You have got to listen to the commentaries on the DVDs. I positively love how they get into the backgrounds of not just the characters (i.e., who is based on whom), but the actors. (I swear Ed Burns was giving people he busted for drugs and murder acting jobs on The Wire as they were coming out of prison.)

Seriously, though. The biggest head-trip I ever had was, after being a H;LotS fan for years, reading the book it was based on for the first time. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I'd get deja vu because they did try to yank at least several murders that were mentioned in the book into the television show per season.

I just got "The Corner" DVD and book, so I can't speak to them yet. :-) Gimme a week or two.