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Update: ‘Kennedys’ Miniseries Finally Lands a TV Deal

Feb. 1, 2011 5:02pm Jonathon M. Seidl

We’ve chronicled the saga of the miniseries “The Kennedys” — the historic TV depiction of the popular family that was yanked by the History Channel before it even aired amid pressure from a former Kennedy aide and, some say, the Kennedy family itself. But now, one network is stepping up to air the controversial eight-episode series, and it’s banking on the controversy increasing viewership.

The Hollywood Reporter (THR) has the scoop:

The controversial miniseries will world premiere on April 3 on the ReelzChannel, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Producers of the ambitious project from 24 executive producer Joel Surnow and writer Stephen Kronish have struck a deal with the independent, family-owned cable network to air the 8-part miniseries, which was abruptly yanked from the History channel on January 7 amid pressure from the Kennedys over its depiction of the political family. At the time, History owner A&E Television Networks told THR that “after viewing the final product in its totality, we have concluded this dramatic interpretation is not a fit for the History brand.”

But it is certainly a fit for ReelzChannel, a 4-year old independent cable channel owned by Minnesota-based Hubbard Communications that is available in 60 million homes nationwide on services including DirecTV, Dish Network, AT&T, Time Warner Cable, Comcast and Charter Communications.

“We think it will drive ratings and put a spotlight on this network that has never been on it before,” ReelzChannel CEO Stan Hubbard told THR. “We’re going to do a full-blown marketing campaign.”

With this new deal in place, the miniseries will not air in Canada in March as previously planned. Instead, Reelz will air two episodes on April 3, and then the other episodes will air on consecutive nights after that, THR says.

“One of the benefits of being an independent network is that you can be an independent voice and you don’t have to worry about corporate pressure or political pressure,” Hubbard told THR. “This is a project that deserves to be seen.”

The series was partially produced by conservative Joel Surnow (of “24″ fame), which left some questioning the intent of the series. In response to that criticism, executive producer Michael Prupas defended the show as “meticulously researched” and “the truth.”

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Comments (61)

emertz8413
Posted on February 1, 2011 at 8:08pm
I’ll watch it too, just to see what all the hype’s about!

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Showtime
Posted on February 1, 2011 at 8:04pm
I hope it doesn’t turn out to be a promotion for the Democratic Party. (Concern No. 1.)
Wonder if ALL the Kennedy garbage — uh — dirty laundry will be included. (Concern No. 2.)
If TVPC doesn’t have the channel, I will have no concerns about it at all!

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ChiefGeorge
Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:37pm
When is history ever fit for consumption of the masses since most of it is indeed very nasty business involving very nasty people from all walks of life. Keep burying the truth about the nature of man and you continue to see people who act without any conscience and blame it on someone else. Oh, thats right, we already do that. I can’t wait to se this but I don’t have cable. Oh well.

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bbr48
Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:35pm
Much adu about nothin…

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mickie4
Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:26pm
Great! Can’t wait to see this mini-series. Marked my calendar for April 3rd.

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KL
Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:17pm
I saw the trailer and it looks excellent, can’t wait to watch it! Greg Kinnear looks terrific in this movie.

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don4logo
Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:13pm
How DARE they spread all those nasty little truths about the Kennedy family.

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Cape_Lookout_RW_Extremist
Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:08pm
What’s the deal? I thought she was never gonna let this be shown! This story changed faster than an oldsmobile going off a bridge!

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Margaret Thatcher
Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:03pm
JFK was radically different, manically different, than today’s dems. If this series portrays’ historical events as they actually happened – it will be a good thing. I was never a fan of the Kennedy dynasty, but this will be eye-opening to the progessive pigs – all three of them who choose to watch.

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Chellebelle
Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:02pm
I don’t really care!

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- JD Carp
  Posted on February 1, 2011 at 10:31pm
  I lived through the Kennedy years and I don’t miss them at all. Dad was a bootlegger, sons were womanizers and Mom owned a lot of black dresses.
  
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- JD Carp
  Posted on February 1, 2011 at 10:33pm
  I lived through the Kennedy years. Dad was a bootlegger, boys were womanizers and Mom owned a lot of black dresses.
  
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theCREATORisGOD
Posted on February 1, 2011 at 6:57pm
I live in the Greater Los Angeles area and have DirecTV, REELZ is channel 238.

I will be watching :)

P.S. I know the word GREATer should not be used in the same sentence as Los Angeles. I;m working on relocating…

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Angelacw
Posted on February 1, 2011 at 6:51pm
Oh YAY – I’d like to see it.

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Tracking
Posted on February 1, 2011 at 6:43pm
There was a report I watched where they interviewed a lady about this Kennedy Miniseries. She said they received pressure and threats from the far left, producers and people in the business as well as the Kennedy family. She also stated that they objected to innunendos about sex, drinking and some of the actual events. The one that was produced, got cancelled, after it was already done. The left hired someone else to do one that was “more favorabvle” to the left and the Kennedys.
The actual real producer and original mini-series was furious. Michael Moore also had his say in the matter according to this lady.

She said, on live TV, that they wanted to re-invent the truth.

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flagbearer
Posted on February 1, 2011 at 6:35pm
The mass media glorified the Kennedys and made them into American royalty. I did not support JFK or his brother Robert, and there’s much more about them that we’ll never be privy to knowing. Just the fact that Carolyn didn’t like the spin of the series speaks for itself.

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shorthanded12
Posted on February 1, 2011 at 6:34pm
Kennedys, Clintons, and now Obamas…god Im sick of hearing those names. who cares about these people, we all know JFK was a playa and Teddy was a drinker…hell thats the whole story. THE END!!

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Nervous Investor
Posted on February 1, 2011 at 6:34pm
I wonder if one can get REELZ on the internet – will have to check it out. This has got my interest.

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wash1776
Posted on February 1, 2011 at 6:27pm
If there wasn’t a lot of truth in this series, the Kennedys wouldn’t have brought attention to it by having it cancelled. They did this with the story of Marilyn Monroe and I am sure, because of all of the reading I have done over the years, Robert Kennedy had something to do with Monroe’s death. I don’t think that Mary Jo’s death was any accident either with Ted Kennedy. I don’t make these statements lightly and I am not a conspiracy theorist. I have read extensively on both incidents and came to my own conclusions.

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righter
Posted on February 1, 2011 at 6:13pm
Am disappointed as don’t receive REELZ. Is this a popular channel on cable systems? Wonder if the DVD will be out soon?

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GoingBeck
Posted on February 1, 2011 at 6:03pm
Let the truth always find a voice.

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ConservativeFeminist
Posted on February 1, 2011 at 5:59pm
I will watch this solely because the Kennedy family exerted political influence to stop it from airing on the History Channel (and national TV).

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RightPolitically
Posted on February 1, 2011 at 5:45pm
Good for ReelzChannel. Remember folks, boycott the History Channel for its support of POLITICAL CORRECTNESS and caving to pressure from the Kennedys. Free speech MUST LIVE!

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- RightPolitically
  Posted on February 1, 2011 at 5:53pm
  And furthermore………BOYCOTT THE HISTORY CHANNEL!
  
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- Cape_Lookout_RW_Extremist
  Posted on February 1, 2011 at 7:11pm
  They should rename it to Revisionist History Channel.
  
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- kkfedup
  Posted on February 1, 2011 at 9:04pm
  I rarely watch the History Channel because they don’t tell the truth anymore. Too PC for me, makes my blood boil.
  
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- FrankSpeak
  Posted on February 1, 2011 at 9:48pm
  History Channel shows nothing but the Ax Men, what has that got to do with history?
  
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8jrts
Posted on February 1, 2011 at 5:45pm
Wonder if they say the truth about them…how they got their fortune from bootlegging and tell about Mary Jo Kopechne’s death….the truth about all of it….

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- VRW Conspirator
  Posted on February 1, 2011 at 6:20pm
  the Kennedy family were also pirates….they would put out false lighthouses along the Massachusetts coastline and draw ships onto the rocks….then when the cargo washed on shore, “salvage” the wreckage as allowed by Maritime Law. Or they would put out the lights on the real lighthouses and let the ships crash onto the rocks…there are even reports of JFK’s grandfather being involved in these “ventures” and collecting the cargo as men washed on shore hurt or floundered in the icy waters drowning….they would just row past the men and get the cargo and let any survivors drown….bastards….
  
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TruthTalker
Posted on February 1, 2011 at 5:42pm
I like George Kennedy. He is a pretty good actor. They are going to show his whole family?

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- DVT
  Posted on February 1, 2011 at 6:06pm
  hahahahaha
  
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- Glenn in Virginia
  Posted on February 1, 2011 at 8:21pm
  No, but I understand Kevin and his immortal movie, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, will be included.
  
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pamela kay
Posted on February 1, 2011 at 5:39pm
I will most likely watch this. Curiosity more than anything.

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Steve Martin
Posted on February 1, 2011 at 5:37pm
We need to know about these people.

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- CatB
  Posted on February 1, 2011 at 5:56pm
  ReelzChannel? Never heard of it … how about DVD ?
- Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
  Posted on February 1, 2011 at 6:26pm
  I wish the History channel would have shown some spine and/or guts in addition to common sense and allowed the series to air in the first place. Now, somehow, I feel it is about to be put out to the proverbial pasture and not be seen by many people who could benefit from its airing.
  
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- shorthanded12
  Posted on February 1, 2011 at 6:31pm
  20 years from now Moochelle will be wanting her Chicago Camolot story told. LMAO…great SNL gig.
  
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- MotherRedDog
  Posted on February 1, 2011 at 6:57pm
  Yippee. I get Reelz and never watch it. They are right about the ratings. This should really help them out. I, for one, am very excited to see they found someone who isn’t afraid to upset the “family”..
  
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- independentvoteril
  Posted on February 1, 2011 at 11:20pm
  Never heard of the station will be looking to see if I can get it.. Have to ask.. I was told I can not record any of the cable shows with the new cable boxes is this true??
  
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- Todd Kinsey
  Posted on February 1, 2011 at 11:31pm
  Channel 102 on Comcast Houston, TX
  
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- rugin
  Posted on February 2, 2011 at 2:12am
  reezlchannel is 200 on time warner
  
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- Living In NYC
  Posted on February 2, 2011 at 4:59am
  Yippee….Free speech – we finally see the liberals in the act!
  
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- Echad
  Posted on February 2, 2011 at 11:47pm
  Here’s a great book on the Kennedy’s
  The Dark Side of Camelot
  by Seymour M. Hersh
  
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