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When we watch television shows, we tend to notice certain things that do not make logistical sense. For starters, we go nuts when we watch shows where the mother cooks a gigantic breakfast, only for the kids to grab a piece of fruit. Who takes care of all that food waste?

Another inconsistency that we have noticed is that people do not seem to say “goodbye” when they end phone conversations.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

This is a mystery that we have been grappling with for some time now, but we are finally receiving the answers that we needed. Michael Jamin, who is currently posting on TikTok under the name @michaeljaminwriter, is the one who is spilling the beans. He’s a screenwriter who also works as a producer. He’s got decades of experience in the industry, working on shows such as King of the Hill, Wilfred, and Maron.

In the past, he’s gone viral for sharing other trade secrets. For example, he once explained why television characters rarely own cats. So, why do characters on television shows avoid signing off in the manner that we would expect? Jamin is here to explain it all. As he explains, these types of moments are what writers refer to as “shoe leather.”

Photo: TikTok/@michaeljaminwriter

“Shoe leather might make a scene feel more realistic,” he said, “but it doesn’t necessarily make the scene more entertaining.” We can understand where he is coming from. It has to be tough for a writer to come up with ideas that keep the story moving and ensure the audience remains entertained throughout.

That’s not the only issue that Jamin and others have to address. Sometimes, cuts are made because of issues that are centered around a show’s runtime. This is a number that is very strict and showrunners have to be sure to hit their marks. Even something as simple as a “goodbye” could cause a show to run longer than it is supposed to.

Photo: TikTok/@@michaeljaminwriter

“Not every scene is gonna be great,” Jamin said. “We want to have the liberty to trim and pace up a bit. Eventually, you’ll get to the point where you’re not even writing ‘goodbye’ into the script, knowing from experience that you’re just gonna cut it later,” he continued.

Check out his video below:

@michaeljaminwriter

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♬ original sound – Michael Jamin

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