Scandal alert: Katie Holmes’ Kennedy movie canned
Seeing the words “Kennedy” and “scandal” in the same sentence is old pillbox hat, if you will. “Scandal” and “Cobourg, Ontario,” not so much. But how else to describe the somewhat shocking cancellation of the highly anticipated and already completed Kennedy miniseries that was shot in Ontario’s feel-good town last year? The Kennedys, starring Greg Kinnear as JFK and Katie Holmes as Jackie, was originally set to air on the History Channel next spring. So why did the multimillion-dollar project (and guaranteed ratings juggernaut) end up on the cutting room floor? Here’s the official reason: “Upon completion of the production of The Kennedys, History has decided not to air the eight-part miniseries on the network.” But of course, in true Kennedy fashion, there’s a smutty behind-the-scenes explanation, as well.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, History’s parent company, A&E Television Networks, received a whole lot of pressure from JFK’s only living offspring, Caroline Kennedy, who reportedly also called in favours from her contacts at Disney/ABC with influence over the project—and even used her involvement in an upcoming book about her iconic mother (to be published by Disney) as leverage. Meanwhile, her cousin Maria Shriver (a.k.a. Mrs. Arnold Schwarzenegger) did everything she could to, ahem, terminate the project by strong-arming her former co-workers at NBC (AETN is co-owned by a group that includes the Walt Disney Co. and NBC Universal). And here we thought Republicans were the shady backroom bullies.
The bad news: much of the world may miss the opportunity to see an all-star cast portray one of the most controversial clans in history (and with all this hoopla, you just know there must be some seriously filthy laundry in question). The good news: we won’t. Shaw Media, the local network that broadcasts Rookie Blue, ET Canada and The Opener, will air The Kennedys this March.
• How Caroline Kennedy, Maria Shriver Helped Kill ‘Kennedys’ Miniseries [Hollywood Reporter]
• ‘Kennedys’ getting Canadian airtime [Toronto Sun]
 end up on the cutting room floor? Here’s the official reason: “Upon completion of the production of The Kennedys, History has decided not to air the eight-part miniseries on the network.” But of course, in true Kennedy fashion, there’s a smutty behind-the-scenes explanation, as well.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, History’s parent company, A&E Television Networks, received a whole lot of pressure from JFK’s only living offspring, Caroline Kennedy, who reportedly also called in favours from her contacts at Disney/ABC with influence over the project—and even used her involvement in an upcoming book about her iconic mother (to be published by Disney) as leverage. Meanwhile, her cousin Maria Shriver (a.k.a. Mrs. Arnold Schwarzenegger) did everything she could to, ahem, terminate the project by strong-arming her former co-workers at NBC (AETN is co-owned by a group that includes the Walt Disney Co. and NBC Universal). And here we thought Republicans were the shady backroom bullies.
The bad news: much of the world may miss the opportunity to see an all-star cast portray one of the most controversial clans in history (and with all this hoopla, you just know there must be some seriously filthy laundry in question). The good news: we won’t. Shaw Media, the local network that broadcasts Rookie Blue, ET Canada and The Opener, will air The Kennedys this March.
• How Caroline Kennedy, Maria Shriver Helped Kill 'Kennedys' Miniseries [Hollywood Reporter]
• 'Kennedys' getting Canadian airtime [Toronto Sun]){kind=link}
Why is this a “shocking” cancellation? Remember “The Reagans”? (Shot in Montreal.) Same fate, political pressure reversed. Dropped by CBS, picked up by Showtime. Actually, much of the world will get the opportunity to watch this series, just not American viewers on network tv.
I can think of many many other political families I’d like to have portrayed in a miniseries than JFKs. Seriously. Leave it be. I believe in all honesty – as compared to any common family with their own non-published scandals – the public or private so-called saga will or cease to exist whether the media, movie industry or casting agencies decide to generate the entertainment industries economy by manipulating their version on what they think was actually a time where history should just just be left in history. Move onto current economic realities. Get with the times. Frankly it’s not entertainment anymore. It’s as dead as the members of the family, may they all rest in peace.
I think Katie Holmes probably just couldn’t carry it off.
Nothing shocking! The series was a right-wing attempt to smear the Kennedy family, and the network smartly responded to popular pressure not to air.
I THINK THIS HAS BEEN AN EXCELLENT MINI-SERIES….TO BAD POLITICAL PRESSURE STILL PREVAILS.
I would like to purches the movie The Kennedys, if you can tell me where I can purches this movie, thanks
Mike