Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-21-2008 11:28 PM
Tonight's Law & Order SVU episode "Lunacy" followed the investigation into the murder of an astronaut:
After famous astronaut Marga Janssen's corpse is found afloat in the waters of Battery Park, Detectives Elliot Stabler (Chris Meloni) and Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) initially believe the murder is linked to a string of serial rapes. Upon further investigation, this theory is proven false when their suspect's alibi checks out. At a dead end, Detective Stabler turns to his old mentor and former colleague of Janssen's, NASA astronaut Dick Finley to shed some light on the case. Finley's advice exposes several more suspects, but possibly takes the detectives further from the truth.
While the plot was a tad transparent (although it was not, as a pleasant surprise, "ripped from the headlines"), whoever advised or wrote the script appeared to be knowledgeable of space history.
Mention is made of the X-15 (in connection to a 'silver spacesuit'), Apollo (with specific reference to the cancellation of Apollos 18, 19 and 20), Skylab, ALT, shuttle and the ISS. Pete Conrad and Buzz Aldrin are referred to by name, as is the MouseTrap in Cocoa Beach (in the past tense) and Ellington Field in Houston.
One of the fictional astronauts is from the European Space Agency and her and her colleagues presence in New York is explained as having attended a symposium at the New York Hall of Science about NASA's return to the Moon.
That said and without giving away too much, there is a rather unflattering portrayal of an astronaut autograph collector, though I did note that he didn't "use the e-mail" so he was obviously not a member of the fictional version of collectSPACE.com.
divemaster Member
Posts: 1376 From: ridgefield, ct Registered: May 2002
posted 10-22-2008 08:50 AM
But he had Gus Grissom in an autograph book!!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-22-2008 12:23 PM
This "two-minute replay" from NBC pretty much cuts out most of the space history references but briefly shows the autograph collector and fictional astronauts:
Delta7 Member
Posts: 1505 From: Bluffton IN USA Registered: Oct 2007
posted 10-22-2008 12:25 PM
The one angle I found completely bogus was James Brolin's character being a veteran of the Apollo era (having had the moon "taken away" from him when Apollos 18, 19 & 20 were cancelled), AND still an active Astronaut today AND having been tapped by NASA to head up the return to the moon effort. He'd have to be at least in his early 70s today, and over 80 by the time 2018 were to roll around!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-22-2008 01:35 PM
I think Brolin's character may have been patterned more or less on Story Musgrave's career. Though Musgrave never flew the X-15, he was in the program when Apollos 18, 19 and 20 would have flown, was back-up to Skylab I (Brolin's character flew on Skylab I), at one time held the record for the most shuttle flights (Brolin's "Dick Finley" tied that record) and could have chosen to remain with the astronaut office had he desired.
Of course, the comparison ends there. I think the plot relied on the premise that the fictional Finley was fooling himself into thinking that he would fly again, let alone to the Moon.
KSCartist Member
Posts: 2896 From: Titusville, FL USA Registered: Feb 2005
posted 10-23-2008 07:09 PM
In the scene where "Thibodeau" the autograph collector (played by Chris Elliott) is being escorted out of the squad room, you'll notice he's carrying his book bag adorned with patches.
Well I noticed one that was very familiar. My "Celebrating 50 Years of America in Space" patch is on the bag.
Pretty cool, Tim
Jay Chladek Member
Posts: 2272 From: Bellevue, NE, USA Registered: Aug 2007
posted 10-24-2008 04:10 PM
Makes me wonder if Jay Babree was used as a technical advisor on this show. I must say, having more then a few passing references like that tells me that somebody with a decent knowledge worked on the script and it is way better then half the shows out there.
Mr Meek Member
Posts: 353 From: Chattanooga, TN Registered: Dec 2007
posted 10-28-2008 10:31 PM
There's a curious little model of "the vehicle that's going to take us back" to the moon that Col. Finley gives the kid. Sort of a beefier Atlas with a blue roll pattern, and certainly not an Ares I or Ares V.
As to the plot...well. You know what a Saturn V and that plot 'twist' have in common? You see them both coming from a mile away.
posted 10-21-2008 11:28 PM
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