The 'Love Story' team says Kennedy show criticism 'made us work harder'
For the series "Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette," some early criticism may have been a blessing in disguise. The team behind the show, including stars like Sarah Pidgeon and Paul Anthony Kelly, faced scrutiny over costumes and hairstyling in test photos. However, they embraced the feedback, using it as fuel to enhance their creative process.
"It really made us work harder," Kelly, who plays John F. Kennedy Jr., shared with USA TODAY. "It gave more fuel to the fire of creating this. We had to dive deeper. We got clothes on point. It really just finely tuned what we were trying to do."
The show's creator, Connor Hines, echoed this sentiment, stating that the negative feedback came at a time when adjustments were still possible. After seeing criticism of Pidgeon's hair in initial photos, Ryan Murphy decided to have her dye her hair instead of wearing a wig. The show also replaced its original costume designer weeks into production.
"Once we had it all figured out, we were like, 'Oh, this was ultimately a blessing and for the best,'" Hines said. "And everybody ended up looking so fantastic."
The team's passion and dedication paid off, as the show received "passionate" reactions from fans, reinforcing the public's enduring interest in the story of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette. "I, more than anything, was sort of moved by how strongly people still felt about them," Hines shared. "I initially thought we weren't going to have a sense of the public's relationship or interest in John and Carolyn 25 years later until the show came out."
The series will premiere its first three episodes on Thursday, Feb. 12, on FX and Hulu at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, starring Grace Gummer, Alessandro Nivola, Leila George, Sydney Lemmon, Constance Zimmer, and Naomi Watts. The team's commitment to excellence and willingness to adapt to feedback ensure that the show will captivate audiences and provide an engaging viewing experience.
