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It must be fun zig-zagging through time and impersonating other people. It certainly sounds a lot more fun than traveling on the Enterprise with a Vulcan liason. “Quantum Leap” made science fiction friendly for TV audiences. The show ran about five seasons (with a short summer time run when it first premiered) and stars Scott Bakula & Dean Stockwell made an appealing team. While the writing would get a bit dicey after the third season, “Quantum Leap” found its legs during its first slate of episodes during season two. Writer/creator Donald P. Bellasario created and wrote other fine TV series but “Quantum Leap” is probably the best show that Bellasario put together. The premise of the show allowed Bellasario and his team of writers to examine a lot of complex moral issues without coming off as preachy. It was a perfect merger of form and content. ---

Ahh, here’s the rub as to paraphrase and misquote Shakesphere. While Universal did right by fans on the first set with a couple of Easter eggs, the “Quantum Knowledge” introductions by Bakula and the fine featurette “A Kiss with History: Remembering Quantum Leap”, Universal released the second season with absolutely no extras for fans. That’s surprising given Bakula’s willingness to appear for the previous set and perhaps time constraints played a part in this particular set. These are the uncut episodes but not the original ones that aired on network TV. Bare with me a bit and you’ll get an explanation. Regardless, we could have used a couple of audio commentaries and/or outtakes or gag reels. I’m very disappointed in Universal’s marketing department as they seemed to make a stride forward after the disappointing and poorly put together “Night Gallery” DVD. There are not even any original vintage interviews included. ***

What’s worse is that the original music has been replaced in several episodes. Yes, I realize that this is becoming more and more common but in at least two of these episodes it dulls the dramatic impact of the drama. “M.I.A.” made effective use of Ray Charles’ “Georgia”. Unfortunately, the ending sequence loses much of its emotional impact with generic music inserted into the episode. That information should have been advertised on the box. It seems to me that Leapsters would have been willing to shell out a few more bucks to get these episodes as they were broadcast. I understanding not being able to license all of them and that there are budget limits applied to these sets but come on! They couldn’t get a Ray Charles sound-alike to do a different version of “George”? To me that would mean these aren’t the original episodes as they were aired and that is can issue. When Scott Bakula performs John Lennon's "Imagine" in an another later episode, will they edit that out? It'll change the dramatic impact of that episode as well. If you can't offer bonus material at least arrange for the limited licensing of the original songs performed for the show! I'm afraid to see and hear "Miami Vice" when it comes out next year based on this experience. Many fans will, no doubt, record it off television with the original songs vs. purchase sets where the music has been changed without regard to the fan's reactions. ---