Quantum Leap/Dr. Ruth

Dr. Ruth
Season 5, Episode 14
Airdate	January 19, 1993
Production Number	68114
Written by	Robin Jill Bernheim
Directed by	Stuart Margolin
← 5x13 Liberation	5x15 → Blood Moon
Quantum Leap — Season Five

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Dr. Ruth is the fourteenth episode of the fifth season of Quantum Leap, and the eighty-ninth episode overall.

Starring: Scott Bakula (Sam Beckett)

Starring: Dean Stockwell (The Observer)

Guest Starring: Peter Spears (Doug), Anita Barone (Debbie), James McDonnell (Jonathan), Robyn Lively (Annie Wilkins)

and Dr. Ruth Westheimer (Herself)

Co-Starring: Ellen Albertini Dow (Grandma), Paul Roache (Cabbie)

with Mary Scheer (Other Woman), Doreene Hamilton (Anita's Friend), Bridget Morrow (Anita), Robert MacKenzie (Vampire)

Uncredited: Deborah Pratt (Narrator)

Plot Overview

It's a bit awkward for Sam when he leaps into famous sex therapist Dr Ruth. He has to not only straighten out her co-workers' relationship, but must help a woman being sexually harassed by her boss.

Meanwhile, Al spends time in the waiting room getting help from the real Dr Ruth.

Notes

Leap Date

• April 25, 1985

Location

• Manhattan, New York

Arc Advancement

Characters

• At a few points, Sam's mind merges with Dr Ruth's.

• Dr Ruth sees that Al has abandonment issues stemming from being raised in an orphanage. She later gets him to admit that he loves Tina by recognising that his love for her is not the same as the love he has for his first wife Beth.

Trivia

The Show

• Dr Ruth is not the first person to play themselves on the show, but is the first leapee to play themselves.

• Dr Ruth is also the second consecutive woman Sam leaps into.

• We don't see Sam leap out, but instead we see the leap from the perspective of the waiting room, the only time we see the one leapee trade with another.

• Curiously, this happens instantaneously, despite "Genesis" implying that some time might pass between leaps.

Allusions and References

• When Sam goes outside in the hall to talk to Al, we can hear the theme music to Miami Vice another NBC show that was airing during the time of the leap.

Kiss with History

• When Sam openly confronts Jonathan about his sexual harassment, a black woman can be seen listening before her friend calls out to her by the name of Anita. This is obviously supposed to be Anita Hill who became a national figure when she testified in 1991 in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee about being sexually harassed by Clarence Thomas as he up for a Supreme Court nomination.

Goofs

• Al says there are 6,280 Annies in Manhattan in 1984 despite it being 1985.

• When Sam jumps from car to car, the Dr Ruth reflection is an obvious stunt double.

Quotes

• Sam: This is Dr Ruth Westheimer. Tomorrow on Frank Talk About Sex, we're going to discuss some common male sexual dysfunctions, like premature... premature... Well, we're gonna discuss a lot of things that I'm sure will be very stimulating. Uh, uplifting. Interesting.