A Conversation with Trey Callaway -- July 2004

by Sharon Major (Editor -- The Observer)

The first suggestion that a spin-off series for Quantum Leap was being considered was in July 2002 when Bonnie Hammer, president of Sci-Fi Channel, announced that her network (part of Universal Television Group) wanted to diversify its schedule by developing first-run programming based upon existing Universal titles.  Quantum Leap and Tremors  were specifically cited as possible new series.  Although the spin-off series for Tremors, with Michael Gross debuted March 27, 2003, there has yet to be an official announcement for a Quantum Leap  spin-off.

But late last year, a "Quantum Leap" search at imdb.com pulled up a new entry, namely Quantum Leap: A Bold Leap Forward, with the production date of 2004.  Trey Callaway was listed as the writer and a short synopsis was given.  Earlier this year, Don’s name was added as executive producer and this summer, Dean’s name appeared as the only cast member.  Unable as I am to ever reach Don or Dean directly, I contacted the ascribed writer -- Trey Callaway, who to my knowledge had not been involved on the original QL series.  I wanted to know, Who is this guy and what is he going to be doing to "our" Quantum Leap?

Trey seemed genuinely eager to respond to my request for a telephone interview and he was surprisingly forthcoming about the new incarnation and future of QL.  Below are a few excerpts from that interview; the complete interview will appear in the September 2004 issue of The Observer.

Sharon of PQL:  So are you a Leaper?

Trey Callaway:  Yes, I am.

Sharon: When did you "find" QL?

Trey:  Back during the original first season.  But if you had told me back then that I would one day wind up working on the next generation of Quantum Leap, I probably wouldn’t have believed you -- unless, you had somehow leaped me forward to prove it.  Yes, I was a big fan of the original series.

Sharon:  Were you among the fans that were involved and picketed NBC, or were you sort of on your own as a fan?

Trey:  I was on my own.  I was a big fan of Don’s work in general.  I would have kissed his ring over Magnum, P.I. alone.

Sharon:  How did you get attached to this project?

Trey:  In retrospect it seems as if it was a long process, if only because of all my years of working in television.  It’s funny, but whenever I’ve had the occasion to go to networks and pitch any kind of anthology series -- in any way, shape or form -- the networks always seemed to shy away from them because they were always looking for the next Quantum Leap.  I don’t know how many times I’ve heard, "What we want is Quantum Leap."

So it was rather refreshing when I got a call from Studios USA and the Sci-Fi Channel, where I had some fans and good relationships, and they asked, "How would you feel about doing Quantum Leap?"  I said, "My God, yes!" if only to work on it officially.

So that is how I was initially brought into the process.  I then sat down with Don, hit it off with him and got his blessing, and went from there.

Sharon: Dean’s name now appears to be linked to the project (at imdb.com).  Is this legitimate?

Trey:  (Although) Scott has a running gig now, the idea was always to bring Scott and Dean back together for at least a short part of our relaunch and then craft it dramatically so that Sam could go leaping back out into the ether, leaving Al behind to team up with a new partner, whom as I envisioned is directly related to Sam.

Sharon: Sammy Jo?

Trey:  Yeah.  Sam’s daughter would team up with Al for a new incarnation of the series, with the long-ranging arc being her character attempts to find her father and bring him home once and for all.

Sharon:  I’m glad you’re a Leaper.  I think most fans were afraid when they first heard that there was going to be another QL but without Scott.

Trey:  The mythology was so well drawn for the characters in the first run.  Even if I didn’t know anything about QL, I would have been doing it a gross disservice to not pick up that mantle in terms of character and mythology, and carefully carry it forward without ignoring or destroying what came before.  I don’t have to tell you that Don did an amazing job creating this universe.  My job was to breathe some new life into it with new characters and some new situations, but without throwing the precious baby out with the bathwater.

Sharon:  Wonderful.

I hope your subscription to The Observer  is up-to-date, so that you can read the complete interview, with details of Trey’s script and his previous and current projects.  The issue also features a special interview with Jean-Pierre Dorléac, Costume Designer extraordinaire, whose first novel, Abracadabra Alakazam, has just been published.  He talked with us about designing and writing, and has furnished our readers a rare look at some of his designs from Quantum Leap.   Continuing our series of "What the young guest stars of QL are doing now," we recently talked to Troian Bellisario, the youngest guest star on QL ("Another Mother"), who is now getting ready to leave for college.  Plus there is more in our series "Focus on Writing": Marla interviewed Kate Herbert, a veteran screenwriter and professor, who wrote a QL script that never made it to the screen.