Produced by Pemberley Digital, the Emmy Award-winning Creators of the “Lizzie Bennet Diaries” and “Emma Approved”
BEVERLY HILLS, CA; July 23, 2014 — Today at the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour, PBS Digital Studios in collaboration with Pemberley Digital announced that “Frankenstein, M.D.,” a multiplatform adaptation of the classic novel Frankenstein, will premiere with three episodes on the PBS Digital Studios YouTube channel Tuesday, August 19. Produced by Emmy Award-winner Bernie Su, “Frankenstein M.D.” will feature 24 episodes, each between five to eight minutes. New episodes will roll out weekly on Tuesday and Friday for 10 weeks, culminating in a dramatic Halloween finale on Friday, October 31.
“Frankenstein, M.D.” is the first scripted series for PBS Digital Studios and reimagines the title character as Victoria Frankenstein, an obsessive, eccentric prodigy determined to prove herself in the male-dominated fields of science and medicine. Her medical experiments are revisited in a modern university setting.
“As PBS Digital Studios continues to grow and attract digitally savvy audiences with content that is equally entertaining and educational, we are thrilled to launch ‘Frankenstein, M.D.’ later this summer,” said Matt Graham, senior director, PBS Digital Studios. “The Pemberley Digital team are visionary storytellers, which makes them the perfect partner for our first scripted series. We are committed to experimenting with new formats to engage viewers.”
Victoria Frankenstein is a Ph.D./MD student focused on a career as a research scientist. With her colleague Iggy DeLacey (based on the iconic character “Igor”) and mentor, Dr. Waldman, the ambitious, daring genius is flipping the script and creating a new (self-titled) YouTube science show, explaining complex biological and medical concepts to a general audience. As Frankenstein pursues her boldest line of research yet, she makes a shocking series of discoveries that could potentially endanger not only her career, but her life and the lives of her friends. The show stars Anna Lore as Victoria Frankenstein (@VFrankMD), YouTube comedian Steve Zaragoza as Iggy DeLacey, Brendan Bradley and Sarah Fletcher as Victoria’s childhood friends Eli and Rory, and Kevin Rock as Dr. Waldman.
“’Frankenstein, M.D.’ gives our team at Pemberley Digital the exciting opportunity to take on a brand new genre for our literary-minded audience,” said executive producer Bernie Su. “Our version of Mary Shelley’s all-time classic will re-imagine the legend of Dr. Frankenstein for a whole new generation of viewers.”
Joe Hanson, Ph.D. biologist and host of PBS Digital Studios series “It’s Okay To Be Smart,” will serve as a science consultant for the series. The series is filmed at YouTube Space LA.
“Frankenstein, M.D.” will join PBS Digital Studios’ lineup of critically acclaimed series, including Webby-Award winning “PBS Idea Channel” hosted by Mike Rugnetta; “Blank on Blank,” which animates lost interviews from cultural icons such as Grace Kelly, John Lennon and Tupac Shakur; and a reboot of “Pancake Mountain,” a musical variety show for kids of all ages, created by filmmaker Scott Stuckey and featuring some of the biggest names in music, including Kings of Leon, Jason Mraz, The White Stripes and Katy Perry. PBS Digital Studios also includes more than a dozen co-productions with PBS member stations across the country.
About Pemberley Digital
An innovative web video production company that specializes in the adaptation of classic works onto the new media format, the company utilizes not only YouTube, but other social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, LinkedIn, LOOKBOOK and others to tell an enriched and immersive story that transcends across multiple formats.
About PBS Digital Studios
The PBS Digital Studios network on YouTube includes more than 30 online original series, including more than a dozen co-productions with PBS member stations across the country, designed to engage, enlighten and entertain online audiences. The PBS Digital Studios network has more than one million subscribers and has generated more than 90 million views. Series include the multiple Webby Award-winning PBS Idea Channel, as well as popular series such as Blank on Blank, It’s Okay To Be Smart, Everything But the News and more.
About PBS
PBS, with its over 350 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. Each month, PBS reaches nearly 109 million people through television and over 28 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’ broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. PBS’ premier children’s TV programming and its website, pbskids.org, are parents’ and teachers’ most trusted partners in inspiring and nurturing curiosity and love of learning in children. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the Internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS PressRoom on Twitter.
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Contacts:
Jennifer Byrne, PBS, jrbyrne@pbs.org, 703-739-5487
Christine Linnell, Pemberley Digital, christine@pemberleydigital.com, 310-627-7321
Maryellen Mooney/Roberta Lee, Goodman Media for PBS Digital Studios, PBSDigital@goodmanmedia.com, 212-576-2700
