ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB, THE: RETROATTITUDE (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, Deke is angered to have been grounded for the Aurora 7 mission because of his irregular heartbeat, and though she urges Marge to "trust the system," Jo is upset when Scott is selected as Deke's replacement. Wally assures her that he will be chosen for something "bigger and better," while elsewhere Trudy is annoyed to see that their new Houston house will have only two bedrooms. Rene decides that Max's article about her will be "too intimate," though she makes matters worse for herself at a press conference when she suggests that she does not intend to pray for her husband's safety in space. Duncan explodes at her, ordering to be seen at church and to remain "pretty and silent." Marge attempts to call the White House directly to get Deke ungrounded, and Trudy learns that she has the ability to make requests for her custom-made Texas home after all. Hounded by the press, Rene heads to Coco Beach with Trudy and the children, and Trudy is angered to see Gordo cavorting with a young lady by the pool.
Max visits Louise late at night and requests her help in landing the interview with Rene, though Rene worries that he will unearth private business pertaining to her family. A drunken Deke blames John for the loss of the Aurora fighting, suggesting that Scott is not worthy of the honor, and a frustrated Trudy heads for the bar, where she meets one of the "Cookies." The woman confides to her that while Alan Shepard is "a sure thing" for any interested bachelorette, Gordo is known for flirting with women but then refusing to take matters any further. Confused, Trudy accuses Gordo of "fake cheating" on their "fake marriage," but he protests that he is merely saving face in front of the guys and genuinely wishes to resume their relationship. Learning about the men's fight, the rest of the wives decide to join Rene and Trudy in Florida, and Rene vows to write her own article about herself and her experience as an astronaut's wife.
On the day of the launch, young Zavier helps Rene to avoid the press, though he declines to accompany her to the beach, as it is whites-only. Louise stops by Max's hotel room to invite him along, though finds that he is not alone, and though the launch goes well at first, things quickly go south when Scott runs low on fuel and seemingly vanishes. Annie visits Rene, who confides that she had a baby who died in his sleep at six months old, implying that her faith is now a private matter because of the trauma. Scott then makes a safe return, and a delighted Rene teases him for going off-course to explore some "alien lifeforms." Max flirts with Louise as he wonders which wife to profile next, and Deke tells Marge that he intends to appeal his grounding, determined to land a spot on the Gemini mission. Trudy informs Gordo that she will accompany him to Houston "on her own terms," hinting that she will consider reuniting with him if their relationship continues to improve, and Wally excitedly tells Jo that his prediction of "bigger and better" has come true and he is set to be the next to head into space after settling in Houston. Rene appears on the cover of Life magazine, and her insightful article within describes her joys and heartbreaks of her life with Scott. Includes commercials and promos.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: November 30, 1999 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:03:55
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 123421
- GENRE: Drama, historical
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, historical; Astronauts; Marriage
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 2015
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - "Inside Out" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - "Jurassic World" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - AT&T wireless services
- TV - Commercials - Apple iPhone 6
- TV - Commercials - Ashley Furniture HomeStores
- TV - Commercials - Best Buy Samsung appliances
- TV - Commercials - Chevrolet automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Coppertone Sport sunscreen
- TV - Commercials - Crest Pro-Health mouthwash
- TV - Commercials - Cricket Wireless cellular servies
- TV - Commercials - Dr. Scholl's DreamWalk Express Pedi foot smoother
- TV - Commercials - Ford automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Google app services
- TV - Commercials - Humira arthritis medication
- TV - Commercials - JCPenney stores
- TV - Commercials - Jimmy Dean frozen breakfast sandwiches
- TV - Commercials - K9 Advantix II dog bug repellant
- TV - Commercials - Mazda automobiles
- TV - Commercials - McDonald's restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair cream
- TV - Commercials - Neutrogena Ultra-Sheer sunscreen
- TV - Commercials - Opioid-induced constipation treatment
- TV - Commercials - Payless Shoesource stores
- TV - Commercials - PetSmart stores
- TV - Commercials - Quicken Loans financial services
- TV - Commercials - Seresto pet flea and tick protection
- TV - Commercials - Sprint wireless networks
- TV - Commercials - The Home Depot stores
- TV - Commercials - Tide Pods laundry detergent
- TV - Commercials - Toyota automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Tylenol PM painkillers
- TV - Commercials - Vicks ZzzQuil sleep aid
- TV - Promos - "BattleBots"
- TV - Promos - "Celebrity Family Feud"
- TV - Promos - "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"
- TV - Promos - "Mistresses"
- TV - Promos - "Rookie Blue"
- TV - Promos - "The Astronaut Wives Club" upcoming episode
- 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
- Stephanie Savage … Executive Producer, Developed by
- Becky Hartman Edwards … Co-Executive Producer
- Liz Tigelaar … Co-Executive Producer, Writer
- Kelly Van Horn … Producer
- Jonathan Brody … Co-Producer
- Deborah Hayn Cass … Co-Producer
- Lisa Zwerling … Consulting Producer
- J. Miller Tobin … Director
- 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
- Kelton DuMont … Cast, Mark Grissom
- Taylor Jade Erwin … Cast, Kristen Carpenter
- Lorelei Gilbert … Cast, Candy Carpenter
- Casey Groves … Cast, Another Reporter
- Michael Harmon … Cast, Scotty Carpenter
- John Jabaley … Cast, ABC Reporter
- Jim Klock … Cast, Chris Kraft
- Thomas LaGrange … Cast, Scotty Grissom
- Randy LaHaye … Cast, Young Reporter
- Robert Larriviere … Cast, News Anchor
- Ryan Chase Lee … Cast, Bartender
- Grey Manning … Cast, Older Veteran Reporter
- Akili McDowell … Cast, Zavier Gibbs
- Brooklyn Proctor … Cast, Billie
- Lauren Alexandra … Cast, Cookie
- Madison Wolfe … Cast, Julie Shepard