090: The Act and History Detectives

The Blotter Presents

Is Hulu trying to make its own American Crime Story with anthology true-crime series The Act? Maybe; Tara Ariano and I agree they're off to a good start with the eight-part Gypsy Blanchard limited series co-created by Michelle Dean. Good production design, good performances, and a good sense of the claustrophobia in Gypsy and DeeDee's relationship make for a compelling look at a case full of cons.

History Detectives isn't as successful; I thought recent Austin transplant Tara might enjoy an investigation into one of the city's more gruesome chapters, but the show's ponderously didactic tour of the servant girl murders of 1884-5 didn't work for the true-crime buff OR the civilian on the panel. But sidle on up to kiosk anyway, and slide The Blotter Presents, Episode 090 right into your tote bag.

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SHOW NOTES

• The Act on Hulu
• History Detectives S11.E03 on Channel 13
• Skip Hollandworth's Texas Monthly piece on the "servant girl murders"
• Tara Ariano on Twitter
• The Again With This and Extra Hot Great podcasts

Special Guest: Tara Ariano.