It's been over 20 years and people are still endlessly fascinated by the O.J. Simpson case. Case in point: All the hype surrounding the new true crime anthology series American Crime Story and its critically-lauded first season, The People v. O.J. Simpson, which follows the Simpson murder and the trial that became a national phenomenon. And all that hype wasn't for nothing; the numbers are in and they're here to prove our perpetual obsession with the celebrity murder scandal.
The series debuted on FX on Tuesday night, Feb. 2, and brought in a record-setting 5.11 million viewers. The network has seen higher viewership for season premieres of returning shows but this is the most people have tuned in for a series premiere. Holding the record previously was The Shield, which premiered in 2002 as the network's first drama.
The O.J. Simpson story transcends the "you had to be there" factor, proving fascinating for even those who were too young to remember. In case you missed it, read our interview with the executive producer of the station that broke the news in '94 and if you're already tuned in to the show, check out our extensive fact-check of the first episode.
Related Stories
Tragic Kingdom: The Lingering Obsession with O.J. Simpson
We're still addicted to the rise and fall of O.J. Simpson.
Did All That Stuff in Episode One 'The People v. O.J. Simpson' Really Happen?
We fact checked the first episode of 'The People v. O.J. Simpson.'
What It Was Like to Break the O.J. Simpson Story
A former executive producer at KCBS talks about covering the O.J. Simpson case and how it changed the climate of the media.
