In the premiere episode of Ryan Murphys Hollywood , an aspiring actor named Roy Fitzgerald (played by Jake Picking ) visits a gas station-turned-brothel called the Golden Tip in search of male companionship. Attempting to meet other gay men elsewhere, the character explains, is to risk being outed and thus blacklisted by the studio system.

Over the course of the next six episodes, Fitzgerald changes his name to Rock Hudson and lands a debut part in a movie all while being verbally and sexually abused by a Svengali-like manager, Henry Willson (Jim Parsons ). By the season finale, Hudson finds the courage to denounce Willsons exploits, go public about his sexuality and attend the 1947 Academy Awards on the arm of a screenwriter boyfriend, Archie Coleman (Jeremy Pope ).

Hollywood, which debuted on Netflix last week, presents an alternate history of cinemas golden age. It follows an ensemble of artists and industry moguls, including a director (Darren Criss) and the wife of a studio executive (Patti LuPone), pushing for on-screen diversity. Along the way, the limited series also reimagines the career trajectories of several legendary stars, including Hudson, Anna May Wong and Hattie McDaniel .

The show really comments on the abuse of power, Picking told HuffPost. I think thats always going to be relevant, not just within the entertainment industry.