Ted Kennedy's TV Magic

By Stephen M. Silverman

08/11/1998 at 12:00 AM EDT

Never underestimate the power of the Kennedys. Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts has apparently convinced NBC to reschedule its upcoming four-hour mini-series, "Jackie, Ethel, Joan: The Women of Camelot," from its original pre-election Nov. 5-6 airdate to the February sweeps period. The reported reason? He is facing re-election. Variety reports that reps from Kennedy's office approached NBC to voice their displeasure over the timing of the special, which is based on the J. Randy Taraborrelli book that uncovered a lot of material on the tumultuous marriage of Sen. Kennedy and his former wife, Joan. "To avoid any possible interference with the election, we decided to change the air date," NBC West Coast president Scott Sassa told Variety. Ironically, NBC was set to air the movie opposite CBS's entry into the Kennedy sweepstakes, with its miniseries about the former First Lady, "Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis." That drama will go on as scheduled.