Question

[BradyH1861]

I do not write in this genre, though I do enjoy reading it. One of these days I might write something about a burned out arson investigator (get it? ha ha)

Anyway, I must confess my secret obsession. I am addicted to Law and Order. Does anyone else here share that weakness with me?

A lot of their episodes are "ripped from the headlines". Do any of you use the newspapers and real life incidents to get ideas, or do you prefer to come up with them yourself.

FYI...a really good nonfiction book to read (one of my favorites) is The Fire Lover by Joseph Wambaugh. Some of you might be familiar with his novels too. I have read a couple of them as well, but his nonfiction is better (IMHO)

Brady H.

[CACTUSWENDY]

:snoopy: Oh yes, I too hold my hand high and confess...(sigh) I watch them all. The new and all the repeats. I'm amazed how up to date their stories are. Like you say, ripped out of the headlines.

I'm also an avid watcher of all but the NYC CSI shows. Vegas and Miami CSI are very interesting. The only problem I found is that when writting a 'crime' story I tend to want it to be done in one hour. (strange...huh?) I think it reflects our fast life style or short attention spans. I had to put two stories togather to make my book a length that would fit for a possible sale. (just the facts...mam etc.)

With the events of the times we live in now I see lots to do a 'take' on but am not a good enough writer to get them done with speed. My hat is off to those that have that 'art' ability. :snoopy:
P.S. Don't wait till you're ready to retire, start that story now Brady. (wink)

[katiemac]

I don't watch Law and Order, The Practice or CSI. Seen a few episodes from each every now and then, but I do admit that when I see the previews for the ones "ripped from the headlines" it irritates me. I think it depends on the case, but to me something like the Lacy Peterson trial is far to touchy a subject to be exploiting on a show. I know the only reason they make these real-life cases into television scripts is because they'll gain viewers, and I think that's just scum.

Of course, it does depend on the case, and the length of time that has passed from the case to the air date of the show... Months could pass but sometimes it still feels like they've whipped out an episode two weeks after the main event broke news.

Fiction can still be interesting, and sometimes it's more tasteful to just leave reality alone.

[BradyH1861]

And for my deepest darkest secret.....


I WATCH EVERY EPISODE OF COPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I feel so much better now that it is off my chest! :Thumbs:


Brady H.

[Wandering Sensei]

I don't watch TV much, but I do watch the Law and Order shows. I also watch all the variations of Animal Cops.

[jdkiggins]

Law and Order, CSI (all of them), Forensic Files, Body of Evidence--I watch them all. :)

Joanne

[Maryn]

I watch Law and Order (the original version) faithfully and the others on occasion. It's interesting to me how careful they are, in their 'ripped from the headlines' episodes, to have significant changes in fact and/or legal issues regarding the case, so that it's more like 'inspired by' than 'ripped,' IMO. I'm sure the purpose behind the change is to minimize lawsuits.

I have used newspaper stories as a springboard for fiction. My first national sale involved Jeffrey Dahmer and a fictional hustler and I keep clippings or summaries of small stories, often tragic, in an Ideas file.

As a mystery reader, I've found I can't watch CSI for many reasons. Their scripts are full of mistakes that don't take a science-person to spot. The high-tech evidentiary stuff has been in books for years and therefore isn't new to me. The women dress unprofessionally (but are male-viewer friendly!). The zoom-in to get some shred of bark, hair, or fiber often reveals something easily visible to the naked eye. Last (and a biggie), no city in the world has the funding for all the equipment they use.

'Mr. Maryn,' who works in the legal field, shared this article: http://www.bafo.org.uk/tv1.htm --interesting, no?

Maryn

[Liam Jackson]

I'm an old cop (retired) and try to avoid watching COPS at all cost. (That's not blonde hair in the avatar pic. It's headache-white! LOL) I do, however, watch Law and Order religiously, and once in a while, I tune in to CSI. Good program.

I can't say that I've ever taken a story idea from a headline, but I have borrowed details from a news story on occassion. For instance, I might use a prosecutor's "hang 'em high, it's an election year" attitude, or use some current event to convey a contemporary time frame.

[BradyH1861]

I cannot explain my Cops obsession. I wish I could. I had to go to the police academy for my arson certification. That was a dream come true....I felt like every day was my own personal episode. Of course, I don't use any of the garbage they taught us there. Talk about frustrating. All they cared about was teaching traffic stop stuff. I have never made a traffic stop, nor will I. But oh well. They said I had to go and so I did.

I have also had the fortune of seeing a relative on Cops. And no, it was not one of my many relatives in Law Enforcement. It was the one who does other things. It was quite funny listening to him explain how he "had no idea how that got there."

:Smack:

Brady H.