In an impressive display of creative output, Ryan Murphy released four new shows within a span of just ten days: American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez and Grotesquerie on FX, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story on Netflix, and Doctor Odyssey on ABC. Additionally, he premiered new seasons of returning hits 9-1-1 and 9-1-1: Lone Star.
“Six shows in a month is a lot, but everybody in my company worked really, really hard, and miraculously, they all worked,” Murphy told Variety in a conversation on October 1. “They all launched at No. 1, and individually, they’re all doing really, really well.”
Murphy acknowledged that the simultaneous launches were not part of a strategic plan but rather a result of circumstances surrounding his new deal with Disney, which he began a year and a half ago. “It was a combination of the writers’ strike and my new deal. They asked me, when we finally realized six things are coming out over the course of ten days, ‘How are you going to do this?’ I said, ‘Well, have a really great company. I work with really great people. I think we can do it,’” Murphy explained. He expressed a strong desire to get his crews back to work immediately, highlighting the importance of job creation in the industry. “Many people who work for me roll from one job into the other, so it’s constant employment,” he added.
The prolific creator is not slowing down, as he has several new projects in development, including FX’s The Beauty, American Love Story, and Hulu’s All’s Fair. The latter, which Murphy begins directing this week, stars Glenn Close, Kim Kardashian, Naomi Watts, Sarah Paulson, and Nash. Describing All’s Fair, Murphy said, “It’s my version of a law show, which I’ve never really done. These are divorce lawyers, so every week there’s a divorce of the week. It’s very heightened, it’s very glamorous, it’s very aspirational.”
Murphy also shared details about The Beauty, a sci-fi medical drama centered on a new virus that mutates and is sexually transmitted, ultimately turning individuals into their “absolute perfect self.” He posed a thought-provoking question: “How far would you go to be beautiful? What would you sacrifice for that, and does that matter?” He added that the show critiques current societal obsessions with beauty, paralleling what he referred to as “Ozempic culture.” Murphy expressed excitement about collaborating with actors Anthony Ramos and Ashton Kutcher, especially given the large scale of production planned for The Beauty, which will be filmed in Europe, including locations like Venice, Rome, and Paris.
Globally, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story has emerged as a significant hit for Netflix, ranking as the No. 1 series for two consecutive weeks. The show debuted with 12.3 million views in its first four days and climbed to 19.5 million views in its second week, making the Netflix Top 10 in 89 different countries.
The premiere of Doctor Odyssey and the eighth season of 9-1-1 last Thursday also garnered impressive ratings. 9-1-1 was the biggest broadcast program of the night, attracting an average of 4.9 million viewers. Doctor Odyssey, which aired immediately afterward, retained 86% of that audience with 4.2 million viewers, marking ABC’s best drama launch since Big Sky in 2019. Meanwhile, 9-1-1: Lone Star returned to Fox with 3 million viewers for its fifth season premiere on September 23. When accounting for three days of viewing, that number swelled to 4.2 million, with streaming pushing it to 4.9 million, becoming the network’s biggest scripted telecast since May 2023.
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All five of these recent shows fall under Murphy’s overall deal with 20th Television. Upon rejoining the network, he was eager to demonstrate his capabilities, particularly in light of recent industry challenges. “The person I’m closest with in the world is Dana Walden, and I’ve worked with John Landgraf since God was a boy, so I did feel an obligation to my partners — let’s hit the ground running with some big whoppers, some big swings,” Murphy said. He emphasized that all his shows aim to appeal to a broad audience.
Interestingly, Murphy often aims to alternate between different genres but chose to release Grotesquerie and Doctor Odyssey back-to-back. “It’s really based on how we’re all feeling in the world. It does feel like a very dark, chaotic time,” he reflected. The series Grotesquerie, featuring Niecy Nash, addresses themes of societal fears and challenges, which Murphy believes are particularly relevant given the current political climate.
“I feel that it’s a statement about how bleak things seem, but more than that, it’s a statement about how the way you get through it is together and ultimately with love,” Murphy said. He described Nash’s character as someone striving to maintain optimism and family connections amidst turmoil, a sentiment he feels resonates deeply at this moment in time.
With such a high volume of projects and increasing success, Ryan Murphy continues to be a dominant force in television, navigating the complex landscape of storytelling in today’s world.
