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"Private
Dancer"
Leap Date: October 6, 1979 Episode
Adopted by: gelfling1220 Synopsis: As a Chippendale dancer named Rod "The Bod", Sam must suffer though the women throwing themselves at him while making sure a hearing-impaired woman realizes her dream of becoming a dancer instead of becoming a prostitute and dying of AIDS.
Audio from this
episode
TV Guide Synopsis
TV Guide Synopsis (TVGuide.com) TV Guide Synopsis (Original): Place:
Leap Date: Leapee:
Broadcast
Date:
Music: Second scene where
Sam is Chippendale: Scene where Sam
dances with the chreographer in the nightclub: Scene where Sam sees
Diana dance by herself in the nightclub: Scene at the end where Diana dances for
Joanne:
Al took fencing classes. Al's Women: Al's Outfits Worn in the Episode: 2. Silver jacket, white shirt with floral pattern, blue tie with the sunglasses pin and blue pants. 3.Shiny gray suit coat and matching pants, orange dress shirt, bolo tie. 4. Multi-pattern brown and teal shirt, skinny silver tie, black shimmery vest, and white pants with black speckles throughout. Miscellaneous
Trivia: The episode title refers to the Tina Turner song "Private Dancer." When Dianna starts signing to Sam (to prove to him how it feels not to understand), she is saying “you’re bothering me, leave me alone. Ever since Iwas seven years old, I can do it myself”.
Co-Executive Producer: Supervising Producer: Co-Producers: Executive Producer: Writer: Director: Music Artists:
Guest Cast Notes: Debbie Allen is a famous choreographer known especially for the movie "Fame." She also directed "Revenge of the Evil Leaper." Marguerite Pomerhn-Derricks is an accomplished ballerina and multiple award-winning choreographer.
Personal Review and Synopsis: This episode is also notable for showcasing the dancing talents of Scott Bakula, in two of the episode’s major scenes. They must have been quite interesting to film, since it is rumored that Bakula was on massive painkillers for the episode, having injured his foot in filming "Runaway". Like the episode itself, the dances vary, being both fun and dramatic, such as Sam and Joanne’s lively boogie in the middle of the club, to Diana’s beautiful final dance. In the end, this is a great episode, ideal for anyone who wants to see strong human drama, great choreography, or just happens to like the idea of Sam being a Chippendale.
Reviewer Synopsis: At the club is Joanna Chapman, choreographer of a major jazz dance company. Having wowed her with his own dance moves, Joanna informs him of an open audition she is holding. After hours, Sam finds Diana practicing a dance routine and offers to walk her home. Despite her protests that she does not want him around, Sam persists and on the walk home the two grow very close. Sam works out a deal with Mario, offering to do another performance for the club if Mario keeps Diana from dancing at bachelor parties. Mario agrees but Diana is not happy – she has no money and she thinks that Sam is being patronizing. Sam confronts her and convinces her to give Joanna’s audition a try. Diana does well at the audition – until instructions are given that she can’t see. Upon learning that Diana is deaf, Joanne turns her down. Diana is shattered and things are made worse by the fact that her home has been towed away. With no one else to turn to, Diana returns to the club and talks to Valerie, Mario’s assistant. Valerie sets Diana up as an escort. Sam learns of this and seeks her out at the hotel that the "date" has taken her. Risking being dragged away by security, Sam bursts into the room demanding to talk to Diana and asks her not to sell herself. Diana makes the right choice and Sam talks Joanne into giving Diana a second chance. This time, Diana makes the cut and Sam leaps out as she thanks him. Best Scenes: Sam and Joanne dancing at the club Diana explaining to Sam what she can hear Sam and Diana’s dance Sam and Al showing how to sign "Quantum Leap" Say What? Sam's sign language guide, a very thin manual, has the word "Quantum" in it. When Sam knock on the door, Dianna somehow knows to open it. Vehicles from the 1980's can be seen on the street, such as the police car and the tow truck. Although this being 1979, it's not as noticable as it would be if the year was supposed to be pre-70's. Quotable
Quotes: Al: I thought you ran out of Kleenex or something… Sam: I sell an illusion… It isn’t me! Diana to Sam (translated from ASL): Stop bothering me! For seven years I’ve been able to manage by myself. I want to do it by myself! Al: Why does your Swiss Cheese memory remember things I wanna forget? Sam: Twenty-four
hours? What am I supposed to do in the meantime? I'd
give anything to be degraded like that! |