This article comes fromDen of Geek UK.

Murphy started out in television very much the way he meant to go on.

Calling it over-the-top would be a severe understatement.

So where on earth do you go from there?

In Murphys typically bipolar fashion, you cant go any darker, so why not go neon bright?

Which brings us toGlee, another hugely divisive program, albeit for entirely different reasons thanNip/Tuck.

Lots and lots of songs, delivered by beaming students with very active jazz hands.

Its a measure of Murphys style thatGleeburnt out pretty quickly.

Thats the problem when you try and run at full pelt.

You run out of breath pretty quickly.

Which gives the writers the opportunity to go full tilt, then start over again the next year.

And boy, doesAHSgo full tilt.

Its messy, but you couldnt call it boring.

Showrunners Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski penned half of the episodes, leaving Murphy to produce and direct.

Which is perhaps due to necessity, dealing as it does with a real-life story and real-life people.

Its much easier to go crazy when nobody can sue you.

Murphys shows inevitably invite aggressive reactions.

Theres a very revealing quote in aHollywood Reporterinterviewconducted last year.

In it he declares that people think Im just sort of this P.T.

They dont get that theres another side to me, and I keep trying to show that other side.

Beneath all the snark and stereotypes that weve come to expect, there was real heart in it.

The New Normalwas cancelled after one season.

Audiences dont want emotion from Ryan Murphy.

Audiences can get subtle writing and complex emotional relationships from any number of other TV shows today.

Theyre spoilt for choice.

Its just that sometimes youre not in the mood for delving into a labyrinthine literary novel.

Sometimes you want a trashy potboiler.

Sometimes you want a programme that features a man who has sex with his furniture.

Sometimes you want a Ryan Murphy show.