The Toronto Sun -- June, 1990

The Toronto Sun, June 10, 1990
Transcription by Elaine Davenport

By Jerry Gladman

HOLLYWOOD--Scott Bakula has to be the luckiest actor in this quaint burg.

Not only does he co-star in Quantum Leap, one of NBC's more prestigious hour-long dramas, but he gets to play a different role every week. Most actors go through entire careers without this much variety in their characters.

And he gets paid, royally, for it.

"It's true," says Bakula, who, as time traveler Sam Beckett, assumes different identities in each episode, trying to unlock the key that will send him back to the present.

"Although I'm Sam Beckett in every show, I'm always trapped in somebody else's body. I've already played more parts than most actors could dream of in a lifetime. Better than that, I get to cross over all boundaries. I've played a black, a woman, a teenager. Who knows what I'll be next week?"

A veteran of three prime-time series (Gung Ho, Eisenhower & Lutz) in three years, Bakula is ready to run forever on Quantum Leap primarily because he never really has to worry about the one aspect that plagues other series stars--boredom.

"Boredom is just not an option in this experience. A lot of actors are generally nervous about signing long-term contracts because they know eventually one show bleeds in to the next and they begin to feel like they're doing the same thing week in and week out. I never have to worry about that."

While no one is really predicting an endless run for the stylish, yuppie sci-fi series, it still remains a favorite of many TV writers and, more importantly, of NBC entertainment prez Brandon Tartikoff.

"Initially, I was nervous," said the 35-year-old stage actor, who was nominated for a Tony in 1988 (Romance/Romance). "While I loved the concept and the script, I didn't want to fall into the trap of thinking this was going to be a guaranteed hit."

Bakula had good feelings about both his other series -- and they went south.

"I thought Gung Ho was going to be successful, but nobody seemed to watch it. When we got cut, I wasn't sure I wanted to try again. Then along came Eisenhower & Lutz and I figured we were in business. I really, really believed that show would take off. Same result."

So when he learned producer Don Bellisario wanted him for Quantum Leap and that he would co-star with Dean Stockwell, Bakula was in somewhat of a quandary. More so early on, when everyone was running around the set convinced they had a hit -- and then the dismal ratings numbers arrived.

"I'd like to believe we're going to be on for a long, long time, but I have to keep reminding myself of the Eisenhower & Lutz business. It keeps me from getting too caught up in worrying about ratings."

Even though the St. Louis-raised actor, who originally studied law, believes in the quality of his show, he knows the TV gig is always about numbers.

"But there are always exceptions. Nightingales consistently won its time slot, but still got bounced because of the adverse publicity it received. The network regards us as somewhat of a classy act so they are prepared to be patient, just as they were with shows like Hill Street Blues and St. Elsewhere."

In other words, some network executives are shrewd enough to realize that prestigious shows carry their own reward.

Apart from the variety of characters he gets to play as Sam Beckett, the other attraction for Bakula is working with veteran Stockwell.

"Dean and I are really good friends. Part of it has to do with the fact we took to each other right from the start. The other is that since we're the only regular stars each week, we rely on one another. We need each other."

Ironically, Bakula believes the reason he got the lead role is because he isn't really the leading man type. "For one thing, I don't think I have leading man looks. But on the stage, most of the work I did involved character parts. That's what I enjoyed most."

But Stockwell, who is impressed with his co-star's acting talents, believes the latter has one other plus that sets him apart.

"He has star quality," said Stockwell, who has worked with many major stars in Hollywood during three different acting careers. "It's something you either have or you don't. I think he has it, but as a bonus, he has the craft to back it up."