Jeff Goldblum on the hidden poignancy in season 2 of his hit Disney Plus show

Date:
Thu, 11 Nov 2021 17:00:28 +0000

Description:
TechRadar sat down with Jeff Goldblum to get the lowdown on season 2 of the actors Disney Plus docuseries, The World According to Jeff Goldblum.

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Jeff Goldblum seems like the perfect candidate to front any documentary series. The beloved actors effervescent and whimsical personality, combined with his natural curiosity and open-mindedness, makes him an ideal pick for such projects.

So, the arrival of The World According to Jeff Goldblum in November 2019, a Disney Plus docuseries presented by the Jurassic Park star, made for intriguing and entertaining viewing. The show followed Goldblums travels across the US to learn more about familiar and unusual topics, from ice cream production to the history of tattoos. Such was its popularity, the show received a 2020 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special.

Its unsurprising, therefore, that a second season was announced in January 2020. Since then, a lot has happened namely, a global pandemic. And, as Goldblum tells TechRadar, the past 18 months only served to remind him of how much he values his family and his work. These are the best Disney Plus shows to watch right now Or check out these top tier Disney Plus movies instead How much does a Disney Plus subscription cost?

[Season 2s first episode] is about fireworks, so we were treated to an
amazing light display at the end, Goldblum explains. Seeing my kids and wife enjoying that private show was just spectacular. [Its a] once in a lifetime experience I'll never forget it and, yeah, it choked me up a lot.

Ahead of season 2s release on November 12, aka Disney Plus Day , TechRadar
sat down with the movie icon to discuss which episode was the most enjoyable to film. We also learned how season 2 builds on its predecessors success and whether the show will journey to other nations in the future. Building on success (Image credit: National Geographic)

How does a show like The World According to Jeff Goldblum ensure that its
next outing is better than its first? After all, as a well-received docuseries, it should stick with the formula that made it successful, right?

As Goldblum explains, though, the series chief creative team, as well as its production companies in National Geographic Studios and Nutopia, wanted to improve on the series three core pillars.

Were always looking to entertain, enchant and educate, Goldblum says.
Everyone is so smart, focused and clear headed on what they want to achieve [on this show]. And they allowed me to develop my creative appetite more, where I can encounter people spontaneously and learn as I go. I followed my own curious mind, taking left turns and unexpected tangents here and there. And we developed that more in the voiceover sections, gabbing it up and trusting that they would make me look coherent.

Goldblum, an executive producer on the series, and the shows creative team also enlisted outside help with each episodes ideas. As he reveals, US novelist and radio host Kurt Andersen (Fantasyland, Turn of the Century), who is also a long time friend of Goldblums, was a reliable sounding board throughout season 2s production.

I talked about each episode with Kurt, he says. Hes a big thinker, a very smart guy, so he helped us figure out what the most expansive angles would be on each subject. Talking topics (Image credit: National Geographic)

Selecting which subjects to target, too, was challenging. With so many interesting topics to potentially cover season 1s episodes included deep dives on sneakers, denim, coffee, and gaming Goldblum and company had tough decisions to make over what season 2 should focus on.

Eventually, 10 subjects that Goldblum was equally fascinated by were
selected. Season 2s first five episodes, whose topics include dogs and monsters, will launch on November 12. The other entries, meanwhile, will arrive at a later date. As Goldblum confirms to us, part 2 of season 2 will land on the streamer in January 2022, and will include an episode discussing astronauts and outer space.

We all need to embrace the shadow parts of ourselves and our relationships Jeff Goldblum

For now, which season 2 entry was Goldblums favorite to film? Perhaps unsurprisingly, and in typically eccentric fashion, Goldblum says he cant separate them.

I love them all, he shares. The dog episode oh my gosh every part of that, including an appearance from my beloved Woody, was delightful. And then
theres monsters, because we all need to embrace the shadow parts of ourselves and our relationships. For the magic episode, Ive always been interested in it. And talking to Penn [Jillette] and [Ray] Teller was great as I learned about con artistry.

For fireworks, I was reminded that theyre like stars at night, and that inflamed my curiosity as were finding out more about our universe. That was humbling and mind blowing. And, finally, we cover dance, which is right up my alley. I love it we went to a roller disco in Atlanta, Georgia, and seeing everyone enjoying themselves was terrific. Globetrotting Goldblum (Image credit: National Geographic/Seppi Aghajani)

As amusing and interesting as Goldblums show is, one major criticism has been levelled at it. Despite its title suggesting that the show is global in
scope, the series is yet to travel outside of the US. Naturally, the ongoing pandemic prevented the show from heading to other countries for season 2. But the series US-only focus was a particular sore point among some viewers
during its first season.

Asked if hed like to take his show to different continents for a potential third season, Covid-19 permitting, Goldblum reveals that hes talked about it with his fellow creators and hes certainly open to the idea.

Its very interesting that you ask that, he teases. As you know, a lot of
these topics are local with America-based people and places I visit. But they often telescope out into international waters, and even our solar system and the cosmos. Theres no plan to do it [visit other continents] yet, but Im interested in going around this lovely world of ours.

It would be a shame if Goldblum and company didnt take the show elsewhere. As Goldblum admits, the topics within are universal, and there are numerous cultural and societal traditions across the globe that would make for entertaining viewing. So, looking past the pandemic, theres no excuse why future seasons should solely be based in the US.

Still, that doesnt make The World According to Jeff Goldblum any less enjoyable. Goldblums unconventional presenting style and keen interest in
each subject make it an appealing show for all ages. Each episodes 25-minute runtime also makes the content easy to digest.

And yet, theres more to The World According to Jeff Goldblum than meets the eye. This isnt your typical docuseries its grounded in the actors memories
of his family, particularly his parents, which is touched upon as regularly here as in season 1.

Its this hidden poignancy that makes the series stand out from its peers. After the past 18 months, this reminder for us not to take our own family and friends for granted is touching. Goldblums Disney Plus show isnt just
humorous and endearing: its also pretty moving.

The World According to Jeff Goldblum Season 2 Part 1 lands on Disney Plus on Friday, November 12. What is Disney Plus Premier Access?



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