American Horror Story: Freak Show
The fourth season of the American horror anthology television series American Horror Story, subtitled Freak Show, is set in 1952 Jupiter, Florida, telling the story of one of the last remaining freak shows in the United States and their struggle for survival. The ensemble cast includes Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Michael Chiklis, Frances Conroy, Denis O'Hare, Emma Roberts, Finn Wittrock, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, and Jessica Lange, with all returning from previous seasons, except newcomers Chiklis and Wittrock. The season marks the first not to be strictly anthological, with Lily Rabe, Naomi Grossman, and John Cromwell reprising their roles from the series' second cycle, Asylum.
Created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk for the cable network FX, the series is produced by 20th Century Fox Television. Freak Show was broadcast between October 8, 2014, to January 21, 2015, consisting of 13 episodes. Like its predecessors, the season was met with positive reviews and consistently strong ratings. The premiere episode attracted a series high of 6.13 million viewers, making it the most viewed episode of the series. It ultimately became FX's most-watched program ever, surpassing its previous installment, Coven. The season garnered a total of twenty Emmy Award nominations, the most for any season of American Horror Story to date, including nominations for Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries|Outstanding Limited Series], and six acting nominations for Lange, O'Hare, Wittrock, Paulson, Bassett, and Bates. In addition, Paulson won for Best Supporting Actress in a Movie or Limited Series at the 5th Critics' Choice Television Awards.
Cast and characters
Main
- Sarah Paulson as Bette and Dot Tattler
- Evan Peters as Jimmy Darling
- Michael Chiklis as Wendell "Dell" Toledo
- Frances Conroy as Gloria Mott
- Denis O'Hare as Stanley
- Emma Roberts as Maggie Esmerelda
- Finn Wittrock as Dandy Mott
- Angela Bassett as Desiree Dupree
- Kathy Bates as Ethel Darling
- Jessica Lange as Elsa Mars
Special guest stars
- Wes Bentley as Edward Mordrake
- Celia Weston as Lillian Hemmings
- Gabourey Sidibe as Regina Ross
- Matt Bomer as Andy Stiles
- Danny Huston as Massimo Dolcefino
- Lily Rabe as Sister Mary Eunice McKee
- Neil Patrick Harris as Chester Creb
Recurring
- Naomi Grossman as Pepper
- Grace Gummer as Penny Nelson
- Chrissy Metz as Barbara / Ima Wiggles
- Malcolm-Jamal Warner as Angus T. Jefferson
- Erika Ervin as Amazon Eve
- Mat Fraser as Paul the Illustrated Seal
- Jyoti Amge as Ma Petite
- Rose Siggins as Legless Suzi
- Ben Woolf as Meep the Geek
- Lee Tergesen as Vince Nelson
- John Carroll Lynch as Twisty the Clown
- Skyler Samuels as Bonnie Lipton
- Patti LaBelle as Dora Brown
Guest stars
- Jamie Brewer as Marjorie the Doll
- Mare Winningham as Rita Gayheart
- Matthew Glave as Larry Gayheart
- David Burtka as Michael Beck
- Heather Langenkamp as a Tupperware Party Housewife
- Angela Sarafyan as Alice
- John Cromwell as Hans Grüper
Episodes
Production
Development
In November 2013, FX announced that the show had been renewed for a fourth season. Series co-creator Ryan Murphy hinted that clues about the fourth season would be hidden in the final episodes of the third season. In March 2014, the season was revealed to be set at a carnival, according to co-executive producer/writer Douglas Petrie. It was also revealed that Lange would be playing a role similar to Marlene Dietrich. Murphy revealed that the season would take place in 1950, adding: "If you look historically what happened in the year 1950, there's some more clues in that year. It's a period piece. We try and do the opposite of what we've done before. Jessica Lange has already started practicing her German accent, so I'm very excited!" Murphy indicated that this season drew inspiration from Tod Browning's Freaks and Herk Harvey's Carnival of Souls. This season featured the largest set ever constructed for American Horror Story, with Murphy stating: "We had to build an entire city. We built an entire huge compound, and then we had to build the interior of all those buildings on set. It's all, period. And it's all based on Mark Worthington's immaculate research."Casting
Ryan Murphy confirmed that Jessica Lange would be returning for a fourth season, although said to be in a reduced capacity. She portrayed Elsa Mars, the owner of the freak show. In November 2013, Murphy said he approached Kathy Bates and Angela Bassett to return. Bassett later confirmed in an interview with Access Hollywood that she would be indeed coming back. They portrayed Ethel Darling and Desiree Dupree, respectively. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Sarah Paulson revealed she would be returning, possibly for a main role, which was later revealed to be the conjoined twins Bette and Dot Tattler. It was announced at the PaleyFest 2014 that the cast members present at the panel would all be returning for the fourth season in some capacity, including Denis O'Hare, Emma Roberts, Frances Conroy, Evan Peters, and Gabourey Sidibe. Jamie Brewer was also added to the present roster, although Murphy later indicated Brewer may not appear during the season. She was later confirmed to portray the ventriloquist dummy Marjorie after appearing in a promo for the final episodes. Additionally, Michael Chiklis was announced to play the father of Peters' character and ex-husband of Bates' character, the strongman Dell Toledo. Finn Wittrock was the last lead actor joining the cast. He portrayed the psychopathic Dandy Mott.In July 2014, TVLine reported that Wes Bentley would appear in the season' two-part Halloween episode as Edward Mordrake. At the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con, it was announced that John Carroll Lynch would portray one of the central antagonists during the season, Twisty the Clown. In August 2014, R&B singer Patti LaBelle joined the cast for a four-episode story arc as the mother of Sidibe's character, named Dora, the Motts' housekeeper. Also in August 2014, it was revealed that Matt Bomer would be guest-starring in one episode as Andy, Dell's secret lover. Murphy took to his Twitter account to announce that the world's smallest woman Jyoti Amge has joined the cast as Ma Petite. Murphy had written a role specifically for Coven alum Leslie Jordan, but he did not appear on the show due to scheduling conflicts.
In September 2014, it was reported that Asylum alum Naomi Grossman would return to portray Pepper, which marked the first time a character appeared in multiple seasons of the series. Lily Rabe also reprised her Asylum character Sister Mary Eunice McKee in the tenth episode, "Orphans". Mare Winningham made an appearance in the same episode, as Pepper's sister Rita. Neil Patrick Harris guest starred in two episodes as Chester, who takes over the freak show when Elsa leaves for Hollywood. Harris' husband, David Burtka, appeared in the season finale as Elsa's husband.
Filming
At Paley Center for Media's 2014 PaleyFest event, Ryan Murphy announced that the season's filming would take place again in New Orleans, Louisiana, although the show's setting is in Jupiter, Florida. The premiere episode was directed by co-creator Murphy, his first effort since the pilot. Principal photography for the season began on July 15, 2014. Production on the season concluded on December 19, 2014.Marketing
A video released in July 2014, entitled "Fallen Angel", was reported by many news sources to be an official Freak Show trailer. The video – which featured the American Horror Story title card – was later taken down after FX confirmed it was fan-made. Before the debut of the fan-made video, FX had not released any official trailers concerning the upcoming season. The first official teaser was released on August 20, 2014, entitled "Admit One".As with previous seasons, FX released a series of teaser trailers on the show's YouTube page. FX also used the marketing hashtag #WirSindAlleFreaks in the German language, and its English translation #WeAreAllFreaks.
Reception
Critical response
American Horror Story: Freak Show has received mostly positive reviews from critics. On Metacritic, it scored a 69 out of 100 based on 19 reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. The review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 77% approval rating with an average rating of 7.29/10 based on 202 reviews. The website's consensus reads, "Though it may turn off new viewers unaccustomed to its unabashed weirdness, Freak Show still brings the thrills, thanks to its reliably stylish presentation and game cast."Awards and nominations
In its fourth season, the series was nominated for 76 awards, 21 of which were won.| Year | Association | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2015 | 46th NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a TV Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | Angela Bassett | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 46th NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding TV Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | American Horror Story: Freak Show | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 72nd Golden Globe Awards | Golden Globe [Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film|Best Actress – Miniseries or TV Film] | Jessica Lange | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 72nd Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or TV Film | Kathy Bates | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 19th Satellite Awards | Best TV Series – Genre | American Horror Story: Freak Show | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 19th Satellite Awards | Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or TV Film | Sarah Paulson | |
| 2015 | 41st People's Choice Awards | Favorite Cable Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Show | American Horror Story: Freak Show | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 41st People's Choice Awards | Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actress | Jessica Lange | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 26th PGA Awards | Outstanding Producer of Long-Form TV | Brad Buecker, Dante Di Loreto, Brad Falchuk, Joseph Incaprera, Alexis Martin Woodall, Tim Minear, Ryan Murphy, Jennifer Salt, James Wong | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 19th ADG Awards | TV movie or Mini-Series | Mark Worthington | |
| 2015 | 17th [Costume Designers Guild Awards|17th CDG Awards] | Costume Designers Guild Award for Outstanding [Made for Television Movie or Miniseries|Outstanding Made for TV Movie or Mini-Series] | Lou Eyrich | |
| 2015 | Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Awards 2015 | Mini-Series or TV Movie Period and/or Character Make-up | Eryn Krueger Mekash, Kim Ayers | |
| 2015 | Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Awards 2015 | Mini-Series or TV Movie Period Special Make-up Effects | Eryn Krueger Mekash, Michael Mekash, Christopher Nelson | |
| 2015 | Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Awards 2015 | Mini-Series or TV Movie Period and/or Character Hair Styling | Monte C. Haught, Michelle Ceglia | |
| 2015 | 13th VES Awards | Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Photoreal/Live Action Broadcast Program | Jason Piccioni, Jason Spratt, Mike Kirylo, Justin Bal, Eric Roberts | |
| 2015 | 13th VES Awards | Outstanding Compositing in a Photoreal/Live Action Broadcast Program | Tommy Tran, JV Pike, Rob Lutz, Matt Lefferts | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 62nd MPSE Golden Reel Awards | TV Short Form Music Score | Episode: "Monsters Among Us" | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 51st CAS Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing – TV Movie or Mini-Series | Bruce Litecky, CAS Joe Earle, CAS Doug Andham, CAS Evan Daum Kyle Billingsley | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 6th Dorian Awards | TV Musical Performance of the Year | Jessica Lange | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 6th Dorian Awards | Campy TV Show of the Year | American Horror Story: Freak Show | Nomitated |
| 2015 | Fangoria Chainsaw Awards 2015 | Best TV Series | American Horror Story: Freak Show | Nomitated |
| 2015 | Fangoria Chainsaw Awards 2015 | Best TV Actress | Sarah Paulson | |
| 2015 | Fangoria Chainsaw Awards 2015 | Best TV Supporting Actor | Finn Wittrock | |
| 2015 | 41st Saturn Awards | Best Actress on TV | Jessica Lange | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 41st Saturn Awards | Best Guest Starring Role on TV | Neil Patrick Harris | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 41st Saturn Awards | Best Syndicated/Cable TV Series | American Horror Story: Freak Show | Nomitated |
| 2015 | Glamour Awards 2014 | International TV Actress | Jessica Lange | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 36th Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a TV Series - Guest Starring Young Actor 15-21 | Dalton E. Gray | Nomitated |
| 2015 | SXSW Film Design Awards 2015 | Excellence in Title Design | American Horror Story: Freak Show | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 5th Critics' Choice TV Awards | Most Bingeworthy Show | American Horror Story: Freak Show | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 5th Critics' Choice TV Awards | Best Actress in a Movie or Limited Series | Jessica Lange | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 5th Critics' Choice TV Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Movie or Limited Series | Finn Wittrock | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 5th Critics' Choice TV Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Movie or Limited Series | Sarah Paulson | |
| 2015 | BMI Film & TV Awards 2015 | BMI Cable TV Music Awards | Mac Quayle | |
| 2015 | BMI Film & TV Awards 2015 | BMI Cable TV Music Awards | Charlie Clouser | |
| 2015 | BMI Film & TV Awards 2015 | BMI Cable TV Music Awards | César Dávila-Irizarry | |
| 2015 | 67th Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Limited/Anthology Series | American Horror Story: Freak Show | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 67th Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie | Jessica Lange | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 67th Primetime Emmy Awards | Primetime Emmy Award for [Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie|Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited/ Anthology Series or Movie] | Denis O'Hare | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 67th Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited/ Anthology Series or Movie | Finn Wittrock | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 67th Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie | Sarah Paulson | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 67th Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie | Angela Bassett | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 67th Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie | Kathy Bates | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 67th Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Directing for a Limited/Anthology Series or Movie | Ryan Murphy | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 67th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Hairstyling for a Limited Series or Movie | Monte C. Haught, Michelle Ceglia, Daina Daigle, Amy Wood, Sherri B. Hamilton | |
| 2015 | 67th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Main Title Design | Ryan Murphy, Kyle Cooper, Lee Nelson, Nadia Tzuo | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 67th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Supporting Role | Jason Piccioni, Justin Ball, Jason Spratt, Tim Jacobsen, David Altenau, Tommy Tran, Mike Kirylo, Matt Lefferts, Donnie Dean | |
| 2015 | 67th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Costumes for a Period/Fantasy Series, Limited Series, or Movie | Lou Eyrich, Elizabeth Macey, Ken van Duyne | |
| 2015 | 67th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Limited Series or Movie | Bruce Litecky, Joe Earle, Doug Andham, Evan Daum | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 67th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or Movie | Michael Goi | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 67th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Sound Editing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special | Gary Megregian, Timothy A. Cleveland, Paul Diller, Steve M. Stuhr, Lance Wiseman, Jason Krane, John Green, David Klotz, Noel Vought | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 67th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Casting for a Limited Series, Movie or Special | Robert J. Ulrich, Eric Dawson, Meagan Lewis | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 67th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Prosthetic Makeup for a Series, Limited Series, Movie, or Special | Eryn Krueger Mekash, Michael Mekash, David L. Anderson, Justin Raleigh, Christopher Nelson, Kim Ayers, Luis Garcia, James MacKinnon | |
| 2015 | 67th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series, Movie Or Special (Original Dramatic Score) | Mac Quayle | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 67th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Make-up for a Limited Series or Movie | Eryn Krueger Mekash, Kim Ayers, Lucy O'Reilly, Michael Mekash, Christopher Nelson, Jillian Erickson | |
| 2015 | 67th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Short-Format Nonfiction Program | "American Horror Story: Extra-Ordinary Artists" | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 19th Online Film & TV Association Awards | Best Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Jessica Lange | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 19th Online Film & TV Association Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Michael Chiklis | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 19th Online Film & TV Association Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Denis O'Hare | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 19th Online Film & TV Association Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Angela Bassett | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 19th Online Film & TV Association Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Kathy Bates | |
| 2015 | 19th Online Film & TV Association Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Frances Conroy | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 19th Online Film & TV Association Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | Sarah Paulson | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 19th Online Film & TV Association Awards | Best Miniseries | American Horror Story: Freak Show | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 19th Online Film & TV Association Awards | Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Miniseries | American Horror Story: Freak Show | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 19th Online Film & TV Association Awards | Best Direction of a Motion Picture or Miniseries | American Horror Story: Freak Show | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 19th Online Film & TV Association Awards | Best Writing of a Motion Picture or Miniseries | American Horror Story: Freak Show | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 19th Online Film & TV Association Awards | Best Music in a Non-Series | American Horror Story: Freak Show | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 19th Online Film & TV Association Awards | Best Editing in a Non-Series | American Horror Story: Freak Show | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 19th Online Film & TV Association Awards | Best Cinematography in a Non-Series | American Horror Story: Freak Show | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 19th Online Film & TV Association Awards | Best Costume Design in a Non-Series | American Horror Story: Freak Show | |
| 2015 | 19th Online Film & TV Association Awards | Best Makeup/Hairstyling in a Non-Series | American Horror Story: Freak Show | |
| 2015 | 19th Online Film & TV Association Awards | Best Sound in a Non-Series | American Horror Story: Freak Show | Nomitated |
| 2015 | 19th Online Film & TV Association Awards | Best Visual Effects in a Non-Series | American Horror Story: Freak Show | |
| 2015 | 19th Online Film & TV Association Awards | Best New Titles Sequence | American Horror Story: Freak Show | Nomitated |
| 2016 | 31st Artios Awards | TV movie or Mini-Series | Robert J. Ulrich, Eric Dawson, Carol Kritzer, Meagan Lewis, Becky Silverman | Nomitated |
Home media
Soundtrack
Every cover song performed in Freak Show was released by 20th Century Fox TV Records in online music stores following the broadcast of the episode in which it appeared, except the cover of David Bowie's "Heroes", performed by Jessica Lange in "Curtain Call."| Song | Original artist | Covered by | Performed in | Release date |
| "Life on Mars?" | David Bowie | Jessica Lange | "Monsters Among Us" "Pink Cupcakes" "Curtain Call" | October 9, 2014 |
| "Criminal" | Fiona Apple | Sarah Paulson | "Massacres and Matinees" | October 15, 2014 |
| "Gods and Monsters" | Lana Del Rey | Jessica Lange | "Edward Mordrake (Part 1)" | October 22, 2014 |
| "September Song" | Walter Huston | Jessica Lange | "Bullseye" | November 12, 2014 |
| "Come as You Are" | Nirvana | Evan Peters | "Test of Strength" | November 19, 2014 |