When Ben leaps
into an Indian family to try to prevent their beloved family restaurant
from burning down, he finds an emotional connection with their
matriarch through memories of his own. Magic and Jenn share a
surprising revelation with Ian.
TV
Guide Synopsis: When
Ben leaps into an Indian family to try to prevent their beloved family
restaurant from burning down, he finds an emotional connection with
their matriarch through memories of his own. Magic and Jenn share a
surprising revelation with Ian.
Broadcast
Date: Monday, February 27, 2023 @ 10pm on NBC
Leap
Date:
September 26, 2009
Leap Location:
Portland, Oregon
Name of Leapee: Kamini Prasad
Detailed Synopsis:
Ben
leaps into the body of a young cook
named Kimini, sister to Manisha and daughter to Sonali. Together, they
run their family Indian restaurant in Oregon, 2009. Sonali's husband
had passed away, and she wants to keep the menu as it always has been.
Manisha disagrees, thinking the restaurant can be more creative and
profitable with a new menu of traditional Indian cuisine.
At
PQL, Magic and Jenn confront Ian after the revelation that the barrista
from the previous episode had been Leapt into by Ian. Ian hypothesizes
that an older version of themself must have done the Leaping.
Addison
arrives and informs Ben that the restaurant will burn down and Sonali
will die. Manisha will leave the family business. Kathy, the
restaurant's landlord shows up with muscle in tow and threatens Kamini
(Ben's Leap Host), telling her/him the family owes $30,000 in back rent
and even choking him. This is the main reason Sonali doesn't want to
change the menu - she is afraid to lose money taking the chance on
something new. Ben, comparing his own family's struggles to his current
situation, vows to not let this family fall apart.
At
PQL, Ian frantically searches for a reason for their future self to
initiate Ben's first Leap. Magic convinces Ian to take the day to find
their footing.
Ben,
using his knowledge
of the future, sets the restaurant up on Groupon, a "new" internet
program offering discounts. They begin to see reservations immediately!
At the same time, the staff at the restaurant dwindles due to
everything from a new baby to a pair of shoes going on sale. To add insult to injury
(literally), Sonali has a wrist injury from doing repetitive kitchen
work
for so many years, which makes it difficult to work. Meanwhile, family cousins
stop by to offer help, but out of pride, Sonali refuses this as well. To add insult to injury
(literally), Sonali has a wrist injury from doing repetitive kitchen
work
for so many years, which makes it difficult to work. Sonali and Manisha argue about the menu
change and Manisha quits, leaving Ben and Sonali to prepare to serve
over 200 guests.
Ian
ventures outside of PQL for a change, and goes to visit their former
partner, Rachel. She agrees to speak with Ian before going to a meeting
that morning.
Ben
tries to get Sonali to talk to Manisha but Sonali refuses saying she
made her choice. Addison informs been that they are now up to 300
reservations through the Groupon ad, and he and Sonali frantically
prepare food for the upcoming dinner. Addison and Ben work together to
get a restaurant investor to come by and try their food in hopes this
will bail out their business to pay off the debt to Kathy. The investor
agrees after Ben quotes him from a magazine article the investor will
write in the future. Sonali cuts her hand in the kitchen and passes out.
Ian
and Rachel talk over coffee. Rachel tried to get Ian to open up about
their feelings, but Ian doesn't budge, hiding behind PQL's classified
status. Rachel leaves for her meeting.
Ben wraps Sonali's cut and
talks to her about Manisha and to not let pride get in the way of
family.
They then goes to find Manisha, to convince her to come back to work.
Serving 300 guests will require her help. They share pizza, reminisce
fondly about their father who had passed away, and Sonali offers to
serve one of Manisha's traditional dishes, and they agree to all go
back to work together. When they arrive at the restaurant, it is on
fire! It becomes apparent that Kathy, the landlord, has started the
fire in order to get the insurance money and the $30,000 from the
Prasad family.Ben comes up with a plan to save this horrible situation.
He enlists Addison to use their team of geniuses back at PQL to locate
something they can use as a pop-up restaurant.
Ian
has waited for Rachel to come back from her meeting. Ian wants to try
to tell Rachel all about their problems, from choosing to leave Rachel
for PQL to possibly hurting the people they love through the project.
Rachel says Ian has always had one goal: helping people. She says Ian
will make the right choice.
There
happens to be a wedding reception tent happening nearby, and Ben has
offered that family the meal of their lifetime if they can use the tent
as the restaurant for the night. Friends and family have been invited
by Sonali to help, and Ben informs the guests that they will be serving
"Family Style."
At
PQL, Ian returns and offers to help Addison and Magic find out why the
restaurant investor hasn't shown up. Ian also states that if they
Leaped to start this entire story in motion, they must have had a good
reason, and vows to find what that reason is.
The
evening is a big success. The investor doesn't show up due to food
poisoning, but family members offer to invest in the restaurant, build
new, and help run it. One of the family members is a cop, and Addison
informs Ben that he will arrest Kathy for fraud in the near future.
Before
he Leaps, Ben speaks with Sonali. He speaks with her as a surrogate
mother and releases some tension and anger over the death of his own
mother through Sonali. Kimini's mother feels like she isn't useful
anymore now that her daughters are running the business so well, but
Ben convinces her otherwise. Sonali thinks it's time to take care of
herself for a change and see more of the world, particularly Egypt.
Ben
Leaps, and the family is saved.
Personal
Review & Detailed Synopsis by Brian Greene:
This episode has plenty of heart. It's
always great to see new characters like Ben get fleshed out over the
series, and this one allows him to deal with the death of his own
mother and get some closure. Ian also shines as they face their own
demons and find themself in the end. It was nice to see Ian outside of
his usual PQL setting and see more of the real person.
Directed
by original series co-creator Deborah Pratt, the episode brings the
Indian culture to the forefront. Even the music choices used throughout
are authentic. It's a simple story, and these are usually the best
Quantum Leap tales, dealing with individual lives. I enjoyed it,
although I found the arc concerning the landlord to be a bit
melodramatic. All in all, a worthwhile episode to watch!
Project
Trivia: The
hologram effect as Addison fades out is very quick with a couple of
firey streams this time compared to a full fade in previoyus episodes.
This was the only hologram effect used in the episode.
Ian and Rachel used to date before Ian left her to join Project Quantum
Leap.
Ben Trivia: It
was his Mom's dream to run her own restaurant. She put that off to pay
for Ben's schooling.
Eating is Ben's favorite sport.
Addison Trivia: Ben and
Addison went on a date at a pop-up restaurant outside a 99-cent store.
Addison says she's mad that she can't try the food as a hologram. Al
Calavicci also felt this way during the original series.
Ian's
Outfits Worn in
the Episode: Ash gray split-style suit tunic over a
white turtleneck. Heart ring and black beaded bracelet.
Black deep-cut dressy jumper with black and white-striped tunic over
top. Dress is split down the back.
Kiss With History: Ben suggests
using a new company called Groupon to advertise their restaurant.
Miscellaneous
Trivia: Deborah Pratt,
Co-Creator of the original Quantum Leap series, directed this episode!
This is the first episode where Ben leaps out and directly into the
next episode without a break in between for the present storyline.
However, a missed opportunity, as they still used the eye roll as the
leap-in instead of the leap effect.
Ian was upset when the show "Pretty Little Liars" was cancelled. This
show featured Troian Bellisario, daughter of original series creators
Deborah Pratt and Don Bellisario. Troian also appeared in the original
series episode "Another
Mother" as Teresa.
The "Pretty Little Lattes" coffee shop that Rachel works near also had
a coffee truck shown in the episode "A
Decent Proposal."
The last name Prasad was originally the last name of Ben in the pilot
script before casting was complete, then spelled Prassad.
From an interview with the Quantum Leap Podcast, Deborah Pratt said she
went to adjust the scarf of character Gauri, but was told by the
actress that every fold in it had meaning!
Alice Kremelberg, who plays
Rachel, is Mason Alexander
Parks real-life partner!
From the Quantum Leap Writers Room: Did you
know our
episode writer (Aadrita Mukerji) and the actresses who play Sonali,
Manisha, and Kamini are all exactly 5 feet tall?
QUANTUM
LEAP – SERIES REGULARS
Dr.
Ben Song (Portrayed
by Raymond Lee)
–
Ben is a first-generation American, a world-renowned physicist, and a
man of faith. He’s also working on Quantum Leap, a time travel project.
But when he uses the project on himself, he’s transported back in time
with a bout of amnesia – forgetting what made him
time travel in the first place.
Addison Augustine(Portrayed
by
Caitlin Bassett) –
Addison is a smart, witty, fearless ex-military operative who now
serves as Project Observer at Quantum Leap HQ. She’s in charge of the
technology they use to communicate with the past, and tries to rescue
her fiancee, Ben, from his time-flung existence.
Ian Wright(Portrayed
by Mason Alexander
Park) –
Quantum Leap’s nonbinary chief architect of the AI program.
Herbert
“Magic”
Williams (Portrayed by Ernie Hudson) – A
Vietnam vet and current head of the time
travel project at Quantum Leap. Herbert “Magic” Williams tries to keep
the Pentagon at bay
while the team tries to rescue Ben. Doctor Sam Beckett leaped into
Magic during his Vietnam tour.
Jenn Chu
(Portrayed by Nanrisa Lee) –
Head of security at Quantum Leap HQ. Quirky but
formidable, she makes it her mission to figure out why
Ben erased all evidence of why he Leaped.
Guest
Cast: Laura
Niemi as Kathy Tanner
Anisha Jagannathan as Manisha
Nandini Minocha as Sonali Prasad
Meera Simhan as Padmini Kumar
K.T. Thangavelu as Gauri
Alice Kremelberg as Rachel
Kevin Logie as Kevin
Roman Arabia as Diego
Ruben Vernier as Kris
Lara Shah as Kamini Prasad (Mirror Image)
Ken Patterson as Fireman
Leena Kurishingal as Cousin #1
Shurud Shanto as Cousin #2
Yuvi Grewal as Cousin #3
Mihye Jung as Nisha Song
Guest
Cast Notes:
Laura
Niemi (Kathy) is currently best
known for her performance as "Marilyn Pearson" on the NBC series "This
Is Us (2016)." As the mother in Jack's (Milo Ventimiglia)
struggling and dysfunctional working class family, her character has
gained critical recognition which has landed Niemi an FYC Outstanding
Guest Actress in a Drama Series in both 2019 and 2022. A native
Angelino, she started studying at The Academy of Performing Arts in Los
Angeles at a young age. The daughter of a movie producer and an
insurance salesman, the family then moved to the east coast where she
studied piano at the prestigious Eastman School of Music in Rochester,
NY. She spent her teens and early 20s back in California, where she
swapped her piano for a bass guitar playing in many L.A. based bands.
As a trained theater actress she has performed at The Geffen Playhouse,
South Coast Rep and The Taper and is the Artistic Director and founder
of the multi-award winning Lost Angels Theatre Company (which landed
her awards both as a producer and an actor). She landed her first TV
credit in Joss Whedon's "Firefly (2002)" and has been
continuously working in television and film ever since.
Anisha
Jagannathan (Manisha) is known for Girls Gone
Mild (2017), and Admit It (2021).
Nandini
Minocha (Sonali) is known for Ms.
Marvel (2022) and Chicago Med (2015).
Meera
Simhan (Paddy) was
born in London, England and raised in India and Southern California.
Her family immigrated to the United States in the early 1970's and
settled in San Diego, California where her parents ran a business
importing jewelry and handicrafts from India. Growing up she studied
Indian Classical Dancing with the Shakti School of Bharatanatyam and at
age eight Meera went to Kodai Kanal International Boarding School in
India. She returned to California to attend High School and College in
Orange County. She
then moved to London where she attended the London Academy of Music and
Dramatic Art (LAMDA). After graduating from LAMDA Meera began her
professional career in England playing Juliet in Romeo and Juliet and
she then went on to play numerous roles in British theater and
television. After
moving back to Los Angeles, Meera continued her work as an actress
playing various roles guest starring and recurring roles in television
and film. As a writer she wrote and performed her solo theater piece
Miss India America in various theaters across the United States. Along
with her actor/writer/director husband Ravi Kapoor, she co-wrote
the feature film, Miss India America (2015). Meera lives in Los Angeles
with husband, two children and her dog, Elvis. Meera also has a Masters
degree in Psychology.
K.T.
Thangavelu (Gauri) is known
for Otis (2008), ER (1994) and The Young and
the Restless (1973).
Alice Kremelberg (Rachel) is
a film, television and theater actor born and raised in New York. Alice
has most recently starred in the final season of The Sinner as Percy
Muldoon, and played Bernadine in Aaron Sorkin's Oscar nominated The
Trial of the Chicago 7 for Netflix/Dreamworks. She recurred as Nicole
Eckelcamp on the last two seasons of Jenji Kohan's Orange is the New
Black for Netflix. Alice was nominated for an Emmy for their
performance as Kat in The Feels, which they both co-wrote and acted in.
Upcoming, Alice will be playing Abby in Monsterland for Hulu/Annapurna,
and Duff in the independent film Bleecker. They can also be seen as
Sorrell in Doomsday (ITV Fest, Brooklyn Web Fest + HollyWeb Fest
winner). Her other film and television credits include New Amsterdam,
The Taking of Pelham 123, NCIS, Nurse Jackie, Blue Bloods, The Big C,
Smash, Law and Order: SVU, and 30 Rock. On stage she originated the
role of Reba in Ruby Rae Spiegel's breakout play Dry Land (NYSAF+HERE,
Adrienne Campbell-Holt of Colt Coeur). Alice had the pleasure of
playing 'Cassandra' opposite Austin Pendleton in Dress of Fire (The
Abingdon). Other theater credits include 'Catherine' in Suddenly Last
Summer (ATNYC), 'Missy' in Road Veins, 'Maggie' in Lend Me a Tenor and
'Beth' in A Lie of the Mind. Alice has trained at The Atlantic Acting
Conservatory, Fordham University, UCB, The Professional Performing Arts
School and studied with Tanya Berezin, Ted Sluberski, Larry Moss and
Bob Krakower among others.
Kevin Logie (Kevin) is known
for The Dissection of
Thanksgiving (2008), Prism and Eleven Hundred to
Lubbock (2018).
Roman Arabia (Diego) was
born on December 3, 1980 in Torrance, California, USA. He is an actor
and producer, known for The Shrink Next
Door (2021), Lady Bird (2017) and Narcos:
Mexico (2018).
Ruben Vernier (Kris) is
an Italian American Actor born and raised in San Francisco, California.
He comes from generations of performers and started acting and playing
music at a young age. He first appeared in Disney's Alexander and the
Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, recurred on This Is Us, and
most recently appeared on CSI: Vegas. He currently lives and works in
Los Angeles and is represented by Entertainment Lab and The Master
Talent Agency.
Lara Shah (Kamini) is
an actor and producer in Los Angeles. She started her acting career in
Austin, TX and has since been in over 100 films, television shows,
music videos, and commercials since her venture into the creative side
of the entertainment industry. Lara has won Best Actress awards for her
lead roles in "Trippin' to the Altar" and "Kendall County Hunters."
Lara has a passion for storytelling and entertainment: she was a
television anchor in high school, a radio host at Boston University,
and an intern at MTV Networks in NYC. She also worked for five years in
Domestic TV Distribution Sales at Warner Bros. in NYC. In 2011, she
traveled to Wilmington, NC to play a Detective on "One Tree Hill." The
experience convinced her to finally pursue her passion. Lara studies
with Lesly Kahn & Company in Los Angeles.
Leena Kurishingal (Cousin #1) holds
a B.A. in Film/Video Production from Columbia College and studied
acting technique in the vibrant Chicago theater scene. Her comedy
training includes Second City Chicago and the Upright Citizens Brigade
in Los Angeles, where she wrote and performed with the character-sketch
group Soul Sista Comedy, both on their mainstage, as well as The Pack
Theater, Comedy Central Stage, and more. Currently she creates online
sketch comedy with Deadline Junkies' SkeDJes, writes half hour comedy
pilots, and really tries to get her succulents to propagate.
Shurud Shanto (Cousin #2) is known
for Grace and Frankie (2015), Baskets (2016)
and The Brink (2015).
Yuvi Grewal (Cousin #3) is known
for Call of Duty: Vanguard (2021), Fishbowl
California (2018) and The New 30 (2017).
Guests Who Appeared in Other Quantum
Leap Episodes: None.
Characters
who appeared in Classic Series episodes: None.
Songs
& Music: "Dil
To Pagal Hai" by Lata Mangeshkar and
Udit Narayan plays as Ben leaps in.
"Spicy Dhal" by Florian Seraul plays as the family rushes in the
kitchen to prepare for over 300 reservations.
"Shiva" by Karishma Mc plays after Ben talks with the restaurant
investor.
"It's Too Late" by Andrea and Ervin Litkei plays during the pizza scene.
"Bholi Si Surat" by Lata Mangeshkar and Udit Narayan plays as the
family comes together and prepares the food at the wedding venue.
"Loot Liya" by D. Sruthilaya Subiksha and Haroon Hanif plays after Ian
locates the restaurant investor.
Say
What? A trash bill seen in the
episode is from Philadelphia.
Addison
doesn't seem to know why the restaurant burns down in the original
history, but a few seconds later she suddenly knows after Tanner shows
up to evict Ben's family.
Ben and his sister and mother make up and have a leisurely snack
outside. Meanwhile they are supposed to be getting ready to serve 300
people. This makes no sense at all.
The restaurant seems very small. How would they possibly manage to
serve 300 guests, even if spread over a few hours?
Why would any wedding couple change their entire evening for a
stranger? And where are the wedding guests and other people from the
event?
Where is Janis? We haven't seen her since "Leap.
Die. Repeat." which was two episodes ago.
Quotable Quotes: "Do
you really think people are ready for that kind of food? I mean... it's
so unusual for them. Americans don't like things they can't pronounce." -Sonali "It was me the whole time."
-Ian
"I find when I need centering, the
answer isn't usually a place... it's a person."
-Magic
Sonali: "You and I have it covered."
Ben: "Didn't you just call me useless?"
Sonali: "Don't focus on the past."
"Food is the only art form that uses all five senses." -Ben
"Do you really want pride to get in
the way of family?"
-Ben
"We're family. We're always enough."
-Ben
"Holy ship!"
-Ben, after he leaps into the next episode
Production
Photos:
Production Videos: Coming Soon
Production
Credits:
Consulting Producer: Moira Kirland
Producer: Tim
Scanlan
Producer:
Meg Fister Co-Executive Producers: Benjamin Raab & Deric A. Hughes Co-Executive Producer: Drew Lindo Co-Executive Producer: Aadrita Mukerji
Produced by: Marc
Bienstock Executive Producers: Steven Lilien &Bryan Wyndrandt Executive Producer: Alex Berger Executive Producer: Chris Grismer Executive Producer: Deborah Pratt Executive Producer: Donald P. Bellisario Executive Producer: Dean Georgaris
Executive Producer: Martin
Gero
Developed by: Steven Lilien &Bryan Wyndrandt Created by: Donald
P. Bellisario Written by: Aadrita Mukerji Directed by: Deborah M. Pratt
Associate Producer:
Ethan Henderson
Story Editor: Margarita
Matthews
Casting by: Jennifer
Cooper, CSA Casting
Director:Kamala
A. Thomas Director of Photography: Tim Bellen Edited by: Benjamin
Bumgarner Music by:
Daniel James Chan
Unit Production Manager: Melanie J. Elin Unit Production
Manager: Marc Bienstock First Assistant Director: M. Ryan
Traylor Second Assistant
Director: Athena Alexander
Costume
Designer:Genevieve
Tyrrell A Camera Operator: Dave Hirschman B Camera/Steadycam
Operator: Josh Harrison Production
Sound Mixer: Beau Hodges Chief Lighting
Technician: Donna Vega Key Grip:
Peter Chrimes Art Directors: Raf Lydon
& Adam Rowe Set Director: Tim
Stepeck Costume Supervisor: Mark A. Summer Property Master: Erik
Grasteit Construction
Coordinator: Matt Sazzman Department Head
Hair: Amy Marie Wilson Department Head
Makeup: Julia Lallas Leadman:
David Napoli Stunt Coordinator:
Jeff Barnett Location Manager: Kevin
Funston Transportation
Coordinator: Sandra Ninham-Gallardo Production Office
Coordinator: Sofie Johanna "Bubbles" Dejus Assistant
Production Office Coordinator: Brenden Hickey Production
Accountant: Natalie Chiengkul Script Supervisor: Heather
Pollock Script Coordinator: Sue
Palmer Casting Accociates:
Lindsay Jameyson & Mia Cascio Post Production
Coordinator: Gabriella Scudieri Music Supervisor: Season
Kent Music
Co-Supervisor: Leah Harrison Music Editor: Zed
Starkovich Assistant Editor:
Jaclyn Rogers Online Editor: Richard
Wells Colorist: Chris Boyer Visual Effects
Supervisor: Trent Smith Visual Effects
Editor: Aaron Merrill Supervising Sound
Editor: Kelly Cabral Co-Supervising
Sound
Editor: Kevin Zimmerman Re-Recording
Mixer:
Yuri Reese & Sean
Madsen Assistant Property Masters: Mike
Luce, Jose Chendo Jiminez, & Chris Prange Property Buyer: Mike
Worister Food Stylist: Joanne
Takahashi
The State of California and the California Film Commision, California
Soundstage Filming Tax Credit Program
Copyright 2023 Universal Television LLC All Right Reserved
Dean Georgaris Entertainment
Quinn's House
Universal Content Productions
Universal Television