It was compelling 20 years ago and even more compelling now: The O.J. Simpson story has not left the public imagination. FX has made a 10-part series called American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson based on Jeffrey Toobin's book, to air in February. The two parts screened this week brought back the story, adding more to the historic events that ushered in the eras of tabloid news, reality television, with its volatile themes of domestic violence and race in America. There is no doubt: this will be another kind of sensation: a television drama of a drama that unfolded on television.
Most people can say where they were in 1994 when that famous white Bronco broke the speed limit. One hundred million viewers watched. But new tapes, new ideas, new shades on the already famous characters have added thrilling material. Under the production of Ryan Murphy well known for his work on The Normal Heart, American Horror Story, Nip/Tuck, Glee, a dream cast was assembled for this mini-series: Cuba Gooding Jr., Sarah Paulson, Courtney B. Vance, John Travolta, David Schwimmer.
Following a private screening this week, at dinner at The Monkey Bar, David Schwimmer talked about his preparation for his performance as Robert Kardashian. Kris Jenner filled him in on how religious Robert Kardashian was. John Travolta plays Robert Shapiro, a preening lawyer and O.J.'s close friend. Said Travolta: "He loved the eye on him and that's fun to play. Many lawyers want to be actors; many start out taking acting courses at school, and then become lawyers instead." Jeffrey Toobin said, "Connie Britton as Faye Resnick is worth the price of admission."
By the evening's end, Sarah Paulson was doing imitations of Juliette Lewis and Holly Hunter, nailing their phrasing and movements. What she does with Marcia Clark, in a curly wig, is accurate to the memory I have of this anxious woman, an attorney determined to go after an abusive man, bewildered at the blunders that marked this case. I can't wait to see episode 6, called "Marcia Marcia Marcia."
A version of this post also appears on Gossip Central.