Born This Way (TV series) explained

Genre:	Reality
Creator:	Jonathan Murray
Director:	Laura Korkoian
Composer:	Jeffrey Cain Eddie Grey
Country:	United States
Language:	English
Num Series:	4
Num Episodes:	35
Executive Producer:	Jonathan Murray Laura Korkoian
Runtime:	60 minutes per episode
Company:	Bunim/Murray Productions
Network:	A&E
Related:	Born For Business

Born This Way is an American reality television series produced by Bunim/Murray Productions featuring seven adults with Down syndrome who work hard to achieve goals and overcome obstacles.^[1] The show received a Television Academy Honor in 2016.^{[2] [3]}

On August 22, 2019, it was announced that the series would end with a six-part short form digital series titled Born This Way: Moving Forward which premiered on December 13, 2019. A one-hour linear series finale holiday special, titled A Very Born This Way Christmas, premiered on December 18, 2019.^{[4] [5]}

Cast

• Rachel Osterbach brightens up any room she's in, especially the office of the insurance company where she works. A bit boy crazy, she counts herself among Adam Lambert's biggest fans. Rachel is quick to develop a crush and seeks a serious romantic relationship of her own.^[6]
• Sean McElwee is a self-professed "ladies' man." But beneath a seemingly singular focus on "babes" lies a multi-talented athlete and a caring friend. Sean is the focus of three books written by his mother, Sandra, detailing Sean's journey navigating the school system and beyond. With his parents downsizing and moving to a new home, Sean strives to gain greater independence and one day live on his own.^[7]
• John Tucker is an entertainer through and through, always expressing himself through his music, writing, and dance. He is a particularly adept rapper, working diligently on his debut album, "JT: The Project." Anchored by his mother, Joyce, his large family supports him in all of his creative endeavors. John seeks to take his music to the next level.^[8]
• Steven Clark has a rare form of Down syndrome known as Mosaic Down syndrome, meaning not every cell in his body carries the extra 21st chromosome. As such, he doesn't have all of the same characteristics of a typical person with DS. Growing up, Steven often felt like he was somewhere "in the middle" and strives to fit in.^[9]
• Cristina Sanz is a romantic and has been in a relationship with her husband, Angel Callahan, for six years. Her close-knit family hails from Spain, and Cristina enjoys learning the language and cooking traditional Spanish meals. She hopes to continue to take her relationship to the next level and have an independent life with Angel.^[10]
• Megan Bomgaars gained widespread notice after creating a video entitled "Don't Limit Me," and now speaks at events around the country, spreading her message of inclusion. She also manages a tie dye clothing company called "Megology." Her mother, Kris, is known as her "Dream Maker," and the two are an inseparable pair.^[11]
• Elena Ashmore was born in Japan to a Japanese mother, Hiromi, and an Australian father, Stephen, and this multi-cultural influence has carried throughout her life. She enjoys practicing traditional Japanese Taiko drumming and cooking. Elena has often struggled with accepting herself and her disability. Her personal conflicts inspire the other cast members to examine their own self-images and ideas of what it means to be an adult with Down syndrome.^[12]

Episodes

Season 4 (2018)

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Nominee(s)	Result
2016	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program	Jonathan Murray, Gil Goldschein, Laura Korkoian, Barry Hennessey, Elaine Frontain Bryant, Shelly Tatro, Drew Tappon, Rowan Wheeler, Sasha Alpert and Rachel Speiser Schwartz		^[13]
		Outstanding Picture Editing for an Unstructured Reality Program	M'daya Meliani, Chris Ray and Dan Zimmerman (for "Don't Limit Me")
			Daniel Cerny and Peggy Tachdjian (for "Up Syndrome")
2017	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program	Gil Goldschein, Jonathan Murray, Laura Korkoian, Elaine Frontain Bryant, Shelly Tatro, Drew Tappon, Kasey Barrett, Trifari White, Millee Taggart-Ratcliffe, Jarrod Burt and Jacob Lane
		Outstanding Casting for a Reality Program	Sasha Alpert and Megan Sleeper
		Outstanding Cinematography for a Reality Program	Bruce Ready (for "Rough Waters")
		Outstanding Picture Editing for an Unstructured Reality Program	Jarrod Burt, Jacob Lane, Stephanie Lyra, M'Daya Meliani, Paul Cross, Dave McIntosh and Ryan Rambach (for "Dream Come True")
			Peggy Tachdjian, Tonya Noll, Jacob Lane and Jarrod Burt (for "Oh, Baby!")
			Daysha M. Broadway, Dan Zimmerman, Jacob Lane, Jarrod Burt, M'Daya Meliani and Ryan Rambach (for "The Times They Are A'Changin")
2018	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program	Gil Goldschein, Jonathan Murray, Laura Korkoian, Elaine Frontain Bryant, Shelly Tatro, Kasey Barrett, Millee Taggart-Ratcliffe, Jarrod Burt, Jacob Lane and Jeana Dill
		Outstanding Casting for a Reality Program	Sasha Alpert, Megan Sleeper and Caitlyn Audet
		Outstanding Cinematography for a Reality Program	Bruce Ready (for "Homecoming")
		Outstanding Picture Editing for an Unstructured Reality Program	Jarrod Burt, Jacob Lane, Mac Caudill, Madison Pathe, John Barley, Daysha Broadway, Stephanie Lyra, Svein Mikkelsen, Ryan Rambach, Peggy Tachdjian and Dan Zimmerman
2019	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program	Gil Goldschein, Jonathan Murray, Elaine Bryant, Shelly Tatro, Laura Korkoian, Kasey Barrett, Millee Taggart-Ratcliffe, William Jarrod Burt and Jacob Lane
		Outstanding Casting for a Reality Program	Sasha Alpert, Megan Sleeper and Caitlyn Audet
		Outstanding Picture Editing for an Unstructured Reality Program	Jarrod Burt, Jacob Lane, Annie Ray, Steve Miloszewski, Malinda Zehner Guerra, David G. Henry, Stephanie Lyra, Dana Martell, David McIntosh, Svein Mikkelsen, Patrick Post, Ryan Rambach, Peggy Tachdjian, Lisa Trulli, Kjerstin Westbye and Dan Zimmerman
2020	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Casting for a Reality Program	Sasha Alpert, Megan Sleeper and Caitlyn Audet

Notes and References

1. Web site: Born This Way. Television Academy.
2. Web site: A&E Network to Premier [sic] New Original Docu-series "Born This Way" Tuesday December 8 at 10 PM ET/PT]. A&E. November 11, 2015.
3. Web site: Shaun Heasley. New TV Series Features Young Adults With Down Syndrome. disabilityscoop.com. November 15, 2015.
4. Web site: A&E's "Born This Way" to Conclude with Six-Part Digital Series and One Hour Linear Finale Holiday Special. The Futon Critic. August 22, 2019.
5. Web site: 'Tis The Season for "A Very Born This Way Christmas" on A&E. The Futon Critic. December 3, 2019.
6. Web site: Rachel - Born This Way Cast - A&E.
7. Web site: Sean - Born This Way Cast - A&E.
8. Web site: John - Born This Way Cast - A&E.
9. Web site: Steven - Born This Way Cast - A&E.
10. Web site: Cristina - Born This Way Cast - A&E.
11. Web site: Megan - Born This Way Cast - A&E.
12. Web site: Elena - Born This Way Cast - A&E.
13. Web site: Born This Way . Emmys.com . . July 14, 2016.