This week FX is launching an ambitious new ten-part series, "The People v. O.J. Simpson," the first major adaptation of the famous events of 1994 and 1995. The show features Hollywood regulars Cuba Gooding Jr (O.J. Simpson), David Swimmer (Robert Kardashian) and John Travolta (Robert Shapiro). The show will recreate the major parts of the case including the famous white Ford Bronco chase and the most famous line ever said in a courtroom, “if the glove doesn’t fit, you must acquit.”
The show will focus on the issue of race as well, similarly to the way "Straight Outta Compton" did this past summer, especially after the Rodney King beating, and the fallout that followed.
As I mentioned before, the show is the first major adaptation of the events since they happened, previous attempts include an ESPN 30 for 30, June 17, 1994, which followed not only the O.J. police but the rest of the day in sports. This included the beginning of the World Cup, game five of the NBA finals and the New York Rangers' Championship parade.
What has followed in the 20 years since the trial has proved one thing, America is still obsessed with the trial and everything that surrounded it. The trial was followed by millions on TV and invented the idea of Court TV. Trials since the O.J. case have had the same effect, including the trials of both Casey Anthony and George Zimmerman, but the O.J. case was the first.
The trial also used the idea of race as a motive, that O.J. wasn’t “black enough” and killed Nicole Simpson to prove he was, or at least that is what the prosecutor said. This came a few years after the Rodney King beating when LAPD officers were not charged in the beating, and citizens rioted. Doesn’t that sound similar to what happened in Ferguson, Missouri with the Michael Brown case? Yes, the #blacklivesmatter moment started a couple years ago, but it has its roots with the Rodney King beating and the O.J Simpson trial.
But what really made the O.J Simpson trial so famous was not the white Bronco chase or the race issue, or that it involved a former football star. What made the trial so famous is who O.J became since his playing days. Since O.J stopped playing football, he never left the national spotlight. O.J was covering NFL games for national broadcast and was appearing in movies and commercials regularly. O.J was becoming entrenched in pop culture. When he was accused of murder, it immediately made national headlines. An O.J. equivalent today would me Michael Strahan. No I don’t think Strahan would ever kill someone, but he is at a similar statue as O.J.
America is still in love with the O.J trial. Who has the number-one reality show? Which family has the most followers on social media? If you look at a tabloid magazine, who is on the cover? The Kardashians. America is obsessed with the Kardashians and everything they do or touch. How did the Kardashians become famous? The family was first thrown into the spotlight when father Robert Kardashian, became part of the “dream team." His sudden death after the trial also sparked controversy. We have O.J to thank for the Kardashians. I know he got acquitted of the charges, but for that reason alone, O.J. should spend the rest of his life in jail. At least he is doing that now.
