The 24 Hour Woman 1999

As the frenzied producer of one of New York City's local morning shows, "The 24 Hour Woman," Grace Santos understands the equally frenzied lives and concerns of her primarily female audience. Grace's goal to produce a show that inspires and enlightens is guided by her ratings-hungry executive. As Grace's stomach slowly swells (due to pregnancy), so too do the show's ratings, building toward the baby's fortuitously timed delivery during November sweeps. While she and her staff concoct easy soundbite lessons for their viewers - "The ABC's of C-Sections," "Underwater Births," "You & Your Epidural," "Orgasms to Induce Labor" - Grace grows increasingly uncertain about work and motherhood. As "The 24 Hour Woman" moves beyond "The 24 Hour Pregnancy," Grace finds that she does not have much time for anything, except perhaps to contemplate her burgeoning inner conflict: To be a working mother or not to be. One year later, Grace and her husband's jumbled priorities reach a nadir. Although "The 24 Hour Woman" goes network after the success of the pregnancy campaign, child rearing takes a back seat to Grace and Eddie's all-consuming careers. As Grace struggles to hold it together, she discovers that "doing it all" is a far cry from "having it all," even for the 24 Hour Woman.