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Quarterlife Creator Calls Move to Network a Mistake
Quarterlife by Elisabeth Caren/NBC Photo
After seeing the abysmal ratings for NBC's Web-to-prime-time experiment with Quarterlife, it's obvious viewers thought the show's network turn was a mistake. Those viewers will get no argument from the show's co-creator Marshall Herskovitz.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, in a speech at the Harvard Business School's Entertainment & Media conference, Herskovitz told a group that the drama about a blogger and her group of twentysomething friends "never should have been a network show. It's too specific."
The show's premiere was the network's worst performance in the 10 pm time slot in at least 17 years, averaging 3.1 million viewers overall. No official cancellation has been announced, but sources believe it's likely the show's second episode — set for this Sunday — will never make it to NBC's air. Herskovitz suggested that the show will probably end up on cable.— Adam Bryant
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Feb 28, 2008 11:07 AM
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It's easy to place the blame that way, but truthfully the cast is not very appealing, the premise is a little hard to digest (whoa is me 20 somethings? at least put a veil over that kind of subject matter), and the production quality looked like... something meant for the internet.
I would have tuned in to see the original cast. I must admit, I cast my first negative judgment when I saw the first picture of the show and its lead. 20somethings do that sometimes.
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Feb 28, 2008 11:22 AM
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Not THAT Bad
Sure, it's like a mashup of Friends, Party of Five, Entourage, and Wonder Years and probably some others, but the upshot is that it's well done, well acted, and shows some real insight into the essence of happiness, work, employment, and the sacrifices we have to make among those elements.
There's no way it should be pulled this early when you've got flotsam like "Moment of Truth", "Your Mama..", etc numbing people's minds. If it's too racy or adult move it to 10pm, but I didn't think it inappropriate in any way -- not for today's audiences at least. Jeez, give it a six-ep run at least.
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Feb 28, 2008 11:47 AM
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The network did little to promote it - then is surprised no one watches !
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Feb 28, 2008 12:03 PM
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Quarterlife Creator Calls Move to Network a Mistake
Quarterlife Viewer Calls Move to Create Show a Mistake
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Feb 28, 2008 12:17 PM
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It lost me about 3 minutes into the show. Too many close ups, and the angst/woe of vlogging just doesn't pack the wallop of, say, the 20-something wannabe actresses (Kate Hepburn, Ginger Rogers) of Stage Door or Natalie Wood's teen-age Marjorie Morningstar or even Peggy Ann Garner's Francie Nolan in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, all great role models for aspiring writers and actors.
Why, I wondered, changing the channel, doesn't NBC put 'Friday Night Lights' into this spot?
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Feb 28, 2008 12:23 PM
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i live in cleveland ohio. the show was advertised, but was not on because Hilary/Obama were in town and on t.v. i wanted to watch, but couldn't. maybe other people had the same problem.
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Feb 28, 2008 12:33 PM
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The people that MAY have been intersted in watching the show have already seen it online. I don't understand how they expect high ratings.
The show is much better now than it was in the beginning. But isn't 10PM a little late for this type of show??
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Feb 28, 2008 12:46 PM
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Get real, the script sux hard in more ways than Pam Anderson ever dreamt of. The dreck dialogue went something like this:
"I really want to be the real me, really. And that's okay. Because I'm just me, y'know? Like, I'm myself, and you're you. And I like that. Yeah."
Bleh.
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Feb 28, 2008 12:55 PM
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I only watched because the review on my trusty TVGuide.com was so positive. I should have gone with my gut. This was the worst pilot I've seen in YEARS! I'll take episodes of Cavemen, Six Degrees or (oy) Flavor of Love over this any day!
This was PAINFUL!
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Feb 28, 2008 1:27 PM
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The show MUST stay as an online show for it to succeed. That was the premise and reworking it to be a television show is just stupid!
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Feb 28, 2008 1:52 PM
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The show was not that great. I liked the characters but I felt like I was missing an eps. The main character chic stands up for herself at work and nobody cares so why should I care. The show just told me that it does not matter what you say, the pretty always get further and the meek get sent to the back of the line. If that was me, I would not let myself get ahead...the show does prove that Sean Smith is a really good actor and the only and I mean only reason I stuck with the show for the whole hour.
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Feb 28, 2008 1:57 PM
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I'll take episodes of Cavemen, Six Degrees or (oy) Flavor of Love over this any day!
This was PAINFUL!
OUCH! Oatbranbh, that was one harsh review, but I can that I don't blame you for it. I tuned in and tuned right back out. It was horrible. I hope I wasn't that annoying in my 20s. But StonyG is right, with dialog like "I really want to be the real me, really. And that's okay. Because I'm just me, y'know? Like, I'm myself, and you're you. And I like that. Yeah.", how could I watch? (I know I didn't speak like that at 25!)
If works well online, keep it there. It's obviously not something that translated well to TV.
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Feb 28, 2008 1:59 PM
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This show makes According to Jim seem Emmy worthy.
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Feb 28, 2008 2:12 PM
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Huh? The show already premiered? I remember seeing ads. I thought it was going to premiere on a Tuesday or Wednesday or something. But, the blurb says that it airs on Sunday. Don't they realize how competitive Sunday is? I almost never watch new shows on Sunday as there's always other shows on that I'm more loyal to.
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Feb 28, 2008 5:35 PM
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