If There Were a YouTube Series of Chimps on Segways, This Post Would Be Different

There's been a lot of talk this week about online video series statistics and how viewers are likely to skip it after the first episode (wait, we're not still saying "webisode"?  Woo-hoo!).  AdAge reports that viewership is generally down 64% from Episode 1 to 2, and they attribute this to a fickle online audience.  Dirk chimed in earlier today, saying that even though there might only be a small audience left after episode 10, it's still a loyal and engaged group.  

I agree, but I'm curious why online video series aren't doing well.  I think at this point, it has to do with content.  Personally, even though I love clips from series like You Suck at Photoshop, I'm  not a loyal viewer because:

• The novelty wears off.   A lot of web series are built on a simple gag that just gets old after the first storyline.  The Landlord is a good example--I know there's a sequel called Good Cop, Baby Cop, but I have no desire to watch it.  I understand that this makes it easier for audiences to jump in at any time, but I get sick of it fast.
• Because of that, I don't have a reason to care.  We've been programmed to consume online video in 3-minute chunks (and that's pushing it), and most series can't develop compelling characters or storylines in that amount of time.  
• I'm lazy.  Typing a site into my address bar is too much work.  I'm not going to remember to check back for the latest YSaP unless someone forwards it to me.

The two online series that I do view on a regular basis are Best Night Ever and The Office webisodes (dammit, there's that word again).  BNE is distributed as a podcast and The Office is heavily promoted on TV, so they both overcome my laziness.  As far as content, I watch both shows because they complement series that I'm watching on TV or reading daily in blog form.

Maybe brands should experiment with providing a video series as a supplement to something that exists in another form, or maybe they should embrace the way SNL skits are re-watched online...but until they really solve the dilemma of devoting time to developed characters and stories vs. making clips easily digestible in 3 minutes or less, I don't think recurring series are going to gain traction.

I bet there are some awesome psychological reasons why we expect web series to be short, but we're also willing to watch entire TV episodes and even some movies on Hulu.  John Eighmey, any ideas?  And for everyone else, are there any web series you can't live without?  How do they overcome these obstacles?