Some producers on TV are under the impression that talking quickly makes a character seem smarter (and I’m not sure I disagree). And, these days, script writers are cramming even more dialogue into a show’s time block:
When “ER” premiered eight years ago on NBC, its dialogue was so rapid-fire that scripts ran 60 pages, about 10 pages longer than the typical one-hour drama. Viewers loved it, and the show was a huge hit.
Today, the show isn’t a minute longer. But its scripts now run more than 80 pages. […]
Of course, the writer includes the obligatory “MTV is to blame” jab in there ;). Not that MTV is an innocent network, but I don’t think there’s much correlation with this issue. (Link from ObscureStore)