Jessica Lange Takes Aim at FX for “Being Too Cheap” to Drive Cast Home from “AHS”

The 77-year-old legend said sarcastically that the lack of vehicles for cast members, at least for season three, is “a point of contention.”

You know what's really scary about working on American Horror Story?

You will return to your hotel in the middle of the night.

The show's six-time star, Jessica Lange, said that FX production has been "much cheaper" in the past, and that it was much cheaper for actors to film the hit franchise created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk.

"We had to drive ourselves — and that's still up for debate," Lang, 77 (below), said during a PaleyFest 2026 panel Thursday night in New York City when discussing when they were filming together in New Orleans for the third installment in the franchise, Coven. We'd drive ourselves home at 4 or 5 in the morning, park on a street in the French Quarter and find our way home—because they were so cheap!”

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"Oh yeah!" said Sarah Paulson, sitting next to Long on the board. He laughed when Lange said, "We have to drive ourselves," and covered his face when Lange said it was cheap to produce.

Going back and forth between main and supporting actors is a very common device in television and film productions. It's unclear if the policy continued in subsequent seasons, however, the stars continued to return. FX had no comment on the snark.

The current 13th season of AHS brings together the series' iconic stars for a buzzy crossover episode. A series regular for the first four seasons, Long last appeared on the show in a guest role in season eight before returning this year.

Billie Lourd, Gabourey Sidibe and Leslie Grossman, Cowen and Paulson were on the panel with Cowen and the Season 13 cast, along with co-producer Lou Eyrich, for a conversation moderated by The Hollywood Reporter about the show's legacy and the now-airing All-Star season.

For six more revelations from the panel — including Long's stipulation to return to the show (which had nothing to do with shipping) and why he won't be watching the show — check out our recap of the panel.