The O.J. Story: Ten Years Later

June 2004 marked the 10th anniversary of the murders of Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman, for which O.J. Simpson--Nicole's husband, former football star, popular TV pitchman, and sometimes movie actor--stood trial in a nine-month, carnival-atmosphere, media-frenzy event that created instant celebrities and scapegoats, but left the facts behind the murders somewhat obscure. From a decade-later perspective, this A&E Biography episode takes another look at that often sorry and sordid spectacle, in which sex, race, money, and celebrity combined to create what one interviewee calls the "perfect storm" against which all future tabloid stories will be judged. Others appearing include bereaved family members, journalists, and some of O.J.'s "dream team" of high profile DNA experts and defense lawyers (not surprisingly, the prosecution members felt no compulsion to revisit the trial). Racist cops, sloppy handling of evidence, an outmatched pair of prosecuting lawyers, and a star-struck judge all come in for their share of the blame in this alleged miscarriage of justice. The program briefly updates the status of some major trial figures: some, like party girl Faye Resnick seem to have disappeared, while others like Kato Kaelin continue to cling to their 15 minutes of fame. Fortunately, family members remind us that there were two innocent victims who paid the ultimate price in this horrific crime. A brief but efficient summary of the scandal (though it's questionable how much viewer interest remains, given the absence of any new facts in the last 10 years), this is an optional purchase. Aud: P. (S. Rees)