History Channel Pulls the Plug on "The Kennedys"

Here’s a bombshell that just landed in my Inbox…

History Channel is not airing “The Kennedys” miniseries starring Greg Kinnear and Katie Holmes and developed by “24” co-creator Joel Surnow. The news comes from “The Hollywood Reporter.”

A History Channel rep tells the “Reporter,” “Upon completion of the production of ‘The Kennedys,’ History has decided not to air the 8-part miniseries on the network. While the film is produced and acted with the highest quality, after viewing the final product in its totality, we have concluded this dramatic interpretation is not a fit for the History brand.”

“Kennedys” was to have been History’s first scripted mini-series and was the network’s most expensive program ever.

The project has been controversial from the beginning because of Surnow’s involvement since he is a well-known ultra-conservative. The miniseries also drew fire from Kennedy historians.

The report says, “No advertisers had registered complaints or concerns with the miniseries, confirms an A&E spokesperson, but the content was not considered historically accurate enough for the network’s rigorous standards.”

The miniseries is still scheduled to air in Canada on March 6, and will still be broadcast internationally. The producers may try to get a US airing on a pay cable network. In 2003, after CBS bowed to advertiser pressure and cancelled its mini-series, “The Reagans,” the project went to Showtime.

I have to say I was looking forward to the miniseries because of the involvement of Surnow, and other members of the “24” family, including director Jon Cassar and music composer Sean Callery.

Photo Credit: HollywoodReporter.com