FOX’s New Cringe-worthy Series, “Scream Queens”

Ryan Murphy’s horror comedy “Scream Queens” premiered Tuesday, September 22nd on Fox and drew in 7 million viewers, partly due to its all-star cast.

Producers were expecting more views based off popularity on social media. On Twitter, within the first hour of the premiere 400,000 tweets were published about the show.

“Scream Queens” follows the lives of Kappa Kappa Tau sorority sisters who attend a fictional university, and are being stalked by an unknown, masked serial killer. Emma Roberts stars as Chanel Oberlin, the president of the elite sorority and conceited mean girl who is not only rude but also racist.

Ryan Murphy has received lots of backlash for using references which had racist connotations. In the show only two black female characters were casted and were portrayed as a stereotype: loud and sassy.

During an opening scene Chanel even goes as far as to call her cleaning lady, Ms. Bean, “white mammy.” Mammy, is known as an offensive term for a black nursemaid or nanny who cares and tends for a white baby. Most commonly used in antebellum south.

Shortly after, Chanel forces Ms.Bean, to recite “I don’t know nothin’ bout birthin’ no babies” a line from the 1940 civil war film ‘Gone with the Wind.’ A famous quote said by house slave, Prissy.

When the Dean of the university, played by horror movie vet, Jamie Lee Curtis, informs Chanel her sorority must be open to all pledges she sighs with distaste about having to let in the “fatties and ethnics.” People she views as undesirable and inferior.

The show also depicts the cliche of masculine lesbians and makes fun of obesity. Even mocking deaf people.

Ryan Murphy has been praised in the past for shows which were accepting of all races and promoted anti-bullying. Making these remarks shocking and questionable. He has stated how “Scream Queens” is a satire and wants to highlight the unfairness of College Greek Life through the show.

The show is excessive and dramatic in all aspects minus the plot, which lacks major depth. If producers stick to this Pretty Little Liars storyline it could end up not going anywhere for a very long time.

Many parts of the show were adopted from popular movies or TV shows. Just like in “Heathers” Chanel’s minions share her name but have numbers to differentiate themselves.

The most refreshing part of the show was the fashion. Lou Eyrich, costume designer for “Scream Queens” has stated that her inspiration for the color palette were macarons.

Their outfits complete their personality and set them apart from the rest of the Kappa girls. The many pearls and pastels convey the classy rich sorority girl image which is fitting for them.

After the show, you end up exhausted and obnoxious from the ridiculous complaints from Chanel and her minions, and you essentially question the entirety of the show. Because it is neither scary nor funny. It tests the limits of comedic fun and because of that is a parody of itself.