This is a heck of a sentence: Ryan Murphy — of Glee and American Horror Story fame — is launching an AHS “companion series” at FX titled American Crime Story, and the first season will focus on the OJ Simpson murder trial. Here’s some background info while you let all of that sink in.
“This is an exciting project for me, as I’ve been looking for the right property which could serve as an extension of the American Horror Story brand I love so much,” Murphy said. “The O.J. case was as tragic as it was fascinating — it seemed like everyone had a stake in the outcome. It was really the beginning of the modern tabloid age.” […]
American Crime Story: The People V. O.J. Simpson is a look at the Simpson trial told from the perspective of the lawyers that explores the chaotic behind-the-scenes dealings and maneuvering on both sides of the court, and how a combination of prosecution confidence, defense wiliness, and the LAPD’s history with the city’s black community gave a jury what it needed: reasonable doubt.
Two things:
- Between his work on Nip/Tuck, Glee, and American Horror Story, Ryan Murphy has not exactly been known for his subtle and nuanced take on the issues of the day. That’s one thing when you’re making shows about sexy doctors and scary clowns, but it’s another thing when you’re depicting real events as they actually happened, which this series claims it will do. (The plan is to take on a new famous crime story each season, the same way AHS does with horror themes.) Like, I’m not entirely sure he’ll be able to resist throwing in a storyline about Marcia Clark secretly getting pregnant and confessing it to Lance Ito via a heartwrenching rendition of a Top 40 hit in the judge’s chambers.
- What does “companion series” mean, exactly? Are the similarities going to end at new topics for each season and the words “American” and “Story” in the title, or will there be other spillover between the shows? And if so, what?
I ask that second thing because the only thing I’ve been able to think about since seeing this news is Kato Kaelin being portrayed by the androgynous naked clown with the boot-wearing leg for a dick from the American Horror Story: Freak Show opening credits. Would make it all worth it, in my opinion.
