Matthew Broderick Joins 'American Crime Story'

After a full first season tackling the O.J. Simpson trial, American Crime Story is in the early aughts of casting the next chapter in its anthology, and it just added a Broadway power player. According to Deadline, Matthew Broderick is playing Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Michael D. Brown in Katrina: American Crime Story, which is both very exciting, and naturally makes me ask: Who actually is Michael D. Brown? Seriously, can someone tell me who that is? Anyone? Bueller?

OK, let's backtrack: The upcoming American Crime Story miniseries is set to focus on the devastation laid out by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, with each episode tackling specific events. It was the thick of the Bush administration, and people were a little less than impressed with how the president was handling the aftermath (here's looking at you, Yeezy). Thousands of lives were lost, and many more were left homeless and destitute when the city over-flooded. So in the middle of this national crisis, you have Brown, appointed by President Bush as FEMA deputy director in 2003, and facing substantial criticism with how he was handling disaster aid. And merely a few days after the hurricane hit and a new storm of public outrage was brewing, President Bush complimented the FEMA administrator's efforts with, "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job."

I don't think you need a Ron Howard voice over to confirm that Brownie was not doing a heck of a job.

Essentially the part Broderick is slated to play is that of a disgraced government employee, and if you're looking for history spoilers, Brown eventually resigned after all the flack he was getting for his work with Katrina. It's certainly not a fun person to play, or an admirable real-life character to take on (then again, the O.J. trial wasn't really filled with a lot of savory personnel either). However, it may be fun for Broderick to shoot the miniseries, as the cast is already shaping up nicely with the previously announced Annette Bening (playing Louisiana governor Kathleen Blanco). We're sure he'll do a heck of job with the role, and enjoy it the best he can.

American Crime Story: The People V. O.J. Simpson is readily available to watch right now, and we'll have to hold out for Katrina to hit our screens anytime soon. I'm nonetheless excited with how the casting is shaping up, and fairly certain the next chapter is going to be far from a tragedy with all this talent.