For the 2014 children's book, see I Am Jazz (book).
I Am Jazz
Alt nameAll That Jazz[1]
GenreReality
StarringJazz Jennings
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Num seasons8
Num episodes73
Executive producer
  • Aengus James
  • Colin King Miller
  • David St. John
  • Shanta Mays
Producer
  • Taylor Garbutt
  • Jared Goode
LocationCoral Springs, Florida, United States
EditorEric Johannsen
CameraMulti-camera
Runtime43 minutes
CompanyThis Is Just a Test
First airedJuly 15, 2015
Last airedFebruary 28, 2023
ChannelTLC

I Am Jazz is a reality television series on TLC about Jazz Jennings, an American transgender woman and YouTuber. The series features Jazz and her family "dealing with typical teen drama through the lens of a transgender youth."[1][2] I Am Jazz premiered on July 15, 2015.

Synopsis

Jazz Jennings, a South Florida teen, was assigned male at birth. Aged 4, Jennings was diagnosed with gender dysphoria in childhood, making her one of the youngest publicly documented people to be identified as gender dysphoric.[3] Her parents, Greg and Jeanette, decided to support her female gender identity by her fifth birthday. Jazz has been in the spotlight since 2007, when at age 6, she was interviewed by Barbara Walters to discuss her gender identity. She participated in follow-up interviews, launched a foundation, and co-wrote a book, also called I Am Jazz. She has also posted videos about her life on YouTube.

I Am Jazz focuses on the day-to-day lives of the "Jennings" family (the surname "Jennings" is a pseudonym, and any reference to the family's exact location is obscured).[4][5] Jazz, who was about to enter high school when the series started in 2015, grapples with the usual teen angst in addition to her own challenges as a transgender girl. Her family, which includes her three siblings, parents and grandparents, also talk about their experiences.[2]

Production

The 11-part series involved filming five days a week, including both days on the weekend.[6] The series was initially called All That Jazz, but was retitled to I Am Jazz. The show takes its title from a 2011 documentary, I Am Jazz: A Family in Transition, that aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network.[7][8]

The one-hour series premiere of I Am Jazz first aired at the same time Caitlyn Jenner was giving her acceptance speech for the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2015 ESPY Awards on ABC.[9]

On March 28, 2019, TLC renewed the series for a sixth season,[10] which premiered on January 28, 2020.[11] In June 2021, TLC renewed the series for a seventh season, with filming commencing the same month.[12]

Broadcast

Internationally, the series premiered in Australia on TLC on December 10, 2015.[13]

Reception

Critic Brian Lowry of Variety praised I Am Jazz, calling it a "sensitively constructed series (in an admirable departure for the attention-seeking network)... Simply told and heartfelt, the show should add a welcome dimension to the education process, capturing the challenges associated with sexual identity at such a vulnerable age."[14] James Poniewozik, in his review for Time magazine, stated that the reality show airing on the same network that recently pulled 19 Kids and Counting off the air feels like a "change of an era." Poniewozik writes, "I Am Jazz is an engaging story of a teen girl who has transitioned. But it is also the story of everyone else, transitioning."[8] Marc Silver of The Washington Post wrote about the boom of transgender-theme shows on TV, including Jenner's upcoming reality show, I Am Cait: "I Am Cait will surely attract more viewers because of Jenner's fame. It's too soon to say how Jazz will fare. But, with her humor and honesty, she's a tough act for Caitlyn Jenner to follow."[15]

Awards

The show tied for best Outstanding Reality Program at the 27th annual GLAAD Media Awards.[16][17]

Reality TV Award for Best Docu-series 2020.[18]

See also

References

  1. ^ Grinberg, Emanuella (March 19, 2015). "Why transgender teen Jazz Jennings is everywhere". CNN. Archived March 19, 2015 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ^ "Transgender Teen Jazz Jennings Will Star in TLC TV Series "I Am Jazz"". The Learning Channel. Archived from the original on July 18, 2015.
  3. ^ Prowse-Gany, Brian (October 22, 2014). "The New Face of Transgender Youth". Yahoo!. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  4. ^ Menendez, Alicia; Redman, Meagan; Effron, Lauren (July 14, 2015). "'I Am Jazz': Transgender Teen on Grappling with High School, Puberty". ABC News. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  5. ^ Bever, Lindsey (March 19, 2015). "How a transgender teen became a nationally known activist". Washington Post. Archived May 9, 2015 at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ^ Rothaus, Steve (June 25, 2015). "Growing Up Transgender: Jazz Jennings". Miami Herald. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  7. ^ The Linster (October 28, 2011). ""I Am Jazz" is a heartwarming look at a transgender 11-year-old". AfterEllen. Evolve Media. Archived from the original on June 6, 2018. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  8. ^ Poniewozik, James (July 15, 2015). "Review: An Extraordinary, Ordinary Girlhood in TLC's I Am Jazz". Time. Time Inc. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  9. ^ Yahr, Emily (July 16, 2015). "Caitlyn Jenner's ESPYs speech aired at an unusually significant moment on TV — here's why". Washington Post. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  10. ^ "TLC's Hit Series "I Am Jazz" Renewed for a Sixth Season". The Futon Critic. March 28, 2019.
  11. ^ Harris, LaTesha (2019-11-08). "TV News Roundup: Netflix Announces Premiere Date for Tiffany Haddish's 'Black Mitzvah' Comedy Special". Variety. Retrieved 2020-01-03.
  12. ^ Framke, Caroline (June 2, 2021). "'I Am Jazz' Renewed for Season 7 by TLC (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety
  13. ^ Purcell, Charles (3 December 2015). "New This Week (Dec 7): 40+ new shows including Da Vinci's Demons, Grimm and live sport". The Green Room. Archived December 4, 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  14. ^ Lowry, Brian (July 13, 2015). "TV Review: 'I Am Jazz'". Variety. Penske Business Media. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  15. ^ Silver, Marc (July 13, 2015). "'I Am Jazz' is the latest in this summer's transgender reality show boom". Washington Post. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
  16. ^ "Caitlyn Jenner, Jazz Jennings Win GLAAD Awards". April 3, 2016.
  17. ^ 2016 GLAAD Media Awards: Demi Lovato & Caitlyn Jenner Among Recipients | Billboard
  18. ^ "'I Am Jazz' Wins Reality TV Award for Best Docu-Series". June 26, 2020.