The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story has all the makings of a hit television show. An Oscar winner playing a football hero-turned-actor-turned-Hertz spokesperson. Sarah Paulson as Tina Fey’s character from Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (or is it the other way around?). Ross from Friends. Kardashians. John Travolta’s eyebrows for DAYS. Kato Kaelin eating a burger.
Okay, taken separately, nothing I just listed screams “you need to watch this show” (except the Travolta eyebrow thing). But when combined, they’re must-see TV, and a lot of people saw the American Crime Story premiere.
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story on Tuesday night premiered to 5.1 million total viewers and a 2.0 demo rating, marking FX’s highest-rated drama debut since The Shield (which bowed to 4.8 mil and a 2.4 in March 2002). That said, O.J. stands as the cabler’s most watched series launch, edging out The Shield in Live+Same Day numbers. (Via)
By comparison, Fargo opened to a measly 2.7 million viewers and a 0.8 rating, which is a different kind of crime. These insane ratings are why creator Ryan Murphy is allowed to have nine shows at the same time. He get results.
He also gets early renewals; ACS season two will follow “a group of six to eight people in an attempt to examine all sides of the [Hurricane Katrina] tragedy.” That doesn’t sound as headline-grabbing as Ross telling Snow Dogs star Cuba Gooding, Jr. to not kill himself below a poster of Jonathan Taylor Thomas in Kim Kardashian’s bedroom. But Murphy will find a way.
(Via TVLine)
