The bible of a television series, sometimes more prosaically referred to as the writers' guide, is the standard reference used by writers for information on that show's characters, settings and other elements. New writers, and freelancers, are often referred to it when writing scripts for the show to ensure continuity with previous episodes. A television program is the content of television broadcasting. ... In fiction, continuity is consistency of the characteristics of persons, objects, places and events seen by the reader or viewer. ...

Some shows use a very minimalist bible; others, particularly science fiction series, often go into great detail describing the capabilities and limits of technology used on the show. They are often sought after as collectibles by fans, particularly since they are often updated each season, and have been useful in researching the history of television. HOwever, with the exception of soap operas they rarely contain information not yet disclosed on air. Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... A collectible (or collectable) is a manufactured item designed for people to collect. ... Jump to: navigation, search The first TIME cover devoted to soap operas: Dated January 12, 1976, Bill Hayes and Susan Seaforth Hayes of Days of Our Lives are featured with the headline Soap Operas: Sex and suffering in the afternoon. A soap opera is an ongoing, episodic work of fiction...

There have been a few series, most notably The X Files, which have elected not to use a bible at all, instead relying on the collective memory of a small group of writers to ensure that all aspects of the series remain constant. X-Files intro from first 8 seasons The X-Files was a popular 1990s American science fiction television series created by Chris Carter. ...

The writer or writers of a show's bible are named after "created by" in the opening credits of every episode whether they have anything to do with it or not. Writing the bible of a produced series by itself earns a writer the full 24 units of credit necessary to qualify for membership in, and be required to join, the Writers Guild of America. Opening credits, in a television program or motion picture, are shown at the beginning of a show and list the most important members of the production. ... An episode is to television and radio what a chapter is to a book: a part of a sequence of a body of work. ... The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is the collective bargaining representative, or labor union, for writers in the motion picture and television industries. ...