Yeah, the History brand. Wouldn't want them to lose their credibillity.
Posted on 01/11/2011 12:54:25 PM PST by mojito
Pressure from the Kennedy family played a key role in the History channel's decision to pull the plug on its controversial miniseries The Kennedys.
As The Hollywood Reporter first reported, the eight-part miniseries, starring Greg Kinnear and Katie Holmes and masterminded by conservative 24 co-creator Joel Surnow, was abruptly yanked from the History schedule Jan. 7 before a planned airdate in the spring. In a statement to THR, a rep for History parent A&E Television Networks said that "after viewing the final product in its totality, we have concluded this dramatic interpretation is not a fit for the History brand."
None of History's advertisers or sponsors complained about the miniseries. But behind the scenes, members of the Kennedy family strongly lobbied AETN to kill the project since it was announced in December 2009, according to a source close to the situation. In recent weeks, those efforts intensified.
AETN is owned by a consortium including the Walt Disney Co., NBC Universal and Hearst. The source said that Disney/ABC Television Group topper Anne Sweeney, who serves on the AETN board and is said to hold tremendous sway over its decisions, was personally lobbied by Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy. Caroline Kennedy has a book deal with Disney's Hyperion publishing division, which announced in April 2010 that it will publish a collection of previously unreleased interviews with the late Jackie Kennedy timed to the 50th anniversary of the first year of JFK's presidency this fall.
(Excerpt) Read more at hollywoodreporter.com ...
Wow. I wondered what had happened as I was looking forward to seeing Katie what’s her name play Jackie Kennedy.
Perhaps it contained too much of the God’s honest truth.
So there were too many truths. Does working on a film with a conservative like Joel make Greg and Katie conservative?
It isn’t clear that the miniseries won’t be released by a different network. My understanding is that A&E only own the U.S. distribution rights, so you might be able to get a backdoor DVD from Singapore or Shanghai. I got some Tom and Jerry DVDs from Singapore that are not available in the U.S. (Black maid is too black.)
My only question. Did they actually view the series or did they just read the script or did they even read the script?
I’m willing to bet anything that they did not read the script or watch the series. I really doubt the Ted Sorensen did either.
These people want to rewrite history.
We will get to see it, and I predict it will be a hit.
Good to see their empire of drugs, rape and murder finally come to an end.
The Kennedy clan and Leftist documentary-maker, Robert Greenwald, have been campaigning to kill this project from the beginning because Joel Surnow (”24” creator) was producing. Greenwald campaigns to kill every project involving the Kennedys for fear the “Camelot” fiction will be soiled.
Episode 1: Joe Prohibition
Episode 2: John and the Skirt
Episode 3: Joe at the Podium
Episode 4: John Turns the Corner
Episode 5: Michael’s Hole in One
Episode 6: The Buick, the Bridge and the Coward
Episode 7: Crazy Nephew’s Mansion Passion
Episode 8: Bloating
Episone 9: Look Out Oak Tree You’re In My Way
Episode 10: Stupid is as Stupid Flys
Episode 11: Welcome to Bankrupt Hotel California
A&E has no international distribution rights, but my guess is there will be moves to block it in all the foreign markets.
Yep, but the less I see of the Kennedys; the better it is. They are a closed chapter.
When this was announced. Folks around here were gleeful. However, now that is found to have been because the Kennedy’s stopped it now it is a freedom of the press issue. Really????? Some here are really amazing.
Sweet Sour Caroline...
“A&E has no international distribution rights, but my guess is there will be moves to block it in all the foreign markets.”
I don’t know the ins and outs of the movie business, but the article specifically states:
“The Kennedys is still scheduled to be broadcast in Canada on March 6 and will air in foreign countries as well. AETN has allowed producers Asylum Entertainment and Muse Entertainment to shop the miniseries to another U.S. network. Producers have targeted Showtime, which in 2003 broadcast the controversial presidential project The Reagansafter CBS refused to air it.”
Thus, my guess is that regardless of History Channel’s decision, Americans WILL ultimately get to see this through DVD or some other means of distribution of whatever airs in Canada.
It will be interesting to see if Greenwald and Kennedy allies continue to block this project internationally. My guess is, if they can kill an eight part, completed movie, that cost millions of dollars to produce, they can stop it from showing in every market.
Having the rights and making the actual deals are two different things.
PS: Apparently, “The Path To 9-11” is still not available on DVD. I have the documentary “Who Blocked The Path To 9-11”, but thought the movie had been released. It hasn’t. Still blocked.
A little too historic for the History channel?
Yeah, the History brand. Wouldn't want them to lose their credibillity.
Way too late for that Canada is already set to show it.
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