What I’m Watching: American Crime Story: Impeachment (Season Finale)

American Crime Story: Impeachment: Season 3, Episode 10 “The Wilderness” (B)

Watching this final episode, I thought briefly that I might like to see more of this, and that what happened after and in the public forum wasn’t featured quite enough. But then I remembered that this season has been mostly tedious, taking forever to get to the meat of the story and then overstuffing it with invented conversations between Bill and Hillary. What was interesting in this installment was how Paula Jones leveling her accusations against Bill ended up with her posing nude for an adult magazine, and the contrasting of her being photographed with Hillary sitting for portraits as she began her own political career was an intriguing commentary about the way women’s lives are sensationalized in a way that definitely doesn’t happen to men. While Ann Coulter was delighting in how conservative men would react to the excruciating sexual detail in Starr’s report, Susan Carpenter-McMillan expressed a severe disappointment in Monica abandoning those values. The delivery of the report and the crashing of the Internet is a phenomenon of the time, so different from how Robert Mueller’s own recent report was revealed to the public. It’s definitely possible to see how Juanita Broderick’s accusations and the politicization of sexual assault claims have shaped the environment we see today. Ending with Linda being asked about why she did what she did and her doubling down was a fitting way to close out this season, which did have something to offer but wasn’t consistently terrific. I may watch season four, which is supposed to be about Studio 54, but I’m not sure the investment was entirely worth it. I wouldn’t mind some awards attention for Beanie Feldstein, Sarah Paulson, Annaleigh Ashford, or even Clive Owen, but I’m not sure I’d go beyond that.

Season grade: B
Season MVP: Beanie Feldstein and Sarah Paulson

What I’m Watching: American Crime Story: Impeachment

American Crime Story: Impeachment: Season 3, Episode 9 “The Grand Jury” (B)

Fortunately, there wasn’t too much of this episode devoted to Bill and Hillary’s imagined conversations that are still not believable or compelling. Instead, we got to see Linda again since she’s been mostly absent since while the focus was on Monica, and as in the past, having her watch TV to see how other people perceive her is one of this show’s most powerful assets. The news that only one out of ten Americans liked her was brutal, and it was clear from her first moments speaking to the grand jury that they were not impressed with the way that she had treated the friend that she was supposedly so concerned about but whose fate she didn’t consider at all. The pointed questions they were asking were in stark contrast to the absurd specificity about the sexual acts that Monica performed with Bill. Asking Mike to step out at one point was supported strongly by the jury, and Monica’s repeated muttering of “this is so embarrassing” best summed up the horrifying nature of having to detail so much private information for the world to know. Steve’s treatment of Paula is also deplorable, but he was also always interested in what was best for him and not what she actually needed. The most astounding development was Starr being told about an alleged rape that Clinton had committed and deciding not to even bother investigating it because it wasn’t politically convenient, so determined to nail him on certain charges that the truth wasn’t relevant enough to matter.

What I’m Watching: American Crime Story: Impeachment

American Crime Story: Impeachment: Season 3, Episode 8 “Stand By Your Man” (C+)

I’ll say again that the part of this show that feels the most disingenuous is the scripted scenes between Bill and Hillary. The writing just isn’t particularly good, and it’s hard to believe that they talked like that at all, especially since the real Monica is a producer on this show and she wasn’t privy to any of the interactions between the two of them. That was the primary focus of this episode, so I didn’t find too much to hang onto in the same was as previous installments that showcased the relationship between Linda and Monica. Hillary is obviously a formidable presence, but the way she’s being portrayed here makes her come off as exactly what the analysis showed about her, cold and unfeeling. I said in one of my previous reviews that Edie Falco is a tremendously skilled actress, but I’m not sure she’s who I would have chosen to play Hillary given the many options out there. Clive Owen’s Bill is also oddly hypnotizing, so committed to his accent and to mimicking the way that the real Bill spoke and what he said, much of which is well-documented. How he tried to spin events to make it seem like everything he had said up until that point had been totally honest based on his understanding of certain terminology was fascinating, and the angry commentary from Mike was a nice touch to make it clear just how cleverly he was trying to make it out of a very messy and incriminating situation, underscored by Monica’s horrified reaction to his denials.

What I’m Watching: American Crime Story: Impeachment

American Crime Story: Impeachment: Season 3, Episode 7 “The Assassination of Monica Lewinsky” (B)

This was certainly an engrossing hour, showing through real archive footage the way that both Monica and Linda were cruelly and relentlessly mocked when everything was leaked. What wasn’t as convincing to me was the series of invented conversations between Bill and Hillary Clinton. While much of what happened between Monica and Linda might be close to the truth because of the real Monica’s role in this show, there’s no way that either of the Clintons contributed in any way to the writing process. I like Edie Falco but it’s hard to separate her from her accent and the other characters she’s played in the past, and while the public moments that were actually recorded for all to see are probably near-mimicries of what happened, it’s hard to buy any of Hillary’s private moments with Bill. Linda watching John Goodman play her on “Saturday Night Live” with her children was brutal, and she’s definitely not being hailed as the hero she thought she would be. Monica’s fate is also even more miserable than she could ever have imagined, and Ginsberg’s public relations campaign was enough to get Starr to yank her deal, which isn’t good at all. That’s going to absolutely devastate her, and there’s no going back now. I did recognize another actor in this ensemble from his voice alone, Patrick Fischler from “Mad Men” and “Married” as Sidney Blumenthal, though he, like so many others on this show, is buried under an intense 90s hairstyle and large glasses.

What I’m Watching: American Crime Story: Impeachment

American Crime Story: Impeachment: Season 3, Episode 6 “Man Handled” (B+)

This was a clever episode title, and while there were other moments in this hour that felt unnecessarily exaggerated, it did compellingly convey the sensation of being trapped that Monica felt as she was repeatedly told things that weren’t really legal. There was also an interesting duo of the more relatable, seemingly nice Mike Emmick, played by Colin Hanks, and the bad cop Jackie Bennett, played by Darren Goldstein. The initial focus on what ties and books Bill and Monica gave each other seemed so specific and absurd, but that’s the nature of this whole investigation, which George Conway acknowledged didn’t constitute a high crime or even a misdemeanor. I did enjoy Cobie Smulders’ delivery of Ann Coulter saying that she understood why some cultures drown female infants after listening to the mundanity of the tapes. Monica did her best to escape her situation as Mike tried to force her to make incriminating calls right away, and her mother swooped in to help when she was able to call her. It was her father’s friend and lawyer, portrayed by the always fantastic Fred Melamed, who really helped change the dynamic and let Monica know it was okay to just walk out since they wouldn’t stop her. His insistence that he knew the hotel had a fax machine was among the most memorable moments of the hour, along with Monica running into Linda in the mail with plenty of shopping bags on her arms. Linda’s fury that Clinton dishonored the presidency makes her a fascinating character, one who is almost definitely not going to be looked at anywhere near as favorably as she believes.

What I’m Watching: American Crime Story: Impeachment

American Crime Story: Impeachment: Season 3, Episode 5 “Do You Hear What I Hear?” (B)

We’re slowly getting to the meat of this story, when Monica’s story begins to become public and there’s no turning back. That’s the part I know a little bit more about, including certain names like Ken Starr. Dan Bakkedahl, an actor I’ve seen in comedic parts in “Life in Pieces” and “Made for Love,” doesn’t seem the most natural fit to play him, but this show has also cast other performers like Billy Eichner who represent out-of-the-box choices. It does all feed in to the sensational nature of this show, like with Monica becoming increasingly paranoid while “Carol of the Bells” was playing at Linda’s Christmas party, though of course she didn’t have any idea how much more worried she should have been given that Linda was actively working to deceive and record her, panicked about how to protect herself when she was informed that the single-party recordings she had done in Maryland were illegal. The eagerness of the investigators to get their hands on the recordings was understandable given how they would clearly prove something even if they weren’t technically admissible, something that has come up repeatedly in recent years with figures like Donald Trump and Bill Cosby where the disqualification of certain existence didn’t mean exoneration but rather that it couldn’t legally be used against them in court. Mike’s assertion that having the tapes was a relief since a jury would hate Linda indicates that her celebrity whistleblower status won’t be what she imagined, and there’s no way that Monica is going to see what she’s done as any sort of protective or friendly act.

What I’m Watching: American Crime Story: Impeachment

American Crime Story: Impeachment: Season 3, Episode 4 “The Telephone Hour” (B)

It’s astonishing to see just how much content was captured by Linda as she was trying to get recordings about what Monica had done, or more importantly, what Bill had done, though it makes sense given the detailed nature of all of the evidence presented during his infamous trial. I also remember the real Monica’s reaction to the lack of detail in the Mueller report and how nice it would have been not to have the gory specifics of her sex life revealed to the American public. What was most interesting was how Linda got so bored and annoyed listening to Monica drone on, but then she wanted her to stand up for herself and not let her be walked on by so many people in her life. She wants revenge and she, to a lesser degree, wants fame and respect, but she also does like Monica and doesn’t want her to suffer, which she inevitably will because of this. I almost didn’t recognize Blair Underwood as Vernon Jordan because of the placement of his hairline, and he seemed like a dream come true until he indicated the level of respect he had for her as a woman on her way out. I loved the way that Linda responded to Monica asking if she was sick when she took a sick day, and I’m worried about the excitement she had to be subpoenaed and to get involved in Paula Jones’ case. The overdramatic ending of Bill in the bedroom only continued to underline this show’s soapy nature, which feels unnecessary and makes this show seem less factually-based and more prone to storytelling liberties.

What I’m Watching: American Crime Story: Impeachment

American Crime Story: Impeachment: Season 3, Episode 3 “Not to Be Believed” (B)

This show certainly knows how to cast its roles, and it was great to see Billy Eichner, an actor I enjoyed very much in a recurring capacity on “Parks and Recreation,” as Matt Drudge, whose Drudge Report was an early predecessor for what might now be termed fake news since it put out presumed information without any evidence to back it up, made all the more problematic because it may in fact have been true. That was the case with what Drudge published that Michael Isikoff wasn’t yet ready to, having gone through hoops to give a fake name any time he called Linda at work or at home while building his story. Linda pushing Monica to write the president a letter didn’t go over well, and he was very condescending in how he spoke to her after he received it. Bill also asked Monica if her friend was Linda, showing just how much he knew and how Linda wasn’t necessarily building up her self-importance in the grand scheme of things. Having Bill speak with Christopher McDonald’s Bob Bennett in a darkly lit office with a storm roaring outside made him seem a whole lot like a shadowy villain, which has been a theme on this show, though he’s far from the only malignant force present. Susan perfectly manipulated Steve into pushing Paula not to take the settlement, ensuring that what could have satisfied her wouldn’t be enough and that this would have to go to trial and end up in the public eye.

Round Two: American Crime Story: Impeachment

American Crime Story: Impeachment: Season 3, Episode 2 “The President Kissed Me” (B)

I’m deeply interested in the subject matter of this show, but I’m not sure I’m too impressed with the execution. There is absolutely a demonization of President Bill Clinton in how this story is being told, and that’s not to suggest he should be let off the hook since he was in fact guilty of having an affair. But this feels a lot more like a hit job in some ways than a telling of history, and it’s taking a rather long time to get to the real meat of the story. That said, it’s good to see strong actresses taking on intriguing roles, like Judith Light as Susan Carpenter-McMillan, who managed to use the clueless and easily manipulated Paula Jones, played fantastically by Annaleigh Ashford, to her own purposes, and Cobie Smulders as Ann Coulter. It’s also great to see the performances from both Sarah Paulson and Beanie Feldstein, whose interactions are quite enlightening since they show how both people want something different from the relationship and aren’t all that interested in the other person’s priorities. Linda desperately wanting to get Monica to come antiquing with her was one such instance of that, and Monica’s obsession with sitting by the phone waiting for the president to call was a problematic habit that led to her revealing the biggest secret in Washington to the worst possible person, which we know isn’t going to turn out well for anyone. I’m eager to see more familiar faces introduced and see how this political process plays out.

What I’m Watching: American Crime Story: Impeachment (Season Premiere)

American Crime Story: Impeachment: Season 3, Episode 1 “Exiles” (B-)

I’ve only ever seen two episodes of this anthology series: the first of “The People v. O.J. Simpson” and the first of “The Assassination of Gianni Versace.” I know that others have been marvelously impressed and they both collected truckloads of awards, so I’m determined to stick with this one presuming it will end up with the same acclaim. I’m also interested in the subject matter, though I’m young enough that I didn’t know many of the details of all these people given that these events unfolded when I wasn’t even yet ten. That does make the experience of watching it a bit dizzying and confusing, since there are so many people introduced that I’ve never even heard of and I’m not sure if are supposed to have any significance, and others whose names I know but whose relevance isn’t as clear to me. The structure of this pilot in particular was hard to follow, jumping around so much and focused almost entirely on Linda Tripp, not Monica Lewinsky. I had a feeling that Sarah Paulson would be in this show but didn’t recognize her as Tripp, and that makes me even more impressed with the way that she completely disappears into the performance. Beanie Feldstein is a great choice to play Monica Lewinsky, and I’m curious to see what Clive Owen is going to be like as Bill Clinton. Other notable faces included Kevin Pollak, Elizabeth Reaser, Annaleigh Ashford, Margo Martindale, Cobie Smulders, Colin Hanks, and, of course, Edie Falco as Hillary Clinton. I’d like to see more active pacing in episode two, because I am genuinely intrigued by the subject matter.

What I’m Watching: American Crime Story (Season Premiere)

American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace: Season 2, Episode 1 “The Man Who Would Be Vogue” (B-)

I watched the premiere of this show’s first installment, “The People vs. OJ Simpson,” when it started nearly two years ago and wasn’t intrigued enough to continue watching, only to see it take home countless awards across the board after it completed airing. At this point, there’s way too much on for me to go back and watch it now – especially since I did screen the entire Oscar-winning film “OJ: Made in America” – but I figured that it’s not too late to get on board with the next installment. Unfortunately, everything about this opening hour turned me off from it, since it presented its central case in the same way, making it into a glorious production that, eventually, will be broken down into the specific facts and legal arguments of the case. In this episode, however, all we saw was how lavishly Gianni Versace lived and just how Darren Criss’ Andrew Cunanan worked his way into his life before eventually killing him. There’s considerably more to be uncovered there since Andrew wasn’t always truthful about his interactions, making his own mental state and certainly his word less than trustworthy. As with season one, the casting here is strong, featuring Edgar Ramirez, who I liked in “Joy,” as Versace, the “Glee” breakout star Criss as his killer, Ricky Martin as his lover, and Penelope Cruz as his sister. I’m sure many more will be added as the season continues, but the overdone nature of this episode makes me sure that this isn’t a show I need to be watching, no matter how many Emmys down the road will cause me to doubt that.

Pilot Review: American Crime Story

American Crime Story: The People vs. OJ Simpson (FX) Premiered February 2 at 10pm

Don’t confuse this show with “American Crime,” another limited series that focuses on a different crime each season. Instead, think of “American Horror Story” and creator Ryan Murphy’s continued expansion into new genres after finding success with “Glee” and this show’s horror companion, which has already completed five seasons. While neither of those highly successful series purported to be based on truth, this show definitely does. I’ll start with the qualifier that I wasn’t even ten years old at the time of the OJ Simpson trial, so I don’t remember any of it other than stories that I’ve heard or read since then, most notably that of the glove fitting perfectly. As a result, I can’t comment on whether any of the portrayals or performances are true to life, but I can simply judge them based on their objective merits. Cuba Gooding Jr. is an actor who delivered a fantastic performance that won him an Oscar in “Jerry Maguire” and hasn’t done much since. It’s possible that he was the right person to play OJ, but I’m not too convinced based on his work in this first episode. Similarly, David Schwimmer feels hopelessly lost in a dramatic role as Robert Kardashian, whose young daughters and future heirheads (people famous for being famous) made a brief appearance. There are so many familiar faces here, including “American Horror Story” alums Connie Britton and Sarah Paulson, both of who go a bit over the top in their characterizations. That’s the rule here, and John Travolta is the biggest offender, barely moving any part of his face in an attempt to create a character unlike his usually excitable persona. The style of this show is intensely dramatic and designed to be suspenseful, and I’m not sure this case quite merits it. I’m minimally intrigued, though the great reviews this show has gotten make me think that maybe I should stick around even though I’m not inclined to.

How will it work as a series? How this actually played out is documented fact, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of developments along the way that can make for great television. With so many actors and characters, I’m sure that a season of this show could prove riveting, if it comes down from being so overdramatic and tries to be a bit more personable.
How long will it last? It didn’t need strong reviews and equally strong ratings to guarantee it a second season. Limited series with different plotlines each season are all the rage these days, and FX has popularized that with “American Horror Story.” Investing in another Ryan Murphy production is surely what they will do with a renewal of this show assuredly coming very soon.

Pilot grade: B-