Move Over, Jessica Lange. Other Divas Deserve the Ryan Murphy Treatment on 'AHS'

For the sake of this piece: Diva is defined as a famous, dedicated, and successful female.

It was a decade ago that Ryan Murphy's "American Horror Story: Murder House" introduced two-time Oscar-winner Jessica Lange to a new generation of fans. Not that Lange was in any career slump. The thesp had worked consistently since her debut snuggled in "King Kong's" palm, on the big screen ("Tootsie," "Blue Sky"–Oscars, "Titus"), stage ("A Streetcar Named Desire," "Long Days Journey Into Night"–Tony Award), and TV ("Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," "Grey Gardens"–Emmy Award), but four juicy roles on four seasons of "American Horror Story" would bring her two more Emmys and elevate her to Queen Diva.

Why just Lange? EDGE wonders what other movie divas might benefit from a season or two devoted to them.

Faye Dunaway

Dunaway's career sure could use a shot in the arm or a kick in the ass! After great success in the '60s and '70s with films like "Bonnie and Clyde," and her Oscar win for "Network," she achieved icon status only to topple when she took on the role of Joan Crawford in "Mommie Dearest," now a camp classic. She managed to come back with more great performances, but has had quite a few unfortunate incidents of late, including a recent assault charge.

Perhaps what she needs is a series where she can rid herself of that past demon, as well as tame her own ego. "American Horror Story / Feud: Crawford vs. Dunaway." One woman. Two Stars. Only one comes out alive. Jessica Lange guests as the referee.

Diana Ross

The Boss Miss Ross had a brief, uneven film career in the 1970s, starting with her tour de force incarnation of Billie Holiday in "Lady Sings the Blues" and ending with her too-old-to-play-Dorothy in Sidney Lumet's "The Wiz." In between was the fascinating mess "Mahogany." The dynamic singer proved she had raw acting chops, but for some reason the roles just didn't come. It could simply have been that Hollywood had no clue what to do with a formidable Black woman back then.

So, let's revisit the past in order to move forward. "American Horror Story: Ease Back Down The Road." Dorothy's coming for The Wiz. (and other powerful men). And she means business.

Shirley MacLaine

Nominated for five Oscars, winning for "Terms of Endearment," MacLaine's illustrious film career began in 1955 with Hitchcock's "The Trouble with Harry," and shows no signs of slowing down, even at the age of 87. She's just wrapped a new film, "American Dreamer," with Peter Dinklage and Matt Dillon, and is working on two more. So why bother with "AHS?" Because wouldn't it be great to see Ouiser reunite with her steely Southern gals (and pay tribute to the late Olympia Dukakis)?

"American Horror Story: Steelier Magnolias." Shelby Lives. Ouiser's Still a Pig from Hell.

Debra Winger

It was just recently revealed that Winger pulled out of Penny Marshall's "A League of Their Own" when Madonna was cast because she didn't appreciate it turning into an "Elvis film." Winger has been noted for being "difficult" in the past on her Oscar-nominated projects "An Officer and a Gentleman" and "Terms of Endearment," and that certainly might have led to her not working much. Perhaps she was just an artist who cared about her craft.

Let's give her a worthy "AHS. American Horror Story: A League of HER Own." Winger takes a baseball bat to her former co-stars. Look out Richard Gere! (But leave Shirley alone!)

Whoopi Goldberg

This comic genius has been stuck on "The View" long enough. After a successful Broadway run with her one-woman tour de force, she made her film debut in Steven Spielberg's "The Color Purple" and went on to win the Oscar for her scene-stealing turn in "Ghost." But, once again, Hollywood seemed to have no clue how to handle such a unique talent. Today, she gets to speak her mind a lot, and while we appreciate that, perhaps a reckoning awaits.

"American Horror Story: Miss Celie's Revenge." Molly, girl, the men who run the world are in danger!

Marsha Mason

Perhaps not your traditional "diva," but an acting force in her own right, Marsha Mason had a fairy tale career in the '70s into the '80s, amassing four Oscar nominations for work in films like "Cinderella Liberty," "The Goodbye Girl," and "Only When I Laugh." After she divorced Neil Simon, her career continued on stage, screen, and television, but, once again, moviemakers seemed to have no clue what to do with women over 40. Mason deserves a dramatic return – one worthy of her limitless talents, and one that could also be cathartic.

"American Horror Story: Chapter Three. Exorcising Neil Only When She CHOOSES to Laugh."

Cher

What more can be said about this all-around multi-faceted entertainment diva? She's conquered stage, screen, TV, Vegas, the charts, and she's still going strong with a recent scene-stealing role in the musical "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again." Cher won her Oscar in 1988 for "Moonstruck," and has acted infrequently in films since. Such a powerhouse talent deserves a titanic role. Why not re-team her with a good friend and former co-star?

"American Horror Story: The Revenge of Silkwood." Karen and Dolly Trashbags Return (to clean up corporate America).

Goldie Hawn

Hawn won an Oscar for her first film role in 1969's "Cactus Flower" and worked consistently for two decades ("Shampoo," "Private Benjamin"). But her career began to stall a bit after she decided to recut Jonathan Demme's version of "Swing Shift" in 1984, so the focus made her character look more wholesome – that, and she didn't like the fact that Christine Lahti was walking away with the film. Was Hawn wrong to abuse her power? Would we complain if a man did the same thing?

In "American Horror Story: More Foul Play," Hawn and Lahti get to cut versions of their own shows and the audience decides the winner. And the loser... well, you've seen the ending of "Death Becomes Her..."

Diane Keaton

La di Da Diva. Keaton has managed to continuously deliver quirky and brilliant work since the early '70s, receiving an Oscar for "Annie Hall" and nominations for "Reds," "Marvin's Room," and "Somethings Gotta Give." (I know, she should have more). There seems to be no stopping her. But perhaps a dose of the macabre might be just what we need from her.

"American Horror Story: Looking Back for Mr. Goodbar." Keaton goes back to the singles bars and begins to pick off each and every sexual predator out there. Carey Mulligan, Sissy Spacek, and, yes, Jessica Lange can team up with her, and Season Two can be titled "Promising Crimes of the Heart."

Jane Fonda

We've seen Fonda, one of the finest screen actors, do just about everything. She's an activist, writer, fighter, and actor with seven Oscar nominations and two wins ("Klute," "Coming Home"). We love her sitcom, "Grace and Frankie." So why "AHS?" Simple. She herself has admitted that too often she would yield to the men in her life. Those days are long over, but Ted Turner robbed us of 15 years of her acting.

So let's get those years back, and give those men what they deserve. "American Horror Story: The Morning After The China Syndrome." Jane travels back in time and goes nuclear on Ted, Roger Vadim, and Tom Hayden (her former husbands). And in "Season Two: Coming Home Barefoot In The Park," she becomes president, topples the patriarchy, solves the climate change crisis... oh, and occasionally sleeps with Robert Redford. But only when she feels like it.

Ryan Murphy, are you listening?