Death of 'The Americans' Dream?
Today in Hollywood news: FX's new spy show took a dive in its second week, American Horror Story shores up more of its cast, and Jacki Weaver makes a bad decision.
RELATED: 'The Americans': Spies Unlike Us
We might have spoken too soon when we called FX's new show The Americans a hit. The show, about undercover Soviet spies in the 1980s, did very well in its first week, but yipes, last night's second episode took a nose dive. "Plummet" is the word Deadline uses, as viewership was down 40 percent last night, airing to a less-than-thrilling 1.97 million, while slipping 32 percent in the all-important 18-49 demographic. So, this could spell bad things for the high-profile show, which most people seem to like. (Definitely not all people, though.) It's a shame. No matter what anyone thinks about the show, Keri Russell is a good and appealing actress who should have steady work, and at one point this show seemed like it could be great bet for her. Of course the series isn't dead yet, so we don't need to start planning Russell's next move immediately, but you can never be too prepared. Guys, what are we going to do with Keri Russell?? [Deadline]
RELATED: 'American Horror Story' Goes Too Far
Elsewhere in American-related FX news, Frances Conroy has officially joined the cast of the third season of American Horror Story, further strengthening the show's regular ensemble of actors. Ryan Murphy's got quite a troupe going! They should take it on the road, maybe do summer stock somewhere. "The American Horror Story Players present: Bridgadoon." You would go see it. You would all go see it. They could do a really good Cherry Orchard, I'll bet. It might be something to think about, Ryan. All these talented folks are willing to go to work for you, time and time again, so maybe see how far you can take it. I bet you'd be surprised. [Entertainment Weekly]
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Hunger Games actress Elizabeth Banks and Twilight injured deer Kristen Stewart have signed on to star in The Big Shoe, the new film from the guy who directed Secretary. Much like that fetish-based movie, The Big Shoe explores "eroticism and humor," this time from the perspective of a shoe designer (Jim Sturgess), his muse (Stewart), and his therapist (Banks). If you think a movie about foot fetishism is totally out of left field and could never do well, I'd urge to go ahead and say two words to yourself: "Quentin" and "Tarantino." Or specifically, "Kill" and "Bill." There's a whole lotta foot stuff in that movie. I mean, there's foot stuff in most of his movies, but it's most egregiously on display in Kill Bill. And those movies did pretty well! So don't go counting this one out just yet. There may actually be a market for foot fetishism in America, an as-yet-untapped resource. [The Hollywood Reporter]
RELATED: 'American Horror Story' Will Scare Us Some More
Oh no. Oh no no no. Jacki Weaver, two-time Academy Award nominee, fearsome she-monster of Animal Kingdom, has joined the cast of a freakin' CBS comedy pilot. Sigh. She'll be playing the matriarch of a sports-lovin' Boston family in The McCarthys, which was written by a guy who worked on Are You There, Chelsea? Even worse, her character is described thusly: "the clan’s loving mother Marjorie McCarthy, who has no filter and loves having her gay son keep her company when her husband and other kids are off coaching basketball games." Noooooo. Absolutely not! Jacki, no. Come on. I know it's a big paycheck and you get to leave that fire-ridden desert rock they call Australia (to move to another fire-ridden desert rock called Southern California), but come on. Two Academy Award nominations in two years, lady. You're better than a CBS sitcom about annoying Boston accents and sports-hating gay sons. Come on now. Someone talk her out of this. [Deadline]
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Emma Roberts, niece of Julia, has been cast as the lead in the Fox pilot Delirium, which is based on a young adult book series about a future world "where love is deemed illegal and can be eradicated with a special procedure." Yeah. That's the premise. "Love" is curable. You stop having "love" when you get a special shot or something. Totally makes sense. How do they play tennis?? Ha, "love." Awful. Roberts will play a young girl who "does the unthinkable: she falls in love." Oh my god, how dare she. How dare she fall in love! They should have given her the no-love shot earlier! Then they wouldn't be in this mess. But she didn't get it and now look. Love. Terrible, terrible love. Which the world would want to eradicate for some reason. And which can be quantified and isolated as one particular thing. This big broad emotional concept, curable with future medicine. Sounds like a great show. Can't wait. [Deadline]