104 "What Price Gloria?"

Leap Date:

October 16, 1961

Episode Adopted by: Missy <aka> mrsbeckett
Additional info provided by: Brian Greene

Synopsis:

Sam is a woman! And Al is in love. In this second season, we discover that Al sees Sam as the person he leaps into (which changes in later episodes) and Al has to see Dr. Beeks the project shrink to cope with seeing his best friend as a beautiful woman.

Sam and his best friend Gloria are secretaries. Sam is being stalked by every man in the office, especially his boss Buddy Wright, who is married but promising Gloria that he will divorce the wife and marry her. But it's not meant to be, and unless Sam can intervene, Gloria will commit suicide.

Audio from this episode

TV Guide Synopsis
Place
Leap Date
Name of the Person Leaped Into
Broadcast Date
Music
Project Trivia
Al's Women
Al's Outfits Worn in the Episode
Miscellaneous Trivia
Kiss With History
Guest Stars
Guest Cast Notes
Guests who appeared in other Quantum Leap episodes
Best Scenes
Say What?
Quotable Quotes
Synopsis & Review
Production Credits

Production # 65017

TV Guide Synopsis:
As a woman, Sam tries to convince a husband-hungry secretary that she's got more to live for than a married executive. Gloria: Jean Sagal. Buddy: John Calvin. Parker: Gregg Barber. Richard: Matt Landers. Sam: Scott Bakula. Al: Dean Stockwell.

Commercial:

Leap Date:
October 16, 1961

Leapee:
Samantha Stormer - "Youngest Executive Secretary" for Buddy Wright, at National Motors Corporation.

Broadcast Date:
October 25, 1989 - Wednesday

Promo from the Pat Sajak Show:

Music:
"Venus" by Frankie Avalon

Project Trivia:
Al turns to Verbeena Beeks, the project psychiatrist, to deal with his issues with Sam being a woman.

Ziggy is a male persona in this episode.

Al sees Sam as the Leapee. This would change in later seasons, perhaps due to a programming upgrade.

The Imaging Chanber door is first seen in its illuminated form, and would remain this way until the series conclusion.

Al’s outfits worn in the episode:
1. White shirt, black vest with white polka-dots, of course a cigar. Sungasses pin.

2. Orange long sleeved shirt, black buttons, and black suspenders. Dark gray pants,

3. Teal suit jacket with peach colored shirt and black and gray tie with criss-cross pattern. Black wristwatch. Gold pin. 

Al's Women:
Al says he used to think Dr. Verbeena Beeks, the project psychiatrist was cute.

Al is unable to perform with Tina because of his infatuation with Samantha/Sam.

Miscellaneous Trivia:
Filming on this episode began on May 2nd, 1989 and was part of the original block of episodes ordered during season one by NBC.

The 1926 silent film "What Price Glory" is the basis for this episode title.

When Gloria gets dressed alongside Sam in the mirror, Jean Sagal’s twin sister Liz Sagal is playing opposite Jean so that they can both be in the scene!

According to Sam in "Shock Theater", Samantha is 26 years old.

Kiss With History:
Buddy Wright mentions Christine Jorgensen (born George), the first person to become widely known in the United States for having a successful gender reassignment. Lili Elbe, from Denmark, a Danish painter who was assigned male at birth, experienced what is now called gender dysphoria, and underwent the world's first documented sex reassignment surgery.

Guest stars:
Jean Sagal as Gloria Collins
John Calvin as Buddy Wright
La Reine Chabut as Samantha Stormer (Mirror image)
Gregg Berger as Parker (the guy Gloria will marry in the future)
Matt Landers as Richard (Sam’s blind date)
Jack Armstrong as Johnny (mail room guy who hits on Sam)
Laurel Schaefer as Gail Wright
Ryan MacDonald as Ted Hartman
Liz Sagal as Gloria Collins (Mirror image)
Joy Stockwell as Disapproving Secretary

Guest Cast Notes:

Jean Sagal as Gloria Collins: Jean Sagal was born on October 9, 1961 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She is a director and assistant director, known for Last Man Standing (2011), Fuller House (2016) and Marlon (2017). Younger sister of Katey Sagal and Joey Sagal.Twin sister of Liz Sagal. Liz Sagel, her twin sister, starred with her in the TV show "Double Trouble" in the 1980’s.

John Calvin as Buddy Wright: John Calvin was born on November 29, 1947 in Staten Island, New York, USA. He is an actor, known for Tales of the Gold Monkey (1982), The Cheap Detective (1978) and Mike Hammer: Murder Takes All (1989).

La Reine Chabut as Samantha Stormer (Mirror image): LaReine Chabut was born in Kentucky but raised in the small town of Poland in Northeastern Ohio, in the Boardman/Youngstown area. She was discovered by famed director Ridley Scott in an open audition, winning the lead role over thousand of girls as the new face of "Pepsi", originally slated for Paulina Porizkova. Soon after, LaReine worked with Director David Fincher for a NIKE commercial landing her a contract with NIKE. She frequently appears on magazine covers including Shape Magazine, Glamour, Health Magazine and has been featured in nationally prominent magazines such as Vanity Fair, Allure, People, Newsweek, Self, Health, and Glamour. LaReine is a best-selling author of 6 titles, including "Lose That Baby Fat!", and "Golf-All in-One" with Gary McCord. She also was recently voted one of the "Most Beautiful Women Alive" and hosted MSNBC's "Focus on Feeling Better" for 6 million viewers. In addition, LaReine's popular video series for "The Firm" has sold over 3 million copies to date. La Reine Chabut guest starred in an episode of "Murder She Wrote" with Guy Stockwell, brother of Dean Stockwell.

Gregg Berger as Parker: Gregg Berger Voice / Actor Transformers, The Garfield Show, Spaced Invaders, More! Gregg Berger is an American Voice / Actor, who is Internationally known for his iconic roles as GRIMLOCK in G1Transformers and Transformers Fall of Cybertron, and the eagerly anticipated Power of the Primes, he is back as Ripto in Spyro Reignited Trilogy, he voices Odie, Squeak, Harry and others from the Garfield franchise, Spirit from G.I. Joe, Mysterio and Kraven the Hunter from Spider-Man:The Animated Series, Agent Kay from the Men in Black Series, Sir Jecht from Final Fantasy, Eeyore from Kingdom Hearts 2, The Pain from Metal Gear Solid 3, The Gromble from Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, and many more including, Star Wars: The Clone Wars as Droid General Kalani, Resident Evil: Raccoon City as Harley, Guild Wars 2 as Conrad and Duggadoo, Dishonored as Street Speaker and Halo Wars as Cutter. On camera, he had leading roles in the classic comedy Police Academy: Mission To Moscow and the Sci Fi Comedy cult classic Spaced Invaders as well as three pilots for CBS. As an animation voice-over talent, it's been a dog's life for Gregg Berger and that's just the way he likes it. He has been the voice of Odie the dog on Garfield since Odie has had an animated voice. He's also Squeak the Mouse, Harry the AlleyCat, Herman the Mailman and others on The Garfield Show on Cartoon Network. He also doesn't usually think of himself as a pig, but he sure enjoys playing one on TV. He is the voice of Orson Pig on U.S. Acres... as well as the voice of Cornfed Pig on Duckman. Gregg Berger is also the voice of Niles Crane's talking cockatiel 'Baby' on Frasier, and Barry The Parrot on Hot In Cleveland, The Gromble on Nickelodeon's Ahhh!!! Real Monsters! Eeyore in Kingdom Hearts2 and many of Disney Character Voices' Winnie The Pooh projects, Kraven the Hunter and Mysterio on Fox's Spiderman, Agent Kay in Men In Black, and Bill Licking on The Angry Beavers. He has careened through the galaxy as A.B. Sitter on Fantastic Max and has even had a blind date with Judy Jetson as Curly Quasar on The Jetsons, in addition to berating his favorite employee as Mr. Pinkley on Cathy. Of course, he also continues to guest star in various and sundry episodes of a great many other current animated series. Gregg Berger's Interactive Game credits include, Transformers: Fall of Cybertron and Rise of the Dark Spark as GRIMLOCK (and Lockdown in RotDS)), Resident Evil: Raccoon City as Harley, Guild Wars 2 as Conrad and Duggadoo, Final Fantasy X and X-2 as Sir Jecht, Metal Gear Solid 3 as ThePain, Dishonored as Street Speaker, Halo Wars as Cutter, Spiderman Web of Shadows as Kingpin, X Men Origins:Wolverine as Fred Dukes aka The Blob, Brutal Legend as Ratgut, Star Wars: Episode One Racer and Star Wars: Phantom Menace, as PloKoon, DarthMaul, Wan Sandage, CyYunga, Kingdom Hearts2 as Eeyore, Winnie the Pooh/Eeyore Interactives, Curse of Monkey Island as Cutthroat Bill, Small Soldiers as Archer, Spyro as Hunter, ViewtifulJoe as Capt.Blue, Call of Duty, Legend of Kain as Turel, Gabriel Knight as Abbe Arnaud, WackyRacers.and many more. Search Gregg Berger at www.imdb.com for his complete credits. On stage he has appeared in Repertory Theater, Stock and Touring Productions across the country and has been directed by John Cassavetes, Davey Marlin-Jones, William Woodman, Robert Woodruff, Martin Charnin and more. Gregg Berger is the author of Think Globally... Act VOCALLY! And Voice Virtue and is the reader of the Audiobook. It is available on iTunes and Audible. For many years he has been associated with Famous Fone Friends, making calls in requested animated character voices to children in Pediatric Hospitals.

Matt Landers as Richard: Matt Landers, a graduate of Notre Dame High School, worked his first professional season as an actor at the Surflight Summer Theater in Beach Haven, New Jersey, in 1969. He studied at the Boston Conservatory of Music and appeared as Jesus in "Godspell" in his first Equity performance at the Wilbur Theater in Boston. Matt made his Broadway debut as the first replacement in the role of Sonny in "Grease" at the Royale Theater and was nominated for a New York Drama Desk Award for his performance in Studs Terkel's Working (1982). In Hollywood Matt has starred in numerous television shows and, most notably, as Pinkerton in The George Carlin Show (1994). On the big screen he has featured roles in 48 Hrs. (1982), Die Hard (1988), Down Periscope (1996) and starred as Ray in the Academy Award-winning Best Live Action Short, Ray's Male Heterosexual Dance Hall (1987).The father of two daughters, Lily Kivlen and Fiona Kathleen. Died March 12, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.

Jack Armstrong as Johnny: Jack Armstrong made his professional acting debut as "Tom Sawyer" on the stage of Houston's famed Alley Theatre. Other stage credits include "Mrs. Warren's Profession", "I am a Camera", "The Fox" and, most recently, the original production of "Mountains" for which Jack won the Dramalogue Award for Best Actor. He is known for his work on Timeless, Versace: American Crime Story, 28 Days, The Guyver and Student Bodies.He has been married to Jule Rotenberg since 1998, and they have one son.

Laurel Schaefer as Gail Wright: Laurel Schaefer was born in 1950 in Bexley, Ohio, USA. She is an actress, known for Falcon Crest (1981), Quantum Leap (1989) and The Rockford Files (1974). She has been married to Michael Bozoukoff since May 2, 2015. She was previously married to John Miles Lurie.

Ryan MacDonald as Ted Hartman: Ryan MacDonald was born on September 4, 1930 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He was an actor and editor, known for JFK (1991), Newsies (1992) and Slaves of the Realm (2003). He died on February 13, 2020 in Hollywood, California.

Liz Sagal as Gloria Collins (Mirror image): Liz Sagal was born on October 9, 1961 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She is a producer and writer, known for Howard the Duck (1986), Flashdance (1983) and Grease 2 (1982). She is married to Bruce Grayson. Younger sister of Katey Sagal and Joey Sagal. Twin sister of Jean Sagal. Jean Sagel, her twin sister, starred with her in the TV show "Double Trouble" in the 1980’s.

Joy Stockwell as Disapproving Secretary: Now Joy Marchenko, she was Dean Stockwell's wife from December 15, 1981 until they divorced in 2004. She and Dean had two children, Austin Stockwell andSophia Stockwell.

Guests who appeared in other Quantum Leap episodes:
LaReine Chabut also appeared as Samantha Stormer's mirror image in "Shock Theater."

Best scene:
Sam telling Buddy that he is really a man and then punching him out.

Say What? 
A mistake in dates: Sam leaps in on October 16, but after a couple of days pass, Gloria tries to commit suicide. Al tells Sam that in the original history, Gloria died on October 16. If Sam leaped in on the 16^th, then Gloria actually tried to commit suicide on the 18^th.

If Samantha is a secretary, why doesn't she have a typewriter on her desk?

The vertical blinds in Buddy's office did not exist in 1961.

Scott Bakula's reflects in the glass table top in Buddy's office at the end of the episode.

Quotable Quotes:
I'm gonna call you 'dead' if you don't get out of my face!
-- Sam, "What Price Gloria?"

I'm a woman!
And I'm in love.
-- Sam and Al, "What Price Gloria?"

You have a wonderful sense of humor.
-- Sam (glancing heavenward), "What Price Gloria?"

Two hours as Samantha and I knew that the lyrics to "I Enjoy Being a Girl" were not written by a woman.
-- Sam, "What Price Gloria?"

Whatever I did, I'm sorry!
-- Sam (glancing heavenward), "What Price Gloria?"

How's the girl of my dreams?
-- Al to Sam, "What Price Gloria?"

It's like someone designed a modern day torture rack you can wear, from the bra, to the stockings, the tight skirts and the shoes from hell.
-- Sam, "What Price Gloria?"

Hi cutie, you look great in powder blue.
I'm gonna tie a bell around your neck.
-- Al and Sam, "What Price Gloria?"

Sam? At last I'm going to be called by my own name.
-- Sam, "What Price Gloria?"

I told you, you should have worn a girdle.
I'm not into bondage.
-- Gloria and Sam, "What Price Gloria?"

No stockings, you're such a bohemian.
-- Gloria, "What Price Gloria?"

Time has packaged my best friend into a goddess of love.
-- Al, "What Price Gloria?"

Don't start unless you want to eat your teeth for lunch.
-- Sam, "What Price Gloria?"

I hope when the right guy comes along he realizes what a good woman you are.
-- Gloria to Sam, "What Price Gloria?"

You shouldn't need a man to make you feel complete.
-- Sam, "What Price Gloria?"

Synopsis & Review:

Sam leaps in, enjoying a bubble bath. A woman named Gloria Collins, his host's flatmate and best friend, calls out "Sam" which pleases him, as he finally gets to be called by his own name. Gloria bursts into the bathroom and tells him to hurry up and get ready for his first day of work as "Miss youngest executive at the company". Sam is suddenly confused to be referred to as "Miss" and looks in the mirror, finding a young, beautiful blonde woman staring back at him. He is Samantha Stormer, a young single woman who has recently been hired to work as an executive secretary at the National Motor Company in Detroit, Michigan. Al arrives and is immediately infatuated with Sam. Sam now realizes that Al, like everybody else, sees him for the person he has leaped into, rather than himself. Al tells Sam he must act like a woman until they can figure out his mission.

Gloria and Sam walk to the bus station, with Sam dressed uncomfortably in women's clothing and high heels. The two catch the bus to work where Gloria is engaged to Sam's boss, Buddy Wright (played by John Calvin), but is upset that he didn't tell her about his promotion to Vice President of the company. Sam, meanwhile, gets to work as Buddy's secretary. Buddy invites him into his office where he removes his jacket and proceeds to make sexual advances. Sam rejects Buddy's advances and accuses him of sexual harassment. Unsure of the term "sexual harassment", Buddy remains undeterred, assuming that Sam is simply playing hard-to-get with him, and sends him back to work, telling him, condescendingly, to put on some make up.

While Sam is applying lipstick in the bathroom, Al arrives. Al is frustrated and ashamed of his strong attraction to Sam and admits that it is adversely affecting his relationship with girlfriend, Tina, and has forced him to seek help from the Project psychiatrist, Doctor Beeks. Gloria bursts into the room and excitedly proclaims that Buddy was keeping his promotion a secret to surprise her and that he is leaving his wife in the holidays to marry her. Al tells Sam that Buddy never leaves his wife and that, as a result, Gloria commits suicide.

Sam tries to convince Gloria that Buddy is the wrong man for her, but Gloria contests that Buddy is the only man who has ever made her feel special. Sam says she shouldn't need a man to make her feel special. Gloria tells him that Buddy is coming to the apartment to discuss their future. Sam tries to make her realize that Buddy has no long-term interest in Gloria but is just using her for sex. However, Gloria refuses to listen. When Buddy arrives at the apartment, he asks Sam to take his dog for a walk. Sam reluctantly does so and is joined by Al, who remains testy because of his infatuation for Sam. Sam is frustrated that he must wear uncomfortable women's clothing, put up with unwelcome advances from men, deal with his best friend's crush on him along with the fact that Gloria will not listen to his advice.

The next morning, Gloria is feeling happy after spending the night with Buddy. Sam tells her that Buddy will never leave his wife, no matter what he says. Gloria becomes angry and accuses Sam of being jealous because Samantha has never found a man who loved her for anything other than her body. Sam tries to explain to Gloria that he doesn't want to see her get hurt. Gloria asks Sam to try and accept her relationship with Buddy. Sam gives tacit approval, but only because he needs Gloria to accompany him on a prearranged double date the two have organized.

Gloria and Sam have their double date at a downtown restaurant. Gloria's date, Parker (played by Gregg Berger), is a straight laced, recently divorced man who says meeting Gloria has made him happy again, while Sam's date, Dick (played by Matt Landers), is a sleazy, lecherous-type who makes repeated unwanted advances on Sam, including grabbing his knee. Sam uses his umbrella to slug the man in the face and knock him to the ground. Sam leaves the table to talk to Al, who tells him that Gloria will commit suicide tonight.

Gloria notices Buddy and his wife Gail (played by Laurel Schaefer) enter the restaurant and be seated. While Buddy is away, Gloria approaches Mrs. Wright and offers sympathy for the divorce she is undergoing with her husband. Mrs Wright coldly informs Gloria that she and Buddy have an arranged marriage, and that Buddy will never leave her because of the social status he has acquired from marrying her. After receiving the news, and being dressed down by Mrs. Wright's cutting remarks, Gloria leaves the table in tears.

Parker approaches Sam, telling him that he witnessed Gloria become upset and leave the restaurant. Realizing that Gloria had interacted with Buddy's wife, Sam rushes off to find Gloria. Gloria is standing on the ledge of their apartment, about to jump to her death. Sam convinces Gloria that, by committing suicide, she will make Buddy think she is killing herself over him. Unwilling to give him such satisfaction, Gloria comes to her senses and decides against suicide. She makes her way back to the apartment window, but part of the ledge begins to crumble and she finds herself trapped. Sam climbs out the window and, clinging to a drain pipe, helps Gloria to safety.

Later, as Gloria is recuperating, Sam makes her some warm milk. Gloria says despondently that, at 27, she's afraid she's left it too late to get married. Sam tells her to stop worrying about finding a husband and worry about making herself feel good. He persuades her to pursue her interests and enter the design program of the company. Gloria seems heartened by Sam's advice and seemingly emancipated.

Sam goes to meet Al in the kitchen. Al has resolved his issues with being attracted to Sam, and accepted that love is simply part of their friendship. He also tells Sam that Gloria ends up getting married to Parker, the guy she went on a date with earlier, and the two have several kids together. However, it is Samantha who enters the design program and becomes head of the division, though she never marries. Sam asks why, if his mission has been accomplished, has he not leaped. Al tells him that he must first enact revenge on Buddy.

Sam arrives at the office the next day, and begins flirting with Buddy. Buddy, thinking he has finally succeeded at seducing Samantha, proceeds to reciprocate. However, Sam quickly informs him that he is a man. Horrified by the revelation, Buddy begins to back away and, taking advantage of his confusion, Sam throws a punch and knocks Buddy in the jaw, sending him to the ground. Satisfied with his vengeance, Sam is then able to leap. Source

Personal Review by Missy <aka> mrsbeckett:

Sam leaps into Samantha Stormer, an executive secretary at a car manufacturer in Detroit, MI in 1961. He has to deal with the male chauvinism of the time and a boss - Buddy Wright, who wants to have his way with every woman he meets.

Sam’s roommate, Gloria is involved with Buddy and he has her convinced that he is going to leave his wife and marry her. Ziggy has let Al know that Buddy is not going to leave his wife and that when she finds out, Gloria commits suicide. Of course it is Sam’s job to make sure that Gloria lives. 

Gloria and Sam go on a double blind date and, after Sam hits his date with his purse, and goes to talk to Al, Gloria sees Buddy’s wife (Gail) and confronts her. Once Gloria has talked to Gail, she knows that he isn’t going to marry her, so she leaves the restaurant and proceeds to climb out on the ledge of their apartment to jump. 

Sam has had to battle his sleazy boss, high heels and tights skirts, but of course he is up to the challenge of talking Gloria off the ledge. It’s raining and they both almost fall, but when all is said and done, Gloria realizes that she is better off without Buddy. Sam convinces her to join the design department at the car manufacturer, and as always, everything turns out great.

In this episode Sam seems to be in some control of his leap, he stays around until the next day. He pretends to want to fool around with Buddy, and then, once he is on his lap, Sam tells him that he is really a man. This is one of the best things about the episode. After explaining to him things that only a man would know, he punches him and then says "I’m ready to leap, now" and, naturally, he does.

This is one of my favorite episodes, mostly due to the humor. Any time an episode shows Sam’s bare chest, it makes it a favorite for me. Al’s "crush" on Sam and his inability to perform with Tina add to the fun. I love the ending scene where Sam sits on Buddy’s lap and tells him that he is really a man.

Production Credits:

Music by: Mike Post
Supervising Producer: Scott Shepherd
Co-producer: Deborah Pratt
Produced by: Harker Wade
Created by: Donald P. Bellisario
Written by: Deborah Pratt
Directed by: Alan J. Levi

Executive Producer: Donald P. Bellisario
Associate Producers: David Bellisario, Jeff Gourson
Executive Story Editor: Paul Brown
Director of Photography: Henry Lebo
Art Director: Cameron Birnie
Edited by: N. Mario Di Gregorio
Unit Production Manager: Paul Cajero
First Assistant Director: Tom Connors
Second Assistant Director: James Dillon
Casting by: Ken Carlson
Set Director: Robert L. Zilliox
Costume Designer: Jean-Pierre Dorleac
Costume Supervisors: David Rawley & Donna Roberts-Orme
Sound Mixer: Mark Hopkins McNabb
Stunt Coordinator: Diamond Farnsworth
Sound Editor: Paul Clay
Music Editor: Tom Gleason

Panaflex ®  Camera and Lenses by: Panavision ®

This motion picture is protected under laws of the United States and other countries. Unauthorized duplication, distribution or exhibition may result in civil liability and criminal prosecution.

Copyright © 1989 by Universal City Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The characters and events depicted in this photoplay are fictitious. Any similarity to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

Bellisarius Productions and Universal, an MCA Company

Quantum Leap Podcast

In the twelfth installment of The Quantum Leap Podcast, Albie and Heather discuss Season two episode four “What Price Gloria?”. There’s first impressions, an episode recap, thoughts and opinions, listener feedback, a segment by our new contributor Hayden McQueenie, and an amazing interview with the co-creator, co-producer, head writer of Quantum Leap and the voice of Ziggy Deborah M. Pratt.

Let us know what you think… Leave us a voicemail by calling (707)847-6682 and Send in your thoughts, theories and feedback, Send MP3s & Email to quantumleappodcast@gmail.com. Also join us on Facebook.com/QuantumLeapPodcast and Twitter.com/QuantumLeapPod

Quantum Leap Podcast: Revisiting What Price Gloria?