The latest poignant anthology series from Ryan Murphy, Brad Simpson and Nina Jacobson, American sports historyfinally takes part in sister shows American Horror Story And American crime history next Tuesday, September 19, on FX before heading to Hulu. American sports history: Aaron Hernandez gives us an intimate and unfettered look at the circumstances that led to one of football’s most tragic stories in recent memory. The ten-part series is based on the podcast Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc and features an electrifying performance from rising star Josh Andrés Rivera (West Side Story And The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes like Hernandez himself.

How American Horror Story And American crime history before, American Sports History: Aaron Hernandez features an incredible ensemble cast of rising stars and theater greats, sharp commentary on sexuality, and harrowing scenes that will stay with you long after the show’s credits roll. Unlike the hit shows affectionately abbreviated as “AHS” and “ACS,” the team behind American sports history may not want fans to shorten the dramatic show’s title to the obvious acronym “ASS.”

When Decider caught up American Sports History: Aaron Hernandez EPs Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson, as well as key members of the show’s cast during the summer 2024 TCA, had mixed reactions to the show’s potential nickname. Jacobson and Simpson, for example, made it clear that they hoped the show would be given a different abbreviation.

Nina Jacobson said, “It didn’t escape our notice” that the appropriate acronym for her serious show was the vulgar term for one’s own butt.

“I mean, you’re not going to make me say it on camera now if that’s what you’re trying to do,” Brad Simpson said, cheekily refusing to say it out loud. “But hopefully people will Sports history in short.”

“Or A, dot, S dot, S dot,” Jacobson said.

The cast of American Sports History: Aaron Hernandez was far less uptight, with Norbert Leo Butz – who plays a Bon Jovi-obsessed Bill Belicheck – pointing out that the production had used that exact acronym on some shoot sheets.

“On the breakdowns, the sheets that were sent out every day, it said ‘ASS,’ this acronym,” Butz said.

“Oh really?” said Patrick Schwarzenegger, who plays Tim Tebow in the series, surprised.

“That would be the case for some stories,” Butz said.

“This is so funny,” said Schwarzenegger.

“It’s good for a giggle, but it could cause some problems,” Butz said.

Schwarzenegger revealed that it never even occurred to him that the show could be called “ASS.” However, series stars Josh Rivera and lead actress Jaylen Barron, who plays Hernandez’s widow Shayanna Jenkins, burst into relieved giggles when Decider brought up the subject.

“Oh my God!” said Jeylan Barron, while Josh Rivera nodded and smiled. “I always think about that.”

“We talked about that,” Rivera said, giggling.

“Yes!” said Barron. “Can we say that on camera? The word?”

“Yeah, you know, it’s funny. It’s actually funny that you’re the first person to bring this up, because in my head, I’ve been like, ‘ASS,’ for many months,” Rivera said. “So, yeah, I’m prepared for this.”

Whether you want to call it “ASS”, “ASS” or simply “Sports Story”, American Sports History: Aaron Hernandez makes its official debut on Tuesday, September 17 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on FX and will stream on Hulu the following day.