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Netflix continues its original programming onslaught with 'Orange Is the New Black' on July 11th

Netflix continues its original programming onslaught with 'Orange Is the New Black' on July 11th

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Orange is the New Black publicity still (NETFLIX)
Orange is the New Black publicity still (NETFLIX)

Netflix hasn't been coy about its ambitions with original programming this year: from House of Cards to Arrested Development, the company wants to become the next HBO. Those plans will keep moving forward on July 11th when Netflix will release its latest original program, Orange Is the New Black. Based on a memoir by Piper Kerman, the show is created by Jenji Kohan — the woman behind Showtime's Weeds. It's described as a comedic drama that follows a woman (Taylor Schilling) who's ripped from her New York lifestyle after being sentenced to a year in a federal penitentiary due to her involvement in a drug-running operation. Like House of Cards before it, Orange's first season will consist of thirteen episodes, with Kohan writing the first and last entries. The cast is filled out by Taryn Manning, Natasha Lyonne, and American Pie's Jason Biggs as the lead character's fiancé.

Netflix appears to be settling into a groove with its original programming, introducing them to viewers at a steady pace this summer. While Cards arrived in February, Hemlock Grove debuted in April. Arrested Development is scheduled for a May 26th release, while Orange will be coming two months after that. Hemlock Grove didn't receive the raves amongst non-genre fans that House of Cards did, but Arrested Development seems a virtual lock for critical approval; we'll have to wait until July to see if the same holds true for Orange Is the New Black.