Lindsay Lohan, not Kris Jenner, is the reason Keeping Up with the Kardashians happened

When it comes to reality TV, it’s not uncommon for the Kardashians and Keeping Up with the Kardashians, in particular, to come right to mind when thinking about the genre. However, it turns out the game-changing reality show would have never happened if not for Lindsay Lohan.

While Kris Jenner is indeed responsible for building the family’s empire and making the show into the gold mine it has become over the years, the hit series which will be wrapping its run this June never would have gotten off the ground had it not been for Lohan and a key decision she made way back in 2007.

Keeping Up with the Kardashians replaced Lindsay Lohan limited series

As it turns out, back in 2007, E! was working with Lindsay Lohan on what was supposed to be a limited series about her life. Production on the series had begun, but when the actress found herself at the heart of a controversy following a DUI she had a change of heart and decided to back out of the project.

In a new interview with the LA Times, Keeping Up with the Kardashians producer Farnaz Farjam revealed that the hole in E!’s schedule caused by Lohan’s decision left E! up the creek without a paddle and was ultimately opened the door for the Kardashians to step in and fill the void.

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"“There was a programming hole [at E!]. There was supposed to be a series with Lindsay Lohan during a time slot, and then Lindsay got a DUI [the actress was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and drug possession in July 2007 and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor cocaine use and driving under the influence the following month] and pulled out last minute. So they had to fill this hole within, like, I think it was like eight weeks from the day I came on.”"

With word of an opening in E!’s schedule, KUWTK casting director Deena Katz, a long-time family friend of the Kardashian-Jenners, went to Kris Jenner and encouraged her to meet with Ryan Seacrest. She did, and the rest is history.

KUWTK would go on to run for 20 seasons and the family has built an empire rivaled by few, but it turns out the series that launched their empire would have never happened had Lindsay Lohan not chosen to walk away from her limited series all those years ago.