Gardner was part of David Milch's writing stable at NYPD Blue, later, if I'm not mistaken.

Milch loved "Fat City" and taught it when he was teaching at Yale. He later hired Gardner. That's about as terse as novel as you'll ever read. I think I prefer the movie. There is more humor in Huston's version--though it's not silly at all--which helped cut through the despair. Least for me it did. Both book and movie are terrific though.

[2] No shock that Milch loves "Fat City," is it? I have a hardcover of the book somewhere, but I admit I have never read it. I love the movie.

Have you ever heard "Help Me Make It Through The Night" the same way since seeing the film?

I have not.