ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB, THE: LAUNCH {SERIES PREMIERE} (TV)

Summary

The first 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 1959, Alan Shepard is thrilled to learn that he has been accepted into the space program and will be one of seven men training for orbital space flight in the so-called "Space Race" against the Russians. At a party for the Seven, Life magazine journalists Max Kaplan and Duncan Porter debate writing a piece about the women, and the Shepards meet the Glenns, the Grissoms and the other couples. Aware that only one of the men will be selected to be the first-ever person in space, the women form an immediate competition of sorts, all believing that their husband deserves the top spot. Max approaches the wives and requests to write a story about them, not just about their husbands, sure that they do not have any "bad habits or big secrets" that will distract from the wholesome, all-American story.

The wives soon gather for a photoshoot, with Trudy Cooper hinting that she is willing to hide "the truth" for her husband Gordo's sake. Glamorous Rene Carpenter effortlessly upstages everyone, and the women soon all receive matching cars, as NASA feels that visible unanimity will "send the right message." At a party at the Slayton home, Louise's children find a trunk marked with an unknown man's name from Marge's time as a secretary during World War II, suggesting that she had a love affair before meeting her husband, and she admits that she cannot "compete" with the other, seemingly perfect wives. When Trudy telephones Gordo at Cape Canaveral, she overhears the men celebrating with various ladies, and she quickly arranges for the wives to surprise their husband with a visit. Louise is heartbroken to spot Alan flirting with other women, and Trudy privately reveals that she and Gordo are already in the process of divorcing, owing to his earlier affair, but are maintaining a happy appearance for the sake of his career.

Rene rescues the shy Annie Glenn when she is cornered by a reporter and inadvertently reveals her severe stammer, and Louise sternly tells Alan not to humiliate her with reckless behavior during their time in the spotlight. The wife are shocked when an unmanned test rocket explodes moments after takeoff, and when Louise tries to remain stoic, Trudy informs her that a "modern wife" should not tolerate with her husband's dalliances. Sometime later, Alan is elated when he is selected to be the first man in space, but everyone is then crushed when the Russians beat them to it and send cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin into orbit. Nevertheless, Alan and the others prepare for the first spaceflight, with Gordo placed in charge of the countdown, and the other wives arrive at Louise's home to keep her company during the frightening experience, but she coldly turns them away, telling Max that she does not need their assistance. Everyone watches anxiously as the rocket blasts into space and, after a nerve-wracking delay, successfully makes contact with NASA. The wives – minus Louise – celebrate the victory together, and Louise forces herself to overcome her momentary terror and gives a dignified statement to the press about her husband's accomplishment. Later, the other wives watch on television as the Shepards meet President and First Lady Kennedy, and though Louise hopes that she and Alan can "take a step back" after the exciting flight, Alan informs her that NASA intends to send a man to the moon and that their efforts are far from over. He and Gordo head back to the Cape and quickly resume their womanizing, and Betty Grissom learns that her husband Gus is next up to enter space. Louise finally bonds with the other wives, having decided that the women must stick together throughout the Mercury Seven's experiences. 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: 123368
• GENRE: Drama, historical
• SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, historical; Astronauts; Marriage
• SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 2015
• COMMERCIALS:
  • TV - Commercials - "Inside Out" motion picture
  • TV - Commercials - AT&T wireless networks
  • TV - Commercials - Apple iPhones
  • TV - Commercials - Aveeno baby lotions
  • TV - Commercials - Centrum MultiGummies vitamins
  • TV - Commercials - Chapstick lip balm
  • TV - Commercials - Cricket Wireless cellular servies
  • TV - Commercials - Discover credit cards
  • TV - Commercials - Hershey's caramel chocolates
  • TV - Commercials - Hyundai automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Jeep automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Jublia toenail fungus medication
  • TV - Commercials - Lincoln automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Maybelline Blush Nudes eyeshadow
  • TV - Commercials - McDonald's restaurants
  • TV - Commercials - Mutual of Omaha insurance
  • TV - Commercials - Nabisco Oreo cookies
  • TV - Commercials - Onexton acne treatment
  • TV - Commercials - Payless Shoesource stores
  • TV - Commercials - Planet Fitness gyms
  • TV - Commercials - Rimmel London Wonder'Lash mascara
  • TV - Commercials - Sally Hansen Miracle Gel nail polish
  • TV - Commercials - Sprint Family Share Pack cellular services
  • TV - Commercials - Toyota automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Volkswagen automobiles
  • TV - Promos - "BattleBots"
  • TV - Promos - "Celebrity Family Feud"
  • TV - Promos - "Mistresses"
  • TV - Promos - "Quantico"
  • TV - Promos - "Rookie Blue"
  • TV - Promos - "The Astronaut Wives Club" upcoming episodes
  • TV - Promos - "The Bachelorette"
  • TV - Promos - "The Whispers"

CREDITS

• Len Goldstein … Executive Producer
• Michael London … Executive Producer
• Josh Schwartz … Executive Producer
• Janice Williams … Executive Producer
• Lone Scherfig … Executive Producer, Director
• Stephanie Savage … Executive Producer, Developed by, Writer
• Becky Hartman Edwards … Co-Executive Producer
• Liz Tigelaar … Co-Executive Producer
• Reid Shane … Producer
• Jonathan Brody … Co-Producer
• Deborah Hayn Cass … Co-Producer
• Lisa Zwerling … Consulting Producer
• 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
• Luke Kirby … Cast, Max Kaplan
• Evan Handler … Cast, Duncan Porter
• Stella Allen … Cast, Alice Shepard
• Morgan Burch … Cast, Cam Cooper
• Christina DeRosa … Cast, Sheryl
• Kelton DuMont … Cast, Mark Grissom
• Ian Hoch … Cast, Photographer
• Thomas LaGrange … Cast, Scotty Grissom
• Robert Larriviere … Cast, News Anchor
• Craig Leydecker … Cast, TV Reporter
• Ben Matheny … Cast, Local Reporter
• Brooklyn Proctor … Cast, Billie
• Danny Vinson … Cast, Dr. Glennan
• Victoria Vodar … Cast, Janice
• Madison Wolfe … Cast, Julie Shepard