I was actually going to contradict Fox's post...
I think there is a tie between imagination/entertainment, and intuitive/abstract learning. There is some evidence that humans learn via passive immersion, especially through the guise of games, with little to no studying or stress. That would mean it ultimately aids problem solving and general learning.
Personally, I don't think empathy for fictional characters presents less survival value than empathy for real people.
I think it's empirically undeniable that creativity and story telling ability is attractive to both sexes. As reproductive value goes, it's a good trait to have.