Scan courtesy of Elaine.

Quantum quest - Scott Bakula - Cover Story

by Rhonda J. Wilson

I'm not sure what I'm going to say yet," says Scott Bakula, while filming an AIDS public service announcement during a break in shooting on the set of his "Quantum Leap" series. "Just be yourself," says the director. After searching his soul, Bakula then purges a passionate plea.

"AIDS touches all of us," says the Emmy-nominated actor just weeks before Magic Johnson announced his retirement from basketball after testing HIV positive. "That's why funding and education are vital." Trailing off after his closing remarks, the director interrupts a thoughtful silence almost as deafening as the initial reaction to Johnson's stunning revelation last November. "And . . . cut," he says. "That's perfect, Scott. Your feelings really came across."

While Bakula's sensitivity to social issues is in no short supply, his active self seems to be just as well developed. Just as the 36-year-old actor is able to summon his emotions to increase AIDS awareness, Bakula is capable of calling on a symmetrical measure of physicality. Starring as a late blooming football player in Necessary Roughness last fall, he has also portrayed a trapeze artist, track team star, boxer and minor league baseball pitcher on "Quantum Leap." In one highly-controversial episode, he even portrayed a laboratory test animal. "The writers don't really think about what they're writing," says Bakula, who works out with a personal trainer three times a week. "But I seem to be in good enough shape for us to go ahead and shoot the physical scenes. It's nice to be able to go ahead and do it when you're in that kind of situation."

He isn't always able to hit the ground running, however. Just as his character, Sam Beckett, is thrust into the past to assume other people's identities because of a botched time-travel experiment on "Quantum Leap," Bakula was plunged perhaps a little too prematurely into the gird-iron for his role in Necessary Roughness. With former football coaches, college-level quarterbacks and arena-league players acting as unofficial technical advisers, Bakula was advised to be convincing, but cautious, while doing his own stunts on the field. "I threw my arm out at the beginning because I didn't have any time to prepare," he says. "Then I got tackled and popped something when I landed on that same shoulder. So I'd walking around with an ice pack on my shoulder in between shootings and people would ask, 'Is that real? Or are you just acting?' I would say, 'Oh no, this is real. I don't need to walk around with ice on my shoulder to get into a role.'

"When you do your own stunts, it gives the camera the opportunity to shoot a lot tighter," he adds. "I thought it would take away from the storyline if you didn't know it was me getting beat up. The producers were nervous, but they got what they wanted. They were thrilled they got it. I was thrilled when the football was over."

Indeed, Bakula is greateful all his early morning workouts with a personal trainer for the past year are now paying off. His stationary bike sessions and chest, tricep, back, bicep and abdominal exercises have strenthened his stamina on recent episodes. For instance, he held an older Indian fellow in his arms and carried him across a river during one episode. "When you are on the back lot of Universal, you have to get it right," says Bakula, who eats a high-carbohydrate lunch to keep his energy level up during the day. "You can only do it two times because it takes an hour for the water to recirculate, and the sun is going down.

"I had to run the 100-yard dash a couple of episodes ago--and I was not dashing," he adds. "About 60 to 70 yards into it, I could feel it. But I haven't run a 100-yard dash since the eighth grade. I had to know what I was doing and not look like I was going to die. But I ran it pretty well. I actually felt pretty good about it."

Bakula is also proud to bring new dimensions to his "Quantum Leap" role--especially if they are sporting. At his urging, "Sam" became a skilled martial artist several episodes into the series. Taking out his opponents now with spinning back kicks, Bakula learned muay thai, tae kwon do and karate from Pat Johnson--the material arts choreographer for Karate Kind and Teenage Mutnat Ninja Turtles. It wasn't too difficult to justify adding this new twist since his character already has a "swiss cheese" type of memory. "It's been a ball," says Bakula. "It's nice because it adds a little color to the series."

Bakula showed shades of brilliance as an athlete while growing up in St. Lois. Active in tennis, soccer and baseball, he excelled in water sports becoming an avid waterskier and making the swim team in high school. Fast forward 20 years, Bakula now likes to take active vacations with his wife and two children. The family spends time skiing in Colorado or golfing, swimming and playing tennis in Hawaii.

Although he has never been prone to any "win-lose craziness" when he played recreational sports as a youth, Bakula's natural competitive instincts have been a bonus to his carrer. "I've never felt competition against other actors," he says. "I either get the job or I don't. I become more competitive against myself rather than other people. I think being in a competitive situation is good--whether it be athletic or not."

Whatever situation Bakula is in, activity is definitely a priority. His emotional and physical qualities have now balanced out to provide a more fulfilling lifestyle. "I have greater strength overall," says Bakula, who begins his workout at 4:30 a.m. "I think it's essential for me to be in as good of shape as I can be to survive.

"I find my workouts put me in a much better frame of mind," he adds. "I feel invigorated from the workout. Psychologically, I'm in a better place."