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Quarterlife

(Rated TV-14, Drama, Starring Bitsie Tullock, David Walton, Scott Foster, Where to watch: Bravo, Online, Online)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 15.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Angsty drama series is mature but has substance.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 15–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The members of the group believe in creativity. Dylan blogs candidly about herself and her friends and often videotapes them without their knowledge. She justifies this violation of privacy as creativity. The cast is Caucasian; African-Americans are sometimes visible in the background.

  • Violence:

    Some arguing among the characters, usually as a result of Dylan's blogging.

  • Sex:

    Kissing, hugging, and lots of strong sexual innuendo, including references to oral sex. Orgasm-like sounds are clearly audible. Some cast members are seen in bed together without clothing (though no nudity is visible). Dylan and others are occasionally seen in their underwear. Some plotlines focus on romantic relationships. Lisa has many one-night stands.

  • Language:

    Language includes words like "crap" and "bitch."

  • Consumerism:

    Prominently features the Toyota Yaris. The show is promoted by and appears on MySpace.com.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Alcohol (beer, hard liquor) consumption visible. Lisa is a bartender; Dylan alleges that she has a drinking problem.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Quarterlife

Parents need to know that this blog-focused 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, the show was then reworked for the Web -- only to be picked up for broadcast after all. It has more substance than some other shows that got their start online -- 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.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • 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? On the flip side, what do you think would prompt networks to repurpose online shows for TV broadcast? 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.
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