Rackafrackit! Why are new episodes of TV shows always "ALL NEW"?

[IntravenousDemilo]

Why is there an "ALL new episode of Ugly Betty" on tonight. Why can't it just be a "new episode"? A TV program is either new or it's not new, as in the case of "pregnant" and "unique", where either you are or you aren't -- there's no "somewhat pregnant", no "very unique", and no "slightly used TV show". Or are there some episodes that are made up partly of recycled material? Have they aired any that are just 20 per cent new?

50 per cent?

99.9 per cent? (OK, aside from the recap at the beginning, but then it wouldn't be ALL new, would it?)

This "ALL NEW" seems more like a verbal tic than anything else. I wish they'd stop. Hell, if they have to put another word before "new" just for the sound of that extra syllable, why does it have to be an adverb modifying "new", and not a different adjective like, say, "fresh"? Then we could have a "fresh, new episode..."

[Bucky]

1. Think about "highlights" shows.

I'm pretty sure those require no writers.

[IntravenousDemilo]

2. Those are anomalies that come only once in every second blue moon.

They're certainly not frequent enough to require the use of "all" everywhere else, as if every other episode was a clip show.

Well, even if "highlights" shows required no writers except one to tie the highlights together, I should hope all the contributors get paid anyway.

[Taverner]

6. Clerks had a clip show for their first episode

Was kind of a funny twist

[ChickMagic]

3. On E it is SuperNew!!!

Ick.

[IntravenousDemilo]

4. SuperNew!!!??? Every time that happens, some lexicographer somewhere has a stroke.

This is nothing short of linguistic vandalism. We need a court where we can bring these despoilers of English to justice.

[lightningandsnow]

5. It has no flashbacks or dream sequences from previous episodes?

I guess that would be "all new".