I'm Natalie Moore. I fell in love with soap operas when I was just five years old, and I still

watch them. Their television's longest scripted series and have zero reruns. Now let me tell you,

soap operas aren't just some silly art form. They are significant. In this season of making,

Stories Without End from WBEZ Chicago. Join me as I share how the genre

began, their social impact, and why these stories endure. Listen wherever you get your podcast.

From WBEZ Chicago, this is Nerdette. I'm Greta Johnson. I'm Trisha Bobita, and this week it's all about

political TV here on Nerdette. We're going to talk a little later in the show with Barbara Hall.

She's the showrunner of the CBS show, Madam Secretary. And we discuss the staying power of the

West Wing with two crazy dudes who are recapping a 17-year-old TV show. But first, let's talk about the psychology behind this thing that many of us nerdy humans do,

re-watch our favorite TV shows, movies, reread books, music over and over and over again.

Derek, can you introduce yourself?

Sure. I am Derek Thompson. I'm a senior editor at The Atlantic Magazine, where I write

about economics and work in the U.S. and abroad, and also about the entertainment business and the

sort of the psychology of entertainment and audiences. Derek, he wrote a really great article called

On Repeat, Why People Watch Movies and Shows Over and Over.

Tricia and I are obviously both very guilty of this, but for super different shows.

For me, it's Arrested Development.

And yeah, Derek, you mentioned another one in this article that I feel like we should probably

just get out in the open, too.

Let's just get it all off our chest.

Yeah, I adore Dumb and Dumber.

I watch it every single time. I happen to sort of skip on buy it on TBS or T&T or whatever channel it happens

...