for her role as 'Darlene' in Broken. Garlington was a series regular on several series Lenny, Townies, and Blame it on Ernie as well as eleven other pilots that did not go to series. She had recurring roles in several notable television series, including The West Wing, The Killing, Flashforward, Everwood, The Riches, The Bridge, Will & Grace, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Mistresses, and Roseanne. She also played Kirsten, Rose Nylund's (Betty White) daughter in the final season of The Golden Girls, Ronni, the mistress of Joey Tribbiani's father on Friends, and the waitress Claire at Pete's Luncheonette in the pilot episode, The Seinfeld Chronicles. Her first professional acting job was "Myrna the Mean Waitress" in the sequel to Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, Psycho II in 1983 and its successor, Psycho III in 1986. The same year she starred alongside Sylvester Stallone and Brigitte Nielsen in the action/thriller Cobra. Garlington feels she was blessed that writer/director Phil Alden Robinson decided she was his "good luck charm" and cast her in almost all of his movies: In The Mood, Field of Dreams, Sneakers, Sum of All Fears, and The Angriest Man in Brooklyn. Garlington was also nominated for a 2015 (ISA) Indie Series Award / Best Guest Actress- Comedy for Mentor. Having appeared in over 25 plays in Los Angeles and winning numerous Dramalogue Awards, she won the 1999 Ovation Award (L.A.'s answer to the Tony's) for a Featured Role in the play Risk Everything. Originally, she was part of the Seinfeld (1989) cast. She was going to play a waitress who would give Jerry and George friendly advice. When they examined the pilot, they dropped her character and hired Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who played Jerry's ex-girlfriend, Elaine. Played Robert Costanzo's mistress in an episode of Friends (1994) and played his wife in an episode of Will & Grace (1998) 10 years later. Watch her in this clip from the pilot episode of "Seinfeld" as Claire the Waitress.

Frank Collison as Mortimer: Frank's first "role" was a six month old "theatre mascot" at a tent theatre in Granville, Ohio. His father, John, was an actor and playwright and his mother, Peg, directed him in a number of plays while he was growing up in Virginia and Ohio. As a young boy, Frank assisted his father when he toured with his one man Abraham Lincoln show. His father was selected to play Lincoln for the centennial celebration of Lincoln's first inauguration in Washington, DC ; Frank played young Tad Lincoln. Frank trained at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, earned his BA in theatre at San Francisco State University, helped establish a summer theatre company in the Sierra Nevadas then went on to earn an MFA in acting at UC San Diego. Before Frank began his professional career in acting, he worked as a forest fire fighter, diaper service dispatcher and substitute teacher. Appearing in over 150 productions, Frank has worked off Broadway and in regional theaters in Boston, Denver and California. His theatrical roles have ranged from "Puck" in Midsummer's Nights Dream to "Miss Havisham" in Great Expectations to "Jacob Marley" in Christmas Carol. Frank is a founding member of Pacific Resident Theatre in Venice, California, which has won over 25 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards. Frank began his film and television career when he moved to Los Angeles in 1984. He is perhaps best known as "Horace Bing," the hapless telegraph operator on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993) and "Wash Hogwallop" in "O Brother Where Art Thou?

Ralph Marrero as Oswald: Ralph Marrero was born on August 21, 1959 in New York, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for Day of the Dead (1985), Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990) and The Babe (1992). He died on November 16, 1991 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.

Brad Silverman as Jimmy LaMatta (Mirror image): Brad Silverman was born on May 16, 1966 in Glendale, California, USA. He is an actor, known for I Am Sam (2001), Quantum Leap (1989) and Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000).

Kevin Page as Young Doctor: Kevin Page is a 35 year veteran of the film, television, VO and commercial industries. Some of his career highlights include: His recurring character on "Seinfeld" as NBC executive, Stu Chermack, who invites Jerry to pitch his "show about nothing" was based on real-life NBC exec Rick Ludwin. And the enigmatic character "Bum" on the re-boot of "Dallas" (2012-2014) who ultimately shot and killed TV icon "JR Ewing" played by the late Larry Hagman. Mr. Page Played over 20 different classic roles opposite the dog, "Wishbone," as a star on the long-running PBS series of the same name. His death scene in the classic film, Robocop (1987), as the ill-fated young executive, Mr. Kinney, repeatedly got the film an "X" rating from the MMPA ratings board before director Paul Verhoeven agreed to cut 4 1/2 seconds out for the U. S. theatrical release (most of which was Page getting blown away by ED-209). He has made over 2 dozen television commercials for products ranging from beer to national airlines to breakfast cereals. In addition to being an actor, Mr. Page is a writer, director and producer of more than a dozen internationally distributed documentary films.

Harry Pugh as OIder Doctor: Harry Pugh is known for Quantum Leap (1989), Hunter (1984) and Mission: Killfast (1991).

Jean-Pierre Dorléac as Mental Patient: The diversified costumes of designer Jean-Pierre Dorléac have enlightened audiences worldwide with their visual concept of the 18th and 19th centuries; provided them with an accurate and honest visual history of this century and our present day; and propelled them into the futuristic galaxies of tomorrow, ... all filled with details of authenticity. Dorléac's prolific career in costume design has encompassed feature films, television, theater, rock-videos and private couture. His provocative and challenging creations range from the exotic rags and tatters assembled for The Blue Lagoon (1980), the mad, institutional designs for the West Coast premier stage production of Peter Weiss' "Marat/Sade". The gallantry and pageantry of the American Revolutionary War was seen in the television movie, The Bastard (1978), earning Dorléac his first Emmy nomination, followed by its sequel, _"Rebels, The" (1979) (mini)_. The beauty and romanticism of turn-of-the-century America, has been honestly captured in a quartet of films that include Horton Foote's Lily Dale (1996); the biographical films, Mae West (1982), and A Burning Passion: The Margaret Mitchell Story (1994); and finally, Somewhere in Time (1980), the feature that garnered him an Academy Award nomination. His depiction of the South Pacific in the 30's was nominated for an Emmy for Tales of the Gold Monkey (1982), while the 40's were explored in another woman's biographical film, Rosie: The Rosemary Clooney Story (1982). The 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's costumes for the NBC series, Quantum Leap (1989) were Emmy nominated for four consecutive years for their factual depiction of the quaternion. The enduring Heart and Souls (1993), showed us San Francisco in the late 50's and present day, while Universal's feature, Leave It to Beaver (1997) gave us a 'today', reminiscent of the late 50's. His striking creations for the cover of NEW YORK magazine caused a fashion media frenzy and the beguilingly-styled, high-tech Bond-ish glamour, Elizabeth Hurley wore in the television special, "THE WORLD OF JAMES BOND" was 'simply drop-dead', so said television's EXTRA. Fantasy and science-fiction have been represented through the punk, sociopathic madness of Max Headroom (1987); the vampy, cartoonish camp of _Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979)_; and the Emmy Award winning simplicity of the retro, look-into-the-future of Battlestar Galactica (1978). Dorléac's collection of work has been exhibited world wide. Benefits for AIDS Project Los Angeles have celebrated his designs, as well as the Mannequins Auxiliary of the Assistance League of Southern California with fashion shows. The Los Angeles County Museum of Arts showcased his costumes in their exhibition and book, "HOLLYWOOD AND HISTORY: COSTUME DESIGN IN FILM", as well as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City; La Palais de la Civilization, Montreal, Canada; and La Place Vendôme, Paris, France.

Howard Matthew Johnson as Jesse Tyler (Mirror image): Howard Matthew Johnson is known for The Vanishing (1993), Quantum Leap (1989) and The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989).

LaReine Chabut as Samantha Stormer (Mirror image): LaReine Chabut was born in Kentucky but raised in the small town of Poland in Northeastern Ohio, in the Boardman/Youngstown area. She was discovered by famed director Ridley Scott on an open audition, winning the lead role over thousand of girls as the new face of "Pepsi", originally slated for Paulina Porizkova. Soon after, LaReine worked with Director David Fincher for a NIKE commercial landing her a contract with NIKE. She frequently appears on magazine covers including Shape Magazine, Glamour, Health Magazine and has been featured in nationally prominent magazines such as Vanity Fair, Allure, People, Newsweek, Self, Health, and Glamour. LaReine is a best-selling author of 6 titles, including "Lose That Baby Fat!", and "Golf-All in-One" with Gary McCord. She also was recently voted one of the "Most Beautiful Women Alive" and hosted MSNBC's "Focus on Feeling Better" for 6 million viewers. In addition, LaReine's popular video series for "The Firm" has sold over 3 million copies to date.

Guests who appeared in other Quantum Leap episodes:

Howard Matthew Johnson played the mirror image of Jesse Tyler in "The Color of Truth."

Le Reine Chabut played the mirror image of Samantha Stormer in "What Price Gloria."

Brad Silverman played the mirror image of 'Jimmy LaMatta" in the episodes "Jimmy" and "Deliver Us from Evil." He also played Pete in "Mirror Image".

Jean-Pierre Dorléac, the series costume designer, appeared as a Mental Patient in this episode. He is the patient that says "The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker..."

Say What?

Nurse Chatam says that Jesse Tyler is 70 years old, but in "The Color of Truth", Jesse was only 65.

The level of shock treatment changes sportically. In the leap-out sequence at the end of the previous episode, it's set on 195. The machine used in that sequence is different from the one we see at the beginning of this episode. This time, it shows 220. However, at the end of the episode, Nurse Chatam says it was on 200 before raising it to about 205. No wonder Sam's brain is fried!

Lightning comes through the overhead window striking both Sam and Al, but the window itself doesn't break.

A cute...A cute...oh I hope it's a nurse...
-- Al, "Shock Theater"

Hi, Al.
-- Tibby, "Shock Theater"

The guy in the red jacket!
You can see me?
Sure! Nice jacket!
-- Tibby and Al, "Shock Theatre"

This is great, I'm tuned in to little kids, I'm tuned in to animals, and now the mentally absent.  Why not blondes?
-- Al, "Shock Theater"

Keep your hands outta me!
I gotta check my medication.
-- Al and Tibby, "Shock Theater"

Oh Boy!
-- Sam and Al, at the end of "Shock Theater"

You're a looney toon in a big white room
And I'm a hologram from the future
And I'm moving fast, back into the past
And I've got to say I'm pleased to meet ya'!
Because you're my man and I've got some thing that you can understand
You've got the power
To write and read, to say that's guaranteed.
I'm gonna give you what you need!
-- Rapmaster Al, "Shock Theater"

So I'm a good guy?
Yeah.  You're a *damned* good guy!
-- Sam and Al, "Shock Theater"

Al...don't leave me...
I won't, Sam.
-- Sam and Al, "Shock Theater"

This here is the sub-atomic structure of a quark --  What the hell is a quark?
-- "Jesse", "Shock Theater"

Don't tell Gloria.
-- "Samantha", "Shock Theater"

Oh great Sam, now they think you're Sybil!
-- Al, "Shock Theater"

The air is filthy and the cars are still on the ground, but we're working on it.
-- Al, "Shock Theater"

I'm Al. I'm your buddy. I gave you your first break and you're the only person that believed in me when I gave up believing in myself. You brought me on this Project.
-- Al, "Shock Theater”

Awards:

Scott Bakula was nominated for an Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Lead
Actor in a Drama Series in 1991.

Scott Bakula was nominated for a Golden Globe Award as Best Actor in a Dramatic Series in 1991.

Dean Stockwell was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 1991.

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
Co-producers: Paul Brown, Jeff Gourson
Produced by: Chris Ruppenthal
Created by: Donald P. Bellisario
Written by: Deborah Pratt
Directed by: Joe Napolitano

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: Thomas A. Meleck
Edited by: Jerry U. Frizell, A.C.E., Jon Koslowsky, A.C.E.
Unit Production Manager: Ron Grow
First Assistant Director: Kevin Corcoran
Second Assistant Director: Kate Yurka
Casting by: Ellen Lubin Sanitsky
Set Director: Robert L. Zilliox
Costume Designer: Jean-Pierre Dorleac
Costume Supervisors: David Rawley & Donna Roberts-Orme
Sound Mixer: Barry D. Thomas
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:

Check your super-egos at the door and enter the Shock Theater!

Join Quantum Leap Podcast hosts Allison Pregler, Matt Dale and Christopher DeFilippis as they discuss this fan-favorite season three finale — which also happens to be Allison’s favorite episode.

Listen to The Quantum Leap Podcast on this episode here: