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MAY 2022 PREMIERES CELEBRATE THE LEGACIES OF TV LEGENDS, WRESTLING IDOLS AND AMERICAN ICONS ALONG WITH NEW STORIES ABOUT VILLAINOUS ORGANIZED CRIME MEMBERS IN 14 NEW ORIGINALS
'Autopsy: The Last Hours of... ' Returns with New Stories Celebrating the Illustrious Lives and Tragic Deaths of Ricardo Montalbán, Andre the Giant, Eddie Guerrero, Telly Savalas, James Garner, Jacqueline Kennedy and John F. Kennedy Jr.
'Gangsters: America's Most Evil' Returns with New Stories About Notorious Mobsters Sam Giancana, Nicky Scarfo and Anthony Spilotro Along with Philadelphia Intimidator Dawud Bey and Motor City Criminals Young Boys Incorporated and Chester Campbell
'The Love Boat: Happily Ever After' Sets Sail with Original Cast Members Celebrating the Show That Gave Audiences an Ocean Sized Dose of Escapism and Romance on the High Seas
Eight Back-to-Back Episodes of The Original 'Cops' Documentary Reality Series Make Their REELZ Premieres Starting Mid May Showcasing the Real Stories of Law Enforcement in the Line of Duty Across America
Every Saturday in May Features Eight Back-to-Back Episodes of Real Life Series 'Jail' Making Their REELZ Premieres Showing the Harsh and Sometimes Humorous Reality of What Happens Behind Bars
(Albuquerque, NM) Tuesday, April 19, 2022 - REELZ today announced its May 2022 premieres with 14 new originals including the return of Autopsy: The Last Hours of... with new stories about the towering careers and tragic passings of revered TV stars Ricardo Montalbán, Telly Savalas and James Garner along with professional wrestling headliners Andre the Giant and Eddie Guerrero and two members of an American dynasty in Jacqueline Kennedy and John F. Kennedy Jr. May 2022 premieres also feature new stories in Gangsters: America's Most Evil about ruthless and cunning real life characters in organized crime from hitmen and intimidators Chester Campbell and Dawud Bey to the Detroit drug cartel Young Boys Incorporated and volatile mobsters Nicky Scarfo, Sam Giancana and Anthony Spilotro. The new original special The Love Boat: Happily Ever After celebrates the charming TV series with its stars including Bernie Kopell, Ted Lange, Fred Grandy, Cynthia Lauren Tewes, Jill Whelan and Ted McGinley discussing how fast moving romance on a slow moving ship became must-see TV. Starting Friday, May 13 eight back-to-back episodes of the original hit documentary reality series COPS make their REELZ premieres every Friday with the unscripted action from the front lines of law enforcement across America and every Saturday in May features eight back-to-back episodes of real life series Jail making their REELZ premieres following inmates around the country from their initial booking through their first moments behind bars.
"From beloved stars of the small screen, wrestling ring and an American family dynasty who warmed our hearts to members of organized crime whose sinister stories send chills down our spines our May 2022 premieres tell the stories of legends in two very different worlds," said Steve Cheskin, SVP of Programming at REELZ. "With the focus of Autopsy: The Last Hours of... on the causes behind a celebrity's passing we often hear from viewers who tell us they have become more proactive for the benefit of their health after watching stories in which medical outcomes might have been different with an earlier diagnosis or a lifestyle change."
The May 2022 lineup begins on Sunday, May 1 at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT with The Love Boat: Happily Ever After about the unexpected smash hit show that captivated audiences of all ages and its hijinks on the high seas are just as appreciated now as they were four decades ago. Now in The Love Boat: Happily Ever After stars from the show including Bernie Kopell, Ted Lange, Fred Grandy, Cynthia Lauren Tewes, Jill Whelan and Ted McGinley share their experiences of its signature blend of romance, drama and laughs along with stories of filming at exotic ports of call and many guest stars who would later become big stars including Tom Hanks, Courteney Cox and Michael J. Fox. Also celebrated for its stellar guest stars and its own island-sized dose of escapism the TV series Fantasy Island showed viewers a unique resort island with an equally enigmatic host in Mr. Roarke played by Ricardo Montalbán. His onscreen charisma was bolstered by the physicality he brought to his roles and he was known to be a fit and healthy man so what happened to bring about his fatal catastrophic heart failure? On Sunday, May 1 at 10pm ET/ 7pm PT Autopsy: The Last Hours of... "Ricardo Montalbán" examines his life with a look at the health issues he faced and whether a childhood condition impacted his health later in life.
Dawud 'Cool' Bey was involved in witness intimidation as a member of the brutal and violent Kaboni Savage Organization that worked the north side of Philadelphia. In Gangsters: America's Most Evil "Dawud 'Cool' Bey" on Tuesday, May 3 at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT Bey himself discusses his turbulent life rising in the criminal ranks, time in prison, turning down a rap music deal with Jay-Z and the moment everything changed for him and he devoted himself to healing the community he once terrorized. While Bey was known as the Intimidator of Philadelphia Butch Jones referred to himself as the Henry Ford of heroin trafficking after molding his Young Boys Incorporated criminal enterprise on the assembly line efficiency of the famous automaker. His infamous run during the late 1970s as one of the worst criminals in the history of Detroit was due in part to his use of teenagers to sell drugs and perform other criminal tasks ensuring senior members of the gang never faced risky street level work. On Tuesday, May 3 at 10pm ET/ 7pm PT Gangsters: America's Most Evil "Young Boys Incorporated" delves into the dark deeds of Jones and how he built his Detroit crime empire.
Known as the Eighth Wonder of the World Andre Roussimoff aka Andre the Giant ruled professional wrestling during the 1970s and 1980s using his extraordinary physique at 7'4" tall and weighing 500lbs. to become rich and eventually a star in Hollywood. But his size haunted him throughout his life and his untimely passing at 46 years old prompted questions about his rare hormonal condition Acromegaly. Now Autopsy: The Last Hours of... "Andre the Giant" on Sunday, May 8 at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT examines his remarkable career in which he pushed his body to its limits and the enormous stress his size and lifestyle had on his health. Another wrestling superstar known for his tireless showmanship is Eddie Guerrero whose iconic Latino Heat persona won the hearts of millions of fans. Considered by many as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time Guerrero's death at 38 years old stunned the wrestling world. Now Autopsy: The Last Hours of... "Eddie Guerrero" on Sunday, May 8 at 10pm ET/ 7pm PT delves into his tragic passing reviewing his medical history including his troubling addiction to opioid pain medication and the toll his body paid over his 20-year wrestling career.
Despite his moniker 'Little Nicky' due to his small stature organized crime boss Nicodemo Scarfo's propensity for jarring violence was anything but small. Scarfo created chaos within the Philadelphia mob through treachery, backstabbing and a lot of murder. On Tuesday, May 10 at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT Gangsters: America's Most Evil "'Little' Nicky Scarfo" documents his violent rise through the mob ranks and his murderous reign over the Atlantic City gambling scene. If he was a fictional character on the 1970s crime drama series Kojak Scarfo would no doubt have been a tough case for Lt. Theo Kojak. The charming detective with his famous bald head was known for fiercely going after criminals and was played brilliantly by Telly Savalas. On Sunday, May 15 at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT Autopsy: The Last Hours of... "Telly Savalas" celebrates his storied career and investigates his final days including what caused the sudden decline in his health as he appeared to be leading a full and busy life just weeks before his passing. So what is the truth behind the death of TV's favorite detective? Also premiering on Sunday, May 15 is the story of another star who like Savalas exuded a signature magnetism on screen. Autopsy: The Last Hours of... "James Garner" at 10pm ET/ 7pm PT shows how he dazzled audiences for more than 50 years starting with his undeniable charm as the cheeky and reluctant hero on 1950s hit Maverick. As a stoic and private man Garner secretly battled with ill health for more than 30 years but what exactly caused his heart to fail and did a lapse in medical care ultimately seal his fate?
He was brash, unstable and violent with connections to John F. Kennedy and Frank Sinatra along with legendary stories straight out of Hollywood including being recruited by the CIA to help assassinate Fidel Castro. Sam Giancana rose to the top of the Chicago based mob called the Outfit in the late 1950s and Gangsters: America's Most Evil "Sam Giancana" on Tuesday, May 17 at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT presents his crime legacy that touched presidents, movie stars and the sordid underbelly of the mafia. The lore of Giancana also encompasses Jacqueline Kennedy whose husband John F. Kennedy had a few unsavory connections with the mob boss including having a relationship with the same woman during his marriage. The slight against Jackie would hardly tarnish her legacy as she would become an American icon and admired First Lady symbolizing courage and grace through extraordinary tragedy. On Sunday, May 22 at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT Autopsy: The Last Hours of... "Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis" celebrates her remarkable life and examines whether a misdiagnosis played a role in the deadly disease that led to her rapid demise at 64 years old. It would be just five years later that America would again confront the loss of another Kennedy when John F. Kennedy Jr. perished in a plane crash along with his wife and sister-in-law. Autopsy: The Last Hours of... "John F. Kennedy Jr." on Sunday, May 22 at 10pm ET/ 7pm PT shows his short but exceptional life emerging from the shadows of his famous father and family to build a life of his own and investigates whether there was something in his medical history that could help explain the accident.
Wrapping May 2022 premieres are the real stories about two of the most vicious killers to ever work in organized crime. On Tuesday, May 24 at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT Gangsters: America's Most Evil "Anthony Spilotro" delves into the sordid story of the man intelligence agents said is a "psychopathic thug with no reservations about killing anyone". Spilotro, who earned such a reputation for his murderous ways, served as inspiration for the villainous Nicky Santoro character played by Joe Pesci in the movie Casino. While Spilotro was known for drawing unwanted attention to mob operations the prolific hitman Chester Campbell operated in the shadows and became one of the most sought after contract killers in organized crime circles. On Tuesday, May 31 at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT Gangsters: America's Most Evil "Chester Campbell" profiles the cold-blooded and cunning Detroit hitman who has been described as John Wick combined with Hannibal Lector and an evil James Bond with his 140 IQ and a body count of more than 100 people.
Below is May 2022 programming listed by premiere date and time. Full synopses for every show follow this list.
Sunday, May 1
*NEW* The Love Boat: Happily Ever After at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT
*NEW* Autopsy: The Last Hours of... "Ricardo Montalbán" at 10pm ET/ 7pm PT
Tuesday, May 3
*NEW* Gangsters: America's Most Evil "Dawud 'Cool' Bey" at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT
*NEW* Gangsters: America's Most Evil "Young Boys Incorporated" at 10pm ET/ 7pm PT
Saturday, May 7
Jail - Eight back-to-back episodes of starting at 6pm ET/ 3pm PT
Sunday, May 8
*NEW* Autopsy: The Last Hours of... "Andre the Giant" at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT
*NEW* Autopsy: The Last Hours of... "Eddie Guerrero" at 10pm ET/ 7pm PT
Tuesday, May 10
*NEW* Gangsters: America's Most Evil "'Little'Nicky Scarfo" at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT
Friday, May 13
COPS - Eight back-to-back episodes starting at 7pm ET/ 4pm PT
Saturday, May 14
Jail - Eight back-to-back episodes of starting at 6pm ET/ 3pm PT
Sunday, May 15
*NEW* Autopsy: The Last Hours of... "Telly Savalas" at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT
*NEW* Autopsy: The Last Hours of... "James Garner" at 10pm ET/ 7pm PT
Tuesday, May 17
*NEW* Gangsters: America's Most Evil "Sam Giancana" at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT
Friday, May 20
COPS - Eight back-to-back episodes starting at 7pm ET/ 4pm PT
Saturday, May 21
Jail - Eight back-to-back episodes of starting at 6pm ET/ 3pm PT
Sunday, May 22
*NEW* Autopsy: The Last Hours of... "Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis" at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT
*NEW* Autopsy: The Last Hours of... "John F. Kennedy Jr." at 10pm ET/ 7pm PT
Tuesday, May 24
*NEW* Gangsters: America's Most Evil "Anthony Spilotro" at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT
Friday, May 27
COPS - Eight back-to-back episodes starting at 7pm ET/ 4pm PT
Saturday, May 28
Jail - Eight back-to-back episodes of starting at 6pm ET/ 3pm PT
Tuesday, May 31
*NEW* Gangsters: America's Most Evil "Chester Campbell" at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT
Below are detailed descriptions for May 2022 programming listed by premiere date and time:
The Love Boat: Happily Ever After premieres on Sunday, May 1 at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT. Now 45 years after it first sailed into living rooms and made Saturday night TV synonymous with romance, camp and high-seas hijinks The Love Boat still inspires a surprisingly fierce nostalgia that just won't quit. The show was an unexpected smash hit that captivated audiences of all ages allowing armchair travelers to virtually gallivant around the world with endless amounts of legendary guest stars some of whom had yet to become big names including Tom Hanks, Courteney Cox and Michael J. Fox while others were legends of the silver screen including Olivia de Havilland and Ginger Rogers. Surprisingly the now iconic show just barely made it to air and the entire TV industry expected it to fail miserably. But instead of sinking The Love Boat beat all the odds with its signature blend of romance, drama and laughs unleashed in increasingly exotic ports of call. Now in The Love Boat: Happily Ever After stars from the show including Bernie Kopell, Ted Lange, Fred Grandy, Cynthia Lauren Tewes, Jill Whelan and Ted McGinley discuss its magic formula and why it wasn't always smooth sailing on the sometimes floating set. The Love Boat: Happily Ever After is produced by AMS Pictures.
Autopsy: The Last Hours of... "Ricardo Montalbán" premieres on Sunday, May 1 at 10pm ET/ 7pm PT. On January 14, 2009 the revered actor Ricardo Montalbán died from congestive heart failure at 88 years old. Born in Mexico, he discovered a passion for acting while studying English in the USA. His natural charm and good looks mixed with an innate talent led to an acting career that spanned seven decades including his famous roles as the enigmatic Mr. Roarke on Fantasy Island and Captain Kirk's ultimate nemesis Khan in the Star Trek movie franchise. As charming off screen as he was on it Montalbán masked a life-long struggle with chronic pain and a debilitating condition. Now renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Hunter uses Montalbán's death certificate and first-hand accounts of his life to uncover the truth behind the devastating heart failure that killed the revered actor. Autopsy: The Last Hours of... is produced by Potato, part of ITV Studios.
Gangsters: America's Most Evil "Dawud 'Cool' Bey" premieres on Tuesday, May 3 at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT. Dawud "Cool" Bey was known as the Philly Intimidator and he was a key player within the Kaboni Savage Organization (KSO) a violent drug trafficking gang in Philadelphia led by Kaboni Savage. Now Bey gives a first-hand account of life in the KSO as he tours the streets of Philadelphia showing viewers where his life of crime unfolded. The gang led a multi-million dollar operation that distributed illegal narcotics such as PCP, marijuana and cocaine and the KSO was notorious for their tactics of fear, violence and intimidation. In late 2004 Bey was arrested and indicted for running a cocaine manufacturing and distribution with Savage. During Bey's incarceration a wiretap revealed Bey and Savage talking boldly about violent retribution for anyone testifying against them. At a 2006 federal hearing Bey pled guilty to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine. At his sentencing hearing prosecutors requested that obstruction of justice be added to his charges. After serving 10 years in prison Bey became a free man in 2014 and is now focused on efforts to rebuild his community and leads an anti-violence program in the community he once terrorized.
Gangsters: America's Most Evil "Young Boys Incorporated" premieres on Tuesday, May 3 at 10pm ET/ 7pm PT. Young Boys Incorporated (YBI) was a violent drug-trafficking gang founded in Detroit in the late 1970s and Milton "Butch" Jones, Raymond Peoples and Dwayne Davis rose through the ranks and ran the organization. YBI made a name for itself as a major supplier of heroin during the 1970s and 1980s. At the time their operation was considered innovative because it employed teenage boys to distribute drugs on the streets risking low level members who'd be charged as minors if they were caught instead of senior YBI members who would be sent to prison. In September of 1982 it was alleged that Butch ordered the execution of Davis over a turf dispute. Despite serving time in prison for federal drug charges as well as separate charges for the murder of Davis and another fellow gang member. Upon release Jones continued to be the boss of YBI but his fate was sealed in 2001 when he was indicted on drug charges in Detroit. The case against Jones and his crew members included robberies, kidnapping and murders of rival drug traffickers and he was finally sentenced to 30 years in prison. Sharing his experiences as a former Detroit Police detective who saw the YBI carnage firsthand is James Tolbert along with retired FBI Special Agent Andrew Bartnowak.
Jail- Eight back-to-back episodes of Jail make their REELZ premiere every Saturday in May starting on Saturday, May 7 at 6pm ET/ 3pm PT. Shot on location at various jails throughout America the series follows inmates from their initial booking through their first moments in jail capturing the harsh and sometimes humorous reality of what happens behind bars. Jail is produced by Langley Productions.
Autopsy: The Last Hours of... "Andre the Giant" premieres on Sunday, May 8 at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT. On January 28, 1993 wrestling legend Andre The Giant died in a hotel room in Paris France. He was only 46 years old. Trading on his extraordinary physique Andre Roussimoff was the biggest draw in the wrestling world throughout the 1970s and 1980s as he towered above the competition at 7'4" tall and 500lbs and was billed as the Eighth Wonder of the World. It was only a matter of time before the movie industry came calling and in 1986 Andre starred in the fantasy hit The Princess Bride. But privately Andre had been haunted by his size throughout his life. He made no secret of his belief that the world wasn't made for people of his stature and everything from cars, hotel rooms and airplanes all presented challenges and frustrations. Born in France Andre had grown prodigiously in his late teens. When his size and agility caught the eye of a wrestling promoter his path out of poverty was set. Japan and North America beckoned and the legend Andre the Giant started to grow as did the stories of his phenomenal appetite for alcohol. By the mid-1980s Andre was the star attraction in professional wrestling but what his fans didn't know was that a rare condition was eroding his once superhuman strength and the clock was ticking on his life. In 1993 after receiving news that his father had just days to live Andre returned to France. Two weeks later Andre had also passed away. Now renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Hunter analyzes his long medical history and the interviews with close friends and family members to determine the reason for his death. Autopsy: The Last Hours of... is produced by Potato, part of ITV Studios.
Autopsy: The Last Hours of... "Eddie Guerrero" premieres on Sunday, May 8 at 10pm ET/ 7pm PT. Eddie Guerrero was considered by fans and peers alike as one of the greatest pound-for-pound wrestlers in history. He was born into a wrestling dynasty with his dad Gory Guerrero celebrated as one of the best Mexican-American Luchadores of his generation. Eddie's career as a professional wrestler spanned 20 years and saw him battle adversity from overcoming his diminutive stature to dealing with addiction and depression. Against all odds Eddie had his Latino Heat WWE character lie, cheat and steal his way to the very top of the wrestling world and fans couldn't get enough. In 2005 he was crowned World Champion but less than two years later Eddie was found dead in his hotel room on the morning of a scheduled match. He was just 38 years old. With the help of industry insiders including fellow superstar wrestler Rob Van Dam and former WWE Physician Dr. F. Louis Rios shedding light on the physical and mental strain Guerrero experienced as a top professional wrestler renown forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Hunter examines the myriad factors that could have played a role in his untimely death. Autopsy: The Last Hours of... is produced by Potato, part of ITV Studios.
Gangsters: America's Most Evil "'Little'Nicky Scarfo" premieres on Tuesday, May 10 at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT. Nicodemo Scarfo was nicknamed "Little Nicky" because of his size at 5' 5" tall and weighing 135 pounds but no one dared call him that to his face. Scarfo rose to power during one of the bloodiest periods in Philadelphia's organized crime history. More than two dozen mob members or associates were murdered between 1980 and 1985 as Scarfo took control of the Philadelphia mob ushering in a cutthroat era of hits within its ranks. Scarfo was drawn to the limelight as he frequently boasted to associates about the murders he committed and about his status in the underworld. When the streets of Philadelphia turned red hot Scarfo sought refuge in Atlantic City and was perfectly positioned to take advantage of the gambling gold rush after the first Atlantic City casino opened in 1978 but Scarfo had no intention of taking a clean cut of the action. His victims included an Atlantic City municipal court judge, an Atlantic City cement contractor, a longshoreman and several mob associates. Helping to tell the hyperviolent history of Scarfo is former federal prosecutor Louis Picinni, retired FBI special agent Charles "Bud" Warner and writer and former mobster George Martarano.
COPS - Starting Friday, May 13 at 7pm ET/ 4pm PT every Friday in May features eight back-to-back episodes of the original COPS making their REELZ premieres. The original reality ride-along series and pioneer of the unscripted television explosion takes viewers coast to coast and to the front lines with the men and women of American law enforcement where the action is visceral, unpredictable and as real as it gets. COPS is produced by Langley Productions.
Autopsy: The Last Hours of... "Telly Savalas" premieres on Sunday, May 15 at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT. On January 22, 1994 just one day after his 72nd birthday actor Telly Savalas died at the Sheraton Universal Hotel in Los Angeles. He is immortalized in the most famous part he played as the beloved bald headed Detective Lt. Theo Kojak on the series Kojak. Savalas rose from a roller coaster childhood which saw him pitched from private school and privilege into living in the harsh realities of the Lower East Side in New York City during the Great Depression of the 1930s. He never intended to be an actor but in his mid-30s he attended an audition by chance and won the part which launched his acting career. He quickly won plaudits from critics and moviegoers alike playing chilling psychopaths before landing the part of hardnosed but kind hearted and lollipop loving cop Kojak on the small screen. He became an unlikely sex symbol and embraced the Hollywood lifestyle eagerly and that may have been his downfall. The death certificate states that he suffered kidney failure as a result of bladder cancer but while almost half of those diagnosed with bladder cancer survive for 10 years after diagnosis Savalas was dead within a month and many still attribute his death to a different cause. What was the truth behind the rumors and could his celebrated bald head be connected with something in his medical history that played a role in his death? Renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Hunter analyzes every detail of his life to piece together the facts of what happened. Autopsy: The Last Hours of... is produced by Potato, part of ITV Studios.
Autopsy: The Last Hours of... "James Garner" premieres on Sunday, May 15 at 10pm ET/ 7pm PT. On July 19, 2014 the world was shocked and saddened by the news that American actor and producer James Garner had died at the age of 86. Garner had made a name for himself as a genuine star of his generation boasting a career that spanned six decades. Starring in more than 80 movies and TV shows Garner created TV characters including Bret Maverick from the western series Maverick and private detective Jim Rockford in The Rockford Files. Before acting he was the first man from Oklahoma to be drafted to the Korean War where he sustained numerous injuries. Garner caught his first acting break by chance after discovering an old friend had become an actor's agent and it was the role of Maverick catapulted him to Hollywood stardom. He was one of the few actors who made it big in both movies and TV in a time when it was rare to do so. Garner became a folk hero to other actors when he won huge legal battles against two of the biggest studios breaking his contract and clawing back hidden revenues. But behind his success, stoicism and smile there was hidden pain as he secretly battled ill health for more than three decades. Garner suffered from multiple life-threatening conditions and had undergone numerous surgeries and struggled both mentally and physically. Now renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Hunter will analyze his personal history, lifestyle and medical past to understand his health struggles and what ultimately took his life. Autopsy: The Last Hours of... is produced by Potato, part of ITV Studios.
Gangsters: America's Most Evil "Sam Giancana" premieres on Tuesday, May 17 at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT. Sam Giancana was a top mob boss who grew up on the West Side of Chicago. He started out as a driver for Al Capone the legendary leader of the Chicago mob called the Outfit but had plans of total domination over Chicago crime. By the beginning of the Great Depression Giancana was profiting from Prohibition and building his own reputation for violence having narrowly escaped a prison sentence for murder. In the annals of organized crime few names cut a wider swath than that of Giancana who from 1957-1966 was the infamous head of the Outfit and his legend is entangled with US presidents, movie stars and the worst of the worst in the mafia underworld. Giancana is not only known for his violent acts and his high profile in the media but also his connections to decades long conspiracy theories involving both the Kennedy family and the CIA's attempted assassination of Fidel Castro. Sharing his stories as former member of the Outfit is Frank Calabrese, Jr. while former special FBI agent Ross Rice explains the extent of Giancana's crimes and investigative journalist Gerald Posner sheds light on the many celebrity connections to the mob boss.
Autopsy: The Last Hours of... "Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis" premieres on Sunday, May 22 at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT. On May 19, 1994 the world was shocked and saddened by the news that beloved American icon Jackie Kennedy Onassis had died. At 31 years old Jackie was one of the youngest first ladies to enter the White House as John F. Kennedy became president in 1960. Jackie made a huge impression on the nation and the rest of the world leading the stage for many first ladies to come. She became one of the most famous women in the world but behind the fairy tale story was a life of trauma and tragedy. Jackie lost three children including Patrick who lived for only a day. Patrick died just three months before Jackie endured the horrific day in Dallas in 1963 when she sat next to her husband as he was gunned down in front of the world. Then five years later her brother-in-law Bobby Kennedy was also killed and she began to fear for her life and the lives of her children. After marrying eccentric billionaire Aristotle Onassis and stepping away from the intense American media spotlight Jackie overcame her fear and carved out a new life for herself. For 30 years she was a successful book publisher and lived near her two children in New York City. After being diagnosed with the blood cancer Non-Hodgkin lymphoma only months earlier Jackie died at the age of 64. Now renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Hunter will examine her medical history factoring in her lifestyle and other health factors to better understand any risk factors that could have played a role. Autopsy: The Last Hours of... is produced by Potato, part of ITV Studios.
Autopsy: The Last Hours of... "John F. Kennedy Jr." premieres on Sunday, May 22 at 10pm ET/ 7pm PT. On July 16, 1999 John F. Kennedy Jr. crashed his Piper Sartoga aircraft into the ocean off Martha's Vineyard. He died along with his wife Carolyn and her sister Lauren. John was just 38 years old. In a family unusually familiar with tragic death the loss of John was immediately wrapped in the bloody shroud of the Kennedy curse but long before his death John understood and was conscious of this cycle of disaster some of which was self inflicted. If anybody looked capable of outrunning the dark family history it was him. As the world watched him grow into his own success as co-founder of politics-as-lifestyle George magazine many couldn't resist the idea of a Kennedy returning to White House as it was a narrative that was hard to resist. That all ended with his fatal flight in the summer of 1999. The world had wept at the funeral of his father in 1963 and they wept again as John's ashes were scattered from a US Navy destroyer off the coast of Massachusetts. His death certificate lists his cause of death as multiple traumatic injuries but John was flying a route he knew well and had flown many times so now renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Hunter will examine any clues in his life and his health record that might help explain what could have played a role on that fateful day. Autopsy: The Last Hours of... is produced by Potato, part of ITV Studios.
Gangsters: America's Most Evil "Tony 'the Ant' Spilotro" premieres Tuesday, May 24 at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT. Spilotro was a soldier and enforcer for the Chicago organized crime group known as the Outfit and was assigned to protect their Las Vegas "skim" of illegal diversions of casino profits to the mob. But instead of keeping the skim running smooth and mob activities out of the news Spilotro couldn't control his appetite for illegal action and he set up several side schemes including loan sharking and home burglaries to then sell stolen merchandise in thrift stores he opened and ran in Las Vegas. These side hustles began to irk his mob bosses back in Chicago but it was his lust for violence and death that lead to an increase in gangland murders which caught the attention of authorities. Spilotro's time in Las Vegas would represent the demise of control that organized crime had in the city. His psychopathic thug antics would serve as inspiration for Joe Pesci's character in the movie Casino but the real man was far more horrific than what audiences ever saw in theaters. Sharing his insight into the dark deeds of Spilotro is former chief of intelligence operations at the DEA Michael Vigil along with John Binder whose book "The Chicago Outfit" details the incredible reach and destruction of the Chicago mob.
Gangsters: America's Most Evil "Chester Campbell 'King of the Contract Killers'" premieres on Tuesday, May 31 at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT. Chester Campbell was one of the most notorious and feared figures in Detroit and within the world of organized crime. A contract hitman Campbell was elusive and infamous in the city but there were two sides to him. On one side was the meticulous and calculated assassin and on the other was a cultured lover of fine arts touring art museums and attending the opera when he wasn't savagely murdering people. He's been called the Motor City Undertaker and described as a combination of John Wick, Hannibal Lector and an evil James Bond due to his brutal skillset and passion for stalking his targets from the shadows before murdering them in horrific fashion. Born in 1930 Campbell grew up in Detroit and as a teenager started his law breaking ways committing petty crimes eventually graduating to hard crime. Over a four decade criminal career that began in the mid-1950s Campbell would cement his terrifying legacy as a prolific underworld hitman sought after by mob bosses from major cities. In an FBI file on Campbell he's listed as having an IQ of more than 140 alongside a body count of more than 100 people. Sharing their stories of Campbell are his niece and nephew along with author, journalist and historian Scott Burnstein and Christian Cipollini, author of "Diary of a Motor City Hitman: The Chester Wheeler Campbell Story".
About REELZ - REAL LIVES. REAL STORIES. REAL CELEBRITIES.(R)
REELZ is a leading independent cable and satellite general entertainment network focused on celebrity culture with poignant stories about Hollywood in revealing documentaries and character profiles of the famous and infamous. Programming ranges from the critically acclaimed and award-winning The Kennedys to Real Story of... revealing the true stories behind hit movies including American Made and Selena. Along with shows about movies, fame and celebrity lifestyles the network is also home to true crime stories and Autopsy: The Last Hours of... which examines the final days of popular celebrities from Lucille Ball to Prince.
REELZ is available in 70 million homes on DIRECTV channel 238, DISH Network channel 299, Verizon FiOS TV channel 692HD, AT&T U-verse channels 799/1799HD and cable systems nationwide. Find REELZ in your area by visiting www.reelz.com. REELZ is a High-Definition network and if it is not available, or not in HD, on your cable or telco provider, we encourage viewers to call them and ask for it. Owned by Hubbard Media Group, REELZ is headquartered in Albuquerque, NM with national ad sales based in New York City with offices in Boston and Chicago. As one of the last truly independent television networks remaining in today's media landscape REELZ has created the Independence Happens Here(R) website to help keep free thought and innovation alive by highlighting the importance of independent businesses. The website can be found at http://IndependenceHappensHere.com.
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