Good news for the Quantum Leap reboot as the ratings have spiked in the last couple of weeks including Monday’s Episode 15, which is the highest since the series returned in January following its mid-winter break.
Last night’s episode, “Ben Song for the Defense,” was watched by 2.301 million viewers, with the previous episode watched by 2.19 million and the previous to that 2.02 million.
I think if the show can stay maintain that 2 million level it might not get canceled, and as Season 2 has already been greenlit for now, Quantum Leap won’t be leaping anywhere unless it’s a new day and time on NBC.
What’s worrisome is that episodes dipped below 2 million viewers as Episode 12, “Let Them Play,” the transgender episode, was only watched by 1.75 million viewers, the series low, and was actually beat out by repeat episodes of Magnum PI. What’s the point of creating a new series if another show’s repeats can beat it out in the same timeslot?
Worth a mention is that NBC ordered six additional episodes following the initial twelve, so we see the last three episodes that scored 2 million viewers are a part of those additional episodes, so maybe the creative team smoothed things out as I am hearing good things about those episodes. If you are still watching, let me know how the show is going in the comments below.
Another factor that may have bolstered the ratings is that NFL Monday Night Football is now over, which aired during the same 10pm timeslot as Quantum Leap, so maybe some of that audience is now tuning in.
Next week’s episode #16 is titled “Ben, Interrupted,” and following that there are two episodes remaining in Season 1. Here is the description:
03/20/2023 (10:00PM – 11:00PM) (Monday) : When Ben lands in a 1950s psychiatric institution, he must engineer a daring escape for a young woman unjustly committed by her husband. The team is shocked to learn the identity of a mole in Quantum Headquarters.
Quantum Leap ratings:
- Episode 1 – September 19, 2022: 3.348 million viewers / 0.47 rating
- Episode 2 – September 26, 2022: 2.772M / 0.34
- Episode 3 – October 3, 2022: 2.579M / 0.36
- Episode 4 – October 10, 2022: 2.464M / 0.40
- Episode 5 – October 17, 2022: 2.413M / 0.35
- Episode 6 – October 24, 2022: 2.220M / 0.33
- Episode 7 – October 31, 2022: 2.327M / .033
- Episode 8 – November 7, 2022: 2.65M / 0.40
- – HIATUS –
- Episode 9 – January 2, 2023: 2.305M / 0.32
- Episode 10 – January 9, 2023: 1.704M / 0.30
- Episode 11 – January 30, 2023: 2.10M / 0.29
- Episode 12 – February 6, 2023: 1.735M / 0.30
- Episode 13 – February 27, 2023: 2.015M / 0.35
- Episode 14 – March 6, 2023: 2.191M / 0.27
- Episode 15 – March 13, 2023: 2.301M / 0.34
