After seven seasons, actor Cheyenne Jackson still finds “American Horror Story” downright terrifying. While his on-screen characters have braved a blood-soaked hotel and a Roanoke nightmare, nothing compares to the show’s current installment, which draws inspiration from perhaps the most horrific source material out there: the 2016 presidential election.
With a single text from creator Ryan Murphy (yes, that’s all it takes), the Broadway star was back on board and eager to take a stab at playing another morally complex character. Jackson stars as Dr. Rudy Vincent, the psychiatrist to the clown-averse Ally (Sarah Paulson), perhaps the only person she can feel safe around as their nondescript Michigan hamlet descends into absolute chaos.
But this is “American Horror Story,” so, of course, their relationship had to be tarnished, too. In the final moments of Episode 5, it was revealed that the good doctor might not be so good after all. Rudy, as it turns out, is the older brother of Kai (Evan Peters), aka the leader of the neighborhood clown cult responsible for a series of gruesome murders.
HuffPost caught up with Jackson to weigh in on the political new season, that mother of a twist and whether the cast field trip to see Cher in Las Vegas was as fun as it looked.
Cheyenne Jackson as Dr. Vincent. in "American Horror Story: Cult." (Photo: FX)
With two seasons under your belt, you’re a bonafide member of the “American Horror Story” family now. What compelled you to return this time around?
Ryan has been steadfast and wonderful to me over the years. We met at a Broadway show that I was in, then he wrote for me on “Glee” and for years on “American Horror Story.” He just presents a character and you know it’s going to be amazing. You know it’s going to be different than what you’ve done before. You know it’s going to scare you, because there are going to be parts of yourself that are going to doubt that can you do it. Then you remember he thinks you can, which gives you this confidence. You just go for it and jump.
How did Murphy pitch the character of Dr. Rudy Vincent to you? Was there any extra coaxing involved considering the material at hand?
I believe it was one text, which is just so Ryan. It read, “Small-town psychiatrist and Sarah’s doctor. Brush up on your head shrinking.”
Given how this season is reacting to such timely events, instead of drawing inspiration from historical periods like in “Hotel” and “Roanoke,” does it feel different for you?
It is a departure, just given the nature of what we’re doing in our lives right now and where the world is. It feels very present and scarier. This is my third season on the show and it’s been my favorite experience. Everywhere I go and the people I talk to, the response I’m getting is much more tuned-in and fervent. People are really invested in these characters and the adventure that is [Ally’s] brain. What is happening to her? Who’s in on it? Is she crazy? Am I crazy? It’s just a lot. I think it fits right into the world of the anthology, but it does feel different to me.
The series opens with Sara Paulson’s blood-curdling scream upon Trump’s victory, which, of course, many of us can relate to. Did you find some emotional resonance in that scene?
We all kind of relived [the election], reading it, rehearsing it, shooting it and watching it. I know how Sarah personally [felt], and, of course how I felt, and regardless of what side of the aisle you were on, there was such high, pent-up emotion.
Evan Peters as Kai in "American Horror Story: Cult." (Photo: FX)
If Kai is meant to be a Trumplike figure, do you think the series is attempting, in some way, to humanize or at least understand his supporters?
Sure, but I think it’s broader than that. What I’m loving about the season is that nobody gets away unscathed. There were these really over-the-top reactions to the election on either side when the rest of us, even though we veer to one side, are probably more down the middle. It really does make you stop and think. We all live in our own bubbles, watch our own news programs and listen to our own radio stations. Sometimes for the hell of it I’ll watch Fox News because I just have to see what they’re talking about and how they’re wrapping their brain around the same thing I just saw. I think it’s important to see where everybody else is coming from, because if we all just stick in our own lane, nothing is ever going to get done.
The twist at the end of Episode 5 was so major because it’s the first time we see someone who holds power over Kai. What can you tell me about their dynamic?
It’s an interesting brother-brother relationship. You get a glimpse of how they were raised, but in upcoming episode you’ll see how Kai and Rudy came to be the way that they are. A doctor is a problem-solver. Both parents are dead? Well, that’s a problem. There’s a dexterity and a quickness with how he handles things. Their relationship is definitely fleshed out later in the season.
On a personal level, Evan is probably my favorite actor [on the show] watching him over the years. This year, especially, we got such fun stuff, and he’s so inventive and with you in the moment. Every time I got scenes with him and Sarah I knew it was going to be an epic day at work.
The material is, of course, inherently political this season, but what about the set? Is there a lot of talk of Trump and Hillary or do you need time to just decompress and escape when you’re not filming?
We talk about it nonstop. How can you live in this world and not have opinions about things that are happening on a daily basis? That being said, on a show like this, everybody has their own way of dealing with the material and the intensity of the environment. A few people wanted to stay in character and do their own thing and others break from that and sing and dance to keep it light and then go and do the bloody, crazy stuff.
(Photo: Colton Haynes/Instagram)
From social media, it seems like the cast bonded off-screen as well. I need to know everything about that Cher concert.
Cher was so crazy. I didn’t realize how much I wanted to see Cher until I was on my way to see Cher. There isn’t a bigger fan than Sarah, by the way. She was living. I don’t know if it’s just the group of people or the way we’ve bonded, but this is the most fun I’ve had doing the show. I’ve also relaxed a little more within the world and definitely given [myself] over to it. Now, we go to each other’s birthdays and to dinners, because a lot of times you don’t get a lot of scenes with each other. The cast is really tight.
Would you consider returning for a Season 8?
Oh, sure. Ryan sees things in you that you don’t even necessarily see in yourself. Five years ago, I never would have imagined myself on a show like this going toe-to-toe with these actors like Sarah that I thought at the time I have no business doing an emotional scene with. Now, every time I do a scene with her I get better because she demands that of you in the best way. If Ryan asked me to do anything, I’d do it. He knows that.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
"The Mayor" -- Young rapper Courtney Rose needs his big break. For years, he's toiled away in a small inner-city apartment, making music in his junk-filled bedroom closet. Tired of waiting for opportunity, Courtney cooks up the publicity stunt of the century: Running for mayor of his hometown in California to generate buzz for his music career. Unfortunately for Courtney, his master plan goes wildly awry, ending in the most terrifying of outcomes: An election victory. With the help of his mother and friends, including Valentina, Courtney will have to overcome his hubris if he wants to transform the struggling city he loves (ABC/Tony Rivetti)
"The Good Doctor" -- Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore, "Bates Motel"), a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome, relocates from a quiet country life to join a prestigious hospital's surgical unit. Alone in the world and unable to personally connect with those around him, Shaun uses his extraordinary medical gifts to save lives and challenge the skepticism of his colleagues. (ABC/Liane Hentscher)
"Kevin (Probably) Saves The World" -- Kevin Finn (Jason Ritter) is not a good person. He’s not terrible, but he’s selfish, and clueless, and values material wealth and status over all else. And he’s beginning to realize that those things aren’t making him happy – in fact, he’s fairly miserable. Just when things seem to be at their worst, he finds himself tasked with an unbelievable mission… saving the world. (ABC)
“Marvel’s Inhumans” - “Marvel’s Inhumans” explores the never-before-told epic adventure of the royal family, including “Black Bolt,” the enigmatic, commanding King of the Inhumans, with a voice so powerful that the slightest whisper can destroy a city. After the Royal Family of Inhumans is splintered by a military coup, they barely escape to Hawaii where their surprising interactions with the lush world and humanity around them may prove to not only save them, but Earth itself. (ABC)
"Ten Days In The Valley" - Kyra Sedgwick stars as Jane Sadler, an overworked television producer and single mother in the middle of a separation whose life is turned upside down when her young daughter goes missing in the middle of the night. Just like her controversial police TV show, everything is a mystery, everyone has a secret and no one can be trusted. (ABC/Eric McCandless)
"Dynasty" -- Wealth, power, deception, and double-dealing… what does it take to build a dynasty? A modern re-imagining of the iconic primetime soap, centering on the powerful Carrington family as they defend their throne against the Colbys, new rivals and threats, and even each other. (The CW)
"Valor" -- An elite unit of U.S. Army helicopter pilots called the Shadow Raiders is sent on a top secret mission to Somalia, a mission that goes terribly awry. Only two members of the team return safely: Warrant Officer Nora Madani (Christina Ochoa), one of the unit’s first female helicopter pilots, and her commanding officer, Captain Leland Gallo (Matt Barr), while the whereabouts of their comrade Jimmy Kam (W. Trè Davis) are unknown. Now back in the U.S., Madani and Gallo are the only ones who know the truth about what really went wrong in Somalia. Nora’s boyfriend, First Lieutenant Ian Porter (Charlie Barnett), suspects she’s not telling him the full story, and Jess Kam (Corbin Reid), Jimmy’s wife and Nora’s friend, is frustrated and furious at being kept in the dark. Meanwhile Thea (Melissa Roxburgh), the enigmatic CIA officer charged with investigating the failed mission, has her own suspicions about what occurred. (CW)
"Will & Grace" -- That’s right, honey! A decade after their unforgettable eight-season run, comedy’s most fabulous foursome is back. Debra Messing, Eric McCormack, Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally reprise their infamous roles as Will, Grace, Jack and Karen in this exclusive 12-episode event. The legendary James Burrows, director of every original “Will & Grace” episode, returns along with a slew of razor-sharp jabs and dirty martinis. Behold once again, from the minds of Max Mutchnick and David Kohan, TV’s wittiest ensemble ever. (NBC)
“Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders” -- Starring the incomparable Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Edie Falco (“The Sopranos,” “Nurse Jackie”), this new eight-episode true-crime installment of the powerhouse “Law & Order” franchise delivers a gripping in-depth dramatization of the notorious murder case that changed America forever. When the Menendez brothers were tried on national TV for brutally killing their parents in Beverly Hills, their story became a national obsession. Now, the first edition of this anthology series delves into the players, the crime and the media circus, detailing the day-to-day battles of the trial and unveiling the shocking truth of what really went down when the cameras stopped rolling. (NBC)
"The Brave" -- This fresh, heart-pounding journey into the complex world of America's elite undercover military heroes follows Captain Adam Dalton (Mike Vogel) and his heroic Special Ops squad of highly trained undercover specialists carry out each mission on the ground. His team is armed with incredible sniper Sgt Jasmine ‘Jaz’ Khan (Natacha Karam), CPO Ezekiel “Preach” Carter (Demetrius Grosse), combat medic Sgt Joseph “McG” McGuire (Noah Mills) and intelligence officer Agent Amir Al-Raisani (Hadi Tabbal). This team works hand-in-hand with D.I.A. Deputy Director Patricia Campbell (Anne Heche) and her team of analysts including veterans Cultural Specialist Noah Morgenthau (Tate Ellington) and Mission Coordinator Hannah Archer (Sofia Pernas), as they wield the world's most advanced surveillance technology from headquarters in D.C. All members of this elite squad, both in D.C. and across the world, have one thing in common: their resilience and commitment to freedom is unmatched by any other. Often facing insurmountable challenges, the team works tirelessly to get the job done and to prevail in even the most complex situations. Week after week, the team uses that along with their unbreakable bond to save lives of innocent people and execute missions in some of the most dangerous places in the world. (NBC)
"9JKL" -- Josh Roberts is a new divorcé and actor between projects who moves home to New York to regroup, living in an apartment sandwiched between his doting, meddlesome parents on one side and his brother, sister-in-law and their new baby on the other. Josh’s well-intentioned mom, Judy, is so excited to have her beloved son home after his 12 years in Los Angeles that she bribes their doorman, Nick, to secretly call her every time Josh comes up the elevator so she can greet him in the hallway. Also thrilled is Josh’s larger-than-life father, Harry, an attorney with no personal boundaries who’s eager to help Josh land his next starring role using his Hollywood “connections.” Teasing Josh about his return home is his competitive brother, Andrew, a successful surgeon who, unlike Josh, doesn’t have a problem saying “no” to their interfering parents; Andrew’s Harvard-educated pediatrician wife, Eve; and 12-year-old neighbor Ian from 5A, who hangs out in the lobby.As Josh’s family literally comes at him from both sides, he realizes he desperately needs to establish some ground rules, because his loving family is always going to be right there for him. Always. (CBS)
"Me, Myself & I" -- Bobby Moynihan stars in a comedy about the defining moments in one man’s life over three distinct periods – as a 14-year-old in 1991, at age 40 in present day and at age 65 in 2042. As a 14-year-old boy living in Chicago in 1991, Alex was on top of the world, inventing cool things and celebrating the Bulls’ first championship, until his mom, Maggie, moved them to Los Angeles, the heart of Lakers country, and married a pilot, Ron. With his new stepbrother, Justin, Alex needed to reinvent himself in a new school, where he meets his dream girl, Nori Sterling. In 2017, 40-year-old Alex is an inventor/entrepreneur on top of the world until his wife leaves him and threatens to take their daughter, Abby, with her, sending him into a tailspin that requires the help of his best friend and business partner, Darryl, to get him back on track. In 2042 at 65, Alex is a highly successful businessman who, after suffering a minor heart attack, decides he’s ready to reinvent himself once again. Alex announces he’s retiring to his adult daughter, Abby, now the general manager of the Chicago Bulls, and he gets a surprise chance to reconnect with his childhood crush, Nori, who now goes by Eleanor. During these three pivotal periods, Alex always manages to find a way to move forward, handling key moments with determination, emotion and humor. (CBS)
"S.W.A.T." -- Inspired by the television series and the feature film, S.W.A.T. stars Shemar Moore as a locally born and raised S.W.A.T. sergeant newly tasked to run a specialized tactical unit that is the last stop in law enforcement in Los Angeles. Torn between loyalty to where he was raised and allegiance to his brothers in blue, former Marine Daniel ”Hondo” Harrelson has everything it takes to be an excellent leader and bridge the divide between his two worlds. Hondo’s elite unit includes David “Deacon” Kay, an experienced S.W.A.T. officer who always puts the team first, despite feeling overlooked for the lead job; Jim Street, a cocky but promising new member of the group; Christina “Chris” Alonso, a skilled officer and the team’s canine trainer; and Dominique Luca, an expert driver who gets them in and out of high risk situations. Overseeing the unit is Jessica Cortez, the captain of L.A. Metro who values her job above all else, including her off-the-books relations with Hondo. Hondo’s team enjoys an intense rivalry with another L.A.-based unit led by Mumford, an aggressive leader who likes to do things his way. With Hondo leading the charge, these dedicated men and women bravely put themselves at risk to protect their community and save lives. (CBS)
"SEAL Team" -- SEAL Team is a new military drama that follows the professional and personal lives of the most elite unit of Navy SEALs as they train, plan and execute the most dangerous, high stakes missions our country can ask of them. Jason Hayes is the respected, intense leader of the Tier One team whose home life has suffered as a result of his extensive warrior’s existence. His team includes his trusted confidant, Ray, the longest-tenured operator with whom Jason shares an ingrained shorthand, and Sonny, an exceptional, loyal soldier with a checkered past who still combats self-destructive tendencies. Undergoing additional rigorous training in the hope of joining Hayes’ select unit is Clay Spenser, a young, multi-lingual second generation SEAL with insatiable drive and dedication. Vital to the team’s success are CIA analyst Mandy Ellis, who has sacrificed everything in her drive to root out evil and take down terrorists, and Davis, a no-nonsense, take-charge logistics officer and unofficial den mother responsible for outfitting the team with the necessary gear for each mission. Deployed on clandestine missions worldwide at a moment’s notice, and knowing the toll it takes on them and their families, this tight-knit SEAL team displays unwavering patriotism and fearless dedication even in the face of overwhelming odds. (CBS)
"Star Trek: Discovery" -- Star Trek,” one of the most iconic and influential global television franchises, returns to television 50 years after it first premiered with STAR TREK: DISCOVERY. The series will feature a new ship, new characters, and new missions, while embracing the same ideology and hope for the future that inspired a generation of dreamers and doers. (CBS)
"Wisdom of the Crowd" -- WISDOM OF THE CROWD is a drama about a visionary tech innovator who creates a cutting-edge crowdsourcing app to solve his daughter’s murder, and revolutionize crime solving in the process. Inspired by the notion that a million minds are better than one, Silicon Valley entrepreneur Jeffrey Tanner, develops “Sophe,” an online platform for publicly shared information he’s certain will find his daughter’s killer. To assist him, Tanner recruits Det. Tommy Cavanaugh, the original cop who investigated the murder but was unceremoniously forced off the case. Working with them is Sara Morton, a brilliant engineer whose relationship with Tanner goes beyond professional; Josh Novak, a talented, nerdy-cool head programmer; and Tariq Bakari, a tech genius and expert hacker with issues adhering to the rules. Concerned with Tanner’s obsession is his successful ex-wife, Congresswoman Alex Hale, with whom he shares an unbreakable bond over their shared grief. As Tanner taps into the “wisdom of the crowd,” his unexpected success fuels his determination to solve even more cases than just the one that’s personal to him. (CBS)
"Young Sheldon" -- For 9-year-old Sheldon Cooper it isn’t easy growing up in East Texas. Being a once-in-a-generation mind capable of advanced mathematics and science isn’t always helpful in a land where church and football are king. And while the vulnerable, gifted and somewhat naïve Sheldon deals with the world, his very normal family must find a way to deal with him. His father, George, is struggling to find his way as a high school football coach and as father to a boy he doesn’t understand. Sheldon’s mother, Mary, fiercely protects and nurtures her son in a town where he just doesn’t fit in. Sheldon’s older brother, Georgie, does the best he can in high school, but it’s tough to be cool when you’re in the same classes with your odd 9-year-old brother. Sheldon’s twin sister, Missy, sometimes resents all the attention Sheldon gets, but also remains the one person who can reliably tell Sheldon the truth. Finally, there’s Sheldon’s beloved Meemaw, his foul-mouthed, hard-drinking Texas grandmother who is very supportive of her grandson and his unique gifts. For 10 years on “The Big Bang Theory,” audiences have come to know the iconic, eccentric and extraordinary Sheldon Cooper. This single-camera, half-hour comedy gives us the chance to meet him in childhood, as he embarks on his innocent, awkward and hopeful journey toward the man he will become.
"Ghosted" -- Starring Craig Robinson (“The Office,” “This Is the End”) and Adam Scott (“Parks and Recreation,” “Big Little Lies”), GHOSTED is a single-camera, live-action comedy about the partnership between two polar opposites – a cynical skeptic and a genius “true believer” in the paranormal – who are recruited by a secret government agency, known as The Bureau Underground, to save the human race from aliens. Also starring Ally Walker (“Colony,” “Sons of Anarchy”), Adeel Akhtar (“Unforgotten,” “The Night Manager”) and Amber Stevens West (“The Carmichael Show,” “22 Jump Street”), this heroic group of underdogs will look into “unexplained” activity in Los Angeles, as they attempt to uncover the truth and keep the earth rotating on its axis for at least one more day. (Fox)
"The Gifted" -- Produced in association with Marvel Television, and set in the “X-Men” universe, family adventure series THE GIFTED tells the emotional story of a suburban couple whose ordinary lives are rocked by the sudden discovery that their teenage children possess mutant powers. Forced to go on the run from a hostile government, the family seeks help from an underground network of mutants and must fight to survive. (Fox)
"The Orville" -- From Emmy Award-winning executive producer and creator Seth MacFarlane (FAMILY GUY, “Ted,” “Cosmos: A SpaceTime Odyssey”), THE ORVILLE is a live-action, one-hour space adventure series set 400 years in the future that follows The U.S.S. Orville, a mid-level exploratory spaceship. Its crew, both human and alien, face the wonders and dangers of outer space, while also dealing with the problems of everyday life. The ensemble series stars MacFarlane as the ship’s Captain, Ed Mercer, and Adrianne Palicki (“Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “Friday Night Lights”) as his ex-wife, who’s assigned as his First Officer. Additional cast members include Penny Johnson Jerald (“24,” “The Larry Sanders Show”), Scott Grimes (“American Dad!,” “Justified”), Peter Macon (“Shameless,” “Bosch”), Halston Sage (“Neighbors,” “Goosebumps”), J Lee (“American Dad!,” “The Cleveland Show”), Mark Jackson (“That Royal Today”) and Chad L. Coleman (“The Walking Dead,” “The Wire”). (Fox)
All five of these hitters were drafted highly in fantasy baseball leagues. So far, they have not lived up to their ADPs — and that's an understatement. Scott Pianowski analyzes.
