TV Review: Quarterlife
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this blog-focused online show from
the creators of
thirtysomething and
My So-Called Life features some very iffy Internet-user
behavior -- including videotaping people without their
knowledge and posting the images online. Originally conceived
as a TV series before being reworked for the Web, it has more
substance than some other online offerings -- as well as plenty
of sexual innuendo (various references to sexual acts, audible
orgasm sounds, etc.) and some strong language ("bitch,"
"crap"). It also overtly promotes the Toyota Yaris and is at
the center of a significant online ad campaign on
MySpace.
Families can talk about why TV producers would turn to the Internet to distribute their shows. Are there advantages to repurposing a TV series for Web-only viewing? Disadvantages? Families can also discuss blog-related behavior. Is blogging really a creative activity? Is it ethical to film people and post the recordings online without their consent? What about writing about them? Does that violate their right to privacy? This is a great opportunity to reiterate the importance of Internet safety.
Common Sense Media Review
QUARTERLIFE is an online series about the lives of a group
of creative twentysomethings, as told by aspiring writer Dylan
Krieger (Bitsie Tulloch).
Dylan is unfulfilled by both her job and her social life. So she creates Quarterlife.com, a multimedia blog she uses to talk candidly about her life -- as well as everyone else in it. That includes her roommates -- high school friend Debra (Michelle Lombardo) and Lisa (Maite Schwartz), an aspiring actress whose life seems to be spiraling out of control -- and friends Danny (David Walton), Jed (Scott Foster), and Andy (Kevin Christy), former film students who are trying their hand at commercial advertising.
Each 9-minute episode combines humor and drama as the members of the bright-but-rather-self-absorbed group deal with friendships, endure the angst of romance, and struggle to hold on to their creativity while balancing the expectations of the professional world. But as Dylan's blog becomes more popular, these private events become very public, often leading to some very embarrassing and compromising moments. As a result, Dylan finds herself risking both her relationships and her career while she tries to satisfy her own artistic spirit.
Quarterlife was originally conceived as a TV series by Emmy Award winners Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz (best known for the popular series thirtysomething and My So-Called Life ), and it continues their tradition of good writing, solid characters, and multiple plotlines.
But while the show has some substance, it's also got the kind of content generally associated with corporate-sponsored online shows -- most notably, prominent placement of brand-name products (in this case, Toyota Yaris hybrid vehicles). There's also plenty of sexual innuendo (including references to various sexual acts and audible orgasm sounds) and some strong language (including words like "crap" and "bitch"). So while the show is entertaining, it's not your best bet for tweens or and younger teens.
Quarterlife is available both on MySpace and its own Web site, Quarterlife.com, where fans can participate in a variety of interactive events related to the series.
Fans may also enjoy My So-Called Life, Friends, and Felicity.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
