EW talked to Grossman about reuniting with Murphy, revivingPopular,and harassing Cher over what soda she drinks.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How did this happen?
Did Ryan text you and say, I want you on?
Credit: Frank Ockenfels/FX
I also think he wanted to see me in something different.
The thing about Ryan thats so amazing is he sees your potential before you do.
So I, of course, was like Okaaay!
Everett Collection
In one of the episodes, you had to be in an open grave.
They dug a pit at the house that we shot at on location in the backyard.
I dont have phobias.
Im not afraid of clowns.
It frankly didnt faze me at all.
Did I love it when they told Billy [Eichner] to shovel the dirt on top of me?
No, I wouldnt say that was super fun.
But I had these adorable Chloe flats on and I was just so upset.
I was like, These Chloe flats!
Im worried about the flats!
Your character is obsessed with theHousewives.
She actually approached me and could not have been more lovely.
I really didnt even let her get a sentence out before shouting out, No!
That was very rewarding for me.
Meadow was responsible for a mass shooting and took her own life.
That episode aired shortly after the Las Vegas tragedy.
Is it scary how prescient this show has become?Its very disturbing to me.
So I got the script the day of that.
Im a person whos a big proponent of gun control.
It was physically difficult for me to do.
Of course, I had a lot of feelings about it.
The entire subject of the shooting was really uncomfortable for me.
But ultimately, I think this show doesnt shy away from anything and it shouldnt shy away from this.
I thought Ryan made the right choice in deciding to edit down some of the more graphic stuff.
I think its an ugly mirror of whats happening.
You all recreate the Manson murders this week, which is equally disturbing.
What was that like to shoot?I grew up in Los Angeles, very close to Beverly Hills.
So that lore is something I knew a lot about, and I readHelter Skelterin high school.
I always found the Manson story really fascinating.
Its very disturbing and really horrific what happened to these people.
That was actually harder for me to shoot than other things because it was real.
I did as much research as I could into those women.
This was somebodys sister.
This was somebodys wife.
These were peoples beloved family members.
Lets pivot: The entire cast ofAHSwent to Las Vegas to see Cher in concert.
My fingers could not fly across my keyboard fast enough.
I was like, Yes!
Obviously, there are a lot of big Cher fans in this cast.
It was so fun.
We were all waiting for her backstage in this green room.
She was holding a drink and it looked like a soda.
My first thought was, I have to know what Cher was drinking.
Something took over me and I just went, Cher, what are you drinking!
Is that a Diet Coke?
I wouldnt let it go.
Then I yelled, Is it iced tea?
She looked at me and paused for five seconds and said, Look, its Dr. Pepper, okay.
At that moment I said to myself, If Cher drinks Dr. Pepper, so do I now.
Have you and Ryan Murphy ever talked about aPopularrevival?No.
I mean, Ryan and I have never spoken about that.
We will sometimes reference things that happened all those years ago.
But Ryan is a studio.
I dont know if theres anyone busier than Ryan.
That was Ryans first series.
That was my first series.
I have really fond, great memories.
Where do you think your character Mary Cherry is now?She definitely is a major Trump supporter.
I think shes a hardcore lover of Mr. Trump, which is part of her seriously misguided belief system.
Have you watchedReal Housewives of Dallas?
I feel like people are sleeping onDallasand it is really such an important newcomer to the franchise.
Theres a woman whos new toDallasthis year.
Her name is DAndra.
Her relationship with her mother reminds me of Mary Cherry and her mother Cherry Cherry so much!
I think currently Mary Cherry is really sweating it out because she knows Mueller is coming for her.
Would you come back for another season ofAHS?In.
It was probably one of the most fulfilling work experiences of my life, creatively and personally.
I know the show is really dark and its horror, but I had the best time.
I really looked forward to going to work.
And people have been so lovely to me and so welcoming and so warm.
Its fun to be involved in something that has such an incredible fan base.
