TV vs. reality

I have understood before that characters on a TV show can make you so happy, and it can brighten your entire day. How is it that someone fictional can have such an impact on a person? My daughter has a thing for Dora the Explorer. It seems that she can be such a terror that day, but when I turn on that cartoon, she completely turns around with a huge smile on her face. I believe that she really wants Dora to be her friend, and for example I can list about 50 items that she has that are related to Dora. Personally, my vice is Days of Our Lives. Sometimes when I talk about the show my friends and family have to remind me that it is only a show, and these people don't exist. But if I were walking down the street one day and see Allison Sweeney, I feel like I would call her Sami and ask what's going to happen tomorrow. I know it's a show and it's all scripted, but the way TV pulls people in to believe it's real is amazing. Everyone has a favorite, a show that they wish were taking place right down the street. What's yours?