Channeling Jerry

Like a lot of people who write mystery or suspense, I'm a long-time fan of "Law and Order." I find that in my planning for my current project, I keep mentally casting Jerry Orbach (who plays Lenny Briscoe, the seasoned detective) as every cop past his 30s.

Even when I craft different character traits and background for my cop, he still acts like Jerry Orbach in that role. I can't seem to bring a realistic cop with no trace of Lenny to the page even in this early phase (unless I imitate some other TV or movie cop--like Dennis Franz).

Any tips on erasing Lenny from my creative process?

Maryn

At least it's Jerry Orbach, and not Jerry Lewis. Or Jerry Lee Lewis.

Grinning

The notion of a homicide detective resembling Jerry Lewis totally cracked me up! Thanks for the laugh.

Maryn

Re: Grinning

Contact the Public Relations Officer at your local PD and arrange for a fact-finding interview. Might open a new perspective for you.

County Sheriff Depts. are generally far more political than Police Depts., so if you strike out with the PD, try the SD. Exposure to some flesh and blood cops might be just the thing to erase Lenny.

Re: Grinning

If this was happening to me, I'd stop watching L&O.

Re: Grinning

Good advice from Liam. I am writing a piece that involves a local police department. I found the 2 local eateries they hang out and take lunch with them every day.

There is one cop that looks a lot like Jerry Lewis, no kidding. LADY!

Mainly they talk about thier houses, renovations, early retirement, etc. but this morning they are talking about a Sherriff's Deputy Killed up in Fort Lauderdale yesterday.

Hangin with them helps me connect a little better. And the food is good too.

Re:channeling Jerry

Look on the bright side Maryn...at least he isn't showing up in your dreams.

Maybe you should try watching one of the reality cop shows...the ones on Court TV. I watch them often to learn more about forensic investigations....very inspiring as a matter of fact.

Terri

Re: Re:channeling Jerry

Making friends with local police is surprizingly easy, unless you have warrents out on you.

Also police in general are fed up with inacuracies in stories they read and shows they see. If you have something already written it is not difficult at all to get a policeman to read it over and freely discuss with you, "No sworn officer would do that. He would do this, tho..."

And Jerry Lewis could not be worse than Barney Fife.

Any tips on erasing Lenny from my creative process?

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Well, use Orbach as your springboard instead of trying to exorcise him.

He's your top, experienced, world weary, angst-ridden cop icon. Fine. Stick with that.

Here are 2 ideas you might use:

1- Make him a fat guy, a devoted family man with a wife and 3 kids, one in college, and one married w. two grandkids' photos on his desk.

He's no less smart (don't equate the fat sloppy cop with being a bad cop), and that turns the sterotype on it ear, allowing you to challenge the reader, break the mold a bit.

2- Regardless of whether you do #1 or a portion of it, now imagine he's got a young homicide cop under his wing.

This makes perfect sense. Older experienced cops are often partnered with newbies. So you can make the new cop male or female (or gay?). You can make the newbie:

(a) extremely book-smart but in need of seasoning. But don't stereotype! Have the smart kid offer some good ideas to Jerry, ones that he rejects at first but later accepts.

(b) nervous and mistake-prone, but a quick learner.

(c) a crush on Jerry.

(d) a "black-glover" (rough cop w. prospensity for unnecessary violence).

All these are ways to create variation on the original prototype.

(You'll receive my invoice for consultation soon...)

lol, good advice

rt

You could have him pick lint off people's jackets and channel Adrian Monk.

RIP, Jerry

Jerry Orbach has died, 12/29/04.

I guess channeling will have to do. RIP, my friend. You breathed more life into that role than all your senior-partner predecessors combined.

Maryn, missing Jerry

friends 7 coworkers

I've put friends and coworkers (personalities) in my books. It can be fun to place them in a different lifestyle.

Real people in books

>>I've put friends and coworkers (personalities) in my books<<

I also find that mystery novels are a great way to kill off someone you don't particularly like, like ex-girlfriends.

Re: RIP, Jerry

Jerry Orbach has died, 12/29/04.

I guess channeling will have to do. RIP, my friend. You breathed more life into that role than all your senior-partner predecessors combined.

Maryn, missing Jerry

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And the man had a hell of a singing voice on him, too. I heard a clip from a Broadway show he did (he started there, did you know that?) on NPR the day after he died. Amazing. Never knew he had it in him.

Re: RIP, Jerry

Never knew he had it in him.

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Oh, gosh. Orbach was well known as a Broadway singer way before he became a straight actor. He originated several memorable roles.

He was also probably the best non-professional pool shot in the world.