Why do so many prime time TV shows have relationship psychodrama weaved into their plotlines?

[bluestateguy]

It's like these producers think it is a requirement: that there be this complex web of interacting love triangles and endless psychodrama. And it's not just the one hour shows, but also the half hour sitcoms too.

It can be OK in small doses, but all too often it just takes over the whole show, and all too often it's just hard to give a shit about the characters' relationship psychodrama.

[tigereye]

1. fair question - such things are a bit of a cliche and so predictable

I think they think that people like that sort of thing - you could argue that drama and story-telling over the ages has always had such elements.

[Deja Q]

3. Not all drama. Or comedies, which can still be dramatic, but the romance stuff really is trite.

[Deja Q]

2. Even in sci-fi; such soap opera drivel is now a requirement.

"Doctor Who", to me, still died in 1989...

[Odin2005]

4. Because most people find that shit interesting, apparently.

It goes right over my socially inept autistic head.

[unpossibles]

5. because it worked for Skully & Mulder. nt

[rcrush]

8. Theres always one in about 100 that work.

[qnr]

6. You realize, of course, that if they didn't, there'd be threads asking why that was so.

I don't watch TV so I don't know from first-hand experience what relationship psychodrama you're referring to. However, I'm sure that there is a segment of the population looking at the shows that don't contain it and bemoaning that on some other forum.

[rcrush]

7. One reason I gave up on The Office.

Jim and Pam make me sick.

[annabanana]

9. Actors get bored. They want an opportunity to chew the scenery a little.

They want to "stretch" without losing what is a comparatively cushy berth.

From what I've observed, it usually parallels a decline in the writing of ANY series.

[Mopar151]

10. I don't know either

But my wife seems to require it. She will start asking to change the channel 15 minutes into documentaries, sports, or anything real and immediate. The lack of familiar faces also seems to be an issue.

[ipfilter]

11. To appease the "shippers".

Apparently there is a whole segment of the population who find that crap interesting.