This might be better than the O.J. Simpson trial. It’s been announced that for the fourth installment of the hit show, American Crime Story, the creators will tackle the Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky scandal. This sounds like must see TV to me. Ryan Murphy, the genius behind the “American Horror Story” franchise will be sinking his teeth into the political scandal, and ensuing courtroom drama.
The creative team behind, “The People vs OJ. Simpson” the surprise hit docudrama, based on the infamous case will be handling the tale, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The Hollywood Reporter has learned. To that end, Murphy as well as American Crime Story producers Fox 21 Television Studios and FX Productions have optioned author Jeffrey Toobin’s 2000 best-seller A Vast Conspiracy: The Real Sex Scandal That Nearly Brought Down a President as source material. Toobin’s book The Run of His Life: The People v. O. J. Simpson served as the inspiration for the Emmy-winning first season of the anthology. Toobin was deeply involved in the first season and served as a consultant to the writing staff.
Toobin’s book delves into the dark side of the Bill Clinton administration, the betrayals, the power the near destruction. I don’t expect this show to be a exceptionally Clinton friendly, but then again there aren’t really any heroes in this case.
Sources tell THR that Murphy and producers are fast-tracking the drama and are already meeting with actresses to portray Lewinsky and colleague Linda Tripp, who secretly recorded Lewinsky’s conversations about her alleged affair with then-President Clinton. Lewinsky claimed to have intimate relations with Clinton between November 1995 and March 1997. The scandal and its repercussions included impeachment hearings. Clinton was ultimately acquitted by the Senate, while two other charges of perjury and abuse of power failed in the House.
It does make me wonder if this show would have ever been made if Hillary Clinton had won in November. Somehow I doubt it. Maybe the benefits of a Donald Trump victory are subtle at times, this one feels a bit like a pop culture hammer to the forehead though. In the best possible way. The Media has given Bill Clinton such glowing coverage over the years, that many probably forgot just how salacious and tumultuous the late 1990’s were for American politics. Here’s hoping we get the same in depth look at the players in the Clinton scandal, as we viewers did during the OJ Simpson season. It seems everyone needs a bit of a reminder of just how far the office of the President fell under Bill Clinton’s watch.
This was the breaking news story that launched the career of Matt Drudge, and changed the way we get our “news” forever. The Drudge Report, a little known blog in 1998 infamously published the story that Newsweek would not, the reported relationship between then President Bill Clinton, and his 22 year old white house staffer, Monica Lewinsky. It was the day we learned that one link, one viral story could change the world. Ryan Murphy has a tendency to recycle actors in his series, so expect to see at least a few familiar faces. No word yet on who will play Monica Lewinsky, nor Matt Drudge.
At this time, they haven’t issues an anticipated release date, as it will begin after two already planned seasons. Hot off the success of the OJ Simpson show, the show’s creators have already begun production for seasons 2 and 3. The second season will focus on Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath. While season 3 will tell the story of Andrew Cunanan, the cross country, spree killer who murdered Gianni Versace in front of his Miami estate.
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