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TV Media Weekly | September 2 - 8, 2017 By Jacqueline Spendlove TV Media I t's taken us inside a coven, a freak show, an insane asylum and, of course, a good old- fashioned murder house and more. "American Horror Story" has given viewers a major case of the willies for six seasons, and a seventh is just around the corner. As always, details of the upcoming installment of the horror antholo- gy have been kept to a minimum in the lead-up to the premiere, and fans of the series are eager to see what "Cult," as the new season is subtitled, has to offer. Don't miss the debut of "American Horror Story: Cult," when it airs Tuesday, Sept. 5, on FX. As an anthology series, "Ameri- can Horror Story" explores a dif- ferent theme every season. It wel- comes back many of the same cast members from year to year, but, for the most part, they play differ- ent characters in a different time and setting. There has been the odd overlap, subtly connecting one season to another: Pepper (Naomi Grossman, "Fear, Inc." 2016) and Sister Mary Eunice (Lily Rabe, "The Whispers"), for in- stance, appeared in both "Asy- lum" and "Freak Show," while se- ries mainstay Sarah Paulson ("12 Years a Slave," 2013) has reprised the characters of both Billie Dean Howard and Lana Winters in mul- tiple seasons ("Murder House" and "Hotel," and "Asylum" and "Roanoke," respectively), along with the stand-alone characters she's portrayed. While "Cult" marks the first season in which series regular Rabe will not be appearing, Paul- son once again has a leading role — as does Evan Peters ("Kick- Ass," 2010), who, like Paulson, has been with the show from the start. Fans were quick to voice their dis- appointment last season about how little they saw of Peters, an enduring favorite with viewers (he played two different characters, and between them, he still only appeared in four episodes). Peters fans can rest easy this season, though — creator and executive producer Ryan Murphy tweeted that in "Cult," "More Evan you will get. This is his heaviest season yet." This alone is more information than we can typically expect to get from Murphy, who is known for keeping "American Horror Story" details close to the vest prior to air time. Last season's theme, title and cast were a mystery right up until the premiere, but showrunners have been more forthcoming — if characteristically cryptic — this time around. We do know that it's set in modern-day Michigan, has some connection to "Freak Show" and, most importantly, uses the 2016 election as a jumping-off point. This is worth taking note of, since no previous installment has been particularly timely or topical — and the setting is surely very delib- erate, with Michigan, historically a blue state, having been quite di- vided during the election. Murphy clarified this in an inter- view with the Hollywood Reporter, confirming that this season will be all about "highlighting people who don't have a voice in our culture — people who are ignored by the cur- rent administration and who are afraid and feel terrorized that their lives are going to be taken away." The show has been unlocking weekly hints via an interactive website , AHSCult.com, which al- lows viewers to sign up and "join" the cult, complete with their own identification number. Promo vid- eos are rife with some of the creep- iest clowns you'll ever care to see (painted in red and blue makeup, making use of subtle election im- agery), and Murphy has hinted that "Freak Show's" Twisty (John Carroll Lynch, "The Drew Carey Show"), "AHS's" OG creepy clown, will be making an appearance this season. A number of other familiar faces appear in "Cult" as well. Adina Porter ("True Blood"), Emma Rob- erts ("Scream Queens"), Frances Conroy ("Six Feet Under") and Cheyenne Jackson ("30 Rock") are among the cast members con- firmed to return this season, while Oscar winner Kathy Bates ("Mis- ery," 1990), who joined the cast in season 3's "Coven," and music su- perstar Lady Gaga, who appeared in the last two seasons, will offi- cially not be returning this year due to scheduling conflicts. Several other "AHS" stalwarts are uncon- firmed as of press time, including Denis O'Hare ("Dallas Buyers Club," 2013) and Angela Bassett ("Malcolm X," 1992), making it unlikely that they'll have major parts this season, if they appear at all. Fortunately, "Cult" welcomes a number of fresh faces to fill the void left by the dearly departed. Alison Pill ("Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," 2010) joins the cast as Ivy Mayfair-Richards, the wife of Paulson's character, and comedi- an Billy Eichner ("Billy on the Street") plays a character named Harrison Wilton. Past Murphy col- laborators Billie Lourd ("Scream Queens") and Leslie Grossman ("Popular") join the show this season, and "Girls" star Lena Dunham is set to appear in at least one episode. It's certainly more information that fans are used to getting be- fore a new season of "AHS" touches down. Executive produc- er Alexis Martin Woodall even complied when pushed for more details at a Television Critics Asso- ciation panel, divulging: "bloody tension, a well-cooked meal, an exciting trip to a grocery story. It is true to our brand, which is you are going to be in a whole new world all over again, and fall in love with these really special characters and hate yourself for watching it be- fore you go to bed." All will be made clear — to a point — when "American Horror Story: Cult" premieres Tuesday, Sept. 5, on FX. Evan Peters as seen in "American Horror Story: Hotel" Creepy clowns and familiar faces grace 'American Horror Story: Cult' 2 | Cover story A/Grindstone Charley's B/Norris Insurance 1 x 4" GVC Mortgage 5 x 2"

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