posted 03-16-2007 02:32 PM               

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On May 1, "[Law & Order:] Criminal Intent" will feature Tate Donovan ("The O.C.," "Shooter") as an astronaut whose affair with a colleague ends with the woman murdered in their hotel. Amy Ryan ("The Wire," "Capote") will play Donovan's wife.

The episode is a twist on the case of Lisa Nowak, a NASA astronaut who in February was arrested after accosting a woman she reportedly believed was a romantic rival for a fellow astronaut. She was initially charged with attempted murder, though prosecutors dropped that count earlier this month. Nowak will face charges of attempted kidnapping and assault.

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posted 03-16-2007 02:48 PM               

I'm just surprised the Lifetime Movie Network didn't beat them to it.

posted 03-16-2007 05:00 PM               

Thanks for the heads-up! Forewarned is forearmed.

posted 03-16-2007 05:54 PM               

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In "Rocket Man," (Tuesday, May 1, 9:00 PM ET/PT), Tate Donovan stars as Commander Luke Nelson, a married astronaut whose affair with a colleague turns sour when she winds up murdered in their hotel. Amy Ryan stars as Edie Nelson, the wife of Commander Nelson.

Donovan's diverse background includes the critically acclaimed and Oscar nominated film "Good Night and Good Luck" and Disney's "Hercules." His television credits include "Ally McBeal," "Friends," "The Guardian," and most recently, "The OC."

"After all that I've done as a New York actor, I'm thrilled to be guest-starring on a Law & Order show," said Donovan.

Ryan has been nominated for two Tony Awards for Best Actress in "Uncle Vanya" and "A Streetcar Named Desire." She has made guest appearances on all three Law & Order series. Upcoming film credits include "Gone, Baby, Gone" opposite Ed Harris and "Dan In Real Life" with Steve Carell.

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posted 05-01-2007 01:33 PM               

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Tonight's episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent (9 pm/ET, on NBC) got its inspiration from the recent bizarre love triangle involving NASA astronauts. For a preview of this stranger-than-fiction tale, we talked to executive producer Warren Leight, who also wrote the episode.

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posted 05-01-2007 08:24 PM               

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The use of the NASA name, initials, any NASA emblems (including the NASA insignia, the NASA logo and the NASA seal) which would express or imply such endorsement or sponsorship is strictly prohibited.

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Hoffman, the director, told the Los Angeles Times that while he intends to make the movie technically realistic, he ultimately lost NASA's support because of a storyline in which one astronaut kills another.

"The system breaks down," Hoffman was quoted as saying. "They (NASA) didn't want that. And while I really wanted NASA's approval, I said, 'It's more important dramatically to get what I need than it is to get the little logos on the ships.'"

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posted 05-02-2007 12:28 AM            

An astronaut called Hart
An astronaut called Nelson
and a Major Hurley.

posted 05-02-2007 06:48 AM               

I mean it just didn't ring true. Whose wife refers to her astronaut husband as "the Commander." I also got a kick out of the orange flight suits. They couldn't even rent the launch and entry suits used by "The Cape" ?

I would like to know where they filmed it though. It looked like part of it was filmed at the Hayden Planetarium in NYC but there was also a "rocket garden" in the scenery.

I'd also like to see a close-up of the mission patch.

posted 05-02-2007 11:07 AM               

We must have been separated at birth. I'd like to see a closeup of that mission patch also. I couldn't make sense out of it in the TV views last night.