ABC · Ended

Call to Glory

Drama · 1984

Last aired: S1 E20, The JFK Years · 1985-06-30

Call to Glory was intended as an ABC mini-series, deplicting the turbelent 1960's as seen through the eyes of an Air Force family, a pre-Coach Craig T Nelson stars as Col. Raynor Sarnac and Cindy Picket as his wife Vanessa and Elisabeth Shue and Gabriel Damon with David Hollander and C Thomas Howell and the late Keenam Wynn as the Sarnac family. The two hour pilot focuses on the Cuban Missle crisis of 1962. This pilot and the mini series itself were originally intended to be aired on ABC in the spring of 1984, but ABC smelled potential in the project and ordered that it be expanded into a thirteen week series. The premiere was moved up to August 13, 1984 with the pilot unveiled right after ABC'S Olympics coverage. Call To Glory was an immediate ratings success at the outset; alas ABC'S decision to move away from the historical aspects of the show to concentrate on the soapish goings on with the Sarnac family prompted a severe viewer dropoff.

Cast

Craig T. Nelson Colonel Raynor Sarnac

Cindy Pickett Vanessa Sarnac

Elisabeth Shue Jackie Sarnac

Gabriel Damon R.H. Sarnac

David Hollander Wesley Sarnac

Keenan Wynn Carl Sarnac

Tom O'Brien Patrick Thomas

J.D. Cannon Major General Mike Hampton

Priscilla Pointer Lillie

David Baker Tom Bonelli

Season 1

E1 Pilot 1984-08-13 · 120 min During the darkest days of the Cuban missile crisis, Raynor is ordered to fly over Cuba to obtain proof that the Russians are installing nuclear warheads.

E2 The Move 1984-08-20 · 60 min The entire Sarnac family is thrown into turmoil when Raynor receives a lucrative job offer in the private sector.

E3 Blackbird 1984-08-27 · 60 min Raynor faces one of his toughest missions as he tries to prevent a bitter ex-pilot from exposing the details of a top secret mission.

E4 A Nation Divided 1984-09-03 · 60 min The violence spawned by the Civil Rights Movement hits home when Wesley and a black friend are beaten by teenage racists.

E5 Paper Tiger 1984-09-17 · 60 min A dangerous top-secret mission takes Raynor over Red China to see if the Chinese have developed an Atomic Bomb.

E6 Go / No Go 1984-09-24 · 60 min On a mission into the heart of Saigon, Raynor bears personal witness to the horrifying brutality of the government.

E7 Call It Courage 1984-10-01 · 60 min Raynor's involvement in a bitter political controversy could cost him a valued friendship... and ruin his military career.

E8 A Wind from the East 1984-10-08 · 60 min Forced to bail out of a crippled plane, Raynor and a Japanese Air Force officer struggle to survive in a dangerous wilderness.

E9 A Moment in the Sun 1984-10-22 · 60 min Raynor is torn between duty and friendship when an Air Force buddy suddenly develops a crippling fear of flying.

E10 Cover Story 1984-10-29 · 60 min While testing a new flight system, Sarnec is hounded by an investigative reporter probing for revelations about defense spending.

E11 Realities 1984-11-12 · 60 min Raynor and Vanessa are so involved in their friends' marital problems, they don't notice Carl is facing a crisis of his own.

E12 The Wake 1984-11-19 · 60 min Tension mounts in the Sarnac household as Raynor prepares for a mission that has already claimed the life of one of his best test pilots.

E13 Medals All of Brass 1984-11-26 · 60 min Raynor is forced to face the harsh truth that an old friend is really a spy for the KGB.

E14 A Wind of Change 1984-12-03 · 60 min A flight over Vietnam turns into a journey of terror when Raynor is shot down and captured by the North Vietnamese.

E15 Give Unto Caesar 1984-12-17 · 60 min Stiff penalties await a pilot who disobeys orders and brings a Russian defector back to America; Jackie makes her first solo flight.

E16 Moonchild 1985-01-15 · 60 min Vanessa's joy over a job with an electronics firm palls when she learns she's pregnant; Sarnac works with NASA's astronaut program.

E17 Images 1985-01-22 · 60 min The Sarnac family faces an uncertain future when Vanessa decides she needs a break from her husband and children.

E18 Fathers and Sons 1985-01-29 · 60 min Raynor finds himself on an emotional roller coaster when he discovers the truth about Carl's illness... and about his daughter's relationship with a new boyfriend.

E19 Just in Time 1985-02-12 · 60 min While on special assignment in Vietnam, Raynor launches a dangerous rescue mission to save a Vietnamese boy he wants to adopt.

E20 The JFK Years 1985-06-30 · 120 min Raynor and his family face difficult personal challenges in the days leading to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

E21 Fathers and Daughters 60 min Jackie longs to follow in her father's footsteps and become an Air Force pilot.

E22 The End, the Beginning 60 min Raynor returns to the United States after three years in a Vietnamese prison camp. He finds America and his family have changed much in his absence.

TV listings and show data from TVmaze.