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If the show fits: First season of FX's new 'American Crime Story' focuses on O. J. Simpson

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Author: 
Andrew Warren / TV Media
John Travolta as seen in "The People V. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story"

John Travolta as seen in "The People V. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story"

If the show fits: The media branded it the trial of the century, but for convicted felon O.J. Simpson, the extra fame that it brought was probably no consolation. Of course, the former NFL player was acquitted of the double murder charges brought against him, but, if anything, that "not guilty" verdict only made this 1995 trial even more of a media firestorm.

On Tuesday, Feb. 2, FX premieres "American Crime Story," a new anthology series in which each season explores an infamous criminal from the country's long history -- and dives into the events that followed the crimes. The first season, subtitled "The People v. O.J. Simpson," reenacts the murder trial of the sports legend.

FX's other anthology series, "American Horror Story," has been a huge ratings, awards and critical success, and that record means that some of Hollywood's biggest stars have lined up for "American Crime Story." Headlining the cast as Simpson himself is Academy Award winner Cuba Gooding Jr. ("Jerry Maguire," 1996), while Sarah Paulson ("American Horror Story") plays head prosecutor Marcia Clark.

Simpson's defense team was legendary, and the actors playing those men live up to that description, too. Movie superstar and two-time Academy Award nominee John Travolta ("Pulp Fiction," 1994) stars as Robert Shapiro, the head of the defense team, and he's joined by David Schwimmer ("Friends") as Robert Kardashian, Nathan Lane ("The Birdcage," 1996) as F. Lee Bailey, Courtney B. Vance ("Law & Order: Criminal Intent") as Johnnie Cochran and Evan Handler ("Californication") as Alan Dershowitz.

While Simpson was declared innocent of the double murder, he was later convicted of unrelated crimes and is currently incarcerated in Nevada. "The People V. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story" premieres Tuesday, Feb. 2, on FX.

 

How horrifying!: It was critically panned when it premiered all the way back in 1975, but that sure hasn't held back "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." The musical, starring Tim Curry ("Charlie's Angels," 2000), Susan Sarandon ("Thelma & Louise," 1991) and Barry Bostwick ("Spin City") has become the very embodiment of a cult classic, with late-night showings full of costumed audiences continuing to this day.

It shouldn't be any surprise, then, that a remake is in the works -- although much like the original, the remake isn't quite what you'd expect.

This new "Rocky Horror" will be broadcast on Fox this fall, skipping the box office entirely and transforming the classic into a two-hour television special.

In the original, Curry starred as the bizarre Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a self-described "sweet transvestite" and mad scientist who has discovered the secret to creating life itself. For the remake, "Orange Is the New Black's" Laverne Cox has been cast as the enigmatic doctor. In what you might call a sign of how the world has changed since 1975: Cox is the first transgender person to earn an Emmy Award nomination in an acting category.

In the roles of Janet Weiss and Brad Majors, a newly engaged couple who stumble into Dr. Furter's bizarre world, Victoria Justice ("Zoey 101") and Ryan McCartan ("Liv and Maddie") have taken up the baton, while hunky newcomer Staz Nair, who appeared in the U.K.'s version of "The X Factor" and has been cast in season 6 of "Game of Thrones," will be playing the doctor's greatest creation, Rocky.

With months to go until the fall premiere, there's still plenty of time for "The Rocky Horror Picture Show's" cast to fill out.

 

At it again: Is there any stopping Queen Latifah? At various times, she's been a rapper, a songwriter, a comedian, a record producer, an actress and a talk show host. She has a Golden Globe award and a Grammy, has been nominated for three Emmys and even has an Academy Award nomination. Really, is there anything she can't do?

Her talk show, "The Queen Latifah Show," may have aired its last episode last year, but that doesn't mean that the Queen has been idle. Her next project, an as-yet-untitled show that's in the works at Fox, is already well underway.

Coming from the mind of the award-winning Lee Daniels ("Lee Daniels' The Butler," 2013), who is writing and directing, the musical drama stars Queen Latifah as the owner of a beauty salon in Atlanta who becomes a mentor and surrogate mother to three young women hoping to make it big with their music group.

Cast as those three young ladies is a group of newcomers to the screen. Fox held a nationwide search for new actress/singers, and winning out against stiff competition are Jude Demorest and Ryan Destiny, both from Detroit, and Brittany O'Grady of Washington, D.C.