{ "id": "epfpxc17hz", "slug": "the-world-according-to-jeff-goldblum", "title": "The World According to Jeff Goldblum", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted", "label": "Unscripted, reality, and web-native series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual", "label": "Documentary, docudrama, and lifestyle series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual.factual_entertainment_formats", "label": "Factual entertainment and specialist-interest formats", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual.factual_entertainment_formats" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual.factual_entertainment_formats.yr-2001-2019", "label": "Premiered 2001 to 2019", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual.factual_entertainment_formats.yr-2001-2019" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual.factual_entertainment_formats", "label": "United States · 2001 to 2020: Factual entertainment and specialist-interest formats", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual.factual_entertainment_formats", "path": [ { "id": "geo.us", "label": "United States", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2001", "label": "United States · 2001 to 2020", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2001" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2001.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2001.culture" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2001.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2001.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted", "label": "Unscripted, reality, and web-native series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual", "label": "Documentary, docudrama, and lifestyle series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual" }, { "id": "geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual.factual_entertainment_formats", "label": "Factual entertainment and specialist-interest formats", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.us.t2001.culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual.factual_entertainment_formats" } ] } ], "excerpt": "The World According to Jeff Goldblum is a Disney+ docuseries from National Geographic and Nutopia, hosted by Jeff Goldblum, exploring everyday objects like sneakers and ice cream; 22 episodes, 2019-2022.", "snippet": "The World According to Jeff Goldblum is a Disney+ docuseries from National Geographic and Nutopia, hosted by Jeff Goldblum, exploring everyday objects like sneakers and ice cream; 22 episodes, 2019-2022.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_documentary_factual.factual_entertainment_formats.yr-2001-2019", "markdown": "# The World According to Jeff Goldblum\n\n*The World According to Jeff Goldblum* is an American documentary series hosted by [Jeff Goldblum](https://www.edgepedia.org/jeff-goldblum), in which each episode examines a familiar everyday object or pastime, such as sneakers, ice cream, or coffee, and traces the science, history, and people behind it. Produced by [National Geographic](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-geographic) and Nutopia, it premiered on November 12, 2019 as a launch title for the Disney+ streaming service and ran for two seasons and 22 episodes before ending in January 2022.[1](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/disney_project_one-sheet_-_wajg_10_9562e9d0.pdf) • [2](https://epguides.com/WorldAccordingtoJeffGoldblum/)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Format | Docuseries in which Goldblum pulls on the thread of a deceptively familiar object to reveal connections, science, and history; episodes run about 25 to 27 minutes[1](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/disney_project_one-sheet_-_wajg_10_9562e9d0.pdf) • [2](https://epguides.com/WorldAccordingtoJeffGoldblum/) |\n| Premiere | November 12, 2019, streaming only on Disney+, as one of the service's launch originals[1](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/disney_project_one-sheet_-_wajg_10_9562e9d0.pdf) |\n| Season 1 | 12 episodes: Sneakers, Ice Cream, Tattoos, Denim, BBQ, Gaming, Bikes, RVs, Coffee, Pools, Cosmetics, and Jewelry[1](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/disney_project_one-sheet_-_wajg_10_9562e9d0.pdf) |\n| Season 2 | 10 episodes, first five released November 12, 2021 on Disney+ Day; topics included magic, fireworks, monsters, dogs, and dance[3](https://press.disneyplus.com/news/disney-plus-the-world-according-to-jeff-goldblum-season-2-trailer-and-key-art) |\n| Production | National Geographic and Nutopia; executive producers Jeff Goldblum, Matt Renner, Jane Root, Peter Lovering, Arif Nurmohamed, and Keith Addis[1](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/disney_project_one-sheet_-_wajg_10_9562e9d0.pdf) |\n| Recognition | Nominated for the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special in 2020 and 2022[4](https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/the-world-according-to-jeff-goldblum/1030788347/) |\n| Reception | 83% average Tomatometer and 76% Popcornmeter on Rotten Tomatoes[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_world_according_to_jeff_goldblum) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Seasons and broadcast history\n\n**Season 1** premiered at the launch of Disney+ on November 12, 2019, with new episodes streaming each Friday, and concluded on January 24, 2020.[1](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/disney_project_one-sheet_-_wajg_10_9562e9d0.pdf) • [11](https://www.thewrap.com/the-world-according-to-jeff-goldblum-renewed-by-disney-for-season-2/) It was Disney+'s first original series from National Geographic, and Disney+ renewed it for a second season in January 2020, before the first season had finished airing.[11](https://www.thewrap.com/the-world-according-to-jeff-goldblum-renewed-by-disney-for-season-2/)\n\n**Season 2** debuted its first five episodes on November 12, 2021, timed to the Disney+ Day global celebration, which fell on Goldblum's birthday. The season's subjects included magic, fireworks, monsters, dogs, and dance, with guests such as the magicians [Penn & Teller](https://www.edgepedia.org/penn-and-teller), viral video creator [Zach King](https://www.edgepedia.org/zach-king), and two-time Oscar-winning animator [Phil Tippett](https://www.edgepedia.org/phil-tippett), along with a search for Bigfoot in the woods of Northern California.[3](https://press.disneyplus.com/news/disney-plus-the-world-according-to-jeff-goldblum-season-2-trailer-and-key-art) Later episodes in the season covered puzzles and tiny things, birthdays, backyards, and biker culture.[12](https://www.tvinsider.com/show/the-world-according-to-jeff-goldblum/) The season ran through January 2022, bringing the series to 22 episodes in total, after which it was not renewed.[2](https://epguides.com/WorldAccordingtoJeffGoldblum/) • [13](https://whichott.com/tv/the-world-according-to-jeff-goldblum-2019-92807)\n\n## Origin and development\n\nDisney announced the series on April 11, 2019 at its Investor Day presentation in [Burbank, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/burbank-california), as one of the originals planned for the Disney+ streaming service, which launched that November at $6.99 per month.[6](https://www.thewrap.com/jeff-goldblum-documentary-series-coming-disney-plus/) The show came from Disney-owned National Geographic, which Disney had acquired with 20th Century Fox's film and television assets.[6](https://www.thewrap.com/jeff-goldblum-documentary-series-coming-disney-plus/)\n\n**Goldblum's path to the host role** ran through earlier nonfiction work. He hosted three episodes of the National Geographic science series *Explorer* in 2017, and network executives approached him about his own show soon after. He described the format as evolving organically out of those conversations, and early in production Nutopia asked him to record musings about his interests, some of which became material for the series.[7](https://d23.com/step-inside-jeff-goldblums-wacky-world-on-disney-plus/) • [8](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/features/just-curious) Goldblum, whose film career includes *[Jurassic Park](https://www.edgepedia.org/jurassic-park-film)*, *The Fly*, and *Independence Day*, called the series a passion project and served as host and executive producer.[7](https://d23.com/step-inside-jeff-goldblums-wacky-world-on-disney-plus/) • [9](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jeff-goldblum-on-exploring-the-world-in-his-new-show-the-world-according-to-jeff-goldblum/)\n\n## Format\n\nEach episode is built around a single subject that viewers already know, and follows a three-part structure the production described as the How, the story behind the item and how it is made; the Now, the ways the item has become part of daily life; and the Why, the secrets behind its success and its future.[1](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/disney_project_one-sheet_-_wajg_10_9562e9d0.pdf) Goldblum meets three broad categories of people: innovators and makers who transformed the object into a cultural force, passionate obsessives who have taken their enthusiasm to an extreme, and subcultures whose connection to the subject is not obvious at first glance.[1](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/disney_project_one-sheet_-_wajg_10_9562e9d0.pdf)\n\nThe first season's subjects ranged from sneakers and ice cream to tattoos, denim, barbecue, gaming, bikes, RVs, coffee, pools, cosmetics, and jewelry.[1](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/disney_project_one-sheet_-_wajg_10_9562e9d0.pdf) Reporting on the show noted the range of settings Goldblum visited, including a water park for the pools episode, his first visit to one, and conversations with NASA astronauts.[9](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jeff-goldblum-on-exploring-the-world-in-his-new-show-the-world-according-to-jeff-goldblum/) An AwardsWatch profile described the 12-part series as canvassing the globe for different cultures and ideas, with stops in Detroit for bikes, New Orleans for the Southern Decadence festival, [Connecticut](https://www.edgepedia.org/connecticut) for barbecue pit masters, and a gay line dancing bar in Texas.[10](https://awardswatch.com/interview-jeff-goldblum-sartorial-icon-man-about-town-and-culture-enthusiast-in-the-world-according-to/)\n\n## Reception\n\nOn Rotten Tomatoes the series holds an average Tomatometer of 83 percent across seasons and a Popcornmeter audience score of 76 percent.[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_world_according_to_jeff_goldblum) The site's critics consensus for season 1 called it a quirky and upbeat docuseries that fans of Goldblum would enjoy, while suggesting viewers not already attuned to his style might not appreciate it.[14](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_world_according_to_jeff_goldblum/s01) A TIME review of the initial Disney+ lineup was more critical, finding that episodes dragged despite running about 30 minutes and that the show offered a general-interest treatment of its subjects.[15](https://time.com/5728909/best-disney-plus-shows/)\n\nThe series received Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special in 2020 and 2022.[4](https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/the-world-according-to-jeff-goldblum/1030788347/) A series producer's credit also lists a Critics Choice Award win and an Emmy nomination for the show.[16](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/565c3a08e4b0acafe1285c1c/t/6633655bf16e1c4a35976ed0/1714644316222/JOHN%2BHODGSON%2BCV%2BMAY%2B2024.pdf)\n\n## Availability\n\nAfter its run, the series was removed from Disney+ in the United States during the service's 2023 content reductions, and as of late 2026 it was not streaming on any major platform in the United States, though it remained available in Australia, including on SBS On Demand.[13](https://whichott.com/tv/the-world-according-to-jeff-goldblum-2019-92807) • [17](https://www.justwatch.com/au/tv-show/the-world-according-to-jeff-goldblum)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Disney+ Project One-Sheet, The World According to Jeff Goldblum (September 30, 2019)](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/disney_project_one-sheet_-_wajg_10_9562e9d0.pdf)\n2. [The World According to Jeff Goldblum, a Titles & Air Dates Guide, epguides.com](https://epguides.com/WorldAccordingtoJeffGoldblum/)\n3. [Disney+ Releases the Official Trailer and Key Art for the Second Season of The World According to Jeff Goldblum, Disney Plus Press (October 22, 2021)](https://press.disneyplus.com/news/disney-plus-the-world-according-to-jeff-goldblum-season-2-trailer-and-key-art)\n4. [The World According to Jeff Goldblum, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/the-world-according-to-jeff-goldblum/1030788347/)\n5. [The World According to Jeff Goldblum, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_world_according_to_jeff_goldblum)\n6. [Jeff Goldblum Is Getting His Own Disney+ Docuseries, TheWrap (April 11, 2019)](https://www.thewrap.com/jeff-goldblum-documentary-series-coming-disney-plus/)\n7. [Step Inside Jeff Goldblum's Wacky World on Disney+, D23 (October 25, 2019)](https://d23.com/step-inside-jeff-goldblums-wacky-world-on-disney-plus/)\n8. [Just Curious, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/features/just-curious)\n9. [Jeff Goldblum on exploring the world in his new show, CBS News (November 27, 2019)](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jeff-goldblum-on-exploring-the-world-in-his-new-show-the-world-according-to-jeff-goldblum/)\n10. [Interview: Jeff Goldblum in The World According to..., AwardsWatch (July 7, 2020)](https://awardswatch.com/interview-jeff-goldblum-sartorial-icon-man-about-town-and-culture-enthusiast-in-the-world-according-to/)\n11. [The World According to Jeff Goldblum Renewed by Disney+ for Season 2, TheWrap (January 17, 2020)](https://www.thewrap.com/the-world-according-to-jeff-goldblum-renewed-by-disney-for-season-2/)\n12. [The World According to Jeff Goldblum, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/show/the-world-according-to-jeff-goldblum/)\n13. [Where to watch The World According to Jeff Goldblum in United States, WhichOTT](https://whichott.com/tv/the-world-according-to-jeff-goldblum-2019-92807)\n14. [The World According to Jeff Goldblum: Season 1, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_world_according_to_jeff_goldblum/s01)\n15. [The Best Original Shows on Disney+ And the Worst, TIME (2019)](https://time.com/5728909/best-disney-plus-shows/)\n16. [John Hodgson CV, Series Producer, Nutopia](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/565c3a08e4b0acafe1285c1c/t/6633655bf16e1c4a35976ed0/1714644316222/JOHN%2BHODGSON%2BCV%2BMAY%2B2024.pdf)\n17. [The World According to Jeff Goldblum, JustWatch (Australia)](https://www.justwatch.com/au/tv-show/the-world-according-to-jeff-goldblum)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Unscripted, reality, and web-native series › Documentary, docudrama, and lifestyle series › Factual entertainment and specialist-interest formats › Premiered 2001 to 2019*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/the-world-according-to-jeff-goldblum", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/the-world-according-to-jeff-goldblum.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"The World According to Jeff Goldblum\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/the-world-according-to-jeff-goldblum. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[The World According to Jeff Goldblum](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-world-according-to-jeff-goldblum)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/the-world-according-to-jeff-goldblum](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-world-according-to-jeff-goldblum). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"The World According to Jeff Goldblum\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/the-world-according-to-jeff-goldblum. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "The World According to Jeff Goldblum is a Disney+ docuseries from National Geographic and Nutopia, hosted by Jeff Goldblum, exploring everyday objects like sneakers and ice cream; 22 episodes, 2019-2022." }