I ask because I get a little annoyed when shows drop entire plotlines all of a sudden to follow what fans want. I also think it makes plots move way too fast. What happened to the good old days when we really had to wait/hope/pray for our favorite couples? I think fans can get a little bored of their couples if things go too fast. (Obviously not all shows are one way or the other even now though.)

^I agree.
The shows are made for people's enjoyment and if they're not happy with the storylines, they should either accept them or just leave it. The writers make mistakes, yes. They don't always make the best decisions, yes. But, in the end, they don't necessarily owe us anything. We watch the shows because we want to, its not an obligation.
What I'm trying to say is that I prefer when the shows stick to their original plotlines... It doesn't mean they don't care about the show or the fans, its just a way of keeping loyal to their ideas :)

Long post, I'm sorry. And that's just only my opinion. :D

^Agree!
"...They don't necessarily owe us anything. We watch the shows because we want to, its not an obligation."
Sooo true!

I respect the writers a lot more if they stick to their own original ideas and storylines, and write THEIR show the way THEY feel that it should be written. They aren't going to be able to please all of their fans along the way, that's inevitable. Sure I think it's important to pay attention to the audience's opinions, (because let's face it, without an audience, they have no show)...

but if they write and base their storylines SOLEY based on what the audience wants, then it's not really their show anymore. They may as well turn the script writing over to the viewers. And to me, that defeats the whole purpose of creating your OWN show to begin with. It isn't the audiences show. Writers should stick with their gut feeling, and instincts, and create the show that they planned in creating from the beginning

I like a show that LISTENS to what the fans have to say. Not a show that caters solely to what the fans want, but they are able to accept when something just isn't working and would be better off going a different route.

The show is always better if it follows the plot the writers think will work best.

The writers have created the show the fans love, so why not put a little trust in them?

Well, I would usually say shows that stick to the plotlines no matter what, but then Puck&Rachel happened... the writers thought everyone would be repulsed by the idea, but quite the opposite! Puckleberry has a great fan base now. That's why the writers will be bringing them back. If it wasn't for them giving a lot of fans what they want, my Puckleberry love would be crushed :(

not do exactly wut the fans want bt listen 2 us & acknowledge w=that we dnt lik wut they r doing & mabe change it b4 they los a lot of viewers

Since fans keep the show running writers should listen to the fans and viewers.

It depends on the show, but in certain cases, the writers need to listen the fans, even the actors. Some of the best couples have spawned from the fans, and not from the writers.

i agree with xheartinohixo, im somewhere in between, i think shows should deffo listen to their fans and viewers since the point of the show is to entertain the public and give the public what they want. but then again i think the writers should deffo respect their own original storylines and not make drastic changes that just make no sence. if they find a good balance in giving the audience what it wants and providing rational storylines, then itll be a good show (: lol and i agree with kylie90210, some of the best things that happened to shows were unplanned, like summer and julie cooper on the OC werent slated to be regular cast memebers and neither was brooke from oth, but since there was such great fan feed back they kept the characters on.

I like when shows respect their fans but to cater to the whims of the fans that scream the loudest? its just a no no in my book

Definitly this one. I like to see what their idea was, and how they tried to develop that story from beginning to end. Not how other alter what they had planed.

If they're not happy with the storylines, they should either accept them or just leave it. The writers make mistakes, yes. They don't always make the best decisions, yes. But, in the end, they don't necessarily owe us anything. We watch the shows because we want to, its not an obligation.

^^ Exactly. It's stupid to change the plots because of what people think. You will never make everyone happy. If you change the plot to accomodate one ship you will be automatically disappointing the other one.