Only Jeff Goldblum can sit down in a room filled with reporters and end up being the one who asks the questions. In essence, this is the world according to Jeff Goldblum.
“The World According to Jeff Goldblum” is one of the new shows that were included in the launch of Disney+. The series follows the “Jurassic Park” star around the country as he dives deeper into topics such as sneakers, denim, ice cream, and tattoos. But, this isn’t your ordinary look at cultural phenomena; it’s really an extraordinary journey of discovery, with Jeff Goldblum at the helm.
The series, which originated over at National Geographic, highlights Goldblum at his finest, as he does his best Goldblum-ing. Yes, that should be a verb. While you can easily imagine the actor starring in any number of films, everyone’s favorite Goldblum, seems to be the one we get in real life. Now, thanks to Disney+, we get to see “The Fly” star in all of his glory, being completely, entirely, and utterly Jeff Goldblum.
Episode 105 “BBQ”
Los Angeles, California – Jeff Goldblum (right) takes part in the viral trend of “mukbang”, eating Korean BBQ on camera with YouTube sensation, Stephanie Soo. (Photo: National Geographic/Susannah Wilkinson)
In this show, the actor/musician/entertainer delves into interesting topics and unique experiences while interacting with strangers and fans – who, let’s face it – are one and the same. The more Goldblum learns about, we, the audience, discover more about him. As he travels across the country, bringing his larger than life presence to ordinary situations, we get lessons in history, human behavior, science, trends, and so much more. Of course, the biggest lesson of all is the insight audiences gain as we get a look at the inner workings of Jeff Goldblum’s mind.
Although it wasn’t the original title, “The World According to Jeff Goldblum,” came about due to the actor’s involvement with “National Geographic Explorer.” It only took three episodes of the Nat Geo show for the bond between Goldblum, the producers, and the studio to form. Once the deal was sealed, the evolution naturally led Goldblum to command his very own show.
While sitting at a roundtable with Goldblum, he explained how he had toyed with the idea of being a host. “I [thought] I could lend myself in some fun way,” the actor recalled about how this all came to be. Of course, for Goldblum, that meant doing things a bit differently.
“I’ve become comfortable in my humble studies of that over the decades, venturing into myself. I’ve become more and more comfortable [by] playing jazz and encountering audiences more.
— Jeff Goldblum
Episode 107 “Bikes”
(Photo: National Geographic/Martin Klimek)
You might now ask yourself, what does the world according to Jeff Goldblum look like, according to Jeff Goldblum? “I don’t know why, I just have an ongoing party in my adult brain, that I don’t mind opening up about,” he answered. “I suppose it looks like the general, ordinary, mundane world. Then, as we look deeper, [it’s] the idea, [that] there’s something extraordinary about this glass of water,” Goldblum noted as he pointed out the drink on the table. “[It’s] us being here in this room, and certainly… the people. People, are to me, just endlessly, infinitely mysterious, and beautiful and fascinating, and educational.”
Goldblum has no problem switching gears from actor to host and credits Sanford Meisner (his acting teacher) for the ability to unmask himself. “I’ve become comfortable in my humble studies of that over the decades, venturing into myself. I’ve become more and more comfortable [by] playing jazz and encountering audiences more,” says Goldblum.
He explained that working on shows such as “Portlandia” and movies like “Thor: Ragnarok,” where Taika Waititi encouraged the actors to improvise, also gave way for him to be able to fully embrace his new role as host. “I’ve gotten more comfortable and interested in exploring my own so-called personal voice,” the actor said.
Episode 104 “Denim”
San Francisco, CA – Jeff Goldblum in front of denim samples. (Photo: National Geographic/Asling Browne)
As Goldblum described his adventures on the show, he admitted that they aren’t always easy. He even suggested that if they do more shows, one of the ways to choose the topics should be picking things that get him out of his comfort zone. So, if you’re reading this, feel free to Tweet suggestions.
In this first season, Goldblum found himself interested in things that he knew nothing about prior to these episodes. He was exposed to a whole new world of gaming for the 21st century, which landed him into the world of LARPing. And he describes his time spent at the NASA Neutral Buoyancy Lab as “life-changing.”
“I’m kind of an open-faced sandwich,” Goldblum says when asked about what this show might reveal about him. “With these particular portals into my experience and oftentimes childhood and past experiences,” he explains, “people may get an enhanced view for what it’s worth.” Included in the series are even pictures and reels of home movies from the ‘50s and ‘60s in Pittsburgh that the actor had previously thought were long lost. Yes, that means you’ll get to see plenty of “Goldblum-ing” from his early years. “You’ll get your fill of me,” Goldblum assures us.
For more reasons to love Jeff Goldblum, you can check out our video: “Five Reasons: Why You Should Watch ‘The World According to Jeff Goldblum.’”
“With these particular portals into my experience and oftentimes childhood and past experiences, people may get an enhanced view for what it’s worth.
— Jeff Goldblum
Published on Hollywood First Look Features