This writer has tried to watch the first episode of "American Horror Story" about three or four times, and only managed to make it about twenty minutes through before face-palming himself into unconsciousness. But we’re clearly in the minority: Ryan Murphy and FX‘s genre anthology show is enduringly popular with both audiences and Emmy voters, and after "Murder House," "Asylum" and "Coven," is gearing up for its fourth go-round. Murphy and Co. are going a little bit Tod Browning for the latest installment, "Freak Show."
Set in Florida in 1952, the new storyline will revolve around one of the last freak shows in existence, and a new trailer that debuted last night (via Vulture) is giving us our first proper look at the cast. Tracking through the show’s circus, it sees Jessica Lange as the ringmistress, literally dressed as a circus tent, Sarah Paulson as a pair of conjoined twins, Kathy Bates as a bearded lady, Angela Bassett as a three-breasted woman, Evan Peters as… something that’s currently unclear, and new addition Michael Chiklis as a moustached strongman (with Frances Conroy, Denis O’Hare and Emma Roberts also returning, though as yet unseen).
It’s certainly a fun setting, and one can only imagine the kind of ludicrous, camp-tinged antics that Murphy has cooked up for the latest run of episodes. You can take a look at the trailer below, and the show will return on FX October 8th.