Don't look now, "American Horror Story" snuck back on television at 10 p.m. ET Wednesday in its latest incarnation, "American Horror Story: Freak Show."

Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk's horror story franchise has become one of television's leading entertainment experiences with its anthology format featuring a new venue and storyline each year.

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First season's "Murder House" was set in 2011 Los Angeles sprinkled with many flashbacks to past, and horrible, events. Second season's "Asylum" mainly happened at a 1964 Massachusetts institution housing the criminally insane. Last year's "Coven" revealed the horror housed at special school for witches in modern day New Orleans.

This is Season Four for the story that Murphy said he hoped to produce for as many years as FX will have it. It's called "Freak Show" and set in 1952 Jupiter, FL. The show revolves around, surprise, one of the last freak shows around. As with other seasons, the show will go on with 13 one-hour episodes.

A repertory cast of Emmy-winning actors runs wild through the terrain. Jessica Lange is back in a starring role as Elsa Mars, the horrible German ex-pat owner of a Sunshine State freak show performing at a circus tent. She won Emmys for Seasons 1 and 3.

Sarah Paulson portrays conjoined twins Bette and Dot. Academy Award winner Kathy Bates goes from her New Orleans role as an angry immortal former slave master to play Ethel Darling, the Bearded Lady. Evan Peters, the dismembered frat boy from "Coven," plays freak show Lobster Boy. 

As has come to be eagerly expected, Season 4 previews and the first episode continued the tradition of sex, fear and horror that has marked the franchise's draw on viewers. A homicidal clown, bizarre stag film, opium-charged orgy all slithered through the first hour.

The series also continues a history of weaving historical events into the presentation. The post-WW II Red Scare and other 1950s events are sprinkled liberally into the mix.

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