Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka are joining American Horror Story: Freak Show. The two actors, who happen to be married to one another, are guest starring in the fourth season of FX’s hit series. One man will have a sexy role and the other will play a salesman. We’ll leave you to guess which actor deserves which role. Just kidding.
Harris, as the bigger name in showbiz, has landed a slightly larger role in the series. He’s set to pop up in the last two episodes of Freak Show and he’ll play a salesman with very good skills, thanks to his ability to be a “chameleon” in social situations. Burtka will join Harris in the Season 4 finale. According to TV Line, Burtka will get to have a sexy scene with AHS leading lady Jessica Lange, although no other character-specific details have emerged.
This collaboration between Neil Patrick Harris, David Burtka and Ryan Murphy has been in the works for a while, now. Back when American Horror Story was just coming together over at FX, Harris and Burtka were invited by the prolific producer to play the gay couple that appeared in the first season. David Burtka apparently really wanted to take the gig, but since it involved an unhappy couple and they had recently played an unhappy movie couple, Harris eventually convinced him to say no. The roles eventually went to Teddy Sears and Zachary Quinto. Less cute? I think so.
You can read the full and strange story, here.
Four years later, Murphy invited Harris back, and the rest is history, although guest stints for the two men aren’t quite as exciting as the bigger role they would have had in Murder House. You live, you learn, I guess.
American Horror Story: Freak Show just started airing this month. The FX drama traditionally has a 13-episode order, and this season will be no different, which is good news for fans who want to catch Harris and Burtka sooner rather than later. With a little luck, maybe the guest starring gigs will yield bigger roles for the two men on the show down the road. With HIMYM finished, Harris certainly has more time in his schedule (although maybe not for long), and we already know American Horror Story will be back for Season 5.
In the meantime, new episodes of American Horror Story: Freak Show air on Wednesday nights at 10 p.m. ET. You can catch the most recent episode over at FX’s site.
