Patricia Sargeant

Get real

Before I get started, you should know I’m omitting the names of the real people in this recount to protect myself. It’s not that I think I’m going to be doxed or anything like that. I’m just exercising an abundance of caution.

Last week, I watched a stand-up comic’s video on YouTube. Humor is subjective, which is the reason I don’t usually watch comedies. I often don’t get it. Very frustrating. But I’ve seen parts of this comic’s routine in the past. I found it smart as well as funny. I thought his video would be worth the risk, and that day I needed a laugh. It was past time for a few belly guffaws.

I started the video, and this comedian was great. He made me laugh so hard I was crying. I couldn’t breathe. I felt rejuvenated. The cobwebs cleared. I got a burst of energy. Years melted away. Success!

Photo courtesy Pixabay.

During his routine, he moved almost seamlessly from topic to topic as a lot of comedians do. At one point, he started talking about a billionaire who got famous or at least raised his profile by trying to biohack his way to live, allegedly, to at least 200 years old. I’d never heard any of this before.

At the time, this billionaire was chronologically in his 40s. However, he wasn’t taking care of himself. He didn’t eat well. He didn’t sleep much. He didn’t exercise. As a result, his body had the health scores of someone in his 50s. He resolved to take better care of himself. The comedian pointed out the billionaire started with simple changes. He ate healthier meals, exercised, and got eight hours of sleep per night. As his health improved, he seemed to get a little carried away. For example, he allegedly got a blood transfusion from his son. A blood transfusion.

That’s when I realized this segment of his routine sounded a lot like the plot of an episode of Elsbeth, the crime fiction dramedy on CBS.

Photo courtesy Pixabay.

I don’t usually watch Elsbeth because I can never remember when it’s on. That’s the same reason I’ve stopped watching a lot of network TV shows like FBI and Will Trent. I can’t remember when they’re on. But one day, I discovered I could binge watch a season of Elsbeth. During the binge, I saw the episode with the biohacking billionaire. I thought it was really out there. How did they come up with this premise? Well, now I’m pretty sure I know. The character—not the crime—was ripped from the headlines. Imagine my surprise.

I used to love ripped-from-the-headlines crime fiction premises but over the years, their appeal has dimmed for me. I still like them, but I prefer stories that allow me to unplug from current events or even not-so-current events.

Question: Do you have a preference between ripped-from-the-headlines crime fiction and mysteries in which the premises are more fictitious?

Patricia Sargeant writes romantic suspense as Patricia Sargeant, cozy mysteries as Olivia Matthews, and contemporary romances as Regina Hart. No, she’s not in the witness protection program. Her work has been featured in national publications such as Publishers Weekly, USA Today, Suspense Magazine, Mystery Scene Magazine, and Library Journal. Claim your subscription to her enewsletter at her website.

23 thoughts on “Get real”

  2. Love Elsbeth and would never have dreamed any of those stories had a shred of real life — it’s so over the top. But as someone who bases her stories and books on real life events, I am all for ripped-from-the-headlines. Reality is my local headlines here in Northern Ontario will be very different from those in Oxford, Mississippi or San Diego, California. So most folks are unaware of the ripping! Gee, I hope that even makes sense.

    PS if you like comedy, this one of the funniest bits I have ever seen (you’ll have to google it on YouTube)

    Michael McIntyre: Silent Letter Day. Laugh out loud funny.

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  3. I have been watching a female comedienne who does rather risque comedy. She is very truthful and really good, only 32 years old. I forget her name, something beginning with an A. Watching Worst Neighbors on Netflix. Creepy. I don’t like Elsbeth.

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  4. I record the shows I want to watch so I don’t miss them. Also, I skip the ads that way and it takes less time. I think it’s fun when mysteries have relevance to what’s happening. I’m watching a series on Prime, “Family Law.” It has 4 seasons and the first is from several years ago. It gets into a lot of timely politics which, sadly, are still big issues today. I found that fascinating.

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  5. Patricia, what a fun post! I don’t pull crimes from the headlines because they terrify me (truth is scarier than fiction?). Just watching or hearing a real-crime show guarantees me a sleepless night. Ask my sister how I imagined there were gunshots going off while watching Dateline in FL. (They were actually fireworks set off at the beach, but I mean, she opened the front door to reassure me. EEEEEK!!!). I do pull quirky characters and situations from headlines, though. You know, the ones to click when we should be piling up word counts.

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    1. Lisa, thank you very much for your kind words about my post. Big hugs to you!

      I believe you’re absolutely right; truth is scarier than fiction because the scary thing happened in real life. For example, there’s a series on one of the cable stations titled “Buried in the Backyard.” I canNOT get over the fact that there is enough material for an entire series.

      Segue: Um, your sister opened the door to reassure you that those sounds were fireworks and not gunshots? Not to split hairs but could we have peeked out a window instead? I’m with you on the “eeeeek!!!” Remember, I’m the one who thought someone had planted a bomb in my car when its engine wouldn’t turn over. I’m so firmly on your side.

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  6. I’m with you, Patricia – unplug me! These days, when it seems like so much in the world is going to crap, all I want are stories with a good puzzle, likeable imperfect protagonists, the bad guys get their just desserts, and a generally happy ending!

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  7. I prefer my crimes fictitious! It’s fine being inspired by something that happened in real life, but I don’t love shows or books that are obviously based on real life events because I find myself comparing them instead of just getting lost in the story.

    As for Elspeth, I’ve never seen it, but I love a good procedural. Wondering if there’s a lot of “ripped from the headlines” stories, or is it just occasional?

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    1. Marla, I also find myself comparing them to the real events instead of getting lost in the show. Regarding Elsbeth, that’s the only episode for which I found similarities to an actual person. But I discovered that similarity by accident. And it wasn’t the crime; it was just the character. The crime was pretty clever. We could chat about that offline. LOL!

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  10. One of my favorite books, Alias Grace, was based on a true crime. But I generally don’t have a preference one way or another.

    Patricia, I love when someone can make us laugh that hard. It’s such a gift!

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  11. I prefer fiction, but I don’t mind when it’s inspired by real events. I’m not a true crime fan, though, go figure.

    I was recently at a live comedy show with partner and friends. It was perfect timing during some darkness in our lives and we were all grateful for the release.

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