Jenji Kohan

{{short description|American television writer, producer, and director}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Jenji Kohan

| caption = Kohan at 2014 Paley Fest

| birth_name = Jenji Leslie Kohan

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|07|05}}

| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

| alma_mater = Columbia University

| image = Jenji Kohan 2014.jpg

| occupation = Television writer, producer

| years_active = 1994–present

| spouse = {{marriage|Christopher Noxon|1997|2018|end=div}}

| children = 3

| parents = Buz Kohan
Rhea Kohan

| relatives = David Kohan (brother)
Jono Kohan (brother)

}}

Jenji Leslie Kohan (born July 5, 1969) is an American television writer and producer. She is best known as the creator and showrunner of the Showtime comedy-drama series Weeds and the Netflix comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black.{{cite news|last1=Rose|first1=Lacey|title='Orange' Showrunner Jenji Kohan on Hollywood's Pay Inequality, 'F--- You' Money and Her 'Friends' Regrets|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/orange-is-new-black-showrunner-723403|access-date=8 August 2014|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=6 August 2014}}{{cite web|last1=Dekel|first1=Jonathan|title=Q&A: Jenji Kohan on nudity, racism and homosexuality in Orange is the New Black |url=http://www.canada.com/entertainment/Jenji+Kohan+nudity+racism+homosexuality+Orange+Black/8662348/story.html|website=Canada.com|publisher=Postmedia Network Inc.|access-date=8 August 2014|date=15 July 2013}} She has received nine Emmy Award nominations, winning one as supervising producer of the comedy series Tracey Takes On....

Early life

Kohan was born to a Jewish family{{cite news|last1=Berrin|first1=Danielle|title=Jenji Kohan: Smoking the Stereotypes|url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/hollywoodjew/item/jenji_kohan_smoking_the_stereotypes/|access-date=8 August 2014|work=JewishJournal.com|date=20 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140212040014/http://www.jewishjournal.com/hollywoodjew/item/jenji_kohan_smoking_the_stereotypes/|archive-date=12 February 2014|url-status=dead}} in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Rhea Kohan{{cite web|last1=Martinson|first1=Connie|title=Connie Martinson Talks Books: Rhea Kohan interview |url=http://ccdl.libraries.claremont.edu/cdm/ref/collection/cmt/id/1131|website=The Drucker Institute|publisher=Claremont Colleges Digital Library|access-date=8 August 2014|format=Video interview|date=14 July 1981}}{{cite news|last1=Berrin|first1=Danielle|title=Rhea Kohan: No one spits in her kids' Kasha |url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/mothers_day/article/rhea_kohan_no_one_spits_in_her_kids_kasha_20110503/|access-date=8 August 2014|work=Jewish Journal|date=3 May 2011}}{{cite news|last1=Aushenker|first1=Michael|title=Queen of Laughter: Rhea Kohan reigns as mistress of ceremonies at Jewish functions in Los Angeles |url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/la_woman/article/queen_of_laughter_20030328|access-date=8 August 2014|work=Jewish Journal|date=27 March 2003}} and Alan W. "Buz" Kohan.{{cite web|title=Buz Kohan Biography (1933-) |url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/37/Buz-Kohan.html|website=Film Reference|access-date=8 August 2014}} She is the youngest of three siblings; the other two are twins Jono and David. Much of the family is in show business:

Father Buz is an Emmy Award-winning television writer and producer, as well as a music composer.
Mother Rhea is a television writer, novelist, and occasional actress.{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1207073/bio|title=Rhea Kohan biography|website=IMDb|access-date=2017-07-26}}
Brother David is an Emmy Award-winning television producer.{{cite news|last1=Berrin|first1=Danielle|title=Smoking the Stereotypes: 'Weeds' creator Jenji Kohan delights in tipping over Judaism's sacred cows|url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/summer_sneaks/article/smoking_the_stereotypes_20090520/|access-date=8 August 2014|work=Jewish Journal|date=20 May 2009|archive-date=9 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109184402/http://www.jewishjournal.com/summer_sneaks/article/smoking_the_stereotypes_20090520/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last1=Kustanowitz|first1=Esther|title='Weeds' Creator, 'Tara' Producer, and the Hebrew Mamita Take on Images of Jewish Women in Media |url=http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/idolchatter/2009/04/weedsimages-of-jewish-women-in.html |website=Beliefnet|access-date=8 August 2014|date=April 2009}}

Kohan's paternal grandparents were Charles Kohan, who was born in Romania in 1902, and May E. Charles, who was born in New York City, to parents from Russia. The two knew each other from childhood and grew up in a New York City settlement house on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.[http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/buz-kohan# Emmy TV Legends Interview: "Buz Kohan on how he got his nickname"] retrieved October 10, 2015

Kohan says that her father was the "king of variety television in his day," writing and producing the Oscars and other variety shows. Her mother was a novelist.

Kohan grew up in Beverly Hills, California and graduated from Beverly Hills High School, in 1987. She first attended Brandeis University, then transferred to Columbia University as a sophomore, where she graduated, with a degree in English language and literature, in 1991.{{cite news|last1=Martineau|first1=Kim|title=Alumni Profiles: Jenji Kohan '91 Finds Humor and Truth In Life's Darker Moments|url=http://www.college.columbia.edu/cct/spring14/alumni_profiles1|access-date=8 August 2014|work=Columbia College Today|date=Spring 2014|archive-date=9 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109183454/http://www.college.columbia.edu/cct/spring14/alumni_profiles1|url-status=dead}}

Career

Kohan's first job in the industry was with The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, of which Kohan wrote one episode, and later said was a "rough entrance" to the business. After a series of writing jobs on shows such as Mad About You, Tracey Takes On..., and Friends, she collaborated with her brother, David Kohan, writing an outside script for Will & Grace. The siblings also worked together on the sitcom The Stones for CBS, which was ultimately unsuccessful. She has discussed the differences between her and her brother's career saying, "David took the big, commercial, funny route; I was always a little darker personally, and not terrific within the system. I had to make my own way."

= ''Weeds'' =

Kohan was the creator of the Showtime dark comedy-drama television series Weeds, which she executive produced as showrunner and head writer at her writing studio, Tilted Productions, in Los Angeles, California throughout its entire eight season airing.{{cite news|title='Weeds' Creator Delivent Product|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91498188|access-date=8 August 2014|work=Fresh Air|publisher=NPR|date=16 June 2008}}{{cite news|last1=Goldberg|first1=Lesley|title=Jenji Kohan, Mary-Louise Parker Say Farewell to 'Weeds'|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/weeds-finale-jenji-kohan-mary-louise-parker-369128|access-date=8 August 2014|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=14 September 2012}}

= ''Orange Is the New Black'' =

Kohan created the Netflix comedy drama Orange Is the New Black, an adaptation that was inspired by Piper Kerman's memoir Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison about her experiences in a minimum-security women's prison.{{cite news |last1=Gross|first1=Terry|title='Orange' Creator Jenji Kohan: 'Piper Was My Trojan Horse' |url=https://www.npr.org/2013/08/13/211639989/orange-creator-jenji-kohan-piper-was-my-trojan-horse|access-date=8 August 2014|work=Fresh Air|publisher=NPR|date=13 August 2013}}{{cite news|last1=Gross|first1=Terry|title=Behind 'The New Black': The Real Piper's Prison Story|url=https://www.npr.org/2013/08/12/211339427/behind-the-new-black-the-real-pipers-prison-story|access-date=8 August 2014|work=Fresh Air|publisher=NPR|date=12 August 2013}}{{cite news|last1=Fienberg|first1=Daniel|title=Interview: 'Orange Is The New Black' creator Jenji Kohan talks prison, Netflix and Jodie Foster|url=http://www.hitfix.com/the-fien-print/interview-orange-is-the-new-black-creator-jenji-kohan-talks-prison-netflix-and-jodie-foster|access-date=8 August 2014|work=HitFix|date=10 July 2013|archive-date=6 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160606103356/http://www.hitfix.com/the-fien-print/interview-orange-is-the-new-black-creator-jenji-kohan-talks-prison-netflix-and-jodie-foster|url-status=dead}} Kohan's executive producing duties as showrunner and head writer consists of running the writer's room, which is located at her writing studio, Tilted Productions, in Los Angeles, California. Principal photography takes place in New York.{{cite news|last1=Wilson|first1=Stacey|last2=Rose|first2=Lacey|title=Comedy Showrunners Roundtable: Chuck Lorre, Jenji Kohan, Mike Judge on Ejaculation Shots, Awful Pitch Meetings and Salary Negotiations|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/comedy-showrunners-roundtable-chuck-lorre-708383|access-date=8 August 2014|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=4 June 2014|format=Video Roundtable}}

Netflix, as a streaming service distribution model of TV and movie content, is unique in that it does not provide ratings information, so Kohan does not know exact ratings for Orange Is the New Black, which has been characterized as the most watched original series on Netflix, in a new distribution model where binge viewing{{cite news|last1=Fienberg|first1=Daniel|title=11 Things We Learned From the 'Orange Is The New Black' PaleyFest Panel|url=http://www.hitfix.com/the-fien-print/11-things-we-learned-from-the-orange-is-the-new-black-paleyfest-panel/single-page|access-date=8 August 2014|work=HitFix|date=15 March 2014}} is enabled by full seasons of shows being made available at once.{{cite news|last1=Lewis|first1=Hilary|title='Orange Is the New Black' Creator Jenji Kohan: Netflix 'Cryptic' About Show's Popularity|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/orange-is-new-black-creator-667760|access-date=8 August 2014|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=27 December 2013}}

= Other projects =

== Producing ==

Kohan has an overall deal with Netflix.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/11/jenji-kohan-deal-with-netflix-1202210938/|title=Jenji Kohan Inks Overall Deal With Netflix|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=2017-11-17|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=2019-09-21}} She served as Executive Producer on the Netflix series Teenage Bounty Hunters and The Decameron.{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title=The Decameron: Netflix Orders 14th Century Soapy Drama from Kathleen Jordan & Jenji Kohan |url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/the-decameron-netflix-14th-century-soapy-drama-kathleen-jordan-jenji-kohan-1235095058/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |date=August 18, 2022}}

== Hayworth Theatre ==

Kohan owns the historic Hayworth Theatre in Los Angeles.{{cite web|last1=Barragan|first1=Bianca|title=HBO Writers Moving Into Westlake's Historic Hayworth Theatre|url=http://la.curbed.com/archives/2014/03/hbo_writers_moving_into_westlakes_historic_hayworth_theatre.php|website=Curbed (L.A.)|access-date=8 August 2014|date=13 March 2014}} One floor is used for production and two for postproduction. She plans on turning the auditorium into a venue for performances.{{Cite magazine|title=Jenji Kohan's Hot Provocations|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/09/04/jenji-kohans-hot-provocations|last=Nussbaum|first=Emily|magazine=The New Yorker|language=en|access-date=2020-05-23}}

Personal life

Kohan has three children. The oldest was her son Charlie, who died in a skiing accident on December 31, 2019;{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/04/entertainment/orange-is-the-new-black-creator-mourns-son-trnd/index.html|title='Orange Is the New Black' creator Jenji Kohan says her late son was her 'best work'|first=Nicole |last=Chavez|website=CNN|date=5 January 2020 |access-date=2020-01-06}} the middle child is her daughter Eliza, and the youngest is her son Oscar. They live in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles.{{cite news|last1=David|first1=Mark|title=Weeds Creator Jenji Kohan Gets a New Nest|url=https://variety.com/2009/dirt/news/weeds-creator-jenji-kohan-gets-a-new-nest-1201229069/|access-date=8 August 2014|work=Variety|date=23 February 2009}} Kohan and her family are practicing Jews of the Reform denomination.

Filmography

1994: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air – writer (1 episode, "Stop Will! in the Name of Love")
1996: Boston Common – writer (1 episode, "Relationship of Fools")
1996–1999: Tracey Takes On... – writer (37 episodes); supervising producer/producer (47 episodes)
1997: Mad About You – producer, writer (1 episode, "The Recital"), written by credit (1 episode, "Astrology")
1998: Sex and the City – story (1 episode, "The Power of Female Sex")
2000: Gilmore Girls – producer (12 episodes), writer (1 episode, "Kiss and Tell")
2002: Will & Grace – writer (1 episode, "Fagel Attraction")
2002: My Wonderful Life (TV movie) – writer, executive producer
2004: The Stones – writer, executive producer
2005–2012: Weeds – creator, writer, executive producer (102 episodes)
2009: Ronna & Beverly (TV movie) – writer, executive producer
2010: Tough Trade (TV movie) – creator, writer, executive producer
2013–2019: Orange Is the New Black – creator, writer, executive producer
2015: The Devil You Know – creator, writer, executive producer (1 pilot episode)
2017–2020: GLOW – executive producer
2019: American Princess – executive producer
2020: Teenage Bounty Hunters – executive producer
2024: The Decameron – executive producer

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="width:80%"

---- bgcolor="#bfd7ff"

| colspan=6 align=center |Primetime Emmy Awards

---- bgcolor="#ebf5ff"

! scope="col" style="width:7%;"| Year

! scope="col" style="width:30%;"| Category

! scope="col" style="width:25%;"| Series

! scope="col" style="width:15%;"| Result

! scope="col" class="unsortable" style="width:5%;"| {{Abbr|Ref.|References}}

rowspan="2"|{{center|1996}}

|Outstanding Variety Series

|Tracey Takes On...

| {{nom}}

|rowspan="2|

Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series

|Tracey Takes On...

| {{nom}}

rowspan="3"|{{center|1997}}

|Outstanding Comedy Series

|Mad About You

| {{nom}}

|rowspan="3"|

Outstanding Variety Series

|Tracey Takes On...

| {{won}}

Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series

|Tracey Takes On...

| {{nom}}

|Outstanding Variety Series

|Tracey Takes On...

| {{nom}}

|Outstanding Comedy Series

|Weeds

| {{nom}}

rowspan="2"|{{center|2014}}

|Outstanding Comedy Series

|Orange is the New Black

| {{nom}}

|rowspan="3"|{{center|{{cite web |url=http://www.emmys.com/shows/orange-new-black |title=Orange Is The New Black |publisher=Television Academy |access-date=June 11, 2015}}}}

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series

|Orange is the New Black

| {{nom}}

|Outstanding Drama Series

|Orange is the New Black

| {{nom}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="width:80%"

---- bgcolor="#bfd7ff"

| colspan=6 align=center |Producers Guild of America Awards

---- bgcolor="#ebf5ff"

! scope="col" style="width:7%;"| Year

! scope="col" style="width:30%;"| Category

! scope="col" style="width:25%;"| Series

! scope="col" style="width:15%;"| Result

! scope="col" class="unsortable" style="width:5%;"| {{Abbr|Ref.|References}}

|Best Episodic Comedy

|Weeds

| {{nom}}

|Best Episodic Comedy

|Weeds

| {{nom}}

|Best Episodic Comedy

|Weeds

| {{nom}}

|Best Episodic Comedy

|Orange is the New Black

| {{won}}

|{{center|{{cite web | url=http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/gone-girl-nightcrawler-whiplash-score-pga-nominations | title='Gone Girl,' 'Nightcrawler,' 'Whiplash' score PGA | work=HitFix | date=January 5, 2015 | access-date=January 6, 2015 | author=Tapley, Kristopher | archive-date=July 27, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150727010054/http://www.hitfix.com/in-contention/gone-girl-nightcrawler-whiplash-score-pga-nominations | url-status=dead }}}}

|Best Episodic Comedy

|GLOW

| {{Nominated}}