Why are TV seasons so short now? Why did 22-episode seasons become 10, 8, or even 6 episodes—and what has the streaming era taken away from the television experience?

In this episode of Egotastic FunTime: The ReLoaded Cut, I look at how Netflix, streaming services, prestige television, rising production costs, binge-watching, and Hollywood’s obsession with the “next big thing” changed the traditional TV season.

We used to spend months living inside our favorite fictional universes. We had time to know the characters, watch friendships develop, meet supporting players, enjoy standalone adventures, and even appreciate those so-called “filler episodes.”

Today, a show can disappear for two or three years, return with six or eight episodes, and be over almost as soon as it begins.

It reminds me of the way peopl ...