NBC’s take on Quarterlife
February 27th, 2008 by Kim
NBC debuted its new series “Quarterlife” last night.
The series, dreamed up by “My So-Called Life” and “thirtysomething” creators Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick, follows the life of twenty somethings dealing with various twenty-something-related issues: relationships, break-ups, roommates, rent, work, office politics … posting information about your friends on the Internet…
The story focuses on quarter lifer Dylan Krieger, played by Bitsie Tulloch, 27, who works as an associate editor at a magazine and keeps a video blog.
The interesting thing about the show is that it started as an online video series and social networking site and was featured on MySpace. It was actually first rejected as a TV show by ABC, produced for the Internet and then purchased by NBC. The 32 online segments were much shorter — only about eight minutes long, as internet videos made for people with short attention spans probably should be.
I was working and didn’t get to watch last night, but caught a web clip here. You can watch the full episodes online here.
Critics gave the debut hour-long TV episode so-so reviews.
It seemed almost like there was TOO much drama and self-introspection. I appreciated the show’s effort to focus on issues affecting twenty somethings, but on an average day, I’m not sure if my friends and I are ever that bothered or pensive. Plus, all the characters look like they came straight out of a 90s Calvin Klein ad.
C’mon - being in your 20s isn’t THAT much of a struggle!
Anyway, I’m not giving up on the show. I’ll probably tune in next week.
Although the show’s debut was on a Tuesday, “Quarterlife” will appear on NBC on Sundays at 9 p.m. with episodes available online afterwards.
PHOTO: MySpace.com
Tags: TV
February 27th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
You’re right–it’s not that hard to be a Quarterlifer!! In fact, I’d actually argue that it’s FUN to be our age. =)
February 27th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
America is such a youth obsessed culture.
February 27th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
We are youth oriented in America partially as a legacy of Romantic thinking in the 19th century. Check out William Wordsworth, the English Romantic poet His “Ode on Intimations of Immortality” is a beautiful expression of the relationship of youth and creativity.
February 27th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
The plot of episode one was basically that Dylan has a blog on which she posts comments about her flock of roommates which get her into trouble with them..not really serious trouble, but trouble. If anything comes across here, it’s that these Millennials tend to be single and without strong attachments to job or members of the opposite sex, and we observe how they cope with this situation. I don’t know if this is typical of the age 25 set, but the title of the show implies it is. At the end of the show, I was yawning…
February 28th, 2008 at 6:46 am
Quarterlife…nice label for those in the mid-twenties. Is it a common term among the quarterlifers? Never heard of it until your blog came along. Of course us halflifers + are so out of touch with the quarterlifers.
February 28th, 2008 at 7:21 am
But don’t get too attached — word is the show might get canceled in the next few days, or at least after the next airing
http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN2748604320080228
February 28th, 2008 at 8:23 am
Why watch a show like Quarterlife when you can tune into real life shows dealing with 20 somethings , like The Hills or Living Lahaina. Hahahahaha! God Bless America
February 28th, 2008 at 8:38 am
Hapa twenty something year old adolescent looking chicks are hot
February 28th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
I can’t imagine watching this show - I have bloggers, vloggers and friends enough, really.