'American Horror Story' Premiere: Television Killed the Freak Show Star

Under ringleader Elsa Mars' carnival tent, the seats are empty — at least they were during Wednesday's bloody premiere of American Horror Story: Freak Show.

"Times are tough," Elsa's bearded female sidekick Ethel Darling (Kathy Bates) explains. "Thanks to Red Skelton and Lucille Ball, folks are getting their jollies at home now."

Freak Show, the fourth season of FX's acclaimed miniseries, is set in 1952 during TV's Golden Age, an era when actors devoured the attention of the American people and sideshows subsequently struggled to attract any paying customers as a result

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