It makes us feel better about our own lives. So the ratings aren't great. The show is basically a prime-time soap with aspirations to classiness, and it's reaching its demographic. We control the pocketbook in most households. So I don't think they really care that King Kaufman doesn't like the show.
Women love it, and that's really all that matters.
I was absolutely riveted to my computer screen. Kudos to you. I have never cried so much over something I've read on the Web. Thank you for such a beautiful story. Perhaps the fact that I can visualize so clearly what went on is because I worked in somewhat similar situations when I was in Vietnam during the war.