Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and their American Horror Story: Hotel cast appeared before reporters at the Television Critics Association press tour yesterday to talk the fifth season of FX’s most-watched program.
The franchise — which has garnered 70 Emmy nominations for the network —will set its latest outing in a downtown L.A. Hotel. “We built it from the ground up, and it’s taken over half of the Fox lot. It’s something that I feel is our most magnificent set.”
Falchuk added that this season feels a little less claustrophobic than others. “What’s fun about it is, while I feel like the first season intentionally really trapped you in that house in a very specific way and the second season was very oppressive in that asylum, this is kind of like horror sneaking out of the hotel. The hotel is the center of it, but it’s kind of dripping out and we’re out on the streets a lot more. It’s much more noiry and moody in that way.”
Then, one by one, the cast described their characters.
Finn Wittrock: “I’m playing a male model named Tristan Duffy, who is always looking for the next high. And I, of course sort of find the biggest high in Lady Gaga. And, yeah … we have a lot to do together. She sees all of me. “
New addition Cheyenne Jackson: “I’m playing Will Drake, fashion icon. He needs he’s trying to creatively reestablish himself, so he moves from New York to Los Angeles, father, and is a little desperate.”
Welcome return Denis O’Hare: “I am playing Liz Taylor, movie icon. I’m not actually playing Elizabeth Taylor, but I’m playing a person who is inspired by the awesomeness of things like Butterfield 8 and Cleopatra, and eye makeup like that. I shaved my head for the part … and other body parts. I work in the hotel, and I work with Kathy, — I work in the bar, which is fantastic. It’s called ‘The Blue Parrot Lounge.’”
Chloe Sevigny: “I play Alex Lowe, and I am the wife of Wes Bentley, and a mother, and a doctor, and I’m dealing with a great loss we had in our family, and coming to grips with that — among other things.”
Matt Bomer: “I play Donovan, who is a denizen of the Hotel Cortez, closely associated with Ms. Gaga and Ms. Bates, and Mr. Wittrock, amongst others. He has very interesting relationships with the ladyfolk in his life. I’ll just leave it at that.”
Wes Bentley: “I play Detective John Lowe, married to Alex, Chloe’s character. Like she said, we had a great loss in the family. I’m investigating some grisly murders,
Angela Bassett: “I play Ramona Royale, and I am sexy as well, yet not in a drug-addict-y kind of way. I have a very strong, real lasting relationship with Stephanie’s [that would be Lady Gaga] character, so I’m sure I’ll be at odds with you down there, Donovan, who gets the girl. My character is also this fabulous, you know, actress of the day. I don’t live at the hotel, but I visit very often.”
Kathy Bates: “I play Iris. I also am very, very sexy! [Laughs] I run the hotel. I have relationships with Matt Bomer and with Wes. And [looks at Sarah Paulson] I can’t stand you. I hate you. … Liz Taylor and I have a very, very close relationship, and I do crossword puzzles in my spare time.” Asked about being freed from last season’s beard, she smiled, “There’s always a silver lining — covered my double chins.”
Sarah Paulson: “I play Sally. I live at the hotel. I hate Iris in a rather ancient way, for reasons that are revealed quickly. I have a kind of budding something with Wes’s character, sort of dark. …She’s quite sexy. Unlike anything I’ve ever done on the show.”
Though Gaga herself was not on the panel, Murphy said, “Her character name is Elizabeth. She owns the hotel, and she is sort of a very wealthy social doyenne who is consumed with art and fashion and people. She has a nefarious plan that is revealed in the first episode that plays out over the course of the season.”
Murphy said he doesn’t mind reinventing characters for his cast season after season — rather the real pressure comes from trying to keep them around. He cited the example of Jessica Lange opting to take a year off to do a play. Murphy also says he seeks his cast’s input in developing their new roles, pointing out that different actors take the lead from season to season.
He and Falchuk also try to play with different nuances of the horror genre.
“I think the true horror fans loved the first season because it really is a very psychological season and it plays with a lot of very familiar tropes,” he explained. “I think people who really like drama love Season 2, ‘Asylum.’ And then, I think you get into Season 3, which young people adored and we saw those numbers go up dramatically. The fourth season, I think, was the most arty season, so then you get those fans. And I think that the season we’re doing this year harkens back to the first season, which is much more rooted in honest, primal fears.”
Murphy acknowledged that juggling three current productions — American Horror Story, Scream Queens and the 2016 premiere American Crime Story — in addition to raising two small children is wearying, he understands that the franchise is a valuable to the network.
And to Murphy, too.
“I really love working on it — it’s one of the great joys of my life,” he said. “It’s exhausting when you’re at the end of a season, but I’m so energized by it every year because it does reboot and the actors and the stars are so cool, and I have a real passion for that.”
American Horror Story: Hotel premieres Oct. 7. on FX
