The 2015 TCA press tour is under way and Friday, August 7 marked FX's turn to present their upcoming programming slate to critics. "American Horror Story: Hotel" kicked things off with a star-studded panel featuring Finn Wittrock, Cheyenne Jackson, Denis O'Hare, Chloe Sevigny, Matt Bomer, Wes Bentley,Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, co-creator Brad Falchuk and showrunner Ryan Murphy. Sorry, guys -- no Lady Gaga this time. (She starts shooting next week.)

Details on "AHS: Hotel" have pretty much been kept under wraps up until today, but fortunately, each cast member finally teased a little bit about their characters, and we were right were there to take in all the juicy new details. Here's what what know about "AHS: Hotel" so far:

-It will take place in Downtown Los Angeles.

-According to Ryan Murphy, this season "harkens back to the first season. It's much more rooted in honest, primal fears as the first season was."

-Brad Falchuk calls this installment "more noir, more moody."

-"Glee" alum Darren Criss will be joining the cast.

-Finn Wittrock revealed he plays a male model named Tristan Duffy, "who's always looking for the next high, and I think he sort of finds the biggest high in Lady Gaga."

-Newbie Cheyenne Jackson plays Will Drake, a "fashion icon who moves from New York to LA. He's a father. He's a little desperate."

-Denis O'Hare plays Elizabeth Taylor. He's not actually THE Elizabeth Taylor, but is inspired by her. O'Hare noted that he shaved his head "and other body parts" for the role.

-Chloe Sevigny plays Alex Lowell, the wife of Wes Bentley. She's "a doctor and a mother dealing with a great loss in our family."

-Matt Bomer is Donovan, who will be "closely associated with Miss Gaga and Ms. Bates and Mr. Wittrock, among others. "He has very interesting relationships with the lady folk in his life."

-Wes Bentley plays John Lowell, wife of Alex. His investigation of "grisly murders" will lead him to check into the hotel.

-Angela Bassett plays Ramona Royale (best name ever?), a sexy actress who does not live at the hotel, but has a "strong relationship with Stephanie's [Lady Gaga] character."

-Kathy Bates plays Iris, who runs the hotel and happens to hate Sarah Paulson's character. Bates remarked that she's "very, very sexy" and "does crossword puzzles in her spare time."

-Sarah Paulson plays the "quite dark and quite sexy" drug-addicted Sally. Sally lives at the hotel and hates Iris in "an ancient way that will be revealed later." "I have a budding something with Wes Bentley's character," Paulson revealed.

Ryan Murphy went on to describe Lady Gaga's role: "Lady Gaga's character is named Elizabeth, and she is a very wealthy social doyenne who is consumed with art and fashion and people. She has a nefarious plan that is revealed in the first episode and will play out during the course of the season."

FX announced this morning that "American Horror Story: Hotel" will premiere on October 7. Let the countdown begin, little monsters.