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Curious
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When you think of David Schwimmer you immediately think of Ross Gellar. Like Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt Le Blanc, Matthew Perry, and, yes, even Jennifer Aniston, Schwimmer is forever tied to his Friends character. The sitcom was such a behemoth that no matter what else the cast does, it hangs over their careers and personas like a shadow. That’s why even though she’s a movie star, Aniston can’t shake the “Rachel,” and why despite her exquisite turn as Valerie Cherish, Kudrow is forever Phoebe.
That all being said, David Schwimmer might actually have a shot of breaking free of Ross Gellar. It just so happens that his turn as Robert Kardashian in American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson is nothing less than revelatory.
American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson is a surprising mini-series. When it was first announced that Ryan Murphy was turning his sights to the trial of the century — and bringing the likes of Sarah Paulson, John Travolta, and Cuba Gooding, Jr. along with him — I thought it was a joke. Murphy’s work often veers dangerously deep into the world of camp and for all that it was a culturally-defining media circus, the O.J. trial was still a real life event that ruined real people’s lives. As it turns out, American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson is a spell-binding miniseries that manages to walk multiple tonal tightropes with ease. Every actor is performing at their highest level and the show manages to weave the highest of celebrity satire with the profound debates about racism, sexism, and the failings of the criminal justice system. It’s going to be a monster hit and Schwimmer is one of the best parts.
Schwimmer plays the Kardashian patriarch as an unwitting accessory to history. He’s confounded by his own compassion and is too sensitive for his own good. You can see the wheels spinning in his head; He knows O.J. probably did it, but he’s built his life on the lie of his best friend’s unwavering goodness. He sees his own kids beginning to be seduced by the trappings of fame, but all he can do to stop it is to weakly rattle off pretty platitudes about Kardashian family values. Robert Kardashian is presented as a Greek tragic figure. We may have the blessing of hindsight and know he’s doomed to help create the very celebrity machine he’s terrified of, but he still thinks that praying from his mansion and pleading with the Juice can make a difference. You feel for the guy, but you’re also rolling your eyes in exasperation at him.
American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson has the potential to be a ratings behemoth and pop culture touchstone. If that happens, then David Schwimmer might find himself best known for something other than Friends.
Aw, who are we kidding? Schwimmer’s always going to be Ross Geller!
American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson debuts on FX on Tuesday, February 2. You’ll be able to stream it on FXNOW or on VOD the following day.
