In an interview with The New York Times, Marvel TV chief Jeph Loeb acknowledged that, even with a ton of hype and high expectations, creating a long-term success in Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. may be an uphill battle–one that requires them to create crossover appeal between typical Marvel fans and the audience who already has ABC programmed into their DVR.”To succeed, we’ve got to tell stories that appeal not just to what we affectionately refer to as the ‘Marvel zombies,’ but to a broader audience affectionately referred to at ABC as the Scandal women,” the producer explained, referring to ABC’s hit primetime soap.Part of that equation, he explained, is casting. Both Clark Gregg and Ming-Na Wen are in the neighborhood of fifty (he’s 51 and she’s 49), which the Times explains brings them much closer to the average primetime viewer (53.4 years old) than it does to what coveted 18-35 demographic–but it’s that demographic that will theoretically tune in for the Marvel brand. They’re hoping that making the characters relatable to members of the audience who would be harder-pressed to look for an Avengers sequel, they can capture some of the attention of viewers who primarily remember Gregg from his time on The New Adventures of Old Christine and Wen from ER.
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