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Quantum Leap Season 3 Episodes

22 Episodes 1990 - 1991

Episode 1

The Leap Home: Part 1 - November 25, 1969

Fri, Sep 28, 199048 mins

Sam leaps into himself as a 16 year-old and gets to re-live a very happy time in his life. His father is still alive, and his mother and sister are happy as well. Al tells him that he's likely there to re-play the big championship basketball game his high school lost. If they win, several members of the team will go on to greater careers that they have had, including college scholarships and professional basketball careers. Sam isn't sure he wants to replay the game as it will likely cause him to leap and he wants to stay with his family. He hopes to get his father, who will die in three years, to quit smoking, his sister not to elope with her boyfriend and to persuade his older brother Tom not to go to Vietnam.

Where to Watch
Quantum Leap, Season 3 Episode 1 image

Episode 2

The Leap Home: Part 2 (Vietnam) - April 7, 1970

Fri, Oct 5, 199047 mins

Having won the high school basketball championship game and thereby changing the future for his teammates, Sam leaps into the body of a soldier in his brother Tom's SEAL team while they are on patrol in Vietnam. It's the day before his brother is killed but Al tells Sam that he's actually there to ensure that the next day's mission succeeds, not to save his brother. When he learns that an attractive and outgoing photo-journalist Maggie Dawson is also killed on the mission, he tries to save her as well. On patrol the next day, Al suggests that Sam help free a nearby American POW but he declines and doggedly sets off to save his brother.

Where to Watch
Quantum Leap, Season 3 Episode 2 image

Episode 3

Leap of Faith - August 19, 1963

Fri, Oct 12, 199046 mins

Sam leaps into the body of Father Frank Pistano, a Catholic priest. He's there to help his colleague, Father McRoberts who is bitter over the death of a young parishioner and is drinking heavily. Al tells Sam there is a high probability that Father Mac, as he is known, will be killed. Both Father Mac and the dead boy were the only witnesses to a killing by young hoodlum Tony Pronti and it is clear that Tony is out to get rid of him. When Father Mac reaches the end of his tether, Sam has to keep him from committing murder.

Where to Watch
Quantum Leap, Season 3 Episode 3 image

Episode 4

One Strobe Over the Line - June 15, 1965

Fri, Oct 19, 199048 mins

Sam leaps into the body of high-fashion photographer Karl Granson. According to Al, Sam's job is to keep up and coming model Edie Landsdale from dying of an overdose of drugs and alcohol. Modeling is a tough job and Edie's agent, Helen Le Baron, is giving her pills to make it through the day. Edie is a down home type of girl who would like nothing better than to make a little money and then return home to take care of her family and perhaps become a vet. When she crashes at a photo shoot, Sam has to move quickly to save her life.

Where to Watch
Quantum Leap, Season 3 Episode 4 image

Episode 5

The Boogieman - October 31, 1964

Fri, Oct 26, 199047 mins

Sam leaps into of a second-rate horror writer, Joshua Rey, on Halloween 1964. Ziggy confirms that Sam is there because of Rey's fiancée Mary Greely. A series of bizarre events lead to the death of a handyman and then an elderly neighbor. Al is convinced that Mary is responsible somehow. Sheriff Ben Masters suspects Rey while Sam is sure that the sheriff is the guilty party. Sam constantly sees a goat at the site of the deaths and soon realizes that he is combating an evil force, perhaps the Devil himself.

Where to Watch
Quantum Leap, Season 3 Episode 5 image

Episode 6

Miss Deep South - June 7, 1958

Fri, Nov 2, 199047 mins

While entered in the "Miss Deep South" beauty pageant, Sam must prevent a fellow contestant from posing for some nude photos and make sure his host comes in third in the contest.

Where to Watch
Quantum Leap, Season 3 Episode 6 image

Episode 7

Black on White on Fire - August 11, 1965

Fri, Nov 9, 199047 mins

Sam leaps into the body of Ray Harper, a promising African-American medical student who has the opportunity at an internship at a Boston hospital. Ray currently lives in Watts and it's the eve of the 1965 race riots. He's engaged to Susan, a white girl, and faces not only her father's wrath but that of his brother Lonnie and his friends. Al tells him that his purpose is to keep Ray and Susan together but there is a chance that Susan might die in the riots. As the violence and race hatred grows, both Ray and Susan must face the challenge of each communities prejudice.

Where to Watch
Quantum Leap, Season 3 Episode 7 image

Episode 8

The Great Spontini - May 9, 1974

Fri, Nov 16, 199048 mins

Sam leaps into the body of Harry Spontini who, as The Great Spontini, performs as a magician in cheap nightclubs. His assistant is his precocious 12 year-old daughter Jamie who has great hopes for the act. His wife Maggie, who left Harry three years before, suddenly reappears asking for a divorce. Sam decides that he's there to reunite the family but has to re-think this idea when he learns - in a Judge's chambers - that she's actually out to get custody of Jamie as well. Al tells him that unless he can change what happened, Jamie will become a runaway living on the street. Sam's main obstacle to reuniting the family is Maggie's lawyer-boyfriend Steve.

Where to Watch
Quantum Leap, Season 3 Episode 8 image

Episode 9

Rebel Without a Clue - September 1, 1958

Fri, Nov 30, 199047 mins

Sam leaps into the body of Shane 'Funny Bone' Thomas, a biker and member of a gang, The Cobras, circa 1958. Al tells him that he's there to prevent the murder of Becky, a young idealist who shows great potential as a writer. Sometime in the next 24 hours she will be stabbed, but Al doesn't know by who. Despite Sam's several attempts to convince her to leave she refuses to do so. She's inspired by Jack Kerouac's On The Road and wants to experience life. Sam decides there's only one person who can convince her otherwise - Jack Kerouac himself.

Where to Watch
Quantum Leap, Season 3 Episode 9 image

Episode 10

A Little Miracle - December 24, 1962

Fri, Dec 21, 199048 mins

Sam leaps into the body of Reginald Pearson, valet to millionaire Michael Blake a hard-nosed businessman. It's Christmas-time and his business plans are to tear down the 4th Street Mission so he can build a new office plaza. Al tells Sam that his mission is to save Blake from his own bah humbug ways. Sam takes him on a trip down memory lane by visiting his old neighborhood where he meets old friends and learns what happened to some of his old friends. Blake also takes an interest in the pretty Salvation Army Captain who runs the Mission. Despite progress, Sam can't quite get Blake to take the final step so he and Al decide the time has come to show him his future.

Where to Watch
Quantum Leap, Season 3 Episode 10 image

Episode 11

Runaway - July 4, 1964

Fri, Jan 4, 199160 mins

Sam leaps into the body of 13 year-old Butchie Rickett. It's July 4, 1964 and the Ricketts are on a 9000 mile trip across America. Butchie is a typical 13 year-old. He's regularly bullied by his older sister and can't quite seem to live up to his father's expectations. Al tells him that unless Sam intervenes, Butchie's mother Emma will disappear later that day and never be seen again. When Emma meets Billy, an old high school friend who is now a widower, Sam assumes that she's run off with him. Her disappearance is related to something completely different however.

Where to Watch
Quantum Leap, Season 3 Episode 11 image

Episode 12

8½ Months - November 15, 1955

Wed, Mar 6, 199160 mins

It's 1955 and Sam leaps into the body of 16 year old Billie Jean Crockett who is also 8 and a half months pregnant. Her mother is dead and her father wants nothing much to do with her. Her boyfriend, who got her pregnant, is off to college soon and wanted her to have a termination. Al tells Sam that she will have her baby within a day and give it up for adoption leading to a lifetime of regret and searching for the child. The solution is that Sam may have to give birth to the baby before he can leap again.

Where to Watch
Quantum Leap, Season 3 Episode 12 image

Episode 13

Future Boy - October 6, 1957

Wed, Mar 13, 199149 mins

As the sidekick on the 1950s children's science fiction series "Time Patrol", Sam must prevent the death of the star of the show.

Where to Watch
Quantum Leap, Season 3 Episode 13 image

Episode 14

Private Dancer - October 6, 1979

Wed, Mar 20, 199149 mins

Sam leaps into the body of Rod "the Bod" McCarty a male dancer at a strip club. According to Al, he's there to prevent a waitress and aspiring ballet dancer, Diana Quinna, from turning to prostitution to make ends meet. Diana is quite innocent in many ways. She would love to be a professional dancer but is hearing disabled and lacks the self esteem to make it on her own. Despite Sam's best efforts, she resists his interventions on her behalf but he nonetheless arranges an audition for her with professional choreographer Joanna Chapman who is recruiting for her dance company

Where to Watch
Quantum Leap, Season 3 Episode 14 image

Episode 15

Piano Man - November 10, 1985

Wed, Mar 27, 199148 mins

Sam leaps into the body of Chuck Danner, a piano-playing lounge singer. Al tells Sam he's there to keep Chuck, whose real name is Joey Di Nardo, from being killed. It turns out that he witnessed a mob killing so he's changed his name and has been on the run ever since. Now re-united with his old girlfriend, klutzy Lorraine, he's again on the run from a mob hit man. Lorraine is still in love with Joey but she is convinced that she is a jinx and all of this is her fault. Lorraine's new boyfriend had encouraged her to find Joey and get rid of any ghosts that may still be around but when he hears that there's a hit man after them he comes to get her. Turns out he had his own reasons for wanting Lorraine to find Joey.

Where to Watch
Quantum Leap, Season 3 Episode 15 image

Episode 16

Southern Comforts - August 4, 1961

Wed, Apr 3, 199148 mins

Sam leaps in to the body of Gilbert LaBonte who runs the family's hundred year-old business: the finest brothel in New Orleans. He's there to help out Gina, a college student who clearly shouldn't be there. Al tells him that if he's not successful, Gina will disappear sometime in the next 24 hours and subsequently be found beaten to death.It turns out that she is running away from Jake Dorleac who has his own reasons for wanting her to return home. She on the other hand is afraid for someone other than herself. Sam sets up Dorleac for a fall.

Where to Watch
Quantum Leap, Season 3 Episode 16 image

Episode 17

Glitter Rock - April 12, 1974

Wed, Apr 10, 199160 mins

Sam leaps into the body of Jeffrey Mole, a 1970s rock musician and member of a band that has as its trademark heavy makeup. Al tells him that in two nights time, a crazed fan will stab and kill him. The fan in question, 16 year-old Philip Silbart, is emotionally disturbed and has run away from several foster homes. Strange things begin to happen however - like a stage prop falling on his head - which leaves Al and Sam wondering if someone other than Philip may be out to get him. Sam begins to suspect the band's business manager of fiddling the books but it also turns out that Jeffrey is probably Philip's father.

Where to Watch
Quantum Leap, Season 3 Episode 17 image

Episode 18

A Hunting Will We Go - June 18, 1976

Wed, Apr 17, 199149 mins

Sam leaps into the body of Gordon O'Reilly, a bounty hunter trying to return his prisoner to the Sheriff in Decatur. He's arrested Diane Frost who was charged with forging her boss' signature on a million dollars' worth of checks and then skipped bail before going to court. According to Al however, Sam and Diane will be killed that very night. According to the information he has, Diane will shoot Gordon and will then herself be shot trying to run away. She proves to be quite a handful and tries to escape at every opportunity. The truth is that Sam is becoming quite attracted to her and when she reveals why she stole the money, he realizes that he may have put her in danger by turning her over to the local Sheriff.

Where to Watch
Quantum Leap, Season 3 Episode 18 image

Episode 19

Last Dance Before an Execution - May 12, 1971

Wed, May 1, 199148 mins

Sam leaps into the body of Jesus Ortega, a death row prisoner who is about to be executed. A last minute stay of execution gives Sam 48 hours to prove that Ortega is innocent. With the secret assistance of an Assistant District Attorney, Margerita Lorrea Tearsa, who thinks he's innocent, he's submitted an appeal to Governor. All of this doesn't sit well with Theodore Moody, the DA who convicted him who is also now a candidate for Governor. Ortega was convicted of robbing a church and killing a priest but he and his accomplices deny having anything to do with the killing. Unless Sam can figure it out, not only will Ortega die in the electric chair but Tearsa will be disbarred. The key is that there is someone else Sam is supposed to save.

Where to Watch
Quantum Leap, Season 3 Episode 19 image

Episode 20

Heart of a Champion - July 23, 1955

Wed, May 8, 199149 mins

It's 1955 and the middle of the cold war when Sam leaps into the body of Terry Sammis, a professional wrestler who, along with his brother Ronnie, form a tag team. They're from Arkansas but their ring persona is that of Soviets and they taunt the crowd with their pro-Russian rants. Al tells Sam that Terry is new to the wrestling game having just replaced an older brother who died in a car crash. He also tells him Ronnie will die in the big title match they have scheduled for the next day. Sam tries to convince Ronnie to pass upon the big match but wrestling is in their blood and Ronnie has no intention of giving up their big chance. There's only one thing Sam can do: fight the entire match by himself and make sure Ronnie never enters the ring.

Where to Watch
Quantum Leap, Season 3 Episode 20 image

Episode 21

Nuclear Family - October 26, 1962

Wed, May 15, 199148 mins

Sam leaps into Eddie Ellroy, a college student who is visiting his brother in South Florida during the height of the October missile crisis in 1962. Eddie's brother Mac sells bomb shelters for a living and the crisis is proving to be good fodder for increasing sales. Al tells Sam that that evening the Ellroys' neighbor, Bert Rosecranz, will be shot as he tries in a panic to force himself into the bunker during what they all think is a nuclear attack. As a result Mac goes to jail and the family is destroyed. Sam tries to allay everyone's fears by suggesting it will all blow over but they are all genuinely scared and preparing for the worse. Just as President Kennedy goes on television to announce a resolution to the confrontation, there is a power blackout leading them all to believe they are under attack.

Where to Watch
Quantum Leap, Season 3 Episode 21 image

Episode 22

Shock Theater - October 3, 1954

Wed, May 22, 199149 mins

Sam leaps into a patient at a Mental Hospital and undergoes electroshock therapy. The treatment causes Sam to act like other people he's been. It also weakens his link to Al. Al must find a way to get his friend back to normal, and figure a way to carry out Sam's mission.

Where to Watch
Quantum Leap, Season 3 Episode 22 image