Trapped on Duty Night Four: American Horror Story Asylum

With the hurricane fast approaching my fourth day on duty was action packed, somewhat.  I woke up late in the day mainly because I received one phone call at 3:30 am and one at 6:20 am, so my day started at noon.  I got to go to the gym for the first time in days, did laundry, watched lots of movies, and finished my last television show from this past week American Horror Story: Asylum.

Asylum is a new story, from creator Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk who created the original "miniseries" last year around Halloween.  This miniseries uses some of the shows favorite actors in new roles, Jessica Lange returns in a central role as a nun working at the asylum.  Other actors who have returned to the fold of the Murphy/Falchuk world are Zachary Quinto, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, and a few more.  While the first miniseries was a true ghost story this second coming looks at the concept of the world of Asylums in the 60s.

During this time in American history the asylum was not just a place for the truly mentally ill, but it was also a place for nymphomaniacs, homosexuals, and those the world deemed as outcasts.  At this time religion had even more power over people, and many asylums were run by priests, and nuns.  This asylum mixes the religion with science.  The priest behind the scenes is played by Joseph Fiennes, and the scientist behind the experiments is played by James Cromwell.  The show was the perfect spooky treat to lead up to Halloween this Wednesday, but the most interesting thing in the show for me is the concept of science versus religion.

While the show is still in its early phase of examining both religion and science there is a lot that Murphy and Falchuk can do with this show, while making things go bump in the night.  This week focused on a young boy who speaks in tongues and eats the hearts of animals.  Zachary Quinto's character believes the boy needs medicine while Lange's nun feels as though an exorcism is needed.  In this world of the supernatural science and religion seem to challenge each other on a daily basis.  While in the current world in our country people tend to lean to one or the other.  Our bi polarization does not allow people to believe in both.  While I am close to defining myself as an atheist, I think for those who are religious there can be a connection between both.  I am excited to see the way this show explores the dark territories with both.

Ryan Murphy's New Normal tries too Hard to Blend Humor with Progressive Ideals

The New Normal

Created by Allison Adler and Ryan Myurphy

Pilot Written: by Allison Adler and Ryan Murphy, Directed by: Ryan Murphy

Starring: Justin Bartha, Andrew Ranells, Georgia King, Bebe Wood, NeNe Leaks, and Ellen Barkin

I wanted to love this show, like a good gay you are supposed to like the everything about you.  The problem  with this logic is that as someone who critically analyzes popular culture is that, quality and content matter more than connection to a community.  Ryan Murphy has a created another heavy handed show using his own personal opinions, and logic with creating the bulk of this show.  Through in Allison Adler who has been an executive producer on No Ordinary Family, Chuck, and Glee.  Together these two have created a pilot, that tries too hard to be funny, and work to be progressive as well.

The pilot follows David (Bartha) and Bryan (Rannells) as they attempt to find a surrogate for their baby.  Within the same time frame Goldie (King) and her daughter (Wood), the best part of the show, flee Ohio to walk away from lives.  In the attempt to find this surrogate the gay couple quickly find Goldie and she offers to be the surrogate.  Enter two polar opposites Goldie's grandmother (Barkin) who is racist, sexist, and has every other type of ism making Ohio a bastion for evil, Bryan's assistant Rocky (Leakes) who can't act her way out of a paper bag.  

The show has a cute premise with this hopeful couple wanting a young baby, the couple is cute, and this has a lot of fun elements, which could make a great sitcom.  The problem with the pilot alludes to a show operates in absolutes, and is far too preachy like the latter days of Glee. Murphy has momentary glimpses of talent, but too often his show have an incredible lack of focus.  With a small ensemble this could become something better the pilot feels like something forced and contrived rather than well written or heartfelt.

Bartha and Rannells are solid enough, King is cute, and the young actress Bebe Wood who plays her daughter, is a talented young lady.  Then throw in Barkin's sassy Nana, and Leakes fiesty assistantand you get one big hot mess.  I feel like Ryan Murphy is trying to recreate Sue Sylvester with Barkin; he forgot one thing, Sue Sylvester stopped being funny after the first season because the character got written into a corner too many times.  Barkin spews lines like  "I feel like I just ate a black and gay stew"  "You know your kind is so good with computers, and thanks for the railroads."  While Barkin is a funny lady she can't make this awful dialogue work.  Leakes assistant seems like a waste, and could take away from the dynamic.

Murphy tries to hard to complicate his life, and writes characters as though he were a caricaturist; he loses depth when these people have one note they always sing.  In the future his attempt to humanize people like Barkin will seem forced, and won't work.  I will give the show one more try, but The New Normal, may just be something won't work.(You can watch the first episode below)