# Your theories on why History Channel scrapped the JFK miniseries (or, what exactly is their brand?) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 14, 2011, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-theories-on-why-history-channel-scrapped-the-jfk-miniseries-or-what-exactly-is-their-brand/567607 "2011-01-14T15:58:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-theories-on-why-history-channel-scrapped-the-jfk-miniseries-or-what-exactly-is-their-brand/567607/21 "2011-01-14T20:37:31Z")
I read somewhere- can’t remember where- that some Kennedys were very pissed that the movie portrayed JFK as insisting that his numerous dalliances were the only thing that kept his migraines from incapacitating him. And that is not a joke, on my part, at least- I did read that that is why the movie was pulled. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-theories-on-why-history-channel-scrapped-the-jfk-miniseries-or-what-exactly-is-their-brand/567607/22 "2011-01-14T20:56:52Z")
Maybe the screenplay was written by Gore Vidal. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-theories-on-why-history-channel-scrapped-the-jfk-miniseries-or-what-exactly-is-their-brand/567607/23 "2011-01-14T22:17:31Z")
It would have ruined every other History Channel program. The explanation of the Masonic triangle from Hyannisport to Washington to Dallas was flawed and when they decoded Profiles in Courage it revealed that the descendent of Jesus was a Teamster living in Seattle. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-theories-on-why-history-channel-scrapped-the-jfk-miniseries-or-what-exactly-is-their-brand/567607/24 "2011-01-14T22:34:40Z")
Since I haven’t seen the movie it’s hard to say this for sure, but I think it probably just sucked. Nothing new for the HC, but the inevitable publicity regarding accuracy and political interpretations would have highlighted a bad film. So they dumped a turkey because people would have watched it. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-theories-on-why-history-channel-scrapped-the-jfk-miniseries-or-what-exactly-is-their-brand/567607/25 "2011-01-14T23:23:00Z")
> [@Prelude\_to\_Fascination](#): > > And Monsters. Don’t forget the Monsters. I read that as “Munsters,” imagined the Munster mobile soaked in blood, Eddie saluting, Grandpa as the Dallas coroner inserting a new brain, etc. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-theories-on-why-history-channel-scrapped-the-jfk-miniseries-or-what-exactly-is-their-brand/567607/26 "2011-01-15T01:32:50Z")
Today I read that Caroline Kennedy had some tapes of interviews with Jackie and some project in the works based on same, for the history channel, and that she threatened to withdraw from that project, if they aired this. But really, who knows? ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2011, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-theories-on-why-history-channel-scrapped-the-jfk-miniseries-or-what-exactly-is-their-brand/567607/27 "2011-01-15T03:20:30Z")
I’m only pleased in that this is another blow to the struggling career of one half of the Tom Cruises. Ha-ha. (But it cost a lot to make and I can’t imagine somebody not picking it up.) ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-theories-on-why-history-channel-scrapped-the-jfk-miniseries-or-what-exactly-is-their-brand/567607/28 "2011-01-18T16:28:30Z")
[The New York Times](http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/18/arts/television/18kennedy.html?_r=1&ref=arts) has an article today on the cancellation that puts a whole different spin on it. > [@](#): > > The cryptic statement from History seemed to reflect criticism that dogged the project for months, even before it started production. In February a group of historians organized by a liberal filmmaker, Robert Greenwald, issued a condemnation based on early drafts of scripts obtained by Mr. Greenwald. These historians said the scripts contained factual errors, fabrications and more than a dash of salacious innuendo. … > > During the winter and spring, Mr. Gillon and Mr. Dallek reviewed screenplays for “The Kennedys” and were concerned with what they read, according to three people with direct knowledge of the review process. These people said there were problematic scenes unsupported by facts, including depictions of the Kennedys’ sexual proclivities. … > > If the Kennedy family were to be displeased with the mini-series, it would have the leverage and connections to make this known to History and its governing board… > > But people familiar with the discussions of the History board say that when it convened at the end of 2010, its unease about the accuracy of “The Kennedys” was more than sufficient to turn it against the project. > > Neither Mr. Dallek nor Mr. Gillon felt the mini-series met History’s standards. The board was also said to be strongly influenced by memos from the historians detailing remaining factual inaccuracies and errors, a board member said. When the final votes were tallied, “The Kennedys” had lost its United States broadcaster. Starz, FX and Showtime have also passed on it, but it will be shown in at least 30 other countries, so I’m sure the producers will make money on it no matter what happens in the U.S. Mostly, though, the article reads as if the History Channel wanted a prestige product that would get favorable comment and a boatload of awards and the final result wasn’t one. Sometimes mere ratings aren’t everything. If History wanted to use this as a springboard to lure in other top showrunners, the quality of the product would be all-important. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-theories-on-why-history-channel-scrapped-the-jfk-miniseries-or-what-exactly-is-their-brand/567607/29 "2011-01-18T23:26:23Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > I’m only pleased in that this is another blow to the struggling career of one half of the Tom Cruises. Which is a serious blow. Rumor is that due to the economy and his career slump and the like they’re down to their last quarter billion.😃 > [@](#): > > These people said there were problematic scenes unsupported by facts, including depictions of the Kennedys’ sexual proclivities. … With all the sex scandals associated with the Kennedys why on earth would they have to embellish? High school kids who’ve never heard of the Bay of Pigs or Cuban Missile Crisis could probably instantly tell you JFK was shagging Marilyn Monroe, Gloria Swanson wrote in detail of her affair with Joe Sr. and a harem of starlets and wannabes all spoke of their affairs with JFK and RFK, then there’s the allegations of JFK’s first marriage- why gild the lily? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-theories-on-why-history-channel-scrapped-the-jfk-miniseries-or-what-exactly-is-their-brand/567607/30 "2011-01-19T01:08:00Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > High school kids who’ve never heard of the Bay of Pigs or Cuban Missile Crisis could probably instantly tell you JFK was shagging Marilyn Monroe… They probably could. And since the article says that no serious historians believe it and such a scene was specifically cut out of the series, that’s a real indictment of our culture. Thinking about it, high schoolers probably also believe she was murdered. By the Kennedys. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-theories-on-why-history-channel-scrapped-the-jfk-miniseries-or-what-exactly-is-their-brand/567607/31 "2011-01-19T01:20:25Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > I read on some message board somewhere that it was Ted Kennedy’s tumor. > Too soon? It’s always [too soon](http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/19/us/politics/19shriver.html?hp) for the Kennedy Family. Too soon? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-theories-on-why-history-channel-scrapped-the-jfk-miniseries-or-what-exactly-is-their-brand/567607.md?page=1)