‘American Crime Story’ And Louis C.K.’s Surprise Online Series Shine

The Trial Of The Century was dramatic enough as is, but FX raised things to the next level with The People v. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story, brought to us by Ryan Murphy, the man who proved via American Horror Story that he knows how to bring crime to life.

“The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story” premieres February 2 on FX and stars Cuba Gooding Jr.as Simpson, Sarah Paulson as prosecutor Marcia Clark and John Travolta as defense lawyer Robert Shapiro. Seeing Kim Kardashian dart across the frame is like watching Mozart study a composition by Salieri. “I have a very big personality and my mom always tells me I have no stage fright and I’m never nervous and I love the stage”. But American Crime Story also overcomes justly cynical expectations by successfully making the case that this trial was important in ways no one at the time could fully understand.

By his personal beliefs do you mean his religious beliefs? “I’m so thankful to be a part of this unbelievable cast”. That whatever was in god’s plan would manifest itself.

But that’s their “Uncle Juice”, who “wouldn’t hurt anyone”, her ex-husband tells the kids during a Father’s Day brunch. In the first two episodes – culminating finally in O.J. being taken into custody after the Bronco chase – Gooding plays him rightfully as an emotional wreck. As much as you learn we were learning. They had two lovely children; they had a ideal life together-friends, cookouts, vacations, birthdays and weddings, love and money-until they didn’t. It’s a long history. I look up to her for that. “I’m just so disappointed in where our society has gone that nobody shows any regard for anybody anymore”.

In the feature the pair talk about momager Jenner, of course. He had his own bible that he kept in his briefcase everywhere he went.

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR #2: (As character) Can I speak with Mr. Simpson?

Yes, Robert will have a crisis of faith: Faith in god, faith in O.J.’s innocence, and his faith in their friendship.

What else did you and Kris discuss? He was very attentive, compassionate, and patient. She sat on the floor, in Sydney’s bedroom. So at the table, he gives an incredibly solemn speech about the ills of celebrity, which now feels laden with irony. “Nobody did”, says Paulson, who was 19 years old at the time of the 1994-95 trial. How did you choose to play it? “But it did reveal to white and black America that, first of all, we see things enormously differently”. He did not expect nor seek any kind of attention. It was not something that comfortable for him. “I tried to do whatever research I could and then tried to get out of the way so the audience could get involved in the story“. There was something not right about receiving special treatment for no reason than being on television.

There has come to be a certain level of flamboyance and camp associated with Ryan Murphy productions; a certain off-the-charts oddness or pizzazz of which the series revolves around.

“I didn’t think of it then, but that’s what it was for me”. It’s what I shared with Robert. He’s reminding himself to stay true to who he is. But this is really an exception; significant looks and pregnant pauses are more the rule. Not in the scene and certainly not in retrospect. (He did.) Even though we all know how the story ends, the pacing, performances, and dramatic flair of American Crime Story makes everything feel fresh and unpredictable.

Nobody was asking the question after the screening; they just wanted to see more.

Have you gotten more comfortable with being famous over the years? Many in the black community supported Simpson, and Cochran used the rocky relationship between the Los Angeles Police Department and blacks as part of Simpson’s defense strategy. What we don’t know – unless you have heavily researched everything – is what happened outside of the media coverage and speculating articles. It gets under your skin quickly – Nicole’s daughter leaving a message on her murdered mother’s answering machine will haunt me for a while – but it does so in a way that demands further viewing. I’m like, ‘Well, do you like stories?