Pool Hall Blues

Last updated
"Pool Hall Blues"
Quantum Leap episode
Episode no.Season 2
Episode 18
Directed by Joe Napolitano
Written byRandy Holland
Featured music Mike Post
Cinematography by Michael W. Watkins
Original air dateMarch 14, 1990 (1990-03-14)
Running time48 min
Guest appearances
Ken Foree, Robert Gossett, Shari Headley, Theodore Wilson
Episode chronology
 Previous
"Good Night, Dear Heart"
Next 
"Leaping in Without a Net"
List of episodes

"Pool Hall Blues" is a 1990 episode of the American science fiction television series Quantum Leap . Lead character Sam Beckett "leaps" (travels through time) into the body of an African American man in 1954: Charlie "Black Magic" Walters, one of the (fictional) greatest pool players in America, and a childhood mentor of supporting character Al. Beckett as Walters must help Walters's granddaughter keep her Chicago nightclub and rescue it from under the corrupting influence of a criminal loan shark. The episode, the 18th of season 2, was written by Randy Holland and directed by Joe Napolitano. It originally aired on March 14, 1990. The episode won the series its second of three consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Cinematography. [1] [2]

Contents

Plot

It is September 4, 1954 in Chicago, Illinois, and Sam Beckett has "leaped" into the body of pool hustler Charlie "Black Magic" Walters, a former mentor of Al Calavicci. Magic's granddaughter, Violet, has borrowed money from a loan shark to convert an old pool hall into a blues nightclub. Unfortunately, disreputable pool hustler Eddie Davies has purchased the note for Violet's loan from the loan shark and is using it to goad Magic into a series of games of pool, threatening to take over the nightclub if Magic refuses. Unable to obtain a bank loan to purchase the note, Sam agrees to the match, with Ziggy providing Sam (who has no clue how to play pool) with guidance to allow him to play at Magic's level. Despite Eddie's interference - including having his henchman destroy Magic's beloved cue stick, Alberta - and the loss of Ziggy's guidance at a critical point in the match, Sam defeats Eddie and wins the note.

Cast

The principal cast of the episode were: [3]

Awards

"Pool Hall Blues" won the 1990 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography, for the camera work of Michael W. Watkins. [1] The series had won the 1989 Emmy for Outstanding Cinematography (Roy H. Wagner, pilot episode "Genesis"), and would three-peat when it also won the 1991 Emmy (Watkins, season 3 episode "The Leap Home (Part 2) – Vietnam"). [2] [4] [5]

Related Research Articles

<i>Quantum Leap</i> (1989 TV series) American science fiction television series

Quantum Leap is an American science fiction television series, created by Donald P. Bellisario, that aired on NBC for five seasons, from March 26, 1989, to May 5, 1993. The series stars Scott Bakula as Dr. Sam Beckett, a physicist who, believing he has invented a way to travel through time, voluntarily subjects himself to an experiment that he believes will prove the validity of his controversial theories. Sam “leaps” into the fluid of spacetime and apparently disappears forever. However, it is soon revealed that Beckett's consciousness is alive and able to transfer to and inhabit the bodies of other people existing on his timeline. The artificially intelligent computer he created operates with the assumption that in order to return home, Sam must change events in the past in order to "correct" the future course of events, which have somehow been changed in an undesirable way by an unknown agent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Bakula</span> American actor (born 1954)

Scott Stewart Bakula is an American actor. He is known for his roles in two science-fiction television series: as Sam Beckett on Quantum Leap – for which he was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards – and as Captain Jonathan Archer on Star Trek: Enterprise. From 2014 to 2021, he portrayed Special Agent Dwayne Cassius "King" Pride on NCIS: New Orleans.

<i>The Hustler</i> (novel) American novel about gambling

The Hustler is a 1959 debut novel by American writer Walter Tevis. It tells the story of a young pool hustler, Edward "Fast Eddie" Felson, who challenges the legendary Minnesota Fats. The novel was well-received by critics, and was adapted into a 1961 film of the same title, starring Paul Newman as Fast Eddie, Jackie Gleason as Minnesota Fats, and Piper Laurie as Sarah. A sequel, The Color of Money, was published in 1984.

<i>The Color of Money</i> 1986 drama film by Martin Scorsese

The Color of Money is a 1986 American sports drama film directed by Martin Scorsese. It is the sequel to the 1961 film The Hustler. Like the previous film, The Color of Money is based on the novel of the same name by Walter Tevis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holodeck</span> Star Trek device

The Holodeck is a fictional device from the television franchise Star Trek which uses "holograms" to create a realistic 3D simulation of a real or imaginary setting, in which participants can freely interact with the environment as well as objects and characters, and sometimes a predefined narrative.

Hustling is the deceptive act of disguising one's skill in a sport or game with the intent of luring someone of probably lesser skill into gambling with the hustler, as a form of both a confidence trick and match fixing. It is most commonly associated with, and originated in pocket billiards (pool), but also can be performed with regard to other sports and gambling activities. Hustlers may also engage in "sharking"—distracting, disheartening, enraging, or even threatening their opponents—to throw them off. Hustlers are thus often called "pool sharks". Professional and semi-pro hustlers sometimes work with a "stakehorse"—a person who provides the money for the hustler to bet with —in exchange for a substantial portion of all winnings. Another form of hustling is challenging "marks" to bet on trick shots that seem nearly impossible but at which the hustler is exceptionally skilled. Chess hustlers are quite common in urban areas in the United States and elsewhere, often offering speed chess against any takers. Unlike most hustlers, chess hustlers are often assumed to be skilled and are seen as a challenge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dean Stockwell</span> American actor (1936–2021)

Robert Dean Stockwell was an American actor with a career spanning seven decades. As a child actor under contract to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, he appeared in Anchors Aweigh (1945), Song of the Thin Man (1947), The Green Years (1946), Gentleman's Agreement (1947), The Boy with Green Hair (1948), and Kim (1950). As a young adult, he had a lead role in the 1957 Broadway and 1959 screen adaptation of Compulsion; and in 1962 he played Edmund Tyrone in the film version of Long Day's Journey into Night, for which he won two Best Actor Awards at the Cannes Film Festival. He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama for his starring role in the 1960 film version of D. H. Lawrence's Sons and Lovers.

Dr. Samuel John Beckett is a fictional character and the protagonist on the 1989-1993 science fiction television series Quantum Leap, played by Scott Bakula.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deborah Pratt</span> American actress, writer and producer

Deborah M. Pratt is an American director, writer, television producer and actress.

Velton Ray Bunch is a film and television composer. Sometimes credited as Ray Bunch. Bunch has been nominated for an Emmy three times for his work, and won the fourth time for his score to the Star Trek: Enterprise episode "Similitude".

<i>The Hustler</i> 1961 gambling film by Robert Rossen

The Hustler is a 1961 drama film, directed by Robert Rossen. It tells the story of small-time pool hustler "Fast Eddie" Felson, who challenges legendary pool player "Minnesota Fats".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Good Night, Dear Heart</span> 17th episode of the 2nd season of Quantum Leap

"Good Night, Dear Heart" is a 1990 episode of the American science fiction television series Quantum Leap. Lead character Sam Beckett "leaps" to 1957, into the body of a mortician investigating the death of a young West German immigrant woman. What at first appears to be a suicide by drowning turns out to be foul play. The episode, the 17th of season 2, was written by Paul Brown and directed by Christopher T. Welch. It aired originally on March 7, 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garn Stephens</span> American actress (1944–2023)

Garn Gaynell Stephens was an American film, television, stage, and musical theatre actress, and, later, a screenwriter. She was known for her roles in the television series Phyllis and the 1982 horror film Halloween III: Season of the Witch.

<i>Quantum Leap</i> season 1 Season of television series

The first season of Quantum Leap ran on NBC from March 26 to May 17, 1989. The series follows the exploits of Dr. Sam Beckett and his Project Quantum Leap (PQL), through which he involuntarily leaps through spacetime, temporarily taking over a host in order to correct historical mistakes. Season one, a late-season replacement, consists of nine episodes.

<i>Quantum Leap</i> season 2 1989–90 season of American tv series

Season two of Quantum Leap ran on NBC from September 20, 1989 to May 9, 1990. The series follows the exploits of Dr. Sam Beckett and his project Quantum Leap, through which he involuntarily leaps through spacetime, temporarily taking over a host in order to correct historical mistakes. Season two consists of 22 episodes.

<i>Quantum Leap</i> season 3 Season of television series

Season three of Quantum Leap ran on NBC from September 28, 1990 to May 22, 1991. The series follows the exploits of Dr. Sam Beckett and his Project Quantum Leap (PQL), through which he involuntarily leaps through spacetime, temporarily taking over a host in order to correct historical mistakes. Season three consists of 22 episodes.

<i>Quantum Leap</i> season 5 Season of television series

Season five of Quantum Leap ran on NBC from September 22, 1992 to May 5, 1993. The series follows the exploits of Dr. Sam Beckett and his Project Quantum Leap, through which he involuntarily leaps through spacetime, temporarily taking over a host in order to correct historical mistakes. Season five consists of 22 episodes.

Michael Mills is a makeup artist who has worked on over 40 different films and TV shows since 1982.

Quantum Leap is an American science fiction television series aired on NBC. Developed by Steven Lilien and Bryan Wynbrandt, it is a revival of the 1989 show created by Donald P. Bellisario. Bellisario, Lilien and Wynbrandt executive produce. It takes place in 2022, thirty years after the original show concluded. The series stars Raymond Lee as the new lead character Dr. Ben Song, along with Caitlin Bassett, Mason Alexander Park, Nanrisa Lee, and Ernie Hudson. Quantum Leap premiered on September 19, 2022. In December 2022, the series was renewed for a second season consisting of 13 episodes, which premiered on October 4, 2023. In April 2024, NBC canceled the series after two seasons.

References

  1. 1 2 "Awards for 1990: Emmy". Internet Movie Database . Outstanding Cinematography for a Series section. Retrieved 2012-02-24.
  2. 1 2 "QUANTUM LEAP | (all time) Awards & Nominations". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences . Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  3. "Quantum Leap (TV series 1989–1993) 'Pool Hall Blues' - September 4, 1954 (#2.18)". Internet Movie Database. op. cit. 2012. Cast section. Retrieved 2012-02-24.
  4. "Awards for 1989: Emmy". Internet Movie Database . Outstanding Cinematography for a Series section. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  5. "Awards for 1991: Emmy". Internet Movie Database . Outstanding Cinematography for a Series section. Retrieved 2021-04-27.