“Pay like it’s 1985,” reads the marquee, a mere ft from the sign advertising a gallon of gas for $0.91. And if that sounds like a leap, it is — but the gas, the prices (and the lucky Los Angeles drivers pumping it up) are all too real.
NBC acquired the Santa Monica Boulevard gas station Thursday to promote its reboot of “Quantum Leap,” which begins this coming Monday on the network. The original show actually premiered in 1989, but Dr. Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula) sent hopscotch around all kinds of gas-price eras.
Participating motorists first drove through a “drive-thru experience” block away from the station to gain access to 91-percent gas, and were stopped at every 10 gallons pumped (indeed, this 1970 Sounds like a decade?) All grades were available – including diesel – as long as supplies ran out in a one-day popup that ended at 6 p.m. Thursday.
Calling it “Quantum Leap Day”, NBC promoted two network stunts of the 1990s called “Quantum Leap Week”, when episodes were shown back-to-back for five consecutive nights. Wait – did NBC even travel back in time to invent bingeing?
The network was also offering actual movie tickets for $3.55, a “1985-priced” deal done in conjunction with Fandango.
Peacock will take the “Quantum Leap” episode the day after it airs on NBC.