The People v. O.J.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How have your feelings shifted in the 20-plus years since the trial?
JEFFREY TOOBIN:I think about the case in many different ways.
Credit: Byron Cohen/FX
I think about the injustice of a guy getting away with murder.
I think about the public spectacle.
Whats one aspect of the case that the show faithfully dramatized?
The lasting significance of the case is what it says about race in America.
I think in that respect, its highly accurate.
Can you draw more lines to whats going on today in race relations?
Whats more relevant today than maybe it was back then?
The defense in this trial was that O.J.
Simpson was the victim of conspiracy by a racist police department.
That question, even though in this one, it involves a celebrity.
The others, Michael Brown and Eric Garner, are not celebrities.
But the issues are very much similar.
Robert Shapiro, one of Simpsons lawyers, told you aboutthe legal teams race card defense.
What was it like seeing that scene recreated for the show?
It was definitely one of the more surreal moments of my life.
It was crazy and fun to watch it unfold.
It also was highly realistic, as I remember.
To what extent did you consult for the show?
I was involved at an early stage as they talked about how to structure it.
I was not saying, This didnt happen, this did happen.
Everyone understood from my place is part of the story.
Was there one actor in particular that dug in deep to get their character right?
They all had different approaches.
Sarah Paulson became friends with Marcia Clark.
Courtney Vance and I are college classmates, so we go way back.
We had several lengthy conversations about Johnnie [Cochran].
Of course, Courtney didnt have the option of talking to Johnnie.
I talked to Nathan Lane at length about F. Lee Bailey.
David Schwimmer [who played Robert Kardashian] spoke to Kris Jenner, and I also spoke to him.
Sterling Brown [who played Christopher Darden].
What under-the-radar jaw-dropping moment from the trial stands out to you most?
In terms of pure courtroom drama, the failed blood demonstration is hard to top.
F. Lee Baileys cross-examination of Mark Fuhrman was certainly a dramatic high point.
Barry Schecks incredibly skillful performance in terms of everything he did in that case.
Is there anymore on this case it’s possible for you to involve yourself in in the future?
Who knew that 2016 would turn into the year of O.J.?
Im certainly not going to write anymore books about it.
I never forget that two people lost their lives here.
The enduring fascination of this case will continue to transfix people, I think.
It wouldnt be surprising if I was still talking and writing about it 20 years from now.
The entire season ofThe People v. O.J.
Simpson: American Crime Storyis out on Blu-ray now.
