The Stories So Far:  A Guide to The Observer #1-12
by Karen Funk Blocher

Project Quantum Leap members, particularly new members, frequently ask that I recommend particular back issues of The Observer for them to order.  As editor, I canÕt honestly tell them which to buy first, partly because they are all special to me, and partly because different fans have different priorities.  A leaper who is interested in all aspects of the show may particularly enjoy the interviews with writers and other behind the scenes people, while others may be primarily interested in Scott Bakula or in Dean Stockwell.  I have therefore compiled the following guide and index to the first twelve issues of The Observer, so that PQL members can choose issues according to their own particular interests, and so that non-PQL members can see what they are missing.  

To save space, I have used the following abbreviations for The ObserverÕs primary writing staff:  
KFB = Karen Funk Blocher    MC = Margaret Colchin   TM = Teresa Murray   TAM = Tracy Ann Murray.  

I have also omitted listings of most news and editorial columns, the Other Voices in QL Fandom column, which premiered in #2, and the Things for Leapers column, which premiered in  #7/8.

The Observer #1 - January 1991
Cover: Goldenrod cover with black diagonal bar, copied from paperwork at Senate committee hearing in ÒHoneymoon Express.Ó Only text on it: Project Quantum Leap.

Highlights:
Quantum Leap Sets Destroyed - a report on the Universal fire (Bing Futch)
Stockwell Recycling Campaign Begins (TAM)
Keep Those Letters Coming In!  (Mary A Schmidt)
Review:  Scott Bakula in Sibling Rivalry  (KFB & TM)
A Short History of Project Quantum Leap (KFB)
Leaping In Behind the Lens - encounters with real people, on and off the set [various]
Overheard at UCLA - questions asked after the mikes were turned off [Joan Dodson]
UCLA Q&A: 11/26/90 - the actors and executive producers speak! [transcribed by KFB]
Review: Dean Stockwell on The New Twilight Zone  [TM]
Dean Stockwell  Films, Part 1: 1945-1951 [TM]
The (Pen)ultimate QL Episode Guide: Season One in depth (KFB)

The Observer #2  - Spring 1991
Cover: six primitive screen captures (best I could do in 1991) of the Mr. Little promo.  ÒRecently I have received a few letters from fans of Quantum Leap, demanding I move it back to its original Wednesday night time slot.  Listen, I run this network.  Do you know what I have to say to the fans of Quantum Leap? [buried in avalanche of letters] You win!Ó

Highlights:
Bowling for Leapers - a report from the wrap party [Bing Futch]
StockwellÕs Soapbox:  Saving the Ozone (TAM)
Leaping into Fashion - the infamous Committee for a Scott Bakula Suit satire [the Fashion Observer]
Interview:  Paul Brown & Tommy Thompson [KFB & TM]
Survey:  Who Are You and Why?  [TAM]
Interview:  Captain Galaxy Plays Tennis with Stars! - an encounter with Richard Herd [TM]
Hitchcock Theater Q&A: 2/25/91 - the actors and exec producers speak! [various]
Dean Stockwell Films, Part 2: Young Hollywood Rebel , 1957-1968 [TM]

The Observer #3 - Summer 1991
Cover: tan or beige, with photo of Richard Herd and Scott Bakula as Captain Galaxy and Future Boy.  ÒIn this Issue: The Adventures of Captain Galaxy!  Plus:  A Special Spotlight on Dean Stockwell!  Welcome to the Future!Ó

Highlights:
Survey Results: Who We Are and Why! (Part One) [TAM]
Leaping Out of Fashion the Fashion Observer replies to critics
Interview:  Richard Herd [KFB and TM]
Scott Bakula in Texas / Scott Bakula in Chicago [Julie Barrett and KFB]
Dean Stockwell  at I-Con [Candyce Nathanson-Goldstein]
Dean Stockwell  Speaks:  I-Con Q&A [transcribed by Nancy Rapaglia]
StockwellÕs Soapbox [TAM] plus DeanÕs U. S. Senate testimony
Dean Stockwell Films, Part 3:  1970-1983 [TM]
The Dean Stockwell  Star: An Update [TM]
The (Pen)ultimate QL Episode Guide: Season Two, Part One [KFB]

The Observer #4 - Winter 1991-2
Cover: fake Time Magazine cover, with Scott photo by Nancy Rapaglia.  ÒTHE NEXT EINSTEIN - A scientist and an ex-astronaut team up to ask:  is Time, not Space, the final  frontier?Ó First printing had red border on cover.

Highlights:
Survey Results, Part 2: Our Favorite Things [TAM]
Interview:  Tommy Thompson [Joan Dodson & Kris Arnold]
VQT: The View From Table 5 [KFB]
The View From L.A.: An L.P.O.Õs Story [Bing Futch]
Interview:  Beverly Bridges [KFB & TM]
Dean Stockwell Films, Part 4:  1983-1988 [TM]
The (Pen)ultimate QL Episode Guide:  Season Two, Part Two [KFB]

The Observer #5 - Spring 1992
Cover: Dean photo from Leap Day 1992 inside Star artwork.  Dean Stockwell:  a Star on Earth and in the Heavens, February 28, 1992.

Highlights:
Leap Weekend:  On the Front Line [Bing Futch]
Leap Weekend:  Another Angle [Julie Barrett, Dr. Joyce D. Hatcher etc.]
Leap Weekend:  A Side View [TAM]
Book Review:  Time Tripping  [Ann Raymont]
Video Review:  Necessary Roughness  [TM]
Film Review:  The Player [TM]
Interview: Chris Ruppenthal [Bing Futch; transcribed by Ann Raymont]
Survey Results, Part 4  [TAM]
Interview:  Dennis Wolfberg [TM and KFB]
StockwellÕs Soapbox:  The Earth Summit [TAM]
Dean Stockwell Films, Part 5:  Not Just Al  [TM]
The (Pen)ultimate QL Episode Guide:  Season Three, Part One [KFB]

The Observer #6 - Summer 1992
Cover:  photo of Scott in glasses with leap effect painted in.  How do we know heÕs not Sam Beckett?

Highlights:
Interview: QL FX wizard Roger Dorney [Bing Futch]
Essay: Sam Beckett and Thomas Magnum [Brigitte Scherer]
Interview: QL Guest Star Phil Fondacaro [TM, KFB & Rosie Geonnotti]
Prodigy and the P* Leapers: an Introduction [Patricia L. Stone]
Editorial:  When Fans Go Too Far [KFB]
Necessary Roughness Redux - an alternative review [Regenia Marracino]
Q&A: Scott, Dean & Don - First Annual QL Con, 3/1/92 [transcribed by Miriam Cooper & Dr. Joyce Hatcher]
The (Pen)ultimate QL Episode Guide:  Season Three, Part Two [KFB]

The Observer #7/8 - Winter 1993 (double issue)
Cover:  photo of Scott Bakula in his trailer, Sept 1992

Highlights:
Sammy Award Winners
Project Calla Lily - a report [KFB], press releases [Julie Barrett & KFB], a reply [Warren Littlefield] and a newspaper article [Walt Belcher]
The Death of Leap One and Other Stories: the story behind the interviews (KFB)
Interview:  Scott Bakula [TM & KFB]
Interview:  Diamond Farnsworth [TM & KFB]
Interview:  Lydia Cornell [TM & KFB]
Interview:  Joe Napolitano [TM, KFB et al]
Survey Results, Part 5: essays by leapers [compiled by TAM]
Scott Bakula: The Story So Far - a preliminary biography [Ann Raymont]
An Introduction to Scott Bakula on TV (KFB)
The (Pen)ultimate QL Episode Guide:  Season Three, Part Three (KFB)
Answers to Common Questions about Quantum Leap [KFB, Nancy Henderson & Gillian Eldridge]

The Observer #9 - Summer 1993
Cover: Sgt Leaper, our most ambitious cover to date.  Photo montage on glossy stock, replacing all those people and objects from the BeatlesÕ Sgt. Pepper album cover with QL actors, producers, writers, directors, fans, etc. On the drum:  Dr. BeckettÕs Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Highlights:
Canceled! - truth and speculation (KFB)
MCA  Releases Quantum Leap Videos  (KFB)
About the Cover - an explanation and contest (KFB)
Scott Bakula: The Story So Far  (Part Two) - a preliminary biography [Ann Raymont]
StockwellÕs Soapbox: At JoyÕs Request [Nancy Henderson]
Don Bellisario Explains ÒMirror ImageÓ [Adina Ringler]
The Second Annual Quantum Leap Convention (KFB)
Interview:  Chas. Floyd Johnson [TM, KFB & Marjorie Dufek]
Interview:  Robin Jill Bernheim (KFB; transcribed by Shari Ramseur]
The (Pen)ultimate QL Episode Guide:  Season Four, Part One (KFB)

The Observer #10 - Summer 1994
Cover: file folders of Sam and Al, stamped MISSING, ÒFrom the files of Project Quantum LeapÓ

Highlights:
Key to the ÒSergeant LeaperÓ Cover (KFB, TM & Jon Balenzano]
A Quantum Leap WriterÑAlmost [Marla J Hayes]
StockwellÕs Soapbox:  Ozone and Orange Juice [Nancy Henderson]
An Evening With Scott Bakula - 1993 VQT banquet report [Martha Peplinski]
Letter From A Leaper [actress Nicole Dubuc]
Interview:  James (ÒBingoÓ) Walters (KFB & TM]
Interview:  Deborah Pratt [TM, KFB et al]
Interview:  Guest Stars of ÒKillinÕ TimeÓ [TM; transcribed by Ruth Calkins]
The (Pen)ultimate QL Episode Guide:  Season Four, Part Two (KFB)

The Observer #11 - Winter 1995
Cover: photo montage from the pilot. ÒItÕs 1995.  Do you know where your quantum physicist is?Ó

Highlights:
Dennis Wolfberg -  a tribute (KFB)
The Writing & Sale of Quantum Leap: A-Z:  [Julie Barrett]
StockwellÕs Soapbox  [Laurie Farber]
Sammy Awards Results [TAM]
Interview:  Deborah Pratt (Part 2) (TM, KFB et al)
Interview:  John Cullum [TM; transcribed by Ann Raymont]
Interview:  John DÕAquino [MC]
Interview:  Guest Stars of ÒLee Harvey OswaldÓ [TM; transcribed by KFB]
QL Episode Guide: Season Four, Part Three (KFB)

The Observer #12 - Summer 1995
Cover: photo montage, Leaping through the career of Scott Bakula

Highlights:
Report: Anyone Can Whistle [Heidi Sanchez]
Close Encounter In Ventura County, Parts 1 & 2  [Cathy Madden & Cathleen Miller]
StockwellÕs Soapbox [Nancy Henderson]
Close Encounter at LeapCon Õ95 (KFB)
Interview:  Mark Bannon of Crescendo Records  [David T. Okamura, KFB et al]
Q&A:  Harriet Margulies - IndyLeap Õ94 [transcribed by Marcia Mahan]
Q&A:  Rich Whiteside - IndyLeap Õ94 [transcribed by Margaret Colchin]
Interview:  Willie Garson of ÒLee Harvey OswaldÓ [TM; transcribed by TAM]
QL Episode Guide:  Season Four, Part Three (KFB)

Grouped by Subject:

Interviews - Actors
Scott Bakula  #7/8
Lydia Cornell  #7/8
John Cullum  #11
John DÕAquino  #11
Phil Fondacaro  #6
Willie Garson   #12
Guest Stars of ÒKillinÕ TimeÓ  #10
Guest Stars of ÒLee Harvey OswaldÓ #11
Richard Herd  #2, #3
James (ÒBingoÓ) Walters  #10
Dennis Wolfberg  #5

Interviews - Writers and Producers
Don Bellisario Explains ÒMirror ImageÓ #9
Robin Jill Bernheim #9
Beverly Bridges  #4
Paul Brown & Tommy Thompson  #2
Chas. Floyd Johnson #9
Deborah Pratt  #10-#11
Chris Ruppenthal  #5
Tommy Thompson #4

Interviews - Others
Mark Bannon of Crescendo Records #12
FX wizard Roger Dorney  #6
Stunt Coordinator Diamond Farnsworth  #7/8
Director Joe Napolitano  #7/8

Question & Answer Sessions:  
Scott, Dean, Don & Deborah, plus Michael Zinberg UCLA,  11/26/90  #1
Scott, Dean, Don & Deborah Hitchcock Theater, 2/25/91 #2
Scott, Dean & Don first QL con, 3/1/92  #6
Harriet Margulies - IndyLeap Õ94  #12
Dean Stockwell  -  I-Con Q&A  #3
Rich Whiteside - IndyLeap Õ94  #12

Filmographies and Videographies:
The (Pen)ultimate Quantum Leap Episode Guide
  Season One #1
  Season Two #3-4
  Season Three #5-8
  Season Four #9-13
Dean Stockwell - The Films
  Part 1: 1945-1951  #1
  Part 2: Young Hollywood Rebel, 1957-1968  #2
  Part 3:  1970-1983  #3
  Part 4:  1983-1988  #4
  Part 5:  Not Just Al  #1989-1992 #5
An Introduction to Scott Bakula on TV  #7/8