I loved the show Quantum Leap and I wish the re-runs were played more often.

But I got to thinking.

How exactly did they pitch that idea?

This is how I picture it.

Geeky, nervous guy in a suit that’s a size too big sweating lightly is sitting in a posh (it is, after all, the late 80s) t.v. executive’s office. Generic 80s bigwig sits behind the desk, leaning back in his chair looking up as if trying to imagine the picture the geeky guy is painting for him.

“So this scientist is forced to try out the time travel machine prematurely? And it malfunctions. And he finds himself in the body of someone else. Is it someone he knows?”

“No, no. In fact, he has no memory at all. It slowly comes back to him little by little.”

“So in order to ‘leap’ he has to right some wrong from the past?”

“Yes, but the wrong isn’t always clear in the beginning. He has to figure it out.”

“Well, with so many possible wrongs in the world wouldn’t it be hard for him to put his finger on the one he is responsible for righting?”

“Well, yeah, but he has help. His computer in the present day can run statistics and see historical data.”

“But how does this scientist get this data?”

“Well, the computer creates a hologram of a friend of the scientist so he tells the scientist information as it comes in. It doesn’t all come in at once.”

“Okay but wouldn’t people notice this guy suddenly appearing and hanging out with whoever the scientist is in the body of?”

“No, no. No one else can see the hologram. Just the scientist.”

Bigwig sits forward and puts elbows on his desk, runs his hand over his mouth and inhales.

Geeky, nervous guy tries to anticipate the words about to come out of the bigwig’s mouth. Would it be another “Are you crazy? Who would buy that story? A computer that can communicate and a hologram that only the scientist can see and a guy jumping around in to other people’s bodies. Quite the imagination.”

Instead, the bigwig leans back again and says, “I like it. One thing, though.”

Elated, geeky nervous guy says, “Yes, anything. What would you like?”

“The hologram guy needs to be a real card. Loves the women, loves the booze. Needs to balance out the scientist.”

“Deal!”