Television’s new crime show, “American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson” is the FX Original anthology based on the murder case of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson, Orenthal James “O.J.” Simpson’s ex-wife.
The dramatization of the infamous trial in which Simpson was acquitted of homicide charges features actors John Travolta, David Schwimmer and Cuba Gooding Jr. as Simpson.
Since the show’s January premiere, its dedication to precise detail in location, reaction and dialogue as presented in the actual trial has attributed to its 3.3 million viewer average per episode. It draws many of those details from Jeffrey Toobin’s book “The Run of His Life.”
In early March, a buck knife with a five-inch blade was turned in to the Los Angeles Police Department after being discovered on Simpson’s former property. The knife was given to LAPD officer George Maycott, who said he believed the case was closed and kept the knife among his personal possessions. After years of sitting in his toolbox, he turned the weapon in and forensic testing is now being conducted.
Speculation surrounds the weapon, which some believe was used in the murder of Goldman and Brown. Nearly 20 years later, following the jury’s acquited ruling of Simpson, “American Crime” brings the case back into debate.
“I find it fascinating how the show teeters back and forth on the question of O.J. Simpson’s innocence in the case,” said Danielle Hernandez, senior criminal justice major. “Every episode changes your perspective.”
Viewers like Elizabeth Townsend, freshman social science major, watch the show for its current representation of new case findings.
“The new information found regarding the case definitely adds to the suspense I’m hoping the show will build up to,” Townsend said.
