The People vs OJ Simpson

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Feb 24, 2016 10:33 am

This is all too good to not have its own thread. C'mon. Uncle Juice is a great man.

Johnny Carwash · Post by **Johnny Carwash** » Wed Feb 24, 2016 10:35 am

Haven't watched yet, but have been tempted. I see it being talked about a lot, but I'm having trouble figuring out whether people are liking it ironically or for real.

rass · Post by **rass** » Wed Feb 24, 2016 10:39 am

Johnny Carwash wrote:...I'm having trouble figuring out whether people are liking it ironically or for real.

For me, for some of the performances (Travolta and Schwimmer at the very least), both.

Mostly, for real though.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Feb 24, 2016 10:41 am

I didn't watch Sharknado, but that's what I assume group irony watching is, where no one really likes something but everyone watches it because everyone is watching and then they all pretend it was funny or stupid or whatever. This isn't like that. I don't know how to properly describe it, but I think it works because (1) its non-fiction and (2) its name actors who aren't the "I'm in on the joke about me" types. The acting is bad, but its either not intentionally bad or the actors are so good they can overact without looking like they're overacting? Its very difficult to describe, which I know comes off like irony watching, but if you told me I couldn't ever discuss this with anyone again, I'd still be watching for the next 10 or whatever Tuesday nights.

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Wed Feb 24, 2016 10:42 am

Yeah I mean, I'd watch pretty much any straight-up documentary about the whole thing. And I'd watch an intentional farce that winked at the audience 50 times an episode. And I'd watch Friends. So this is an entire stew of great.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Feb 24, 2016 10:44 am

rass wrote:For me, for some of the performances (Travolta and Schwimmer at the very least), both.

Travolta yelling "FUCK!" last night somehow topped even "Uncle Juice".

Another key is this is already written and filmed in its entirety. If they could gauge public reaction and the actors chose to either take it more seriously or steer into the crash with even more "Juice" or tacit acknowledgements, it would be ruined. The only thing I can't figure out is how it received what I assume to be honest, positive critical reviews.

HaulCitgo · Post by **HaulCitgo** » Wed Feb 24, 2016 10:53 am

Somehow they made Johnnie Cochran into the least interesting character. Guess they had to keep it semi-serious but I would have brought in the black lawyer from Seinfeld.

Johnny Carwash · Post by **Johnny Carwash** » Wed Feb 24, 2016 10:53 am

mister d wrote:Travolta yelling "FUCK!" last night somehow topped even "Uncle Juice".

You can say "fuck" on basic cable now? I might be in now.

Does anyone remember the miniseries from 10-15 years ago that had Ving Rhames as Cochran, Christopher Plummer as F. Lee Bailey, and Ron Silver as Shapiro? That was some damn good casting. This one looks like it went for a lot of stunt casting, or at least people who were unaware their casting would look like a stunt.

ESPN is coming out with an extended documentary in a few months, which Chuck Klosterman has seen and says is a monumental achievement. (That's Klosterman, though, who loves to get hyperbolic about weird mundane things, so take it with a grain of salt.)

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Feb 24, 2016 11:01 am

Johnny Carwash wrote:You can say "fuck" on basic cable now? I might be in now.

I'm sure that was part of my gleeful reaction, I didn't know it either. But it was just so good.

Also, Nathan Lane is F. Lee Bailey and the bald guy who married Charlotte on Sex and the City is Alan Dershowitz and he has a wig for the role and there's sexual tension between Marcia Clark and Chris Darden and the characters don't just act their intents but actually say them and its amazing.

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Wed Feb 24, 2016 11:21 am

Not to mention

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Wed Feb 24, 2016 11:33 am

Watched the first two episodes while doing PT exercises. It was ok...good reminder of just how batshit crazy that whole event was.

John Travolta is wretchedly bad. His eyebrows should get their own billing.

Keg · Post by **Keg** » Wed Feb 24, 2016 11:36 am

All of the episodes are online: http://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/america ... y/episodes" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Post by **brian** » Wed Feb 24, 2016 11:39 am

Johnny Carwash wrote:
mister d wrote:Travolta yelling "FUCK!" last night somehow topped even "Uncle Juice".
You can say "fuck" on basic cable now? I might be in now.

Does anyone remember the miniseries from 10-15 years ago that had Ving Rhames as Cochran, Christopher Plummer as F. Lee Bailey, and Ron Silver as Shapiro? That was some damn good casting. This one looks like it went for a lot of stunt casting, or at least people who were unaware their casting would look like a stunt.

ESPN is coming out with an extended documentary in a few months, which Chuck Klosterman has seen and says is a monumental achievement. (That's Klosterman, though, who loves to get hyperbolic about weird mundane things, so take it with a grain of salt.)

Yeah, it's an 8(!)-hour 30 for 30 about it. It premiered at Sundance and people were raving about it. (It's going to be broken up into five nights (with commercials) when it airs on ESPN.)

rass · Post by **rass** » Thu Feb 25, 2016 12:24 pm

The Quest for 100 Juices (with super-cut)

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Thu Feb 25, 2016 12:39 pm

This is about where the real Bob disappeared from the proceedings. Even considering the gold mine the creators must have known they were sitting on, I still play the under.

howard · Post by **howard** » Thu Feb 25, 2016 1:02 pm

I think I'll take the over, without much confidence. They've already played up his role, milking the angle of the Kardashian Kids, understandably so. (I just love the angle of Juice nearly blowing his brains out on Kim's childhood bed - imagine what a weird, twisted adult she might've turned out to be, if you like yer irony.)

For the remainder of the story, not a peep was heard from OJ publicly. I bet we see lots of jailhouse conversations between Bob and best friend Juice, based on reality or dramatic license (like it makes a difference.)

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Mar 02, 2016 10:37 am

Last night was bad in the sense that neither Cochran or Darden make me laugh the entire time and Ross got almost no lines.

Juice Count: 0

howard · Post by **howard** » Wed Mar 02, 2016 5:15 pm

I had forgotten about the crime scene visit. And you didn't laugh at the the apocryphal 'nigga please'? (I don't think he really said that in the courtroom, but I bet he did on a later occasion.) I am warming to Courtney Vance's portrayal of Johnnie Cochran. Oh, and prosecutor Bill Hodgman did not collapse with chest pain in the courtroom, but in his office later that day, but fair use of dramatic license. I'm loving this chance to reminisce.

Post by **brian** » Wed Mar 02, 2016 5:35 pm

If we can get even at least one more Uncle Juice, it'll be time well-spent.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:16 am

howard wrote:And you didn't laugh at the the apocryphal 'nigga please'?

God yes; easily the highlight. And I'm pretty fired up for Fuhrman, too.

howard wrote:Oh, and prosecutor Bill Hodgman did not collapse with chest pain in the courtroom, but in his office later that day, but fair use of dramatic license. I'm loving this chance to reminisce.

That was the first fact I didn't remember/know anything about.

howard · Post by **howard** » Fri Mar 04, 2016 10:55 am

Holy fuck, is OJ stupid. At least he hid his clothes better (or Kato did):

Knife found on O.J. Simpson property being tested by LAPD

Oh, and Bronto, this tidbit is for you:

Existence of the knife was first reported by TMZ.

Post by **brian** » Fri Mar 04, 2016 11:06 am

I love that the story mentions double jeopardy in the final graph. TMZ FTW.

Also, nice chain of custody there LAPD even if he had never been prosecuted until now. Guessing even Uncle Jack Kelly could get the knife thrown out.

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Fri Mar 04, 2016 12:16 pm

I thought we were on a break!

Johnny Carwash · Post by **Johnny Carwash** » Fri Mar 04, 2016 2:47 pm

"Took you fuckers long enough." —Mark Fuhrman

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Fri Mar 04, 2016 3:32 pm

I mean... I guess there isn't an active investigation or whatever, but... Shouldn't that cop be hit with some kind of obstruction of justice charges... or something??

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Mar 04, 2016 5:01 pm

A knife planted over 20 years ago? Shouldn't we have a knife tree by now???

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Fri Mar 04, 2016 6:22 pm

Advanced Internet Users! Ha!

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Tue Mar 15, 2016 1:34 pm

Could Rossdashian BE anymore of yesterday's news?!?

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Tue Mar 15, 2016 2:30 pm

Ryan wrote:Could Rossdashian BE anymore of yesterday's news?!?

hearing Matthew Perry do his best “er, uh, chowdah” Kennedy/Quimby impression

Can't wait for that.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Tue Mar 15, 2016 2:55 pm

I'm like 97% sure I've heard Matthew Perry do a Kennedy impression somewhere. Either that or this is the most obvious/perfect casting ever.

rass · Post by **rass** » Sun Mar 20, 2016 9:01 pm

So both Shapiro and Cochran apparently tried on the gloves (in the courtroom?!) at some point prior to OJ.

Painting it as Darden's choice over the objection of Clark was dramatized.

Paulson is really great.

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Thu Mar 24, 2016 12:11 pm

The actress playing the jury foreperson WAS NORDBERG'S WIFE IN THE NAKED GUN and the casting department didn't even know

rass · Post by **rass** » Thu Mar 24, 2016 12:12 pm

That's fucking great.

rass · Post by **rass** » Thu Mar 24, 2016 12:17 pm

howard · Post by **howard** » Thu Mar 24, 2016 1:14 pm

Wilma Nordberg. That is too funny. I thought she looked familiar.

This episode was a good reminder that the OJ Jury was a bunch of fucking morons. I am curious if within the prosecution team there was actually such a sense of impending disaster as the DNA evidence was being presented and attacked, or if that is a dramatic choice. One dramatic choice, I don't remember Barry Scheck being any where near so smug and arrogant in court, but no actor does smug and arrogant like Rob Morrow, so I don't mind. I'm a huge fan of Barry Scheck, and his lower profile partner Peter Neufeld, their Innocence Project is hugely important.

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Thu Mar 24, 2016 1:26 pm

Nothing says sumg and arrogant like the sarcastic use of "pray tell"

howard · Post by **howard** » Thu Mar 24, 2016 1:33 pm

Damn you for planting the idea of looking at youtubes of the trial in my head. Hours and hours will now be wasted. The kid they cast as Fung did a pretty good job.

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Thu Mar 24, 2016 1:36 pm

I'm right there with you.

Post by **brian** » Mon Mar 28, 2016 4:16 pm

Airdates announced for ESPN's OJ 30 for 30.

rass · Post by **rass** » Fri Apr 01, 2016 11:11 am

Rembert Browne - Googling ‘Terrence Howard’ and ‘O.J. Simpson’ Together Takes You to a Magical Place