Here's 25 cents, tell it to someone who cares. . . a review of 'quarterlife'

  The day I turned 25 I went out and bought myself a coffee table from Crate & Barrel.

I woke up and decided I was 25 and it was time to have some real furniture. Not furniture I had inherited from relatives or was made of corkboard or that I put together myself. This is what I remember about turning 25. Not exactly a defining moment. And that's why, boys and girls, they don't make TV shows about my life.

The kids on the new series quarterlife (premiering Tuesday at 10 p.m. on NBC) are going through a slightly bigger transformation. For one thing, their best friend Dylan (Bitsie Tulloch, above) is busy posting all the gossip of their lives on a video blog. I know the world has changed a lot since I was 25 but I have to think it's still not great if your friend calls you an alcoholic on her blog or tells strangers the world who you are in love with. Isn't that the epitome of talking behind someone's back?

The fact that the show is predicated on Dylan's innermost thoughts makes for a tough sell. Frankly, she's a rather annoying, whiny and unlikable protagonist. It's nearly impossible to root for her.

Thankfully Dylan is surrounded by more affable friends. Scott Michael Foster (who is Cappie on Greek) is Jed (and fret not Foster will continue his role on Greek when it returns in March). Jed is trying to form a film production business with his best friend Danny (David Walton). And like Rick Springfield all those many years ago, Jed is in love with his best friend's girlfriend.

Quarterlife is brimming with unrequited crushes. Dylan loves Jed who loves Debra who loves Danny who loves the single life. While they are not pining away, they are stuck in jobs they don't love. Lisa (Maite Schwartz) is an aspiring actress working as a bartender. Dylan is a low level editor at a glossy magazine.

Everyone is excruciatingly self-involved and self-centered. Their suffering, their problems and the day to day minutiae of their lives takes on a larger than life feeling. I actually think that can be true when you are in your early to mid 20's trying to figure out just what will happen with your life but that doesn't make the series enjoyable to watch.

The series is from Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick, who have created some of my most beloved shows including My So-Called Life, Once & Again and thirtysomething. But as a fan of their shows, I know that often their characters can be grating, moody and self-absorbed. This time they just took it too far and haven't provided viewers with a reason to care for the characters.

The fun thing about quarterlife is that the series began on the web (on myspacetv.com and quarterlife.com) as eight-minute episodes. NBC is taking the 36, eight-minute episodes and turning them to one hour episodes. This could change the way TV shows get made. That's exciting. The series however isn't that exciting. Cool concept. Mediocre execution. Two and three quarterlife stars.

After you watch quarterlife, talk about it below.

Ask TV Gal

I read that ABC has announced post-strike return dates for Grey's Anatomy, Brothers & Sisters, Boston Legal, and a few others.  Nothing about Women's Murder Club though.  Did I miss something? Mvan

I received this question from so many Women's Murder Club fans that I wanted to make sure you all heard that ABC has put the show back into production and will produce three more episodes. We still don't know whether or not the series will return for a second season but this is definitely a good sign.

Highlights of the Week Ahead

All times listed are Eastern Standard Time for February 25- March 2

There are days when I worry about the future on TV and just what the networks will come up with that people will watch in droves. So it gives me great hope that ABC is turning over three hours of prime time programming to bring you A Raisin in the Sun (Monday, ABC, 8 p.m.). This special reunites Sean Combs, Phylicia Rashad, Audra McDonald and Sanaa Lathan who starred in the 2004 revival of the play on Broadway. There's nothing quite like seeing a play on the Broadway stage but this television production is probably as close as you are going to get. Lorraine Hansberry's play resonates today even though it was written in 1959. This really is a can't miss television even and I encourage all of you to watch this beautiful rendering of a groundbreaking play. I promise you will be blown away.

Lindsay Price, who is currently crying her way through Lipstick Jungle, guest stars in this How I Met Your Mother (Monday, CBS, 8:30 p.m.) repeat from November. Ted thinks he's found the woman of his dreams. The only problem is . . . well I won't tell you but Ted's friends sure will. Plus you'll learn everyone else's annoying quirks.

Back to You gets the prime post-American Idol spot when it returns Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. on FOX. I still keep wanting this show to be so much funnier than it actually is.

Men in Trees finally returns to the schedule this Wednesday at 10 p.m. (say buh-bye to Cashmere Mafia). If you're a fan of the series, the show has been delayed way too long but hopefully there's some solace in the fact that ABC will now air 11 episode in a row. This week Jack is still away and Marin has a familiar face enter her life. This show never quite worked for me but I'm keeping an open mind.

I completely kicked Celebrity Apprentice (Thursday, NBC, 9 p.m.) to the curb once Lost returned. But I was so surprised to learn that Marilu Henner was fired last week. Will Trace Adkins win the whole thing by flying under the radar the whole time? What do you think is going to happen on Celebrity Apprentice? This week the teams create a four-page magazine ad for Dial Yogurt Body Wash.

Okay I've read several of your posts which speculate that Aaron could be one of the Oceanic 6 on Lost (Thursday, ABC, 9 p.m.). I don't think so -- there should be a flight manifest and Aaron and, for that matter, Ben, Juliet and Desmond wouldn't be on it. Sure this is the world of Lost and flight manifests could definitely be tampered with -- they've already staged the plane crash, but I still think the Oceanic 6 are six original characters that we know and we simply need to figure out who the final two are. I agree with the people who speculate that they claimed Claire was one of the eight to survive the crash but died later. There are so many things to love about Lost but what I'm particularly enjoying is that the flash forwards have thrust viewers into a whole new area of mysteries and intrigue that is somehow connected to Ben. This week we see more of what Desmond is up to when Sonya Walger reprises her role as Desmond's one true love Penny and Alan Dale, who didn't survive this season of Ugly Betty, returns as Penny's dad.

Thanks all for today. I'll be back on Wednesday with this week's familiar faces, a review of the new FOX comedy Unhitched and more. Have a question? Seen a familiar face? Want to nominate a quote of the week? Write me at amytvgal@zap2it.com.

Amy Amatangelo, TV Gal ®

E-mail

• Digg
• Facebook
• Fark
• Yahoo Buzz
• Stumbleupon