ABSTRACT
Throughout the history of television, scripted shows have conformed to the conventions of a few genres, mainly situation comedy and drama. Audiences who grew up watching sitcoms and dramas still expect TV – and now, web series – to deliver what they recognize as story: a relatable protagonist pursuing a highly prized goal. A show premise is an idea that has been shaped and refined to support an ongoing series of stories. A strong premise is the glue that lends the series coherence and continuity so that it doesn't stagger along as a loose collection of characters and events. Characters need catalysts for action; they need an environment – a location or setting, a population of other characters – that constantly "pushes their buttons". In most shows, the overarching central question is illustrated in each episode, as the character struggles for one "win" in their never-ending quest, but never quite "solved".
