American Horror Story is only five episodes into its debut season, but it's already posted record ratings for FX, earned a second season, and has become the new fall TV show to chat about by the watercooler. The series' stars, Connie Britton (better known as Mrs. Coach) and Dylan McDermott, recently gave a phone press conference about the spooky show. While they wouldn't provide any major spoilers, the pair still had plenty to say.
McDermott and Britton are both excited to be part of such a unique show. McDermott, a big Roman Polanski fan, says the show reminded him of a "Rosemary's Baby world" when it was first described to him and thinks the complexity of the story places it miles ahead of the "common denominator" most network TV aims for. "[Viewers are] trying to figure out this story, and I think that's why people are intrigued by the show," McDermott says. "It's not so easy to figure out. People are smart, and people really want to have something to watch that's interesting and intelligent. This show offers that. And a lot of television just doesn't offer that. It's just too easy."
Britton also thinks the show appeals to smart viewers, even those who might not normally be into scary stories. She would know; she's not even a horror enthusiast herself. "What I think is so brilliant about what Ryan and Brad do is that they have a very distinct vision that is so outside the box of anything we've ever seen before, and they have such a great talent for bringing that into fruition and that's what they've done," she says. "And I think audiences, even audiences who weren't -- it wasn't their natural inclination to like a show like this, I think audiences are really drawn to it and really appreciate being challenged and seeing something they've never seen before."
A show as bizarre as American Horror Story is bound to breed some discomfort for the actors involved, and Britton freely admits that she wasn't at ease with the infamous Rubber Man when filming the pilot, and was convinced he was history. But she credits Murphy and Falchuk for constantly creating something that she thinks is going to be "hideous and awful" and turning it into something interesting. "So, I kind of keep my mouth shut at this point," she says.
McDermott, on the other hand, says he lost his inhibitions quickly. "After masturbating in the pilot, what else is there? I couldn't be uncomfortable again."
Both actors claim to have had encounters with ghosts prior to their TV ventures into the paranormal. While staying at a friend's old Tuscan villa one night, Britton heard furniture moving and voices on the floor above her. The next day, when she brought it up, her friends insisted no one was awake that late and that the house was, in fact, haunted. Similarly, McDermott swears he once saw a ghostly figure in his car's headlights while filming in Louisiana in 1989.
Cool stories, but viewers really want to know about the ghosts and other mysterious happenings over at the Harmon's place. Britton and McDermott both refused to say whether the Rubber Man was the Infantada years later, though Britton did concede that those theorists were probably on the right track. The actors also had no clue whether there would be a new family for Season Two, as several rumors say. They did, however, reveal that Dr. Charles, the creator of the house, would be back for at least a few episodes and Britton staked her own wild claim as to why the ultrasound technician fainted in Episode Four: "My suspicion is that it was something with horns...I think that's Vivien's fear. It's Vivien's fear that it's something with horns."
When Murphy and Falchuk will finally reveal what's growing in Vivien's womb is anyone's guess, but you can check out the latest developments in this eerie, interesting series tonight at 10pm on FX.
Great background and detail about AHS Kristin! Fascinating to consider what these actors have to think about while on set and on camera. Was just having a conversation today about this show. I'm impressed with its ambition and enjoy its over-the-top style but do have to think/wonder if/when the story will hit a level that's more than weird/shocking scene followed by weird/shocking scene for its own sake.
I know what you mean, Eric; when it comes down to it, the show is sort of an incoherent mess. But I just love how over-the-top it is. Definitely a guilty pleasure.