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FX series shows O.J. trial still draws attention


PASADENA, Calif. – The Trial of the Century returns, 20 years later and in a new century.

The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story (FX, Feb. 2, 10 p.m. ET/PT), a 10-part limited series that looks at O.J. Simpson's trial for the 1994 murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and Ronald Goldman, boasts a cast that includes John Travolta, Sarah Paulson, Courtney B. Vance, David Schwimmer and Nathan Lane. Ryan Murphy, who created another FX anthology series, American Horror Story, produces and directs.

Looking back now allows perspective on a case that "brought America together" in front of the television and "tore it apart, largely along racial lines" after Simpson was acquitted, executive producer Brad Simpson (no relation) said during a Saturday panel at the Television Critics Association winter gathering.

"The case was so polarizing (at the time). You could only see it through your own prism," he said. "Twenty years later, we're able to look back and try to understand" the racial division.

The series is based on Jeffrey Toobin's book, The Run of His Life: The People V. O.J. Simpson, which takes a strong position that the the former football great is guilty. Those involved with the miniseries have generally withheld their opinion on that question. Cuba Gooding Jr., who plays Simpson, doesn't want his opinion to influence how people view his portrayal in the limited series, which looks like it will return with a second season focused on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

"The question of his guilt is my own personal opinion. I don't want to have that reflected," he said.

Travolta, coming back to TV after a long film career, said he was excited to do the makeup work, voice and physical mannerisms required to depict O.J. lawyer Robert Shapiro.

"I actually couldn't wait to look like that and perform in that voice. That's part of the joy of acting," said Travolta, who added he would do more TV if he could work with producers, writers and actors of the quality who were part of Crime Story. He appreciates Crime Story's "multi-layered message."

Schwimmer, who plays O.J. friend Robert Kardashian, talked to the late attorney's ex-wife, Kris Jenner, about him. (The Kardashian children are portrayed in the miniseries, but Murphy said they are in only about four or five scenes out of more than 400.)

"She was incredibly generous with her time and very open about her relationship with Robert," the Friends star said. "The single greatest thing I got from her was how religious he was. That helped me understand the decisions he was making at the time."

Paulson, who plays prosecutor Marcia Clark, talked about her responsibility in portraying the lawyer, who was criticized for everything from her legal strategy to her hair.

"I came to revere her, both as a legal mind and a person," she said, acknowledging that Clark didn't have the TV experience or "razzle-dazzle that (O.J. attorney) Johnnie Cochran" and other defense attorneys had.

At that point, Courtney B. Vance, who plays Cochran, tried to interject and Paulson humorously ruled him out of order. "Be quiet, Cochran," she joked.