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Orange Is the New Black

Orange Is the New Black

Every sentence is a story.

TV Series2013
TMDB: 7.7/10

A crime she committed in her youthful past sends Piper Chapman to a women's prison, where she trades her comfortable New York life for one of unexpected camaraderie and conflict in an eccentric group of fellow inmates.

Accuracy Verdict

Get ready for the most epic behind-the-scenes stories and mind-blowing facts about 'Orange Is the New Black' that will make you the ultimate OITNB expert!

Behind the Scenes

  • The character of Crazy Eyes was originally supposed to be a minor role, but Uzo Aduba's audition was so impressive that the writers expanded her character into a main cast member
  • Taylor Schilling, who plays Piper Chapman, was initially hesitant to take the role because she was concerned about the show's explicit content and nudity
  • The infamous 'Chicken' scene in Season 1 was improvised by the cast, and the reactions of the other inmates were genuine
  • Laura Prepon, who plays Alex Vause, was almost recast after the first season due to scheduling conflicts, but the show's creator, Jenji Kohan, fought to keep her on the show
  • The character of Red was inspired by a real-life inmate who was known for smuggling goods into the prison, and Kate Mulgrew's portrayal was so accurate that the real-life inmate reached out to her in praise
  • The show's writers consulted with real-life inmates and corrections officers to ensure the accuracy of the show's portrayal of prison life
  • Dascha Polanco, who plays Dayanara 'Daya' Diaz, was a struggling single mother when she auditioned for the show, and her role on OITNB helped her to provide for her family
  • The show's iconic theme song, 'You've Got Time', was written by Regina Spektor in just one day, and it won a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media

Did You Know?

  • The show is based on the real-life memoir 'Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison' by Piper Kerman, who spent 13 months in Danbury Federal Correctional Institution
  • The show's creator, Jenji Kohan, is the daughter of a journalist who wrote about the prison system, and she drew inspiration from her father's stories
  • The character of Sophia Burset, played by Laverne Cox, was the first trans woman to be a main cast member on a scripted TV show, and her storyline helped to raise awareness about trans issues
  • The show's portrayal of the prison's corruption and abuse of power is based on real-life events, including the 1994 riot at the Lucasville Prison in Ohio
  • The show's costume designer, Jennifer Rogien, used real-life prison uniforms as inspiration for the characters' clothing, and the show's production team worked with a former corrections officer to ensure the accuracy of the prison's layout and procedures
  • The show's iconic 'tattoo' scene in Season 2, where the characters get tattoos in the prison, was filmed using real tattoos and took over 12 hours to film
  • The show's finale episode, 'Here's Where We Get Off', was watched by over 5 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched series finales of all time
  • The show's impact on popular culture extends beyond the screen, with the show's catchphrases and characters becoming a part of the cultural zeitgeist

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