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Orange Is the New Black

Orange Is the New Black is an American comedy-drama television series created by Jenji Kohan for Netflix.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Orange Is the New Black is an American comedy-drama television series created by Jenji Kohan for Netflix. It originally ran from 2013 to 2019 and was loosely based on Piper Kerman’s memoir about her time in federal prison. The series begins with Piper Chapman and expands into an ensemble story about women incarcerated at Litchfield Penitentiary.

Premise

The series follows Piper Chapman after she is sentenced to prison for transporting drug money for her former girlfriend Alex Vause. As the show progresses, it broadens beyond Piper to focus on the lives of other incarcerated women.

Source material

Orange Is the New Black is loosely based on Piper Kerman’s memoir, which describes her own experience in a federal women’s prison. The television adaptation uses that premise as a starting point for fictional characters and storylines.

Broadcast history

The series premiered on Netflix in 2013 and ran for seven seasons, concluding in 2019. It became one of Netflix’s best-known original scripted series.

Setting and production

Most of the story is set at the fictional Litchfield Penitentiary in upstate New York. The show was filmed primarily in the United States, including at a former correctional facility used for exterior and prison-location scenes.

Key facts

  • The series premiered on Netflix in 2013 and ended in 2019.
  • It is loosely based on Piper Kerman’s memoir about her prison experience.
  • Piper Chapman is the central character, especially in the early seasons.
  • The show follows an ensemble of women at Litchfield Penitentiary.
  • It was produced as a Netflix original series.
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Canadian context

The series was widely available to Canadian viewers through Netflix and became part of the broader global streaming audience in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the main character in Orange Is the New Black?
Piper Chapman is the main character, especially in the early seasons, and the series begins with her perspective.
How many seasons of Orange Is the New Black are there?
There are 7 seasons.
What happened to Piper in Orange Is the New Black?
Piper is sentenced to prison for transporting drug money, serves time at Litchfield, and later is released after her imprisonment and related legal proceedings.
Is Orange Is the New Black based on a true story?
Yes. It is loosely based on Piper Kerman’s memoir about her own experience in federal prison, though the television series fictionalizes many details.
Where was Orange Is the New Black filmed?
The series was filmed primarily in the United States, including prison-location scenes at a former correctional facility in New York State.

References

  1. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Orange-is-the-New-Black
    Supports: Series overview, creator, premise, Netflix run, and basis in Piper Kerman’s memoir.
  2. Netflix Tudum — https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/orange-is-the-new-black-cast-characters
    Supports: Piper Chapman as the central character and the show's starting premise.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_Is_the_New_Black
    Supports: Seven-season run, original release dates, and general series details.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_Is_the_New_Black_season_1
    Supports: Early plot setup involving Piper Chapman and her sentencing.
  5. Entertainment Weekly — https://ew.com/orange-is-the-new-black-cast-where-are-they-now-11998145
    Supports: Interpretation of Piper Kerman's true story as the memoir basis for the show.