Donald Bellisario
Show Creator/ Producer
About This Interview
In his three-hour Archive interview, Donald P. Bellisario talks about his service in the Marines and his early years in advertising. He recalls his transition to film and television and describes landing his first television job as story editor and then producer on Black Sheep Squadron after submitting a script to Stephen J. Cannell. He details co-creating the hit series Magnum, P.I. - working with lead Tom Selleck, incorporating the Vietnam War into "Magnum's" background, and navigating the stunt work on the show. He comments on creating and producing Airwolf, and working with stars Jan-Michael Vincent and Ernest Borgnine on the series. Bellisario also discusses the creation of the sci-fi series Quantum Leap and outlines the parameters for which the fictional "leaps" occurred on the series, talks about leads Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell, and recounts the memorable episode about Lee Harvey Oswald (whom Bellisario had known in real life). He also speaks of his role in the long-running military-based series JAG and NCIS. Shelley Jenkins conducted the interview on April 28, 2008 in Studio City, CA.
Related To This Video
Featured Content
Video: Watch a clip from The Magnum P.I episode "Did You See the Sun Rise?" " Video: Watch the Quantum Leap episode "The Color of Truth":
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Highlights
Donald Belisario on pitching Quantum Leap to Brandon Tartikoff
Clip begins at: 28:35, Duration: 01m 13s- Donald Belisario on recreating his father's bar for the final episode of Quantum Leap
Clip begins at: 21:35, Duration: 03m 28s 
Donald Bellisario on "Magnum" of Magnum, P.I. being Vietnam War veteran
Clip begins at: 25:56, Duration: 03m 33s- Donald Bellisario on a young cancer patient and her family who found inspiration from an episode of Magnum, P.I.
Clip begins at: 53:49, Duration: 02m 40s 
Donald Bellisario on encountering Lee Harvey Oswald while in the Marine Corps
Clip begins at: 31:42, Duration: 01m 47s
Interview
- Part 1
- On his childhood and early influences; on his children; on early memories of World War II
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On going off to college; on working his way through school; on difficulties at Penn State; on leaving college and entering the Marine Corps
Clip begins at: 18:37 - On encountering Lee Harvey Oswald; on his opinion on the JFK assassination and how that later inspired and episode of Quantum Leap; on returning to Penn State
Clip begins at: 31:35 - On his early advertising career; on directing and editing his first television commercial; on his ad campaigns for Jack's Beer and Southwest Airlines; on moving to Los Angeles
Clip begins at: 42:05 - Part 2
- On visiting his ancestors' town in Italy; on shopping his first feature script; on meeting Stephen J. Cannell; on writing and producing Baa-Baa Blacksheep
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On becoming supervising producer of Battlestar Galactica; on his short lived stint on Quincy, M.E.; on the genesis of Magnum, P.I., meeting with Tom Selleck, writing the pilot episode, and shooting in Hawaii
Clip begins at: 13:36 - On portraying Vietnam veterans on Magnum, P.I.; on keeping women out of "Magnum's" life in season one
Clip begins at: 25:56 - On "Magnum's" Tigers baseball cap; on the accidental death of a camera technician on the set of Magnum, P.I.; on specific episodes of Magnum, P.I.; on reaction to the show's multiple Emmy nominations; on working with Standards and Practices
Clip begins at: 37:55 - Part 3
- On the movie version of Magnum, P.I.; on his series Airwolf; on the made-for-television movie Three on a Match; on the feature film Last Rites; on working in features vs. television
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On creating Quantum Leap; on casting and writing Quantum Leap; on the final episode of Quantum Leap
Clip begins at: 12:02 - On making the pilot for Quantum Leap; on the title of Quantum Leap, why it's his favorite of the shows he created; on his favorite episodes; on music in his shows; on the final episode of Quantum Leap
Clip begins at: 26:47 - On creating JAG; on the Navy's reaction to JAG; on JAG and 9/11; on JAG switching networks
Clip begins at: 38:56 - On CBS's mistakes promoting NCIS; on First Monday; on retirement, his proudest achievement, and advice to aspiring writers
Clip begins at: 48:44
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