AFI BLOG: Media and Technology

Creator disses ‘quarterlife’ move to NBC - The Hollywood Reporter

The ambitious experiment of transitioning Internet series “quarterlife” to TV was a failure, says the show’s co-creator Marshall Herskovitz.

A day after the drama about a twentysomething blogger and her circle of friend debuted on NBC to dismal ratings, the prolific writer and producer told an audience at the Harvard Business School Wednesday that the leap to broadcast television should never have been attempted.

“It never should have been a network show. It’s too specific,” Herskovitz told the group at HBS’ Entertainment & Media conference, adding, “It will probably end up on cable.”

In a statement Thurdsay, Herskovitz clarified his position on the issue and hinted again that “quarterlife” could shift to a cable network.

“We’re deeply grateful for NBC’s efforts to make quarterlife a success on network television,” he said. “However, I’ve always had concerns about whether quarterlife was the kind of show that could pull in the big numbers necessary to succeed on a major broadcast network … We live in a media world today where many shows are considered successful on cable networks with audiences that are a fraction of those on the Big Four. I’m confident that quarterlife will find the right home on television as well.”

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