Entertainment

Everything We Know About Caitlyn's Docu-Series

by James Tison

Vanity Fair's beautiful and revealing cover story about Caitlyn Jenner, formally known as Bruce Jenner, hits news stands next week, and it is truly an insightful, complicated portrayal of the inner turmoil and joy of the sports icon and reality TV star. The article also reveals a lot about Caitlyn Jenner's upcoming docu-series, particularly surrounding the potential involvement of her four children from her first marriage.

The article's author, Buzz Bissinger, spent an unprecedented amount of time with Jenner before, after, and during the numerous surgeries she underwent during the process of modifying her external appearance to align with her true identity. The Pulitzer Prize winning writer interviewed nearly everyone in Jenner's life, including her children, friends, and ex-wives. The depth of the story is a wonderful step for transgender rights and visibility, and a compellingly honest addition to Jenner's public narrative. Between this article, and Jenner's powerful two-hour interview with Diane Sawyer in April, the media has so far done a largely sensitive and respectful job of covering a very layered, complex issue.

Let's hope that the docu-series, set to premiere on E! on July 26th, continues the pattern of telling Caitlyn's story in a way that is empowering and positive for both Jenner and the transgender community. Here's what the Vanity Fair article tells us about about the show.

Caitlyn Started Shooting The Show This Summer, After The Diane Sawyer Interview

This means that she will be Caitlyn — not Bruce — from the very start of the show.

The Jenner Children Will Not Participate

Jenner's four children from his previous marriage, all of whom are now in their 30's, have been repeatedly asked to participate in the show. Though they support Caitlyn's transition entirely, they are worried that the show "will devolve into spectacle and shenanigans intercut with a little dash of social cause," and do not want to be a part of it. They are particularly disinterested in joining because...

It's Made By The Same Production Company As Keeping Up With The Kardashians

This is an interesting choice, given that it is specifically being sold as a "docu-series," and not a reality series.

Jenner's Show Also Has Some Of The Same Executive Producers

Despite the repeated insistence that it's not a Keeping Up With The Kardashians spinoff, it will have a lot of the same creative team.

We Still Don't Know The Name Of The Show

Both Jenner and E! have avoided the subject, and the Vanity Fair article doesn't mention it at all.

Caitlyn Has Full Creative Control

Jenner is the executive producer, and insists that she's not being influenced by anybody. As Buzz Bissinger phrases it, "the insistence is real."

Images: Vanity Fair; Starcasm