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(Episode 41, First Aired 12/21/1990)

Never before has the classic Christmas Carol story been retold so imaginatively, as this classic Quantum Leap episode. Sam (Scott Bacula) leaps into the life of the butler of a greedy rich tycoon named Michael Blake (guest star Charles Rocket) who, if he doesn't change his ways, will wind up desolate, bankrupt, alone, and for that matter...dead. The imagination of the story is simple: Sam is a time traveler. Who better to show this guy the "ghosts" of Christmases past, present, and future, than Sam? The result is the most sci-fi ridden "Scrooge" story ever.

Sam first approaches the matter in "Christmas present," which happens to be the same Christmas that Blake tore down a Salvation Army mission to make way for a shopping plaza. But the orphanage is run by a lovely lady named Laura (Melinda McGraw), who happens to have caught Blake's eye...and vice-versa. Sam enlists her help to give Blake the perfect Christmas, as based on "Christmas past"; the little parts of his childhood that were his favorite. A mishap alerts him to the ruse, however, and he's back to being as untrusting, closed off, and heartless as ever. So much for Dickens classics.

Or...not! Enter Al (Dean Stockwell). Al is a man from the future who alerts Sam to what he must do in each time period he "quantum leaps" into. He does this through holograms that are supposed to be only seen by Sam...but due to some similarities in brainwaves, Blake can see Al, too! Blake is quickly spooked by Al, who he perceives as a "Ghost" that cannot be touched or avoided. Al promptly hams it up as the "ghost of Christmas Future" who knows Blake's fate --literally-- and it isn't pretty. As time is currently perceived, Blake never marries, since he lost the best chance at happiness he had (Laura). His "victorious" mall is bought out by a Japanese conglomerate. He winds up with zip, zilch, nada, nil, zero. A light shines upon the orphanage and Blake sees it as a sign. He knocks and asks Laura if she has room for one more wayward soul. The path to Blake's better ways is all set.

Al later whispers to Sam that everything turned out great for both Blake and Laura. In an amusing twist, Blake does indeed break down the old building to make a brand new plaza...albeit with Laura's Salvation Army mission on the very first floor. But hey, says Sam; nice added touch from Al, with the ray of light shining on the orphanage. "Hmm...I didn't put that light there," says Al. They say Merry Christmas to one another as Sam leaps to his next episode...

On to Best Holiday Episode #4: A whole office of Peanuts Holiday Mugs.