ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB, THE: THE DARK SIDE (TV)
Summary
One in this limited drama series, based on the book by Lily Koppel, following the lives of the "Mercury Seven" astronauts and their wives. In this episode, in 1968, Robert Kennedy wins the California primary and the Schirras watch his speech on television, though Marty disagrees with his plans to end the war in Vietnam. Jo is relieved when Wally declares that he intends to finish his friend Gus' mission and then retire from the space program, while elsewhere Rene praises "Bobby's" victory – only to witness his assassination moments later. Sometime later, Frank prepares for the Apollo 8 mission, though Susan is consumed by fears for his safety, and Alan tells Louise that he is considering a risky surgery to "cure" his Ménière's disease to allow him back on the mission. Elsewhere, Deke asks Marge to help calm the Eiseles' troubled marriage, sure that a "space divorce" will hurt their image. Apollo 7 takes off in October, and Rene continues mourning Kennedy, sure that Nixon will now win the election. Marge tries to convince Harriet not to divorce Donn, but she quickly changes her tune when Trudy informs them that Donn has a child with his "Cape Cookie," Susie. Apollo 7 returns successfully after eleven days and Jo is relieved to have Wally home, though she is shocked when, on his eighteenth birthday, Marty declares his intentions to enlist rather than attend college.
Marilyn tries to comfort a deeply anxious Susan, suggesting that she visit a psychologist to discuss her fears for Frank's safety, and Alan's doctor tells Louise about the considerable risks of his surgery. Marge accompanies Harriet to visit her lawyer, though he bluntly tells her that she will have to prove Donn's abusive behavior in order to secure a divorce, and Alan and Louise are forced to accept a ride from some hippies after their tire blows out on a deserted road. Annie tries to counsel a depressed Rene, and though Jo drives Marty to the military recruitment office, she changes her mind and peels off at the last second. Deke chastises Marge for not stopping the Eiseles' split after all, sure that Donn will look like "a heel" to the public, though Marge pointedly reminds him that she herself was previously divorced. Harriet finds that Donn has closed her bank accounts and begins to panic about her future, and the Shepards spend an awkward night with the hippies, who explains that they have embraced a "free love" lifestyle, and Alan notes that life requires an adventurous spirit, though Louise counters that "recklessness" is unwise.
Jo is upset when Wally defends Marty's right to enlist, pointing out that he himself served in Korea, and the Shepards make up when Alan convinces her to try out the hippies' homemade swing in their barn and she agrees that he must give the surgery a try. As Duncan photographs the wives' latest charitable efforts, Annie encourages Rene to appear on television during the Apollo 8 mission. Marilyn explains that she and Jim are postponing their Christmas celebration, though Susan still seems convinced that Frank will not make it home alive. Donn agrees to Harriet's divorce, admitting that he intends to marry Susie, and Marge tells an annoyed Deke that the story made very little public impact after all. Deke finally questions her about her mysterious first marriage, and she admits that she feels like "damaged goods" and still holds onto to her first husband's military trunk as a source of strength. Jo sadly tells her friends that Wally has accepted a job in Denver, meaning that she will soon be leaving them, and Betty surprises her with a heartfelt keepsake to take with her. Everyone is nervous when the Apollo 8 loses contact with NASA for half an hour as it crosses to "the dark side of the moon," but their voices are soon heard alive and well, quoting the words of Genesis as they return to the light. Marilyn is touched to find a gift from Jim under the Christmas tree, and Alan heads into surgery as the Schirras depart for Colorado and Marge finally disposes of the trunk, having found her own strength within. Includes commercials and promos.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: November 30, 1999 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:00:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 124467
- GENRE: Drama, historical
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, historical; Astronauts; Marriage
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 2015
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." motion picture
- TV - Commercials - Aveeno Positively Radiant daily scrub
- TV - Commercials - Burlington Coat Factory stores
- TV - Commercials - Chevrolet automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Citi credit cards and Apple Pay
- TV - Commercials - Claritin allergy medication
- TV - Commercials - Colgate Total toothpaste
- TV - Commercials - Cricket Wireless cellular servies
- TV - Commercials - Fancy Feast cat food
- TV - Commercials - Frontline Plus flea pet medication
- TV - Commercials - Humira psoriasis medication
- TV - Commercials - JCPenney stores
- TV - Commercials - K9 Advantix II dog bug repellant
- TV - Commercials - Macy's stores
- TV - Commercials - Mazda automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Olay skin care products
- TV - Commercials - Old Navy stores
- TV - Commercials - Payless Shoesource stores
- TV - Commercials - Roc anti-wrinkle cream
- TV - Commercials - Sally Hansen Miracle Gel nail polish
- TV - Commercials - Splenda artificial sweetener
- TV - Commercials - Sprint wireless services
- TV - Commercials - Staples stores
- TV - Commercials - T-Mobile wireless networks
- TV - Commercials - Totino's Pizza Rolls
- TV - Commercials - University of Phoenix online college
- TV - Commercials - Verizon Wireless cellular services
- TV - Commercials - Visionworks eyewear
- TV - Commercials - Zyrtec allergy medication
- TV - Promos - "Bachelor in Paradise"
- TV - Promos - "Blood and Oil"
- TV - Promos - "Dancing With the Stars"
- TV - Promos - "Grey's Anatomy"
- TV - Promos - "How to Get Away with Murder"
- TV - Promos - "Mistresses"
- TV - Promos - "Quantico"
- TV - Promos - "Scandal"
- TV - Promos - "The Astronaut Wives Club" final episode
- TV - Promos - "The Muppets"
CREDITS
- Len Goldstein … Executive Producer
- Michael London … Executive Producer
- Josh Schwartz … Executive Producer
- Janice Williams … Executive Producer
- Stephanie Savage … Executive Producer, Developed by
- Becky Hartman Edwards … Co-Executive Producer
- Liz Tigelaar … Co-Executive Producer
- Kelly Van Horn … Producer
- Jonathan Brody … Co-Producer
- Deborah Hayn Cass … Co-Producer
- Lisa Zwerling … Consulting Producer
- Jon Amiel … Director
- Casallina Kisakye … Writer
- Katie Schwartz … Writer
- Lily Koppel … Based on the book by
- Deborah Lurie … Music by
- JoAnna Garcia Swisher … Cast, Betty Grissom
- Yvonne Strahovski … Cast, Rene Carpenter
- Dominique McElligott … Cast, Louise Shepard
- Odette Annable … Cast, Trudy Cooper
- Erin Cummings … Cast, Marge Slayton
- Azure Parsons … Cast, Annie Glenn
- Zoe Boyle … Cast, Jo Schirra
- Desmond Harrington … Cast, Alan Shepard
- Bret Harrison … Cast, Gordo Cooper
- Wilson Bethel … Cast, Scott Carpenter
- Kenneth Mitchell … Cast, Deke Slayton
- Joel Johnstone … Cast, Gus Grissom
- Sam Reid … Cast, John Glenn
- Aaron McCusker … Cast, Wally Schirra
- Evan Handler … Cast, Duncan Porter
- William McNamara … Cast, Robert Kennedy
- Elaine Carroll … Cast, Harriet Eisele
- Ryan Doom … Cast, Donn Eisele
- Jon Abrahams … Cast, Frank Borman
- Antonia Bernath … Cast, Susan Borman
- Jimmy Deshler … Cast, Marty Schirra
- Holley Fain … Cast, Marilyn Lovell
- Chloe Barach … Cast, Suzanne Schirra
- Tim Bell … Cast, Doctor
- Clay Chamberlain … Cast, Reporter
- Lucy Faust … Cast, Autumn
- Matty Ferraro … Cast, Jim Lovell
- Brent Henry … Cast, Phoenix
- Michael Francis Horn … Cast, James Tucker
- Brian Matney … Cast, TV Announcer #1
- Andrew Vogel … Cast, Theo