“Too dark for lifetime”

The story Haley and I have been producing about Lorraine Gail Smith, a dancer in Boston’s Combat Zone, was given a pass by Lifetime. Their exact words were “it’s too dark for lifetime”…

Is it a bit too dark or does Lifetime cringe at humanizing sex workers?

Dark does not seem to be a path Lifetime avoids.

Im a bit confused, Considering this is a partial list of Lifetimes most popular vehicles, including…

“Prosecuting Casey Anthony

This true-crime drama starring Rob Lowe as Jeff Ashton, the prosecutor in the infamous Casey Anthony murder trial, provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the prosecution’s case against Anthony and what led to the controversial verdict.

Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story

Overcoming impossible odds—negligent drug-addict parents, an abusive grandfather, and homelessness—Liz Murray finished high school in two years and won a scholarship to Harvard University through an essay contest sponsored by the New York Times. This adaptation stars “Now and Then”’s Thora Birch as Murray.

Taken in Broad Daylight

17-year-old Anne Sluti was abducted in broad daylight and held captive for six days before narrowly escaping. The movie version features James Van Der Beek as Sluti’s abductor and Levar Burton as a heroic cop hot on their trail.

Natalee Holloway

In 2005, 18-year-old Natalee disappeared while on vacation in Aruba. Based on her mother Beth Holloway’s book “Loving Natalee,” the film depicts the events leading up to Natalee’s disappearance and the frenzied investigation that followed.

Britney Ever After

Curious about Britney Spears’ rise and fall — and redemptive arc? Look no further than this two-hour chronicle, which covers Spears’ staggering ascent to pop icon status, the implosion of her personal life and downward mental health spiral, and her steady recovery ever since.

Anna Nicole

Anna Nicole Smith’s tragic real life — from small-town single mother and dancer to world-famous Playboy centerfold struggling with drug and alcohol addiction — is explored in this sympathetic biopic.

Mendez: The Blood Brothers (no you’re not mistaken, they actually spelled Menendez wrong in the title)

When entertainment mogul Jose Menendez and his wife Kitty were murdered by their sons Lyle and Erik in 1989, the sensational trial gripped a scandalized America. This movie, starring Courtney Love and Nico Tortorella, delves into the abuse suffered by the infamous brothers and the motives behind their crimes.

Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy

Starring Hayden Panettiere as Amanda Knox, this true-crime drama is based on the murder of Meredith Kercher in Perugia, Italy, and the subsequent trials of Knox and her Italian boyfriend for the crime.

Cries Unheard: The Donna Yaklich Story

After years of suffering at his hand, Donna Yaklich murdered her abusive, steroid-addicted husband. The ensuing trial and her conviction were the focus of a media circus. This film recounts her harrowing story through flashbacks narrated by her character to the son she loves dearly.

The Two Mr. Kissels

Told primarily through vivid flashbacks and interviews, this drama recounts the lurid details surrounding the murders of Andrew and Robert Kissel, two real-life brothers neck-deep in dirty deeds. Starring John Stamos and Anson Mount as the titular brothers.

Pregnancy Pact

In 2008, a group of female high school students in Gloucester, Massachusetts, allegedly made a pact to get pregnant at the same time and raise their children as a group. This take on the story stars Thora Birch and Camryn Manheim.

Girl in the Box

“In 1977, 20-year-old Colleen Stan was kidnapped while hitchhiking by a young couple who held her prisoner for seven years in a coffin-sized box, letting her out only to watch their children and participate in violent, sadistic sex. This dark psychological drama is not for the faint of heart.”

Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story

The heart-pounding true story of Tiffany Rubin’s rescue of her kidnapped 7-year-old son — who’d been taken from his home in Queens to Seoul, South Korea in 2008 — is captured in this gripping drama, with an impassioned performance from a pre-“Empire” Taraji P. Henson.

Drew Peterson: Untouchable

Rob Lowe returns to Lifetime as Drew Peterson, the infamous, womanizing Chicago police officer accused of murdering his third wife after his fourth goes missing in a disappearance that remains unsolved. The movie also features Kaley Cuoco as Stacy Peterson, the missing fourth wife.

Who Killed JonBenet?

The murder of six-year-old beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey in 1996 is still unsolved, but recently surfaced information could potentially confirm what really happened.

I Am Elizabeth Smart

A harrowing kidnapping story of Elizabeth Smart by a religious fanatic who held her captive for nine months, narrated by Elizabeth herself.

Girl in the Bunker

A young woman is kidnapped and held inside an underground bunker by a man disguised as a sheriff deputy. In order to survive, she takes matters into her own hands.

Cocaine Godmother: The Griselda Blanco Story

After moving to the U.S at the age of 17, Griselda Blanco embarks on a life full of drugs and crime making her Miami’s biggest drug lord and cocaine trade pioneer, nicknamed The Black Widow.”

Here is the comprehensive top 30 list

https://www.mylifetime.com/20-lifetime-movies-based-on-true-stories

Thoughts????