Why the Kardashian Kids are an Essential Part of ‘The People v. O.J. Simpson’

Why the Kardashian kids are an essential part of The People v. O.J. Simpson

American Crime Story viewers appear unanimous in their distaste for the inclusion of a teenage Kim Kardashian and her siblings, with one calling them the “Jar Jar Binks” of the FX anthology series and others accusing producers of shoehorning them in to boost ratings. But as Joe McGovern points out, “That’s an absurd accusation, made mainly by people who never heard the name Kardashian before 2007 and for that reason feel like the show is twisting itself into knots in order to include the family. When, in fact, they are a peripheral — but ineradicable — crumb of the O.J. cake.” In fact, he says, producers are using the Kardashians to make a satirical point about fame and celebrity. PLUS: Producers say there are only 4 or 5 scenes with the Kardashian kids out of 400 scenes, pointing out that the Kardashians are emblematic of this early reality TV period, and Nicole Brown Simpson’s sister slams David Schwimmer for not contacting the victim’s family.

Dancing with the Stars: Julianne Hough is exiting as judge

Hough, who’s judged the past three seasons, says she won’t be back because she has “a lot of exciting stuff coming that I look forward to sharing.”

New ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey will find that “this job is impossible”

Dungey, who today became the first black president of a major network, steps into a “no-win job,” says Tim Goodman. He adds: “That’s because it’s almost impossible in this Peak TV environment where an excess of (often very good) scripted material from an excess of outlets has watered down the overall viewing numbers in a way that makes almost no financial sense for big-tent broadcast networks.” PLUS: What went wrong for ousted ABC Entertainment president Paul Lee?, and is this a sign that creative TV is bad business?

Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show announcer: “He’s better than Carson”

“The sketches are better than Carson’s. He’s perfect for it,” says Steve Higgins, who also dismisses rumors that Fallon is a party boy in real life.

Henry Winkler to co-star with Bill Hader on HBO hitman comedy pilot Barry

He’ll play Hader’s inspiring acting teacher in a comedy about a low-rent hitman who — instead of killing somebody — ends up in L.A.’s theater scene.

Abigail Spencer joins NBC’s time-travel drama Time

She’ll go on a top-secret mission through as part of the sci-fi series from The Shield’s Shawn Ryan and Supernatural’s Eric Kripke.

Charlie Hunnam has heard the rumor that Brad Pitt could play his Sons of Anarchy dad in the prequel

“Brad Pitt as John Teller. How awesome would that be?” Hunnam tells Men’s Journal.

Katy Mixon cast as The Second Fattest Housewife In Westport

The Eastbound & Down and Mike & Molly vet will star and narrate the ABC comedy pilot, playing the “larger, strong-willed mother raising her flawed family of three in a wealthy town filled with ‘perfect’ wives and their ‘perfect’ offspring.”

Sutton Foster on joining the Gilmore Girls revival: “When I get to hang out with Lorelai, I’m going to freak out”

Actually, the Younger star tells Philadelphia magazine she first visited the Gilmore Girls set in 2000 during a stop at the Warner Bros. lot.