# Early Edition/Quantum Leap (touching scifi) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 30, 2015, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-edition-quantum-leap-touching-scifi/733070 "2015-09-30T19:16:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![thorvitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eb8c5e/32.png) [@thorvitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorvitz)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-edition-quantum-leap-touching-scifi/733070/1 "2015-09-30T19:16:55Z")
Please recommend other moving scifi/fantasy shows like Early Edition, Quantum Leap, 80’s Twilight Zone series…looking for something uplifting (mostly happy endings). I get that most viewers (after 1992) prefer edgier, shade of grey drama so I’m probably looking for something that doesn’t exist. I started (2 episodes of) Highway to Heaven but it’s a little slow. Someone suggested Touched by an Angel but it looks too religious for my taste. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-edition-quantum-leap-touching-scifi/733070/2 "2015-09-30T19:20:34Z")
Try “Promised Land”. It spun off from “Touched by an Angel” and lost much of the religious angle in the process. ---
**Author:** ![thorvitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eb8c5e/32.png) [@thorvitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorvitz)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-edition-quantum-leap-touching-scifi/733070/3 "2015-09-30T19:32:54Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Try “Promised Land”. It spun off from “Touched by an Angel” and lost much of the religious angle in the process. Holy crap–this looks awesome. Hours of searching + 6 recommendation bots and didn’t notice this. +1 for human intelligence. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-edition-quantum-leap-touching-scifi/733070/4 "2015-09-30T19:52:31Z")
Have you seen [Believe](http://www.nbc.com/believe)? Although it has some violence and a few scary scenes, it is mostly uplifting and hopeful. It’s about a young girl with ESP powers who helps strangers in each episode. The actress who plays the girl is extraordinary. ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-edition-quantum-leap-touching-scifi/733070/5 "2015-09-30T20:20:35Z")
Another suggestion: [Wonderfalls](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonderfalls). This fantasy show was cute, quirky, and sweet without being cloying. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-edition-quantum-leap-touching-scifi/733070/6 "2015-09-30T20:26:49Z")
The Eureka universe might be of interest: “Eureka”, “Alphas”, and “Warehouse 13” sharing the same continuity. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-edition-quantum-leap-touching-scifi/733070/7 "2015-09-30T20:31:20Z")
I love those types of shows, and I can’t take anything too dark. Here are a few to check out, most of which involve our heroes coming in and saving the day week after week. Joan of Arcadia is a little different. It involves God, but not religion, and can be very uplifting. The Greatest American Hero Alien Nation Lois & Clark The Dead Zone Drop Dead Diva Joan of Arcadia Medium ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-edition-quantum-leap-touching-scifi/733070/8 "2015-09-30T20:32:32Z")
IIRC, the '90s series “Eerie, Indiana” is much in the same vein as the '80s “Twilight Zone”. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-edition-quantum-leap-touching-scifi/733070/9 "2015-09-30T22:07:19Z")
There might be too much death and dying for your taste but I’ll mention [Pushing Daisies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pushing_Daisies) anyway. It’s not nearly as dark and depressing as a brief synopsis might suggest. Come to think about it, I could say the same of [Dead Like Me](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Like_Me). ---
**Author:** ![thorvitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eb8c5e/32.png) [@thorvitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorvitz)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-edition-quantum-leap-touching-scifi/733070/10 "2015-09-30T22:12:16Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > I love those types of shows, and I can’t take anything too dark. Here are a few to check out, most of which involve our heroes coming in and saving the day week after week. Joan of Arcadia is a little different. It involves God, but not religion, and can be very uplifting. > > The Greatest American Hero > Alien Nation > Lois & Clark > The Dead Zone > Drop Dead Diva > Joan of Arcadia > Medium Beautiful. Joan, Drop Dead Diva are worth a shot. I remember Greatest (loved the theme song). My wife watched Medium, seems a little dark for my taste. Not into superhero stuff and Alien Nation is too out there (though I liked the movie). I’m thinking I may want to go outside scifi…I was considering Chicago Hope (many of same characters as Early Edition) until I read about how bloody it was plus a focus on the main characters’ turbulent persona lives. There has to be other late 80s / early 90s dramas that are lighthearted, uplifting, and make you cry at the end of every episode~! Basically I want The Love Boat with tears and some sci fi elements. I’ll be shot for saying this but the ill-fated Terra Nova wasn’t bad. ---
**Author:** ![thorvitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eb8c5e/32.png) [@thorvitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorvitz)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-edition-quantum-leap-touching-scifi/733070/11 "2015-09-30T22:17:37Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > There might be too much death and dying for your taste but I’ll mention [Pushing Daisies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pushing_Daisies) anyway. It’s not nearly as dark and depressing as a brief synopsis might suggest. Come to think about it, I could say the same of [Dead Like Me](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_Like_Me). Wow, Pushing Daisies may be right up my alley. I need to watch an episode… is it just funny or are there Kleenex-worthy episodes? ---
**Author:** ![thorvitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eb8c5e/32.png) [@thorvitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorvitz)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-edition-quantum-leap-touching-scifi/733070/12 "2015-09-30T22:19:22Z")
> [@pinkfreud](#): > > Another suggestion: [Wonderfalls](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonderfalls). This fantasy show was cute, quirky, and sweet without being cloying. Will check this one out too… reading the premise, it looks either so out there it’s ridiculous or happy, moving escapism. ---
**Author:** ![thorvitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eb8c5e/32.png) [@thorvitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorvitz)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-edition-quantum-leap-touching-scifi/733070/13 "2015-09-30T22:23:58Z")
> [@pinkfreud](#): > > Have you seen [Believe](http://www.nbc.com/believe)? Although it has some violence and a few scary scenes, it is mostly uplifting and hopeful. It’s about a young girl with ESP powers who helps strangers in each episode. The actress who plays the girl is extraordinary. It’s funny I noticed the trailer (notice anything that’s more humanistic fantasy). I tend to turn off with secret gov’t organizations chasing the kid with powers. Maybe it’s been overplayed or that I don’t like shows with everpresent bad guys. I’m probably .25% of the TV audience these days. Maybe 5% of the 40+ audience (I’m 44.) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-edition-quantum-leap-touching-scifi/733070/14 "2015-09-30T22:40:26Z")
Seconding PUSHING DAISIES. Not in its class, but worth mentioning: A GIFTED MAN. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-edition-quantum-leap-touching-scifi/733070/15 "2015-09-30T23:09:05Z")
> [@thorvitz](#): > > Basically I want The Love Boat with tears and some sci fi elements. That’d be Mr. Roarke and Tattoo. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-edition-quantum-leap-touching-scifi/733070/16 "2015-09-30T23:16:54Z")
> [@thorvitz](#): > > There has to be other late 80s / early 90s dramas that are lighthearted, uplifting, and make you cry at the end of every episode~! “Providence” with Mike Farrell as a Rhode Island veterinarian and Concetta Tomei as his wife’s ghost. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-edition-quantum-leap-touching-scifi/733070/17 "2015-09-30T23:22:35Z")
How about “The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles”? ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-edition-quantum-leap-touching-scifi/733070/18 "2015-09-30T23:42:26Z")
Had you thought about _MacGyver_? It’s got that sort of episodic quality you’re looking for, with different stories each week, and in the later seasons especially it became less technical and more heartwarming. There are definitely plenty of Kleenex-worthy episodes. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-edition-quantum-leap-touching-scifi/733070/19 "2015-09-30T23:43:06Z")
“Journeyman” wasn’t bad. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-edition-quantum-leap-touching-scifi/733070/20 "2015-09-30T23:50:20Z")
One current series that’s really a throwback and hits all of your requirements except the sci fi is _Royal Pains_. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-edition-quantum-leap-touching-scifi/733070.md?page=2)