OK, not really the “New Black,” but like show producer Netflix and the Beatles I love a good hook. Actually gay was the new black for about 20 seconds until Trayvon Martin happened. The old black has pretty much settled that argument and retired the trophy. There will be no new black in your lifetime or mine. Sorry Muslims.
Congratulations to Netflix. The company has turned out 3 series this year and all 3 are spectacular successes both commercially and critically. They could have started out slow with some Adam Sandler type crap that would guarantee a nice return on investment and get their name out there. They went with critically acclaimed “House of Cards” instead. The risk proved worthwhile as they instantly became the equal of HBO, Showtime AMC and sometimes FX. They followed up by updating “Arrested Development” which I’m personally not feeling because Maybe and George Michael are all grown up but everyone else seems to like it. Their latest project “Orange is the New Black” is another winner. Is it really that easy to produce hit after hit? Major props also for releasing all episodes at once, I can’t even tell you how much I love that. Maybe binge TV watching is the new Web surfing?
Back to the show
Created by the same team that brought us “Weeds” on Showtime this is based a true story. Series star Taylor Schilling may be the new Meryl Streep. She’s quite remarkable as an upper middle class yuppie sent to federal prison for a year on a ten year old drug charge. Poor her, right? So fish out of water blah blah blah. But wait! The show has all the stereotypes but all the key players have backstories brilliantly done and woven into the story of the main character, Piper(Schilling). So the stereotypes melt away, episode by episode to reveal people just like us. The drug dealing sadistic guard, Pornstache, the flamboyant former fire fighter tranny has a son whose respect she needs and a wife who still loves her. The tough bossy formerly Russian mob associate now kitchen manager, the Bible thumping kid, the black semi crazy gay woman with the old white parents who calls her mother “mommy” with such a sweet voice, the high school athlete with the bright future, and really too many to list. All from central casting and screenwriting 101 and all turning from dandelions (weeds) to flowers as the series progresses.
Things to love are Kate Mulgrew as the Russian mob kitchen boss, the tranny and the chance all these D listers get to show off their acting chops. This rarely happens in the usual star driven TV. Think “Office” or “The Good Wife”. The comedy is very funny and well placed throughout the series.