FX threw a “finale” celebration for the “The Assassination of Gianni Versace” at the DGA on Sunset Blvd. on Monday night to bookend a season that launched with a Mer-man and models strolling a glittering runway in Hollywood. Why don’t more hit TV shows celebrate the end like this? A few hundred guests (and Emmy voters) got a sneak preview of the last episode and some face time with the stars, writers and directors (including director Matt Bomer, far right) but unfortunately no Ryan Murphy.
Multiple media outlets tried to pry a St. Patrick’s Day-hued Judith Light for commentary on her other series, Amazon’s “Transparent.” The accusations against Jeffrey Tambor and his subsequent exit scrambled the show’s future, but Light is a pro and shut down all inquiries. “We’re here to talk about ‘Versace,’” she said repeatedly. Also Read: ‘American Crime Story’: Yes, Marilyn Miglin Still Sells Perfume
The “Versace” line snaked down Sunset Blvd. in West Hollywood and extended to the corner of Fairfax. There were still about 75 people waiting helplessly in a standby line 20 minutes after the show had already started … that’s a good sign, showing that industry fans couldn’t wait two more days for their “Versace” fix.
“I’m not playing a killer. I’m playing a person,” lead actor Darren Criss, who plays serial killer Andrew Cunanan, said. “Once you enter it from that portal, it’s a little easier to understand.” We have a hunch we’ll be seeing a lot Criss over this Emmy season. It’s indisputably his show, even if he claimed a subordinate position in the group photo at the top of this gallery.
Could the series net FX a costume design Emmy nomination? Sure. Some of the memorable threads from this season graced the DGA lobby. There is also a new costume category this year: “Outstanding Period Costumes.” Ryan Murphy’s prior series, “The People v. O.J. Simpson” got a nomination and “America Horror Story: Freak Show” won a prior iteration of this category.
“I just came back from France and people were crazy about [the show],” Edgar Ramirez (left, who played Versace) told The Party Report. When not on stage, Ricky Martin introduced himself to other actors who he didn’t share scenes with. The season finale airs Wednesday night on FX.
Emmy season kicks off with FX hosting the cast and crew of The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story at the Director’s Guild of America with Darren Criss, Ricky Martin and Edgar Ramirez in attendance.
The gold Oscar dust has barely settled in Hollywood, but the Emmy campaigning is in full swing. Monday night, the cast and crew of FX’s The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story came out to attend a screening of the final episode of the series. Darren Criss, Edgar Ramirez, Ricky Martin, Cody Fern, Max Greenfield, Judith Light, Jon Jon Briones, executive producer Brad Simpson, writer Tom Rob Smith, and Maureen Orth discussed working on the show and the challenges after the episode aired.
Hosted by Entertainment Weekly’s Kristen Baldwin, Criss who plays serial killer talked about the hardest scene for him to shoot. Criss said that it was easy to shoot the violent scenes, but what was difficult was shooting the scenes with Mike Farrell who plays realtor and millionaire Lee Miglin. “ It’s easy to get angry. But what is truly twisted and heartbreaking is looking into Mike Farrell’s eyes playing this deeply closeted man who loves his wife, and is truly a good man who is fighting a demon he can’t escape. Then me having to drive the car as somebody waging psychological warfare on this person.” He continued, “When I would leave those scenes, I’d feel like, Ugh”. I think people on set maybe thought it was because I was getting intimate with Mike Farrell, but it wasn’t that, it was having to penetrate a man’s soul who was trying so desperately to keep it together.”
Playing Versace’s longtime partner and lover, Antonio D’Amico was personal for Ricky Martin. He told the crowd, “it was very painful to be quite honest. When I was in the closet, I made a lot of my partners lie, so I was reliving that.” Martin took a moment to thank the cast, crew and creator/Executive Producer Ryan Murphy for the chance to tell the story. Actress Judith Light who plays Marilyn Miglin on the show added the the show talks about homophobia in the 90’s but it served as a reminder that we are still dealing with homophobia and “we are still not finished with it today.”
Simpson talked about the final episode which he said was the “hardest to figure out.” He added, “We had fragments and we had to put them together, but we didn’t have a plan on how to put them together.” The episode deals with the funeral of Versace, but also the manhunt for Cunanan coming to an end after the FBI close in on him.
Baldwin talked to the panel about their clothing. Longtime collaborator Lou Eyrich worked with Murphy once again on the extravagant costumes and wardrobe. Ramirez who plays the designer told the Television Academy audience that he kept the Medusa keychain used in the first episode. Criss joked he was wearing Cunanan’s pink speedos and Martin joked that he wanted the angel wings seen in the club scenes.
In the age of TV revivals, there’s only one question left to ask: Who’s the Boss?.
The beloved ‘80s sitcom, starring Tony Danza, Judith Light and Alyssa Milano, seems ripe for a reboot, but Light tells ET that might never happen.
“I don’t know,” she admits. “Nobody’s really talked about it, and I don’t know that that would… I mean, we’re all working. Tony’s got a show on Netflix, Alyssa’s working, Danny [Pintauro]’s working, and you know, Katherine [Helmond]’s working, I’m not sure we’d be able to put it together. Nobody’s really talked about it, so I don’t know.”
So, for now, it’s a big question mark. What’s not in question, though, is Light’s standout performance on FX’s The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story as Marilyn Miglin, the widow of Lee Miglin, a victim of spree killer Andrew Cunanan. Light’s work as a woman forced to put on a brave face as she grapples with her husband’s murder, and alleged infidelity, has sparked major awards buzz. ET caught up with the actress at a For Your Consideration event for the show in Los Angeles on Monday night.
‘American Crime Story: Versace’ Cast on How They’ve Worked With the Designer’s Real-Life Family
“[An award] would mean that all people who were involved, who supported me in doing this, I would be able to thank them all, as I already have,” she gushes. “It would be an acknowledgment of this entire team, from my dear friend, Jon Robin Bates, who wrote me about it in the first place, to our producers, Brad Simpson, Nina Jacobson, and of course the extraordinary Ryan Murphy.”
“And Mike Farrell, who is a remarkable actor who plays my husband in the piece,” Light continues, “and Darren Criss and Ricky Martin and Edgar Ramirez and Penelope Cruz. I mean, you’re talking about, and Gwyneth Horder-Payton who directed it, and Tom Rob Smith who wrote it, so it would be a real acknowledgment of a team that put this together that really said, this was a story that needed to be told.”
He’s been knocking it out of the park lately on the style and grooming fronts, which makes this look a slight step down, in our opinion. The suit is nice enough, but more than a little bland. And the head could use a trim all around. He looks like a cult leader.
Edgar Ramirez
Joel Edgerton couldn’t make this suit work either, but at least he was smart enough not to pair it with a DadSweater, Edgar. This is just bad all around. Except for everything north of the neck, that is. That part is just dreamy.
Judith Light
It’s no surprise that Miss Judith is the only one giving us something to look at. A consummate show-woman with an edge. There’s a New Romantic sort of rocker chick vibe that just looks amazing on her. We wish the blouse integrated with the look a little better, though.
Matt Bomer
If he didn’t have Matt Bomer’s face hanging off the front of his head, we’d have assumed some publicist accidentally got his picture taken on the red carpet.
Ricky Martin
The shoes bring a little bit of style to what is otherwise a dull and funereal look.
Gentlemen, you have let us down. Judith, you remain a goddess, dear. We’re bowing.
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 19: Maureen Orth, Cody Fern, Judith Light, Max Greenfield, Ricky Martin, and Jon Jon Briones speak onstage during the For Your Consideration Event for FX’s ‘The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story’ at DGA Theater on March 19, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.
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