FX is ordering a fresh dose of television terror by renewing its hit suspense drama American Horror Story for a third installment. In a statement released earlier this evening, the network announced that AHS season 3 will return in fall 2013 with 13 all new episodes.
News of the season 3 pick-up comes just a day after last night’s episode ‘I Am Anne Frank (Part 2)’ dominated the other broadcast networks at the 10 pm timeslot among 18-34 year old demo.
Adding to the exciting season 3 news is that Emmy Award-winning actress Jessica Lange will return in a yet to be revealed new role. Lange currently headlines American Horror Story season 2 ‘Asylum’ as the sadistic Sister Jude, the head nun at the Briarcliff Mental Institution who doles out her own twisted style of pious discipline on the asylum’s residents. Lange won both a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy for playing the neighbor from hell Constance Langdon in AHS season 1.
As for the other current and former cast members - American Horror Story executive producers and co-creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk claim that many of them will also return in different roles. Actor Zachary Quinto (who currently plays Dr. Thredson on AHS: Asylum) said that while he hasn’t received the word about returning for season 3 just yet, he loves his job and the people he works with and always wants that to be the case. He went on to say, “I know [Ryan Murpy] has plans [for season 3] and if they involve me I’m sure I’ll have a call at some point.”
Without question the life-force behind the “American Horror Story” franchise is star Jessica Lange, who completely transformed herself for the ongoing second season where she plays a nun in a mental asylum.
And though FX has already announced that Lange is sticking with “American Horror Story” for season three, she admitted to Examiner that the extent of her involvement still depends on the specifics of the storyline and the character. She has yet to have time to really give thought to what she’d want to do next season. Stay tuned for confirmation… and know that without her, there really is no “AHS”.
“American Horror Story: Asylum” airs on FX on Wednesday nights at 10 p.m.
Another actor has been added to the cast ensemble of "American Horror Story" season 3. Ryan Muprhy has just announced that Lily Rabe will return for the next installment of the FX series as he tweeted Thursday, January 31, "So thrilled to announce Lily Rabe is onboard for American Horror Story Season Three! So talented, love her!"
Rabe, who starred as Nora Montgomery in the first season and as Sister Mary Eunice in the second season, joins Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters who were earlier confirmed to return to the next chapter. All of them will play different characters.
Murphy previously revealed the third season would also feature new faces and actors from the first season. "We want to have some new people come in and some [Season 1] people come back," he said, stating that the new additions are "actors Jessica wanted to work with."
On Lange's character, Murphy described it as "a glamour cat leading lady." Peters would "probably go back to playing a sobbing psychopath," the show's creator went on dishing.
Sharing his idea for the storyline, the "Glee" creator said, "I come up with the story, and it's obviously always now crafted around Jessica, for the most part." He continued, "What season three is about is more historical in nature...I'm also interested in getting into a horror romance. That's certainly something that's going to be in the water for season three."
"You're going to see a very different tone in season three, but that's the joy of the show," he further teased. "I think as a person right now I do feel lighter and wanting to embrace something a little bit more fun."
Two more familiar faces have been added to the cast of FX’s hit horror show, American Horror Story for Season 3. Both Frances Conroy and Taissa Farmiga were announced by series creator Ryan Murphy via his Twitter page:
“Thrilled to announce the legendary Frances Conroy is on board for next season’s American Horror Story.”
Frances Conroy will join the already announced cast of Season 3 which includes Taissa Farmiga from Season 1, Sarah Paulson (Season 2), Evan Peters (Season 1&2), Lily Rabe (Season 2), and Jessica Lange (Season 1&2).
There's even bigger news coming... I'll report that a little bit later.
Kathy Bates will likely co-star in "American Horror Story" Season 3.
According to TVLine, Bates -- who is nearing a final deal to join the cast -- will play Jessica Lange's character's best friend ... who eventually becomes her worst enemy. Yep, Kathy Bates and Jessica Lange will face off on your TVs.
Details on "American Horror Story" Season 3 are still scarce, but it's been announced that Lange, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Lily Rabe, Frances Conroy and Taissa Farmiga will co-star.
Bates' other TV credits include NBC's "Harry's Law," "Six Feet Under," "The Office" and "Two and a Half Men."
Request for confirmation from FX was not immediately returned.
(http://1-ps.googleusercontent.com/x/www.tvfanatic.com/static.tvfanatic.com/files/565x318xbates-lange_565x318.jpg.pagespeed.ic.xgoyM1fRSN.jpg)Look for the series - which brings back Jessica Lange in the main role and will also feature Kathy Bates as her character's arch rival - to be set and filmed in modern day New Orleans.
"The fun thing is researching what are the really haunted places in America, and we have a couple doozy locales," Murphy said, adding that Bates will portray a "bad, bad woman."
Evan Peters, Lily Rabe, Frances Conroy, Sarah Paulson and Taissa Farmiga are also confirmed for Season 3, which will focus on "a lot of things," the creator teased - but will also keep coming back to its leads:
“I wanted to see a lot of scenes of Jessica Lange and Kathy Bates going at it, so that’s what you’re going to see.”
Despite American Horror Story’s 17 Emmy nominations, the critically-acclaimed FX show could go home empty handed this year for the stupidest of reasons: It’s a horror program.
The hit show beat out Game of Thrones, earning the most Emmy nominations of any program this year and the same number of nods as last year’s American Horror Story: Murder House.
But let’s not forget what happened to AHS last year. Despite 17 Emmy nominations, the show went home with just a best hairstyling award and best supporting actress.
That amounts to little more than a pretty new mantle piece for Jessica Lange.
But why? It’s all about the genre, says Tom O’Neil of Goldderby.com.
“It’s cursed by being in the horror genre,” the Hollywood awards show handicapper said. “Emmy voters, like Oscar voters, are horrified of the horror genre and tend to stay away.”
Let’s forget for a moment that anyone who has seen even a single episode of American Horror Story understands that the horror elements only aesthetically couch what is otherwise a powerful human drama. Other big name shows have also been awkwardly shortchanged lately.
Despite being a critical and awards season darling throughout its run, AMC’s Mad Men walked away completely empty-handed last year despite 17 Emmy nominations.
Game of Thrones is cross-genre epic hit, but it’s only expected to sweep the tech categories.
Still, Thrones might inch forward this year against opponents like Downtown Abbey and Homeland.
“For a show with a largely international cast that is shot far outside the confines of the U.S. (Ireland, Iceland, Bulgaria etc.), it took a little time for the creative community to wrap its arms around the epic fantasy,” wrote Variety’s Justin Kroll.
“It can win,” added O’Neil.
But if you’re a fan of shows like American Horror Story, just try not to be too surprised if it walks away with little-to-nothing. Any number of under-rated shows (Sons of Anarchy, anyone?) get passed over by the Emmys every year, and the ones that make it lose to other shows which are admittedly great, but a little greedy.
Note: can we rename this thread by adding AHS :Coven?
American Horror Story returns this October 9th.
Episode 3.01 – “Bitchcraft” (October 9th)
Episode 3.02 – “Boy Parts” (October 16th)
Episode 3.03 – “The Replacements” (October 23rd)
This season also stars Frances Conroy, Taissa Farmiga, Jessica Lange, Alexandra Breckenridge, Kathy Bates, Lily Rabe, Sarah Paulson, Jamie Brewer, Evan Peters, Gabourey Sidibe, Angela Bassett, Patti Lupone, Danny Huston, and Denis O’Hare.
FX’s “American Horror Story: Coven” launched Wednesday night to the anthology franchise’s biggest audience ever, reports EW.
The debut was seen by 5.5 million viewers, up 44 percent from last year’s “American Horror Story: Asylum.”
The episode also delivered a 3.0 rating among adults 18-49 — up roughly 90 percent from last fall and topping everything on broadcast last night except ABC’s “Modern Family.” If you add the show’s first encore, “AHS” had a total of 7.8 million.
“Over 300 years have passed since the turbulent days of the Salem witch trials and those who managed to escape are now facing extinction. Mysterious attacks have been escalating against their kind and young girls are being sent away to a special school in New Orleans to learn how to protect themselves. Wrapped up in the turmoil is new arrival, Zoe (Taissa Farmiga), who is harboring a terrifying secret of her own. Alarmed by the recent aggression, Fiona (Jessica Lange), the long-absent Supreme, sweeps back into town, determined to protect the Coven and hell-bent on decimating anyone who gets in her way.”
The third season features cast of regulars and new recruits including Frances Conroy, Taissa Farmiga, Jessica Lange, Alexandra Breckenridge, Kathy Bates, Lily Rabe, Sarah Paulson, Jamie Brewer, Evan Peters, Gabourey Sidibe, Angela Bassett, Patti Lupone, and Denis O’Hare.