Keeping Up With The Kardashians originally rejected by TV bosses due to ‘talentless’ family

Keeping Up With The Kardashians almost never made it to air because TV bosses believed the soon-to-be-stars were ‘talentless’.

The mammoth show premiered on US network E! in 2007 and has since made global superstars of the family. Its 20th and final series begins this week.

However, the producers were initially hesitant to pick up the reality series as they thought the likes of Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner ‘don’t really have talent’.

It was only when show creator Ryan Seacrest took the concept to the boss of E! that it got picked up.

Ted Harbert was president and CEO of the Comcast Entertainment Group, which included E!, and he recalled the day Seacrest gave him the sizzle reel that would eventually become Keeping Up With the Kardashians.

‘He called me and said in a very polite, respectful way about my own staff, he said “I know I’m going over people’s heads but your staff has passed on this tape a few times. I know I’m going over people’s heads but I’d appreciate it if you’d give it a look”,’ Harbert recalled.

‘He sent it to me that day, I took it home that night and looked at it. If I remember correctly it was just seven minutes of a barbecue put together. And I went in the next day and said to my staff, “we’re putting this on the air. This is a hit”.’

The teaser showed the Kardashians – including matriarch Kris and sisters Kourtney, Kim and Khloe – at a Sunday backyard barbecue.

Harbert said his staff was puzzled by his enthusiasm for the sizzle reel, complaining the family ‘don’t really have talent, they don’t really do anything’.

But he insisted the concept of the show followed ‘a classic family drama formula’ and he knew it would be a success.

He added to PA: ‘They fight, they scream, but at the end they really love each other. And that had a lot to do with Kris as the matriarch pulling the whole family together after whatever they were fighting about.’

Kim announced that Keeping Up With The Kardashians was coming to an end last year.

In a statement shared on her Instagram, she wrote: ‘Without Keeping Up with The Kardashians, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I am so incredibly grateful to everyone who has watched and supported me and my family these past 14 incredible years.

‘This show made us who we are and I will be forever in debt to everyone who played a role in shaping our careers and changing our lives forever.’

Keeping Up With The Kardashians finale premieres on Thursday 18 March on E!.

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