You see people taking storytelling more seriously, ... Shows like 'Lost' and '24' have complex narratives you couldn't think about doing in film.

The study resonated because I was writing at a time when people were making amazing predictions about new technologies, such as computers -- saying they could save us from everything,

People were talking about virtual reality, and some were saying one day we will download our consciousness and live forever in computers. And it struck me as just a load of crap. I wondered why we tell ourselves these fantastic stories, and I found it has been happening since the telegraph.

The networks have gotten into trouble when trying to show nudity, so the other avenue to get viewers is to increase the violence.

Sadistic is the only word to use for some of these shows.

They are always terrorized and chased by sadists and psychos,