‘American Horror Story’ gets season 5 pickup after ratings record

This is more fun than a visit from Twisty the Clown: FX’s “American Horror Story” has been picked up for a fifth season.

FX announced Monday that it has ordered the next cycle of the macabre anthology series, to launch in October 2015.

The current installment, “American Horror Story: Freak Show,” premiered Wednesday and set ratings records, according to Nielsen.

“AHS: Freak Show” notched 10 million total viewers once those who watched on their DVRs over the next three days were counted. This version of the show uncovers weird doings at a sideshow carnival, featuring characters such as the bearded lady Ethel Darling (Kathy Bates) and strongman Dell Toledo (Michael Chiklis), as well as an evil clown named Twisty.

The results made “AHS: Freak Show” the most-watched program in the entire 20-year history of FX, according to the network.

“The ‘American Horror Story’ anthology has had the highest growth trajectory of any show in FX history, not to mention an unprecedented track of success in awards recognition,” FX president John Landgraf wrote in a statement.

What do you think of “AHS”?

Twitter: @scottcollinsLAT