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Orange Is the New Black

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Orange Is the New Black
File:OITNB-logo.png
GenreComedy-drama
Created byJenji Kohan
Based onOrange Is the New Black
by Piper Kerman
StarringTaylor Schilling
Laura Prepon
Michael J. Harney
Michelle Hurst
Kate Mulgrew
Jason Biggs
Opening theme"You've Got Time" by Regina Spektor
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersJenji Kohan
Liz Friedman
Running time60 minutes
Production companyLionsgate Television
Original release
NetworkNetflix
ReleaseJuly 11, 2013 (2013-07-11) –
present

Orange Is the New Black is an American Netflix original comedy-drama series,[1] created by Jenji Kohan and produced by Lionsgate Television. It is based on Piper Kerman's memoir Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison.[2] The series premiered on July 11, 2013.[3] On June 27, 2013, Netflix renewed Orange Is the New Black for a second season.[4]

Premise

Orange Is the New Black revolves around Piper Chapman (Schilling), a woman from Connecticut, living in New York City who is sent to the women's Litchfield, NY federal prison for 13 months for transporting a suitcase full of drug money for Alex Vause (Prepon), an international drug smuggler and Chapman's one-time lover.

Cast

Main cast

  • Taylor Schilling as Piper Chapman. Piper is sent to prison for carrying drug money for her former girlfriend, Alex, and navigates the stresses it creates in her life and with her fiancé Larry. While in prison, Piper endures while trying to understand and find her place in the hierarchy, and even runs into Alex. Piper started a line of artisanal soaps prior to leaving for prison with her best friend Polly.
  • Laura Prepon as Alex Vause. Piper's former girlfriend is serving time in the same prison as Piper. With a mother who worked four jobs and a washed-up rock star for a father, Alex grew up being bullied for her low socioeconomic status and eventually  wound up working for an international drug cartel.
  • Michael J. Harney as Sam Healy. Healy helps run the prison and manages Piper's case, among others. He has his own personal witch hunt for lesbians that he carries out in the prison. He claims to understand Piper, although he is passive-aggressive in nature. He is in a relationship with an immigrant who has two years left to wait until she gets her green card.
  • Michelle Hurst as Miss Claudette. Miss Claudette is Piper's roommate and is very strict and feared at the prison, but softens after time with Piper. Miss Claudette ran an illegal immigration and child labor cleaning service, which she herself was inducted into when she came to the United States as a child.
  • Kate Mulgrew as Galina 'Red' Reznikov. Red runs the prison's kitchen. She owned a restaurant with her husband and worked with the Russian mob. Red is the go-to woman in prison and runs it behind the scenes. Red has taken under her wing a group of women, some of whom are former drug users, and gives them two chances to make it in her group before they are booted.
  • Jason Biggs as Larry Bloom. As a struggling writer trying to climb the journalist ladder, Larry finds out that his fiancée, Piper, has to go to prison. Larry believes that their relationship can make it through Piper's time in prison.

Recurring cast

  • Maria Dizzia as Polly Harper, Piper's best friend. Polly and Piper run a business together in which they sell artisanal soaps. Polly keeps the business afloat while Piper is in prison.
  • Laverne Cox as Sophia Burset. Sophia is a transgender woman who went to prison for credit card fraud. She has a son named Michael with her wife, Crystal. The prison has put her on a lower dosage of hormones and she struggles with the guilt of the possible reversal of her sex and worries that the process she put Crystal and her son through will have been for nothing. She is repeatedly harassed by Mendez. She eventually gets the correct dosage of hormones.
  • Elizabeth Rodriguez as Aleida Diaz, Daya's mother.
  • Dascha Polanco as Dayanara "Daya" Diaz, Aleida's daughter. It is revealed she took care of her sisters growing up as their mother was always out with her boyfriend or making drugs in their kitchen. Daya is in a relationship with John (one of the gaurds) and later becomes pregnant. She, her mother and Red come up with a plan to get Mendez, the other gaurd, to have sex with her. Afterwards, she plans to call rape to protect John from going to prison for sexual assult. Instead, Mendez is put on suspension without pay to protect the prison's reputation.
  • Natasha Lyonne as Nicky Nichols. A former junkie, now in Red's group in the prison. Has a loud mouth and is Red's most trusted girl. Red helps Nicky get clean when she lands in prison, and Nicky considers Red to be her mother.
  • Taryn Manning as Tiffany "Pennsatucky" Doggett. A prisoner who goes around preaching about God and healing others. Works with Alex in the laundry room. Often causes problems for Alex and Piper. Pennsatucky was sent to prison after a nurse in the abortion clinic she frequented made a snide comment on how many abortions Pennsatucky had had, and Pennsatucky shot her for "disrespectin'". She converted to Christianity after a Christian law firm earned her less time in prison, believing "God had found her".
  • Danielle Brooks as Tasha 'Taystee' Jefferson. An inmate in the prison and best friend to Poussey, cut a deal with Piper to get a piece of her blond hair. She is released and later returns to prison after not being able to make it on the outside.
  • Lea DeLaria as Carrie "Big Boo" Black.
  • Yael Stone as Lorna Morello. One of Red's right hand women. Drives a van for the prison and was in a relationship with Nicky. She has a fiancee outside and broke up with Nicky because of him.
  • Uzo Aduba as Suzanne ("Crazy Eyes") Warren. Suzie was convinced for a time that Piper was her wife and caused trouble for her when Piper tried to let her down easily. Spontaneously quotes passages from Shakespeare.
  • Selenis Leyva as Gloria Mendoza.
  • Vicky Jeudy as Janae Watson. Arrives the same day as Piper. Gifted high school track star. Became involved with a bad group and was caught robbing a store.
  • Adrienne C. Moore as Black Cindy
  • Madeline Brewer as Tricia Miller. A former druggie who grew up on the streets. Was kicked out of Red's group for using drugs again. She keeps a journal of all the people she owes.
  • Constance Shulman as Yoga Jones. An inmate at the prison who assumes the role as the prison's yoga instructor. Later reveals she once was a marijuana farmer. She accidentally shot and killed the neighbor's kid because she thought it was deer getting into her crop.
  • Annie Golden as Norma Romano. Works with Red in the kitchen, doesn't speak.
  • Samira Wiley as Poussey
  • Beth Fowler as Sister Ingalls
  • Pablo Schreiber as George "Pornstache" Mendez. A prison guard who is always up to no good- sells drugs, harasses the inmates, and trades drugs for oral sex.
  • Matt McGorry as John Bennett. A prison guard, in a secret relationship with Daya.
  • Nick Sandow as Joe Caputo. The prison counselor. Who later finds out that someone is stealing money from the Government which is supposed to be for the prison.
  • Alysia Reiner as Natalie Figueroa. Shady, untrustworthy, sly woman who is stealing the money from the prison.

Episodes

Main article: List of Orange Is the New Black episodes

Production

Development

In July 2011, it was announced that Lionsgate Television and Netflix were in negotiations about adding Orange Is The New Black, based on the memoir by Piper Kerman, to Netflix Originals lineup.[2] It was then later reported that Netflix finalized a deal for a 13-episode straight-to-series order to Orange Is The New Black.[5] The series was developed and executive produced by Jenji Kohan and Liz Friedman, with production beginning on the first season in fall 2012.[6] The series' main title theme song "You've Got Time" was recorded by Regina Spektor and became available for online streaming July 9, 2013.[7] Orange Is the New Black began filming in Rockland County, NY in March 2013.[8]

Casting

Casting announcements began in August 2012, with Taylor Schilling first cast in the lead role of Piper Chapman.[9] Next to join the series was Jason Biggs as Piper's fiance Larry Bloom.[10] Laura Prepon and Yael Stone were next to join the series, with Prepon in the role of Alex, Piper's ex-girlfriend and drug dealer; and Stone in the recurring role of Lorna Morello, a fellow inmate.[11] Kate Mulgrew later joined the series as Galina 'Red' Reznikov, a woman who runs the prison kitchen and serves as a mother figure for her fellow inmates.[12] Michael Harney was the next series regular to join the series as Piper's counselor, Healy. More casting followed, with Natasha Lyonne as Nicky, Pablo Schreiber as Pornstache, and Lin Tucci as Anita DeMarco.[13] Alysia Reiner will recur as Fig, the penitentiary’s assistant warden.[14] Taryn Manning is set to appear in a recurring role as Tiffany Doggett, a born-again Evangelical with underlying anger issues who doesn't mix well with others.[15] Nick Stevenson will recur as the loveable fumbling Pete Harper, a sound mixer who's married to Maria Dizzia's character Polly Harper. The two actors play soon to be parents and the best friends of Jason Biggs and Taylor Schilling's characters. [16] Laverne Cox, an African-American transgender woman, plays Sophia Burset, a transgender character. The Advocate suggested that Orange is the New Black contains the first ever women-in-prison narrative including a real transgender woman.[17]

Critical reception

Orange Is the New Black has received positive reviews from critics,[18][19][20] with a Metacritic score of 79 out of 100, indicating "Generally favorable reviews."[21]

References

  1. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2012-09-17). "Duo Cast In Netflix's 'Orange Is The New Black', Don Stark Upped On VH's 'Bounce'". Deadline. Retrieved 2013-07-01.
  2. ^ a b Netflix Eyeing Second Original Series – Comedy From Weeds Creator Jenji Kohan
  3. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (April 30, 2013). "Netflix Sets Premiere Date for Jenji Kohan's 'Orange Is the New Black'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
  4. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (June 27, 2013). "Netflix Renews 'Orange Is The New Black' For Second Season". Deadline.com. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  5. ^ Andreeva, Nellie. "Netflix, Lionsgate TV Closing Deal For Jenji Kohan's 'Orange Is The New Black' Comedy". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  6. ^ "Development Update: Thursday, March 15". TheFutonCritic. September 30, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
  7. ^ "Spektor's official web site". Reginaspektor.com. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  8. ^ Serico, Chris (March 7, 2013). "Netflix series 'Orange is the New Black' filming in Rockland". Newsday.com. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  9. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (August 30, 2012). "Taylor Schilling To Star In Jenji Kohan's Netflix Series 'Orange Is The New Black'". Deadline.com. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
  10. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (September 12, 2012). "Jason Biggs to Co-Star in Netflix's 'Orange Is the New Black' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.com. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
  11. ^ Amdreeva, Nellie (September 17, 2012). "Duo Cast In Netflix's 'Orange Is The New Black', Don Stark Upped On VH's 'Bounce'". Deadline.com. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
  12. ^ Jeffery, Morgan (September 27, 2012). "'Star Trek: Voyager' Kate Mulgrew joins 'Orange Is the New Black'". DigitalSpy.com. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  13. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (October 7, 2012). "'Weeds' Alums Join Netflix's 'Orange Is the New Black' (Exclusive)". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  14. ^ Masters, Megan (2012-10-18). "TVLine Items: Sons of Anarchy Adds Donal Logue, Knots Landing Vets to Dallas and More!". TVLine. Retrieved 2013-07-01.
  15. ^ "Breaking News - Development Update: Tuesday, November 27". The Futon Critic. 2012-11-27. Retrieved 2013-07-01.
  16. ^ "Nick Stevenson". Moviehole. September 15, 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  17. ^ Anderson, Diane. "Why You Should Watch 'Orange Is the New Black'". Advocate.com. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  18. ^ "Jailhouse Rock". Television Without Pity.
  19. ^ O'Leary, Devin (July 18, 2013). "Doin' Time". Weekly Alibi.
  20. ^ McNutt, Miles (July 18, 2013). "Lesbian Request Denied". Onion AV Club.
  21. ^ "Critic Reviews for Orange Is the New Black Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved 2013-07-18.
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