Another O.J. Simpson Series

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Thu Jun 16, 2016 at 08:08:00 AM EST
Tags: (all tags)

Share This: Digg!

I really didn't intend to watch the ESPN series on O.J. Simpson (OJ: Made in America.) I happened upon Episode 3 while channel-clicking and there was the Bronco chase.

So far I much prefer this documentary to the American Crime Story version. It's reality. It's pretty much how I remember the case as it happened. I just wish the series relied less on commentary by cops, the D.A. and reporters (except for Jeffrey Toobin.) The cops are a real turn-off, the prosecutors are typically biased and the reporters (other than Toobin) add absolutely nothing. [More...]

It was like deja vu watching the Bronco chase again. I remember where I was when it started -- at home -- and then going out for dinner (I had pistachio-encrusted sea bass, which was delicious.) The restaurant had a valet parking booth outside with a little TV, tuned to the chase. During dinner, I went out to the valet booth a few times for updates. I can't remember if the chase was still going on when we left the restaurant.

The most animated people in the episode are Jeffrey Toobin and defense team member Carl Douglas. They are really having fun remembering all this. Douglas is quite articulate.

I didn't care for the American Crime Story series on OJ. It brought back no memories and I thought the actors, from OJ to Kardashian to Robert Shapiro were miscast (in the sense they didn't physically resemble the people they were portraying.) I didn't buy the sentimental character portrayal of Marcia Clark one bit.

The ESPN series, on the other hand, is a documentary with everyone playing themselves. It's bringing back a flood of memories.

Tonight's episode showedthis photo of OJ and Donald Trump. The show is in five parts, and available for live-streaming.

< Obama and Hillary Give Trump a One-Two Punch | Saturday Open Thread >

Legal

Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice. TalkLeft does not give legal advice.

TalkLeft is not responsible for and often disagrees with material posted in the comments section. Read at your own risk.

Another O.J. Simpson Series | 18 comments (18 topical)

Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

Missed the episodes last night (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by ruffian on Thu Jun 16, 2016 at 12:52:39 PM EST

so watched a few minutes this morning - had to turn it off before I got too hooked in and could not go to work!

I had forgotten that talk at the time about how ineffective that interrogation of OJ was. Or even if there was talk at the time at all. Now that I have seen so many more cases I can see how bad that was. No attempt at all to make him stick to a story, in this, their only bite at the apple.

Agree with J that Carl Douglas is interesting to watch. I mostly have been interested in the old footage rather than the current people reminiscing, but he is good.

are you saying (5.00 / 1) (#6)
by nyjets on Thu Jun 16, 2016 at 04:34:43 PM EST

Are you saying that only the prosecutor are biased? That no one else is biased? Like the defense team for example?
I would imagine that EVERYONE in the documentary is biased form the police, prosecutor, witnesses, and defense teams. That is why you need everyone viewpoint.

I've only seen the first episode so far (none / 0) (#1)
by McBain on Thu Jun 16, 2016 at 11:49:58 AM EST

Interesting opening scene of O.J. talking about what he's been doing in prison. Also interesting was hearing how director Peter Hyams didn't want O.J. in his film (Capricorn One) but figured out how to get a decent performance from the Juice. That should have been a good movie but turned out awful.

I remember getting frustrated with the media coverage of the Bronco chase and muting the sound on my TV because I couldn't take it anymore, yet still wanted to see it.

I hope they eventually interview some of the jurors.

: I forgot about "Capricorn One." (none / 0) (#14)
by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Jun 17, 2016 at 09:12:31 PM EST

Now THAT film was a true waste of both perfectly good celluloid and everyone's time!

The Bronco chase - interesting how that became (none / 0) (#3)
by ruffian on Thu Jun 16, 2016 at 12:55:55 PM EST

one of those 'I remember where I was' events.

For Denver locals, I was in the upstairs bar at the old Morrison Inn. At the time it served Mexican food and great margaritas...not sure what is there now.

I was at work in Venice (none / 0) (#4)
by CaptHowdy on Thu Jun 16, 2016 at 01:41:57 PM EST

Everyone was gathered around the tv but most were just concerned about how it was going to effect their evening commute.


: I was in San Diego (none / 0) (#12)
by BarnBabe on Fri Jun 17, 2016 at 04:38:29 PM EST

I was home and watching CH 2 CBS and all of a sudden there was a Bronco being chased. Not on CNN yet and then on the great KTLA. Then CNN piggy backed off of them. But I was fascinated with the chase. In real time. He was coming down the 405 and I was wondering if he was going to make it to the border. I called my brother (He was in SD but not watching TV, my Aunt in Florida, and a lot of friends. I know it was serious, but it was funny at the time. It was like a Precision team Blue Angel performance.

Laugh (none / 0) (#5)
by Ga6thDem on Thu Jun 16, 2016 at 04:03:52 PM EST

but I did not even know it happened until the next day or a day later because toddler.


I was tending bar that afternoon in HNL. (none / 0) (#13)
by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Jun 17, 2016 at 09:05:16 PM EST

And quite honestly, most patrons were rather ticked that CBS had pre-empted live coverage of the NBA Finals Game 6 between the Houston Rockets and New York Knicks to instead show this police chase on valium.


took me back (none / 0) (#7)
by pitachips on Thu Jun 16, 2016 at 04:55:19 PM EST

For final exams with my older brother - we were watching the NBA finals and the chase at the same time (we mixed in a little bit of studying too lol) .

Will never forget those days.

Just finished the second episode (none / 0) (#8)
by McBain on Fri Jun 17, 2016 at 02:00:46 AM EST

Mark Fuhrman made an interesting comment about the Rodney King case. He said all of that would have been avoided if the LAPD hadn't changed their chokehold procedure..... meaning if they were allowed to use a chokehold, there wouldn't have been a beating, criminal case, riot.

Also, some interesting info about Nicole Simpson's other relationships. Sounds like her being with Marcus Allen pushed O.J. over the edge. Did anyone catch/understand O.J.'s recorded comment about Heidi Fleiss? What was that all about?

Because the only two ways to subdue someone (none / 0) (#9)
by ruffian on Fri Jun 17, 2016 at 01:43:28 PM EST

are a. choke hold and b. beat the living hell out of them ? Have to differ with Detective Fuhrman on that one.

The Heidi Fleiss remark was referring to the other women that Marcus was hanging out with. OJ thought they were Heidi Fleiss's call girls and did not want Nicole associated with that. No idea if he was correct about that.


Or actually IIRC he was referring to Nicole's (none / 0) (#10)
by ruffian on Fri Jun 17, 2016 at 01:44:21 PM EST

new boyfriend Keith hanging out with Heidi Fleiss girls.


Keith lived in Aspen (none / 0) (#17)
by fishcamp on Sat Jun 18, 2016 at 03:18:55 PM EST

for a long time, and worked at that Mezzaluna. I think I mentioned this before. He transferred to the Mezzaluna in California where he met Nicole and began dating her. Never heard anything about the Heidi Fleiss girls, but suddenly he was back working in Aspen after he saw OJ peeking in the window one night. He was a good guy.


: He came across pretty normal to me (none / 0) (#18)
by ruffian on Sat Jun 18, 2016 at 03:20:23 PM EST

Can't blame him at all for getting away from that situation.

I thought he was referring to (none / 0) (#11)
by McBain on Fri Jun 17, 2016 at 01:47:39 PM EST

the ex girlfriend of Keith (Nicole's boyfriend after she moved away from O.J.). Keith mentioned something about his ex saying something to O.J. that really ticked him off.


Probably OT (none / 0) (#15)
by ragebot on Sat Jun 18, 2016 at 09:34:47 AM EST

but maybe if OJ followed this Medieval diet things would have turned out better. In any case the open thread is full and I really wanted to share what was the trendy diet in the middle ages. Not to mention this blurb which is from the story.

"Day 1

I wake up in the morning, and start with Salerno's steps for the morning routine. First, I wash my hands and face with cold water. I comb my hair and brush my teeth. I spend some time stretching. All this is supposed to "relax my brain." Is my brain relaxed? I don't know, but I am more awake than after my usual routine of spending 20 minutes in bed scrolling through social media."

I streamed tha final installment this morning (none / 0) (#16)
by ruffian on Sat Jun 18, 2016 at 02:39:18 PM EST

I really had not paid attention to the case that landed him in jail as it was going on, so most of this info was pretty new to me. It does seem to me he got a really raw deal on those charges. I think his pre-sentencing statement to the court was the only sincere thing he said on film in the whole series.

Karma is not to be trifled with.