American Crime Story

This article is about the FX TV series. It is not to be confused with American Crime (TV series).
American Crime Story
Genre True crime
Based on Season 1
The Run of His Life: The People v. O. J. Simpson
by Jeffrey Toobin
Season 2
The Great Deluge: Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast
by Douglas Brinkley
Season 3
Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U.S. History
by Maureen Orth
Developed by Scott Alexander
Larry Karaszewski
Starring
Composer(s) Mac Quayle
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 10 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
Producer(s) Chip Vucelich
John Travolta
Alexis Martin Woodall
Location(s) Los Angeles, California
Cinematography Nelson Cragg
Editor(s) Adam Penn
C. Chi-Yoon Chung
Stewart Schill
Running time 41–58 minutes
Production company(s)
Distributor 20th Television
Release
Original network FX
Original release February 2, 2016 (2016-02-02) – present
External links
Website

American Crime Story is an American true crime anthology television series developed by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, who are executive producers with Brad Falchuk, Nina Jacobson, Ryan Murphy, and Brad Simpson. It is a spin-off of the television series American Horror Story. It premiered on the cable network FX in the United States on February 2, 2016.[1][2][3]

The first season, subtitled The People v. O. J. Simpson, presents the murder trial of O. J. Simpson, based on Jeffrey Toobin's book The Run of His Life: The People v. O. J. Simpson.[4] A second season is in development, and it will focus on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina,[5] relying on Douglas Brinkley's book The Great Deluge: Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast as the primary source material.[6] Series creators Alexander and Karaszewski will not be returning for the second season.[7] The third season, which is also in development, will examine the assassination of legendary designer Gianni Versace by serial killer Andrew Cunanan, based on Maureen Orth's book Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U.S. History.[8]

Cast

Main

The People v. O. J. Simpson
Season 2
Season 3

Recurring

The People v. O. J. Simpson

Overview

Actor Character(s)
The People v. O. J. Simpson
(2016)
Season 2
(2017)
Season 3
(2018)
Sterling K. Brown Christopher Darden
Kenneth Choi Judge Lance Ito
Christian Clemenson William Hodgman
Cuba Gooding Jr. O. J. Simpson
Bruce Greenwood Gil Garcetti
Nathan Lane F. Lee Bailey
Sarah Paulson Marcia Clark
David Schwimmer Robert Kardashian
John Travolta Robert Shapiro
Courtney B. Vance Johnnie Cochran
Lady Gaga Donatella Versace

Production

Development

On October 7, 2014, it was announced that FX had ordered a ten-episode season of American Crime Story, developed/executive produced by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, while being executive produced by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, who co-created such series as Nip/Tuck, Glee, American Horror Story and Scream Queens. Murphy also directed the pilot episode. Other executive producers are Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson.[10] Co-executive producers are Anthony Hemingway and D. V. DeVincentis. All 10 episodes were expected to be written by Alexander and Karaszewski.[4][11] The series was previously in development at Fox, but since moved to the company's sibling cable network FX.[12]

Casting

Cuba Gooding Jr. and Sarah Paulson were the first to be cast as Simpson and Marcia Clark, respectively.[13] Subsequently, David Schwimmer was cast as Robert Kardashian.[14] In January 2015, it was reported that John Travolta had joined the cast as Robert Shapiro. He would also serve as producer.[15] In February 2015, Courtney B. Vance joined the series as Johnnie Cochran.[16] It was announced that Connie Britton would co-star as Faye Resnick in March 2015.[17] April 2015 saw the casting of Sterling K. Brown as Christopher Darden,[18] Jordana Brewster as Denise Brown,[19] and Kenneth Choi as Judge Lance Ito.[20] In May 2015, it was confirmed Selma Blair would be portraying the role of Kris Kardashian.[21] In July 2015, it was announced Nathan Lane had joined the cast as F. Lee Bailey.[22]

Filming

Principal photography for the series began on May 14, 2015, in Los Angeles, California.[19][23]

Promotion

In October 2015, FX released its first promotional trailer for The People v. O. J. Simpson, showing an Akita dog whining, walking from its residence onto a sidewalk to bark, then walking back to its residence, leaving behind bloody paw prints.[24] Later that month, another teaser was released, where the first actual footage of Travolta as Shapiro was shown. In the teaser, Shapiro is about to ask Simpson (whose face is unseen) if he is responsible for the murder of his ex-wife. Another short teaser came out, where Simpson (again unseen) is taking a lie detector test.

In November, two new teasers were released. The first shows Simpson writing his attempted suicide letter, while a voice-over by Gooding, Jr. narrates. The second has the police chasing Simpson's white Ford Bronco, while dozens of fans cheer for him.[25]

The first full trailer was released in December, along with a poster for the season. The trailer included a suicide attempt on the part of Simpson, in the childhood bedroom of Kim Kardashian, while Robert Kardashian tries to stop him.[26]

Episodes

Season 1: The People v. O. J. Simpson (2016)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code
U.S. viewers
(millions)
1"From the Ashes of Tragedy"Ryan MurphyScott Alexander & Larry KaraszewskiFebruary 2, 2016 (2016-02-02)1WAX015.12[27]
2"The Run of His Life"Ryan MurphyScott Alexander & Larry KaraszewskiFebruary 9, 2016 (2016-02-09)1WAX023.90[28]
3"The Dream Team"Anthony HemingwayD. V. DeVincentisFebruary 16, 2016 (2016-02-16)1WAX033.34[29]
4"100% Not Guilty"Anthony HemingwayMaya Forbes & Wallace Wolodarsky and
Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski
February 23, 2016 (2016-02-23)1WAX043.00[30]
5"The Race Card"John SingletonJoe Robert ColeMarch 1, 2016 (2016-03-01)1WAX052.73[31]
6"Marcia, Marcia, Marcia"Ryan MurphyD. V. DeVincentisMarch 8, 2016 (2016-03-08)1WAX063.00[32]
7"Conspiracy Theories"Anthony HemingwayD. V. DeVincentisMarch 15, 2016 (2016-03-15)1WAX072.89[33]
8"A Jury in Jail"Anthony HemingwayJoe Robert ColeMarch 22, 2016 (2016-03-22)1WAX082.92[34]
9"Manna from Heaven"Anthony HemingwayScott Alexander & Larry KaraszewskiMarch 29, 2016 (2016-03-29)1WAX092.77[35]
10"The Verdict"Ryan MurphyScott Alexander & Larry KaraszewskiApril 5, 2016 (2016-04-05)1WAX103.28[36]

Broadcast

The series first premiered worldwide in Canada on FX on February 2, 2016.[37] In the Philippines, the series premiered on February 3, 2016 on CT.[38] The series premiered on BBC Two in the United Kingdom on February 15, 2016.[39] In Australia, the series' first season was promoted as a "miniseries" under the title The People vs OJ Simpson and premiered on Network Ten on March 6, 2016 before concluding on May 8, 2016.[40] In India and South Asia, the series premiered on STAR Word Premiere HD on February 8, 2016. In Israel the series premiered on February 22, 2016. The series currently airs at 10:15pm on Thursdays on RTÉ One in Ireland.[41]

The first season will be available on Netflix in all countries except Canada in 2017. All future seasons will be made available on Netflix following their respective broadcast windows.[42]

Reception

The first season of American Crime Story has received critical acclaim. The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gave the season an approval rating of 97%, based on 73 reviews, with an average rating of 8.7/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story brings top-shelf writing, directing, and acting to bear on a still-topical story while shedding further light on the facts – and provoking passionate responses along the way."[43] On Metacritic, the season has a score of 90 out of 100, based on 45 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[44]

Many critics have singled out many cast members for the performances, particularly Paulson, Brown, Schwimmer, and Vance.[45][46][47] Dan Feinberg of The Hollywood Reporter praised Paulson and Vance's performances, writing: "As Clark's discomfort grows, Paulson's collection of tics seem more and more human[...] Vance's Cochran is sometimes hilarious, but he has a dynamic range such that he's occasionally introspective and always intelligent as well."[46] Brian Lowry of Variety praised the casting of the smaller roles, particularly Connie Britton as Faye Resnick and Nathan Lane as F. Lee Bailey.[48]

Despite the praise for the rest of the cast, Travolta's portrayal of Shapiro and Gooding's portrayal of Simpson have received mixed critical reviews. Brian Lowry of Variety called Travolta "awful" in the role, adding: "Yes, Shapiro spoke in stiff, measured tones, but the actor's overly mannered line readings turn the attorney into a buffoon, in sharp contrast to the more nuanced portrayals around him."[48] Nicole Jones of Vanity Fair called his performance "campy and calculated."[49] Dan Feinberg of The Hollywood Reporter also criticized his performance, calling it "a mesmerizingly bad performance from the eyebrows down." Feinberg also observed: "His unnecessary accent varies by episode, and Travolta's laser intensity feels arch and almost kabuki at times, turning Shapiro into a terrifying character from the next American Horror Story installment, rather than a part of this ensemble."[46]

Maureen Ryan of Vanity Fair, conversely, became more impressed with Travolta as the season progressed: "I started in the realm of puzzled disbelief, arrived at amusement, and ultimately traveled to a place of sincere appreciation. You simply can’t take your eyes off Travolta, and that is a form of enchantment."[50] Elisabeth Garber-Paul of Rolling Stone also called it "arguably [Travolta's] best performance since Tarantino brought him back from the dead."[51] Robert Bianco of USA Today wrote that Travolta's was the show's "broadest performance."[52]

Dave Schilling of The Guardian panned Gooding's performance, writing: "his whiny, gravely voice sounds absolutely nothing like the real O. J. Simpson’s deep, commanding tones."[53] Michael Starr of New York Post was also highly critical of Gooding's performance, saying that he "portrays Simpson as a hollow, sad-sack cipher who speaks in a high-pitched whine and sleepwalks in a fog he never shakes after being arrested for the brutal double murder of ex-wife Nicole Brown and Ronald Goldman. He’s a forgettable, annoying presence in what should be a showcase role for Gooding — who, to be fair, is reciting lines written for him, so he can only do so much with the material."[54] Gooding's Emmy nomination for his work on the series was criticized by some reviewers.[55]

On the other hand, Joe McGovern was more positive on Gooding's performance, writing that his casting "takes a risk and pulls it off."[56] Elisabeth Garber-Paul of Rolling Stone described his performance as "an unnervingly believable take on a potential psychopath with teetering sanity."[51] Nick Venable of Cinema Blend also opined that Gooding's turn as Simpson "could indeed get him on a shortlist of Emmy nominees."[57]

Accolades

Year Association Category Nominated artist/work Result
2015 5th Critics' Choice Television Awards[58]
Most Exciting New Series American Crime Story Won
2016 BET Awards 2016[59]
Best Actor Courtney B. Vance Nominated
68th Primetime Emmy Awards[60]
Outstanding Limited Series The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story Won
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Courtney B. Vance Won
Cuba Gooding Jr. Nominated
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Sarah Paulson Won
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Sterling K. Brown Won
David Schwimmer Nominated
John Travolta Nominated
Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special Ryan Murphy (for "From the Ashes of Tragedy") Nominated
John Singleton (for "The Race Card") Nominated
Anthony Hemingway (for "Manna from Heaven") Nominated
Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski (for "From the Ashes of Tragedy") Nominated
Joe Robert Cole (for "The Race Card") Nominated
D. V. DeVincentis (for "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia") Won
68th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards[60]
Outstanding Casting for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special Jeanne McCarthy, Nicole Abellera Hallman, Courtney Bright, and Nicole Daniels Won
Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or Movie Nelson Cragg (for "From the Ashes of Tragedy") Nominated
Outstanding Costumes for a Period/Fantasy Series, Limited Series, or Movie Hala Bahmet, Marina Ray, and Elinor Bardach (for "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia") Nominated
Outstanding Hairstyling for a Limited Series or Movie Chris Clark, Natalie Driscoll, Shay Sanford-Fong, and Katrina Chevalier Won
Outstanding Makeup for a Limited Series or Movie (Non-Prosthetic) Eryn Krueger Mekash, Zoe Hay, Heather Plott, Deborah Huss Humphries, Luis Garcia, and Becky Cotton Nominated
Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Limited Series or Movie Adam Penn (for "From the Ashes of Tragedy") Nominated
C. Chi-Yoon Chung (for "The Race Card") Won
Stewart Schill (for "The Verdict") Nominated
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited Series or Movie Doug Andham, Joe Earle, and John Bauman (for "From the Ashes of Tragedy") Won
32nd TCA Awards[61]
Program of the Year The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story Won
Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials Won
Individual Achievement in Drama Sarah Paulson Won
Courtney B. Vance Nominated

References

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  41. http://www.rte.ie/tv/programmes/ojsimpson.html. Missing or empty |title= (help)
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External links

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