5 things you need to know before you start watching “American Crime Story”
On June 17th, 1994, former NFL player Al Cowlings drove a white Ford Bronco down the 91 Freeway to the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles (after being asked to surrender by the authorities). His friend and former teammate O.J. Simpson was in the backseat, and had just been charged with the slayings of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Nicole’s close friend Ronald Goldman.
That car chase was one of the most memorable moments of the year—of the decade, even—and kicked off a criminal trial that spanned eight months. O.J. Simpson was tried on two counts of murder and (spoiler alert) was ultimately acquitted. Some say this was the most publicized criminal trial in history. In ‘94 and ‘95, you couldn’t turn on the TV without hearing an update on the infamous O.J. Simpson case.
There was media coverage. There was backlash. And there was a very famous piece of evidence in the form of a glove. Now, we’re going to re-live the trial 20 years later in the form of American Crime Story. The series promises to show us a new side of the trial we’ve never seen. Ahead, here are five things you need to know before the first episode airs.
1. American Crime Story is a series.
Yes, this is “that O.J. Simpson show” you’ve been hearing a lot about, but there’s much more to it than that. American Crime Story is a series, and The People v. O.J. Simpson is the name of the first season. There’s already a second season in the works that follows the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
2. The cast of Season One is incredible.
This is a truly awesome cast. Cuba Gooding, Jr. plays the defendant O.J. Simpson. David Schwimmer plays one of his lawyers, Robert Kardashian (and Selma Blair plays Robert’s ex-wife, Kris Kardashian). John Travolta and Nathan Lane play Robert Shapiro and F. Lee Bailey, members of the defense team. Sarah Paulson plays prosecutor Marcia Clark. Connie Britton plays Faye Resnick, a good friend of Nicole Brown Simpson. Billy Magnussen plays famed witness Kato Kaelin. The list goes on. This is a true testament to the powers of good casting, good makeup and good wardrobe.
3. Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk are Executive Producing.
Even if you don’t know these two by name yet, you certainly know them for their work. Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk met while working on Nip/Tuck, and went on to co-create Glee, American Horror Story and Scream Queens together. To say that American Crime Story is in capable hands is an understatement—these two are the best in the biz.
4. Ryan Murphy is also directing the pilot.
And it’s titled “From the Ashes of Tragedy.”
5. Khloe Kardashian will definitely be watching.
“I would definitely like to see it,” Robert Kardashian’s youngest daughter told journalists at the Television Critics Association press tour. “My mom and Selma Blair became really good friends. She was at our Christmas Eve party. My mom has way more investment into that. She helped out a bit with some of the characters.” As for how FX will portray the Kardashian family? “It’s neither here nor there—however they want to portray us is fine. I still want to see it.”
It all starts tomorrow night at 10pm on FX.
(Images via FX; Getty Images/Michael Tran; Getty Images/Robert Kamau)
