'The Kennedys – After Camelot' Took Attention To Detail Seriously

The Kennedys are an American dynasty and an enduring national fascination. I mean, they have everything that you could want in a family. There's politics, extraordinary wealth and copious scandals that seem to follow this clan, which makes it easy to see why people crave as much information about them as they can get their hands on. There have been numerous miniseries and movies made about their lives, and Sunday brings another one. The Kennedys – After Camelot, airs April 2 on Reelz, and stands out with big name stars, engrossing storytelling, and captivating drama. But, how historically accurate is The Kennedys – After Camelot?

According to ReelzChannel CEO, Stan Hubbard, staying true to and respecting history was paramount to the completion of The Kennedys – After Camelot. Hubbard claims to Bustle that "every event and every individual is historically accurate." He adds that, as his team worked through the script, the storylines, and the characters, they "regularly looked for secondary sources to back up all elements of the story." At the same time, though, Hubbard acknowledges that "any miniseries is a dramatic rendition of something." This becomes especially pertinent when depicting conversations or events that went on behind-the-scenes and don't necessarily have news coverage to take from.

The Kennedys – After Camelot is a followup series to another miniseries,The Kennedys, which aired on ReelzChannel in 2011, was first dropped by the History Channel, according to The New York Times. History released a statement to the NYT about the decision, stating: “After viewing the final product in its totality, we have concluded this dramatic interpretation is not a fit for the History brand.”

That opened the project up to other networks, and Hubbard tells Bustle that when he made the offer to purchase The Kennedys to air on ReelzChannel, he did so under three contingents. He said it couldn't be "Kennedy bashing," it had to be "fair to history," and it had to be "great television." 10 Emmy nominations, 4 Emmy wins and a record high 1.9 million viewers for its debut episode prove that the series was up to the challenge. Hubbard reiterates, "I'll tell you what, we stand by the accuracy of that miniseries and completely stand by the historical accuracy of this new one The Kennedys – After Camelot."

So, what else can fans expect from this television event? Hubbard promises a transcendent experience, saying, "Katie Holmes isn't Jackie Kennedy, but you'll think she is when you see it. And when Brett Donahue turns and looks at the camera, you're going to think JFK Jr. is looking at you." It looks like viewers will truly get it all with The Kennedys – After Camelot, airing in two parts on April 2 and April 9 on Reelz.