Scott Bakula

It's been 20 years since Scott Bakula was last nominated for an Emmy, for his role as time-traveling quantum physicist Sam Beckett in the much-beloved NBC drama “Quantum Leap.” He certainly wasn't expecting the surprise call he received Thursday morning, telling him he'd earned a nod for his supporting role in “Behind the Candelabra.” Bakula was up early to take his youngest son to intensive ballet camp when he got a call from his publicist....

It's been 20 years since Scott Bakula was last nominated for an Emmy, for his role as time-traveling quantum physicist Sam Beckett in the much-beloved NBC drama “Quantum Leap.” He certainly wasn't expecting the surprise call he received Thursday morning, telling him he'd earned a nod for his supporting role in “Behind the Candelabra.” Bakula was up early to take his youngest son to intensive ballet camp when he got a call from his publicist....

"Necessary Roughness" (citywide) offers Scott Bakula, who made his feature film debut last year in "Sibling Rivalry," a delightful starring role as a 34-year-old farmer lured back to college to play football. Bakula, who has made his mark as time-traveling scientist Sam Beckett in TV's critically acclaimed "Quantum Leap," has a laid-back quality that makes him a welcome, easy-to-take presence on the big screen.

TNT's "Men of a Certain Age," which began its second season Monday, revolves around the lives of three middle-aged guys who exhibit varying levels of maturity, humor and physical decay. The critically lauded drama stars Ray Romano, Andre Braugher and Scott Bakula, whose characters like to hang-out at Norms and joke about one another's problems. The hourlong show airs 10 p.m. Monday nights. Times photographer Jay L. Clendenin visited the set recently to capture the feeling of a busy set. For more photos, go to latimes.

It happens, every so often, that an actor comes upon a role that permits him to explore a strange new life. Dustin Hoffman put on a bra for "Tootsie." Daniel Day-Lewis was born with cerebral palsy in "My Left Foot." Tom Cruise lost the use of his legs in "Born on the Fourth of July." For some actors, such choice roles come once in a lifetime. For Scott Bakula, they come along about once a week. In the NBC series "Quantum Leap," which is in reruns on Wednesday nights at 10 p.m.

IN the mid-'90s, after Scott Bakula had starred for five years as time traveler Sam Beckett in the TV series "Quantum Leap," the actor and avid gardener set down his hoe and listed his home in Ojai. "It breaks my heart to sell it," he said then of his retreat, "but sometimes you have to do what you have to do." He put the five-bedroom house, which he had built, on the market at close to $1.8 million. Now the home is for sale again, and the current sellers are asking nearly $4.3 million.

I certainly enjoyed the July 15 cover story on "Quantum Leap." Being a sci-fi fan, this show immediately was appealing to me. It has mystery, romance, science fiction and humor. The latter is provided by the interaction between Sam (Scott Bakula) and Al (Dean Stockwell). I am glad the series was renewed and will be presented on Friday (at 8 p.m.). Now if its time slot could be at 9 p.m., that would be even better. But it doesn't matter; I watched the series every night it aired during "Quantum Leap" week.

"This is not heavy, serious leading-man adventure stuff," says Scott Bakula, who takes a "Quantum Leap" every Friday night on NBC. "Just your classic American hero who faces adversity with humor." Hmmm. Pretty lofty stuff coming from an actor who is no stranger to the tube but has yet to make a name for himself beyond the theatrical stage. Bakula (rhymes with Dracula ) stars in this new sci-fi fantasy series (moving to Wednesday nights, starting May 3) with Dean Stockwell, who appears as a hologram known as The Observer.

Imagine it: A male time traveler who each week occupies a different body, surfacing as a blind concert pianist or a rabbi or a woman or an understudy to the lead in "The Man of La Mancha." Talk about reaching for the unreachable star. That is exactly what Sam Beckett does each week on "Quantum Leap," the NBC hour (10 p.m. Wednesdays on Channels 4, 36 and 39) that ranks among the boldest, freshest and most-entertaining dramatic series on TV.

Scott Bakula is a theater person first. Or a sports fan first. Or both first -- evident as he extols the virtues of spending a month in Decatur, Ill., with the cast and crew of "The Informant!" during filming. "One of the good things they talk about in sports is that teams bond when they're on the road because you don't have the distractions of home. That's why they take shows on the road before they go to New York; 24/7 you're living that experience. There was nowhere to go, nothing else for us to do except focus on the movie," he says.

SERIES One Tree Hill: Lydia's (Bess Armstrong) condition deteriorates, moving Haley and Quinn (Bethany Joy Galeotti, Shantel VanSanten) to reconnect with Taylor (Lindsey McKeon) in this new episode (8 p.m. KTLA). The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love: Popular bachelors and bachelorettes from past seasons discuss how the show has changed their lives and Jake faces the women he rejected so far in this new episode (8 p.m. ABC). King Tut Unwrapped: This new episode uses latest DNA technology and forensic techniques to shed light on how King Tut lived and died (8 p.m. Discovery)

Scott Bakula is a theater person first. Or a sports fan first. Or both first -- evident as he extols the virtues of spending a month in Decatur, Ill., with the cast and crew of "The Informant!" during filming. "One of the good things they talk about in sports is that teams bond when they're on the road because you don't have the distractions of home. That's why they take shows on the road before they go to New York; 24/7 you're living that experience. There was nowhere to go, nothing else for us to do except focus on the movie," he says.

IN the mid-'90s, after Scott Bakula had starred for five years as time traveler Sam Beckett in the TV series "Quantum Leap," the actor and avid gardener set down his hoe and listed his home in Ojai. "It breaks my heart to sell it," he said then of his retreat, "but sometimes you have to do what you have to do." He put the five-bedroom house, which he had built, on the market at close to $1.8 million. Now the home is for sale again, and the current sellers are asking nearly $4.3 million.

Those familiar with Scott Bakula before he achieved wider renown in such television shows as "Quantum Leap" and "Star Trek: Enterprise" are well aware that he has his roots firmly in musical theater. In "No Strings," the vintage musical that features music and lyrics by Richard Rodgers and book by Samuel Taylor, Bakula gives heartening proof that his musical talents are undiminished.

Despite its rather saccharine title, the CBS holiday drama "Papa's Angels" is anything but two hours of Christmas sugar and schmaltz. "I felt it wasn't a sentimental Christmas piece," says Eva Marie Saint, who stars in the family drama with Scott Bakula and Cynthia Nixon. "The characters were honed in a way that they were strong. The relationships weren't the most beautiful in the world, but where is the perfect family? There isn't one.

Doing a one-hour action series is no walk in the park. The hours are incredibly long and the pace is overwhelmingly hectic. But not only is Scott Bakula starring in CBS' new one-hour series, "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," which premiered last week, he also is the executive producer of the series that combines elements of comedy, action, romance and espionage. With a bemused grin, Bakula acknowledges that it's "sheer madness" to be wearing both hats.

"I've played a lot of rats out here," conceded Scott Bakula. No kidding. In the past year, he's played a bad apple on 'My Sister Sam," an over-critical ex-husband on "Designing Women," and the two-timing Buck in the stage smash "Nite Club Confidential." Yet that last character "was a charming rat. So people were not too put off by me--and that's important. Because, hey, I'm a nice guy." On Wednesday, the St.

Doing a one-hour action series is no walk in the park. The hours are incredibly long and the pace is overwhelmingly hectic. But not only is Scott Bakula starring in CBS' new one-hour series, "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," which premiered last week, he also is the executive producer of the series that combines elements of comedy, action, romance and espionage. With a bemused grin, Bakula acknowledges that it's "sheer madness" to be wearing both hats.

"Necessary Roughness" (citywide) offers Scott Bakula, who made his feature film debut last year in "Sibling Rivalry," a delightful starring role as a 34-year-old farmer lured back to college to play football. Bakula, who has made his mark as time-traveling scientist Sam Beckett in TV's critically acclaimed "Quantum Leap," has a laid-back quality that makes him a welcome, easy-to-take presence on the big screen.