Neil Patrick Harris had a popular multi-episode arc on American Horror Story last season, playing a deranged ventriloquist in a sparkly sequined jacket. But unlike most actors who check into the Ryan Murphy–verse and never leave, Harris has said scheduling issues will keep him from coming back to play with Lady Gaga, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, and the rest for the hotel-themed Season 5.

Harris has a history with Murphy that stretches back at least as far as a 2010 guest stint on Glee. But there are several other reasons Harris might not want to return this year. First, there’s the absence of Jessica Lange; Lange was a big draw for both audiences and actors wanting to work with her. Harris said last year that he was so “super-nervous” to have scenes with the acting legend that he often forgot his lines. Then there’s the fact that Harris doesn’t exactly fit in with the brunette aesthetic rocked by most of the men in the American Horror Story cast this season.

From PatrickMcMullan.com.

Even American Horror Story’s perennially golden-haired male ingenue, Evan Peters, is going dark. Maybe there’s only room for one blonde bombshell at the hotel.