A quick nit to pick, about East New York, episode 19 (The Harder They Fall)

because they usually do better...

Capt. Yenko, played by Richard Kind is probably my favourite character on this show. He is written as compassionate, and clever, and a genuine out-of-the box thinker. One of his first lines in the pilot was about knowing that he irritates people.

He does not irritate me, but a minor slip by the writers (or researchers) behind this week’s episode did get under my skin, a titch.

It’s a great scene. Officer Marvin Sandeford and the lost and then found again love of his life, Tamika Martin, while out for drinks and dinner with Yenko and two other officers, decide to be married.

Capt. Yenko, who can apparently be counted on to do almost anything, reveals he is a licensed marriage officiant in the State of New York. He offers to officiate, then and there, and the couple agree. It was a happy moment.

And, really, really unlikely.

I am a marriage officiant, in the Province of Ontario. It comes with being a pastor. So this little glitch caught my attention.

In most places, and it turns out, this includes New York State, a couple has to have jointly applied, in person, for a license, twenty-four hours before they can be married.

Given the back story, that Officer Marvin had only just proposed, and then suffered cold feet, it just doesn’t feel likely the couple had done the paperwork.

Did anyone else notice this?

The next two chapters of my novel, The Book of Answers will go “live” on Substack in two days. I’ve committed to serializing the revised version of the whole book, on a weekly basis. It’s free to subscribe, and to comment. I’d love for you to read it, and tell me what you think. And yes, if I’ve made errors in research or writing, I do want to hear about it!