Writers are always told to get inspiration for their tales from real life, often hearing the adage, "Write what you know."
Some television writers have taken that to heart and have found inspiration for their productions in real life. If you're interested in shows that have real-life counterparts, these are some of the ones you may want to consider.
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1. "Mindhunter"
For those of us in love with crime dramas, Mindhunter will certainly satisfy that need. The show is a fictionalized account of the development of The FBI's very real Behavioral Science Unit, is based on a book called Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crimes Unit, by author and FBI agent John E. Douglas. Events in the show are loosely based on his experiences, but very real crimes are featured throughout the show.
2. "The Crown"
The American fascination and obsession with the British Royal Family is tightly met in this fictionalized account of the life and early reign of the current Queen Elizabeth II.
Starting at the beginning of her life and meandering its way through the decades, the series outlines the struggles of Elizabeth as she balances her life as wife, mother, and sovereign of one of the oldest countries on Earth.
3. "Call the Midwife"
The first three seasons of this show are great for those who love medical dramas and history. Based on the memoirs of former nurse and midwife Jennifer Worth, the show recounts her time as a midwife in London's impoverished but lively East End.
Each of the stories featured reflects experiences that the actual Jennifer Worth — then Jenny Lee — faced as she began her nursing career in postwar England.
4. "Chernobyl"
An Emmy-award winning limited series from HBO, the show has roots in a very real and very scary period of recent history.
Following a nuclear disaster, investigators have to determine what exactly happened when the disaster occurred and how scientific and political figures of the day responded to the disaster.
5. "The Act"
Another award-winning crime drama, the first season of "The Act" tells the story fo Gypsy Rose Blanchard and her mother, Dee Dee, whom she brutally murdered after years of alleged abuse and isolation from the real world.
The show follows the case as Gypsy Rose grows up and begins to express herself and assert her independence, ending in disastrous results for her mother.
6. "When They See Us"
Few living in New York in the late '80s or early '90s can forget the scandal that unfolded when five young men were coerced into confessing to the rape of a woman in Central Park.
The limited series follows their story and their quest to seek justice for themselves. The tale is gripping and explosive, making this yet another Emmy Award-winning television show.
