Quantum Leap: How the Tess Was Won

Air Date

Friday April 14, 1989

Production Code

65004

Top Episodes

• The Leap Home Part II - Vietnam
• The Leap Home
• M.I.A.
• A Leap for Lisa
• The Leap Back
• Shock Theater
• The Leap Between The States
• Mirror Image
• Jimmy
• For Your Love; Trilogy, Part 2

• Guest Cast

  • Scott Fults Buddy Holly
  • Marshall Teague Wayne
  • Kari Lizer Tess McGill
  • Lance LeGault Chance McGill / Werewolf
  • Tommy Bush Orly
  • Sloan Fischer Doc Young / Mirror

• Stars

  • Dean Stockwell Rear Admiral Albert "Al" Calavicci
  • Scott Bakula Dr. Samuel "Sam" Beckett

• Editors

  • Alan Shefland Editor

• Sound Editors

  • Sam Gemette Sound Editor

• Art Directors

  • Cameron Birnie Art Director

• Director Of Photographys

  • Roy H. Wagner Director of Photography

• Writers

  • Deborah Arakelian Writer

• Directors

  • Ivan Dixon Director

• Castings

  • Ellen Lubin Sanitsky Casting
Episode Cast and Crew Details »

• According to this episode, Sam influences Buddy Holly to change the lyrics from "piggy, suey" to "Peggy Sue," thus setting up Buddy's future hit song. However, this is not the origin of the song's name.
  
  The song's name was originally Cindy Lou, named after Holly's niece, and was later changed to Peggy Sue upon request of Crickets drummer Jerry Allison. Jerry wanted the song to be named after his girlfriend Peggy Sue Gerron to make up for a recent fight. The two later married. [edit]
• Although Sam is not wearing glasses when he looks the mirror, Doc Daniel Young's reflection is. [edit]

• This is the first time that we see Al using Ziggy to determine Sam's mission. [edit]
• This episode's "kiss with history": Buddy Holly. Not knowing his name, Sam uses nicknames for the guitar-playing youth, such as 'Pal', until he hears him strumming a song suspiciously similar to Peggy Sue, and settles on 'Buddy'. [edit]

• Sam: (Looking up at the sky) Couldn't you give them name tags? [edit]
• Buddy: (singing) ...Oh, Piggy. My piggy suey.
  Sam: Buddy?
  Buddy: Yeah, Doc?
  Sam: Uh, why don't you try Peggy Sue? It might sound a little better.
  Buddy: Alright. (singing) Peggy Sue, Peggy Sue... [edit]

• Sam: Bonanza was never like this.
  Referencing the Bonanza TV series (1959-1973). Bonanza chronicled the adventures of the Cartwright family who owned a large ranch, the Ponderosa, in Nevada, in the 1860s. [edit]
• The character "Buddy" in this episode turns out to be Buddy Holly, and his song 'Peggy Sue' becomes one of his greatest hits. [edit]
• Episode Title: How The Tess Was Won
  The title of this episode is a reference to the 1962 movie, "How The West Was Won" starring Henry Fonda. [edit]