Line #11 Series/AmericanCrimeStory


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/american_crime_story_9.jpg]]
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3	''American Crime Story'' is an Creator/{{FX\|Networks}} {{true crime}} {{docudrama}} {{anthology}} series, exec. produced by Creator/RyanMurphy and Brad Falchuk -- the masterminds behind anthology sister shows ''Series/AmericanHorrorStory'' and ''Series/{{Scream Queens\|2015}}''. Much like ''American Horror Story'', each season of ''American Crime Story'' [[{{Dramatization}} dramatizes]] a different [[BasedOnATrueStory real-life]] crime.
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5	Its first season, ''Series/ThePeopleVOJSimpson'', covers the infamous Creator/OJSimpson murder trial that spanned eleven months between 1994 and 1995. Creator/CubaGoodingJr stars as Simpson himself, while the cast is rounded out by Creator/SarahPaulson as Marcia Clark, Creator/CourtneyBVance as Johnnie Cochran, Creator/SterlingKBrown as Christopher Darden, Creator/JohnTravolta as Robert Shapiro, Creator/DavidSchwimmer as Robert Kardashian, Creator/SelmaBlair as Kris Jenner (formerly Kardashian), Creator/NathanLane as F. Lee Bailey, and Creator/BillyMagnussen as Kato Kaelin.
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7	Its second season, ''Series/TheAssassinationOfGianniVersace'', details the murder of the [[UsefulNotes/GianniVersace legendary fashion designer]] committed by Andrew Cunanan in 1997. Edgar Ramirez stars as Versace, while other main cast members include Creator/PenelopeCruz as Donatella Versace, Creator/DarrenCriss as Cunanan, Max Greenfield as Ronnie, Music/RickyMartin as Antonio D'Amico, and Finn Wittrock as Jeffrey Trail.
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9	Its third season, ''Series/{{Impeachment}}'', details President UsefulNotes/BillClinton's impeachment, specifically the scandal involving his affair with Monica Lewinsky. This was initially a concept for the fourth season. However, in August 2019, it was revealed that this season [[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/monica-lewinsky-produced-impeachment-set-as-next-american-crime-story-at-fx-1229819 would go ahead as the third season]], with Lewinsky serving as a producer for the season. It starred Sarah Paulson as Linda Tripp, Creator/BeanieFeldstein as Monica Lewinsky, Annaleigh Ashford as Paula Jones, Creator/CliveOwen as UsefulNotes/BillClinton, Creator/BillyEichner as Matt Drudge, Anthony Green as UsefulNotes/AlGore, Creator/EdieFalco as UsefulNotes/HillaryClinton, and Creator/CobieSmulders as Ann Coulter.
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11	Originally, the third season, slated to follow ''The Assassination of Gianni Versace'', was announced as being centered around Hurracane Katrina, named ''Katrina'', but the third season was later [[https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a18194657/american-crime-story-katrina-season-3/ confirmed]] to no longer be centered around Hurricane Katrina. To quote the article, "FX CEO John Landgraf revealed that there are four ideas for the series in the works, but the order in which they will be made is unclear." Its cast originally included Creator/AnnetteBening as Louisiana governor Kathleen Blanco, Creator/SarahPaulson as Dr. Anna Pou, Creator/MatthewBroderick as Matthew D. Brown, and Creator/DennisQuaid as President UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush, but it's since been stated that only Paulson is likely to remain in her role, with the others possibly being assigned new ones. Its scope was also narrowed to Memorial Medical Center, where the staff were stranded for five days after the hurricane and left to care for hundreds of patients without electricity, ultimately deciding to euthanize many of the worst cases. Whether it will ever actually come to fruition is currently unknown.
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13	Another season is reportedly in development as well, tentatively titled ''Studio 54''. It is planned to tell the story of entrepreneurs Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager and the titular Studio 54, the world famous Manhattan disco nightclub founded by the two in 1977, and detail how the opulent, sex filled, drug fueled parties of their club came to an end when they were caught and convicted for tax evasion. It is currently unknown if it will directly follow ''Impeachment''.
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15	The success of ''American Crime Story'' has led to other anthology series (also airing on FX and produced by Murphy) based around real-life events. ''Series/{{Feud}}'' focuses on infamous rivalries in history, with its first season focusing on the feud between Creator/BetteDavis and Creator/JoanCrawford. Shortly before the premiere of ''Impeachment'', FX announced two further spinoffs: ''American Sports Story'' (with season one following the tragic life of [[UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeague NFL]] player Aaron Hernandez), and ''American Love Story'' (with season one following the doomed romance between UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedyJr and Carolyn Bessette).
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17	Not to be confused with Creator/{{ABC}}'s ''Series/AmericanCrime'', a similar anthology series with its own repertory cast of actors.
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19	!! ''American Crime Story'' seasons to date:
20	[[index]]
21	* ''Series/ThePeopleVOJSimpson'' (2016)
22	* ''Series/TheAssassinationOfGianniVersace'' (2018)
23	* ''Series/{{Impeachment}}'' (2021)[[/index]]
24	* Season 4 (TBD)
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26	!! ''American Crime Story'' generally provides examples of:
27	* AmericanTitle: Obviously, the series is about some of the most significant crimes in American history.
28	* ForegoneConclusion: Anybody familiar with the cases covered will know how they end.
29	* LighterAndSofter:
30	** Downplayed, when in comparison to its sister series ''Series/AmericanHorrorStory''. It's not as gory or gritty as ''AHS'', but everything is still played with utter seriousness.
31	** ''Impeachment'' is this to the series itself, to a certain degree, since it doesn't revolve around or involve a murder.
32	** ''Studio 54'' is set up to be another example, as its focus is the fall of a nightclub due to its owners' tax evasion scheme, rather than anything explicitly violent.
33	* TrueCrime: Dramaticizing them.

Context Series / AmericanCrimeStory