As an assistant, I did a lot of research - a part of the job. Some shows have dedicated researchers but many rely on assts and interns.

It’s a lot of online searching but also a lot of calling people directly and asking questions.

Here’s my funniest/weirdest research story:

Working on a cop show, and need some legal research. Now, most public offices have a comm. or media dept. I’d usually call them and they’d help or connect me with someone who could.

So, I call the media officer for the District Attorney’s office. I have done this before...

It’s rings and rings and a frazzled woman answers. I do my usual quick spiel id’ing myself and asking if there may be someone who can answer this question.

Dead silence.

Finally, just FURIOUS:

“Are you serious?! Today?!”

(It’s not a holiday.)

Me, confused:”what’s today?”

She SCREAMS into the phone:

“IT’S MEL GIBSON DAY!!!!”

Click.

Reader, I’d called the infamous day Mel Gibson was pulled over for drunk driving. The day “sugartits” was born.

To this day, “IT’S MEL GIBSON DAY!” randomly pops into my head.

Apologies to that poor pr office lady. What a day she must have had.