The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story

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American Crime Story - The People v. O. J. Simpson poster art.jpg
Promotional poster
Starring <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
Country of origin United States
No. of episodes 10
Release
Original network FX
Original release February 2, 2016 (2016-02-02) – April 5, 2016 (2016-04-05)

The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story is the first season of the FX true crime anthology television series American Crime Story. The season, which debuted in February 2016, revolves around the infamous O. J. Simpson murder trial and is based on Jeffrey Toobin's book The Run of His Life: The People v. O. J. Simpson (1997).[1]

Cast and characters

Main

Recurring

Guest

Episodes

No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date Prod.
code		 U.S. viewers
(millions)
1 "From the Ashes of Tragedy" Ryan Murphy Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski February 2, 2016 (2016-02-02) 1WAX01 5.11[2]
On the night of June 12, 1994, the slaughtered bodies of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman are found at the entrance of Brown's Brentwood condo, as Brown's ex-husband, NFL superstar O. J. Simpson, departs Los Angeles for Chicago. District attorney Marcia Clark immediately takes the case and discovers that Simpson had beaten his ex-wife several times in the past. Meanwhile, high-powered black attorney Johnnie Cochran challenges a fellow black attorney, Christopher Darden, for not standing up for his race in his work as a prosecutor. Simpson is questioned by police detectives and his responses are vague and do not establish a timeline for June 12, angering Clark who suspects that Simpson is guilty. Robert Kardashian talks Simpson into hiring celebrity lawyer Robert Shapiro as his new attorney. Police officers then arrive to arrest Simpson for the double murder; however, he has disappeared. Kardashian, Shapiro and the police search the house before Kardashian realizes that Simpson had disappeared with Al Cowlings in the white Bronco.
2 "The Run of His Life" Ryan Murphy Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski February 9, 2016 (2016-02-09) 1WAX02 3.89[3]
DA Gil Garcetti issues a statewide manhunt over the missing O. J. Simpson in a press conference. Robert Shapiro and Robert Kardashian fear the worst when they discover Simpson's suicide letter. Shapiro holds a press conference of his own to save face and Kardashian reads the suicide letter to the media. A driver on the L.A. freeway I-405 sees Simpson in the white Bronco and calls the police which leads in to the infamous, media headlining, low speed chase to Brentwood. A suicidal Simpson has Cowlings drive him to Brentwood and at first refuses to get out the car, almost killing himself then and there. Kardashian pleads with Simpson over the phone to peacefully surrender and he complies. Simpson is then charged with the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman and is taken into custody.
3 "The Dream Team" Anthony Hemingway D. V. DeVincentis February 16, 2016 (2016-02-16) 1WAX03 3.33[4]
With Simpson now in custody, Shapiro begins assembling his defense team, while Clark confirms to the media that he is to be prosecuted for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman and that this means he is eligible for the death penalty. Clark also reveals the evidence, the glove, and the blood trail to the media, leading to most of the media (and Clark herself) to believe that the case will be an easy win. Shapiro signs F. Lee Bailey first onto the team, who recommends bringing aboard Alan Dershowitz. Dershowitz mentions that they could argue that the DNA found at the crime scene could have been tampered with, and this is later made the main defense after it is revealed that the LAPD detective who found the glove that is key to the prosecution's case, Mark Fuhrman, has made racist comments frequently during his career. Deciding to go with the argument that the LAPD is systemically racist and has framed Simpson for racist reasons, Shapiro talks to a reporter from The New Yorker who publishes it as a front-page story. Simpson, after meeting with Shapiro, Bailey, and Kardashian, agrees to bring aboard Cochran as the final member of his defense team. Meanwhile, the prosecution is forced to move onto the attack for the trial after their evidence is leaked to the media and they panic over Shapiro's plan for the defense.
4 "100% Not Guilty" Anthony Hemingway Maya Forbes & Wallace Wolodarsky and
Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski		 February 23, 2016 (2016-02-23) 1WAX04 2.99[5]
Simpson's "dream team" bears down on the trial, with Robert Shapiro adopting a strategy of barricading and objecting to every motion the prosecution attempts. However, the defense suffers from dissent in the ranks, as Shapiro begins making desperate efforts to remain the lead defense attorney, despite Johnnie Cochran being clearly more qualified for the position as the defense increasingly begins to lean more on racial tension. Eventually Bailey, Cochran and Kardashian stage a minor coup while Shapiro is on vacation, and convince Simpson to endorse Cochran as the lead attorney. Meanwhile, Clark meets with Fred and Kim Goldman, the murder victim's father and younger sister, in which the visibly distraught Mr. Goldman complains to her that Ron is being ignored by the media and was really a clean and kind-hearted soul contrary to initial perceptions. She pledges to them that Simpson will be brought down. Meanwhile, Lance Ito is called to preside over the trial, and the process of jury selection begins, with both sides seeking a racial composition favorable to their own agenda. While both Marcia Clark and Johnnie Cochran are correct that whites are biased against Simpson and black men are biased in his favor, they each have their own respective theories about why black women would be unsympathetic to him: Cochran believes they would resent Simpson for marrying a white woman, while Clark believes they would be sympathetic to Nicole as a battered woman. However, this theorizing proves inaccurate when all potential black female jurors align with Simpson as much as their male counterparts. Clark is also forced to confront the fact that she herself is singularly uncharismatic to jurors of all demographics. Adding to the media circus surrounding the case is a book published by Faye Resnick, detailing Brown Simpson's lifestyle and relationship to Simpson and detracting more potential evidence from the trial itself. With Clark and her team realizing the case is not the easy win they thought at first, she and Garcetti decide that the only possible buffer against the charismatic and beloved Cochran is to add a black lawyer to the prosecution. She calls on Christopher Darden and he joins the team, surprising the defense team.
5 "The Race Card" John Singleton Joe Robert Cole March 1, 2016 (2016-03-01) 1WAX05 2.72[6]
The Simpson murder trial begins when in his first contribution to the prosecution, Darden attempts to sway the jury from any racist implications of the Simpson case. His wording backfires severely when Cochran delivers a fiery and moving rebuttal, humiliating all of the prosecutors. Clark also assigns Darden to interview Mark Fuhrman and coach him on how to speak during the trial as a credible witness. Darden gets a bad feeling about Fuhrman, strongly suspecting him to be the latent racist suggested by his murky history, but Clark disregards his suspicions, leaving him increasingly conflicted about his role in the case. Meanwhile, Cochran redecorates Simpson's home, re-imagining him as being more proud and in touch with his African American identity, for a public tour. After the defense springs a surprise and illegal move by introducing new witnesses, William Hodgman suffers a panic attack and faints in court. Clark nominates Darden to replace him as co-leading prosecutor. A new obstacle emerges to the prosecution, unbeknownst to Clark, when Darden's suspicions are confirmed and Fuhrman is shown to have a collection of Nazi memorabilia.
6 "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia" Ryan Murphy D. V. DeVincentis March 8, 2016 (2016-03-08) 1WAX06 3.00[7]
During a divorce court proceeding, Marcia becomes explicitly annoyed to a point where the judge calls her out when threatening to hold her in contempt. She then finds herself having to go right across the street to the trial proceedings. Nicole's sister, Denise, tearfully testifies about an incident when Simpson publicly humiliated Nicole. Clark gets mistreated by the media, which criticizes her clothing and hairstyle. She gets infuriated when her estranged husband, Gordon, seeks primary custody of her two sons, as he feels that her job in the trial is distancing her from them. In his cross examination of Detective Van Atter, Cochran questions whether it is normal for detectives to abandon an ongoing crime scene investigation to go to the home of a victim's ex-spouse and notify them of their death. Van Atter replies that all situations are different, especially ones involving children. Clark complains that the questioning made Van Atter sound shady. Detective Lange testifies that he did not book Simpson's shoes into evidence until the very next day. He instead took them back home in Simi Valley, the same city where the officers who beat Rodney King live. Television networks preempt their daytime programming for coverage of the trial. Darden and Clark bond at the office after-hours with drinks and dancing. Ito dismisses the jury for the day due to the defense's issue with securing Simpson's former maid, Rosa Lopez, as a witness. Lopez was not expected to testify so soon, yet she was threatening to leave the country due to media intrusion. Lopez acts disobediently when cross examined by Clark. Gordon publicly calls out Marcia for faking a need to end the proceedings early to be with the kids. A reporter from the Los Angeles Times confronts Cochran about the alleged past domestic violence against his first wife. Clark decides to get a haircuit in response to the media's criticisms of her. While at a supermarket, she stumbles across tabloids who are still unimpressed with the hair, and a cashier makes fun of her tampon purchase. Bailey gives his cross examination of Fuhrman, asking him if he has ever used the 'N' word in the last ten years, to which Fuhrman strongly denies. Garcetti confronts Clark about tabloid pictures of her and her first husband courtesy of Gordon. Ito adjourns court for the day when she sees Clark in tears. Darden consoles Clark, who bemoans about finding herself being turned into a public personality like the defense lawyers.
7 "Conspiracy Theories" Anthony Hemingway D. V. DeVincentis March 15, 2016 (2016-03-15) 1WAX07 2.89[8]
Simpson tries on the gloves (found at the scene of the crime). They don't fit.
8 "A Jury in Jail" Anthony Hemingway Joe Robert Cole March 22, 2016 (2016-03-22) 1WAX08 2.91[9]
The members on the jury start to go stir-crazy and deal with cabin fever. Kardashian begins to doubt Simpson's story.
9 "Manna from Heaven" Anthony Hemingway Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski March 29, 2016 (2016-03-29) 1WAX09 2.76[10]
Simpson's attorneys uncover tapes of Fuhrman recounting horrifying stories of torturing, murdering and framing black suspects for fun. Judge Ito discovers a twist, and a mistrial looks imminent. The tapes are released, Fuhrman takes the stand and further incriminates himself by refusing to answer anymore questions, much to the dismay of Clark.
10 "The Verdict" Ryan Murphy Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski April 5, 2016 (2016-04-05) 1WAX10 3.27[11]
On the last day of proceedings, Simpson declines to take the stand, but makes a brief statement, saying that he maintains his innocence and yearns for the trial be done with and to return to his family. In their closing arguments, Clark states that Fuhrman's racist behavior is no excuse to set a killer free, Darden claims that Simpson may have been a great football player but is still a raging murderer, and Cochran compares Fuhrman to Adolf Hitler and reminds them that the bloody gloves that did not fit on Simpson would not make it possible for him to commit the murders. The jury deliberates for only four hours. In the first round of polling, ten of them vote "not guilty", while two vote "guilty". One of the two voting 'guilty' (a white woman) stands by the overwhelming evidence. However, most of the skeptic jurors believe that the evidence was not fully proven, even if Simpson did do it. Meanwhile, Cochran's life has been threatened and he recruits guards from the Nation of Islam. A prison guard implicitly spoils Simpson's fate and tells him it was an honor having him and he was more mature than other inmates he has put up with. He asks him to sign a football for his son. The verdict is finally given: Simpson is found not guilty for the murders of Nicole and Ron, which causes both rejoice and shock around the country. As the jury walks out, one of them gives Simpson a black power raised fist in defiance. Kardashian dodges the press and vomits in a bathroom sink. Clark, Darden and Garcetti appear at a press conference with the Browns and Goldmans. Cochran tries to make peace with Darden, offering to help bring him back into the black community, but Darden tells Cochran he never left the community, adding that Cochran did not produce a milestone in civil rights and that black people will continue to be subjected to mistreatment from the police. Though saddened and angered by the injustice of the verdict, Clark and Darden swallow their bitter defeat and decide to move on with their lives. The Goldmans return to the parking garage, with Kim asking her father what happens next. Simpson finally returns to civilian life though he enters a society where he is perceived as a different person as he was before the trial with some (mainly his family) welcoming him home while others now forever viewing him as the true murderer. During a welcome home party where Simpson announces his intent to find the true killer, Kardashian finally cuts his ties with him. Simpson eventually discovers those involved with his life before the crime and trial have all but disappeared. His favorite restaurant refuses to reserve a table for him. In the final scene, a depressed and lonely Simpson stands in his backyard gazing up at the life-size statue of himself in his prime as a football star with cheering fans heard in the background which slowly fade away as the screen turns dark. The epilogue reveals what happened to the major players and ends with photos of Nicole and Ron.

Reception

Reviews

The first season of American Crime Story has received acclaim from critics. The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gave the season an approval rating of 97%, based on 64 reviews, with an average rating of 8.6/10. 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."[12] On Metacritic, the season has a score of 90 out of 100, based on 43 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[13]

Many critics have singled out many cast members for the performances, particularly Paulson and Vance.[14][15][16] Dan Feinberg of The Hollywood Reporter praised the performances of Paulson and Vance, 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."[15] Brian Lowry of Variety praised the casting of the smaller roles, particularly Connie Britton as Faye Resnick and Nathan Lane as F. Lee Bailey.[17]

Despite the praise for the rest of the cast, Travolta and Gooding's portrayals of Shapiro and Simpson have been met with mixed reviews by critics. 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."[17] Nicole Jones of Vanity Fair called his performance "campy and calculated."[18] Dan Feinberg of The Hollywood Reporter also criticized his performance, calling it "a mesmerizingly bad performance from the eyebrows down." He also wrote that "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."[15] 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."[19] Dave Schilling of The Guardian panned Gooding's performance, writing: "his whiny, gravely voice sounds absolutely nothing like the real OJ Simpson's deep, commanding tones."[20] Michael Starr of New York Post also was 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."[21] On the other hand, Joe McGovern was more positive on Gooding's performance, writing that his casting "takes a risk and pulls it off."[22]

Reception from individuals involved

Mark Fuhrman, who is portrayed by Steven Pasquale, refused to watch the series and called his portrayal untruthful. In an interview with New York Post, he said "The last 20 years, I have watched the facts dismissed by the media, journalists and the public simply because it does not fit within the politically correct narrative. At this late date, FX is attempting to establish a historical artifact with this series without reaching out to any prosecution sources. In a time when Americans read less and less and investigative journalism is on vacation, it is sad that this movie will be the historical word on this infamous trial. After all, it was 'based on a true story.'"[23]

Marcia Clark praised the series and called Sarah Paulson's portrayal of her "phenomenal."[24]

Ron Goldman's father, Fred Goldman, had numerous criticisms of the series. He felt that there was not enough material about Ron, who is only depicted on the show as a corpse. He expressed concern that the generations of people who were too young to understand the events at the time would consider everything to be accurate. Nicole Brown's sister, Tanya Brown, lashed out at the cast members for what she saw as a lack of consultation with the families.[25]

Ratings

No. Title Air date Rating/share
(18–49)		 Viewers
(millions)		 DVR
(18–49)		 DVR viewers
(millions)		 Total
(18–49)		 Total viewers
(millions)
1 "From the Ashes of Tragedy" February 2, 2016 2.0 5.11[2] 1.6 3.86 3.6 8.97[26]
2 "The Run of His Life" February 9, 2016 1.5 3.89[3] 1.9 4.37 3.4 8.26[27]
3 "The Dream Team" February 16, 2016 1.3 3.33[4] 1.6 3.45 2.9 6.78[28]
4 "100% Not Guilty" February 23, 2016 1.3 2.99[5] 1.4 3.35 2.7 6.34[29]
5 "The Race Card" March 1, 2016 1.1 2.72[6] 2.0 4.28 3.1 7.00[30]
6 "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia" March 8, 2016 1.2 3.00 [7] 1.8 4.03 3.0 7.03[31]
7 "Conspiracy Theories" March 15, 2016 1.2 2.89 [8] 1.7 3.88 2.9 6.77[32]

References

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  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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