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The name is Watson, Joan Watson. Lucy Liu is set to play Sherlock Holmes’ sidekick in CBS’ drama pilot Elementary, whose tweaks to Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic include switching Watson’s gender to female. The project, written by Robert Doherty, is set in present day and stars Jonny Lee Miller as eccentric Brit Sherlock Holmes, a former consultant to Scotland Yard whose addiction problems led him to a rehab center in New York City. Just out of rehab, Holmes now lives in Brooklyn with “sober companion” Joan Watson (Liu), a former surgeon who lost her license after a patient died, while consulting for the NYPD. Michael Cuesta is directing the pilot, produced by CBS TV Studios and Timberman/Beverly. Ally McBeal alumna Liu, who had 2 pilots vying for her, is recurring on the current season of the TNT cop drama Southland and will next be seen in the feature Man With The Iron Fists.
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Wouldn’t it actually be better the other way around …
Liu as Sherlock and Johnny Lee Miller as Watson ?
Good call, just sayin’. It would certainly be more interesting! Female Watsons we’ve seen before (including both previous contemporary takes for US television that made it to pilot, 1987′s Return of Sherlock Holmes and 1993′s Sherlock Holmes Returns), but I can’t recall an incarnation with a female Holmes and a male Watson. That would be a more intriguing take – and further differentiated from the other current incarnations of the character.
I do like the post-rehab idea, though. (Potentially.)
Wiggins, seriously, that’s dumb. There is no need to make a classic story “more interesting” by switching the main characters’ genders. It’s so dumb that it gives you an excuse to remake anything you want as long change a couple of genders. This “Elementary” thing sounds like an eight year old’s idea.
I agree that there’s no need to make a classic story more interesting by switching the genders. BUT: that’s what’s happening. Read the story. They’re doing it. My point is simply that if you ARE going to do that, it IS more interesting to do it in a way that hasn’t been done before. And while such stunts are far from necessary, they’re also not necessarily BAD, either. Look at Sherlock on the BBC. Some people thought it sounded radical to set the stories in a contemporary time when they announced that… and the result turned out not only to be wonderful, but also one of the most faithful takes on Arthur Conan Doyle’s characters to date despite the drastic time shift. So there’s nothing wrong with thinking creatively, as long as you do it right.
I’ve seen dozens and dozens of versions of Sherlock Holmes, and as much as I love classic takes like Peter Cushing’s or Jeremy Brett’s, my two favorites are a Russian Sherlock Holmes and a contemporary Sherlock. They sound wild and out there… but both are excellent and very faithful to the stories. I’m also a big fan of the Basil Rathbone movies, and of course they contemporized the characters as well (to the 1940s), AND they made a shift in Watson that’s almost as radical a departure from the books as making him a woman: they made him a buffoon! But, in the hands of Nigel Bruce, it worked. So let’s wait and see…
Nobody in the UK thought it sounded radical to set the stories in a contemporary time… pretty much everyone thought that it was a very clever idea… unlike changing Watson into woman and the inevitable will-they-won’t-they love story that will spring up..
I’m for Basil Rathbone all the way!!!! Although I (finally) have to admit the BBC ones with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are very good, season 2 converted me.
while it may seem arbitrary to change the genders of classic characters, if you look at the canon of great literature and story-telling up until this century (mid-century in fact) you’ll be hard-pressed to find interesting female leads period. While you’re compelling reasoning of ‘it’s dumb’ was hard to ignore, allowing women to become representations of some of the greatest characters of all time (who are primarily and overwhelmingly male) helps to change the landscape of female representation in mainstream media – which btw is appalling and still, very sexist. And this matters because what children see on tv and in magazines and online now helps to mold their identities and worldview, and I, for one, would prefer a world where I can see women in great stories playing exciting, powerful and dynamic roles instead of desperate housewives and sexual playthings.
re-read the article silly, the Lu (woman) will be playing Watson (originally male) and somebody named Jonny Lee Miller will be Holmes. I don’t mean to troll, but you’ve got to read better!
No it’s not orginal. It has been done before. For instance Monk, another Bones, House. Lastly ABC Castle. The sSherlock Holmes theme creates alomost every tv drama detective series. Every show twists the theme in some minor way. Also Lucy Lui is not the rigth choice for this show. Only way i think this would work is with a bristish female Watson and americanized Holmes, but i’m still skeptical. So if you think this is a orgianl and good idea.Please think again
Or two women. Clearly the fandom dislikes being denied their gay, and what better way to make everyone happy?
You’re right, but I won’t knock this decision. Someone is thinking outside the box and that’s great for minorities and women. I wish this new show all the luck in the world. Continue thinking outside the box!
You can not be serious. This is not thinking out side the box. Manh shows use the sherlock holmes theme and twist it. This is not orginal or creative it’s a stunt to up the networks ratings. News flash, not every women needs to take over powerful male role model characters. The reason sherlock holmes is so popular is because of the unique chemistry,friendship between sherlock and watson not because he’s a weird detective. I am not saying a female lead is not important, but some ideas should not be changed. If you make watson a female or not being creative or destroying one best detective teams, and why cant females create their own tv characters. Want to know the truth Bones and Fringe both have female leads who completely represent Sherlock Holmes.
I’d prefer that casting!
Elementary was uttered once in arthur conan doyle’s books…
Discuss and let the flame war begin.
Sir Conan Doyle is probably turning in his gave as we speak. If you are going to cast a female as Watson…you might as well just have them all in outer space! There are enough shows where women have big roles…why destroy an American classic?
@Lindsay (“why destroy an American classic?”): You’re right…Arthur Conan Doyle would be rolling in his grave right now– at you calling his work “an American classic”. No one is destroying an American classic here.
This could be a clever take and I might just watch CBS for once…there are so many versions, another one with a different spin is refreshing. Liu is a terrific actress and if this iteration is not faithful enough, who cares? Plenty of other versions to watch…or READ for fuck’s sake. Just hope CBS doesn’t dumb it down for ppl who think Sherlock Holmes is an “American” classic.
Take a breath brother. Do you think you’re encouraging her to explore this subject by your mean spirited tirade? It’s not THAT important. Besides, Doyle most likely would enjoy the twist on a creation that he was jealous of and grew to hate.
I’m sorry, american classic? not being rude but last time I checked, Sherlock Holmes was British…But I do agree with you though, why ruin a classic?
Lui is doing a great turn on “Southland” Kudos!
MONK? Liu is a nice addition. CBS sure is trying to lure high profile actresses to its skein, which it desperately needs.
At first I was thrilled by the idea of a fem!Watson, and then I realized that they probably did it so they could have sexual tension between the leads without making it homoerotic or, God forbid, gay.
So that’s disappointing.
unless there is specific evidence that is the case, this is a silly comment. the recent features played up that exact modern dynamic just fine, no reason this update can’t have its own twist.
For specific evidence, I submit every other show that has ever been on TV.
No, it isn’t a silly comment. The fact that the BBC show gets comedic mileage out of people constantly mistaking Sherlock and Watson for a gay couple does not mean CBS would welcome such a thing.
CBS’s core audience is older Americans in farm country and small towns who like simplistic shows with no ambiguity and clear-cut heroes and villains. What CBS is looking for in this project is something that will resemble The Mentalist more than the BBC’s Sherlock. Having a Watson who will be to Holmes what Teresa Lisbon is to Patrick Jane on The Mentalist suits CBS thinking perfectly.
You’re talking about the same CBS that has Hawaii Five-0 on it right? That show where everyone thinks Steve & Danny are together and there are actual jokes about it on the show itself?
Nah, it’s not. Kat is completely right about this. A possible or indicated homoerotic subtext between Holmes and Watson has always been a topic of interest for readers and fans. The opinions on this differ, of course, but the discussion WILL come up anyway, no matter if it’s a classic or modern day interpretation. So the CBS just takes the wind out of the fans’ sails by turning one of those characters female – now they can have a nice little affair going on – or not – without accidentally implying “dirty gay subtext”. This is just SO American.
The show is by Americans set in America – America is homophobic. That’s “proof” enough that the first person’s hunch is correct that they only made Watson female so that there could be raunchy sex and sexual tension without it being gay.
Specific evidence could point to the excellent BBC Sherlock at the moment where there is a palpable homoerotic undertone between the excellent male leads. It is in keeping with the dark humor and edgy characterization that makes the brit version sing that will likely be watered down for the american revamp.
I actually think there was much more of a homoerotic undertone to the recent Guy Ritchie movies than to the BBC show. The show merely has a couple of jokes about it and its otherwise pretty straight ahead whereas Downey Jrs Holmes takes his resentment of Watsons soon to be marriage to some pretty suggestive lengths.
The BBC version is very good. Only cable would do this in this country. I’ll watch this version, but I bet it doesn’t catch on. If its done present day it will be just like Castle. Which I do like , but its nothing new
They could do this well, but I sincerely doubt it. Networks do this stuff all the time. They A) put in a female character just to serve as a love interest for the male lead — which, if we’re being completely honest with ourselves, the creators kind of did with Adler in BOTH recent Sherlock adaptations (BBC and the Guy Ritchie films) even though she’s not supposed to be a love interest at all. Or B) They won’t let us have gay things, so they put two people with established UST together only through a Distaff Counterpart, or making one of them a lady in a magical alternate universe (see: Captain America + Iron Woman, Wilson + Amber, etc.)
You do know that the Adler-Sherlock romance interest was intended by Conan Doyle in the original series, or at least that is how I interpreted it. I would say that option B is more likely to option A.
I disagree. Watson (or Doyle, if you don’t play, I suppose) was pretty explicit. ‘In his eyes, she eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt any emotion akin to love for Irene Adler.’ Watson doesn’t know how to describe what she was to Holmes, but he is definite that it was not love.
H AH AHAAA HAAAAH AAHAHA HAA Ahhh aaAhh ahhaaaa huuurghhh, hhhuuuu..
hmm.
right so.
may this cheapass, desperate, derivative rip of the BBC’s lightning in a bottle be cancelled during the actual pilot broadcast itself.
For shame CBS, for shame.
yes!! oh god. seeing CBS do this burns my eyes and tortures my inner Briton >.<
Wow, what are they thinking? So they have filled the “diversity” slots. Now they just need some plot to make the critics happy.
First: they bring down a Minister who is secretly a homosexual; who realizes homo is ok.
Second: investigates a “Conservative” group who is secretly profiting from war, and undermining the President.
Third: show a Black radical who is nice, kind, and caring; who upstages a White Man in intellect and shows him the Black Way is superior, lots of crying as the White guy comes to grip with his “racism” and “unfair” level in society.
Fourth: show Islam as a “religion of Peace” while making Christians and Jews blood-thirsty.
Every show will have to advocate the legalization of drugs by showing how people are dying because of the laws.
Use those story lines, and the A-List will be begging to do guest roles.
I don’t understand your comment at all, Mark. Because of the “diversity” hire, you feel your conservative (maybe even racist) view seems relevant to the article. You appear very trigger-happy to unleash your ignorance and utter lack of original plot lines. Freedom Of Speech is your right.
Stunt casting by its very definition.
The Truth… ignorant point of view by all definitions.
@kat whether you like it or not “gay” does not have a wide audience. It’s a fringe lifestyle and only those who on the fringe think it’s acceptable. No one is going to put on “gay” (you mean homosexual), except on a channel that is strictly for that. Even modern family only uses it as a side element.
Please seek help or perhaps institutionalization. God is not nearly as judgmental as you are.
Well said.
You sound like you’re still in the 1960s. To call homosexuality fringe, or to even more hilariously claim that only those on the fringe find it acceptable, is just… stupid. And wrong. In 2012 homophobia is definitely the fringe now.
Yes, like Glee. Nobody watches that.
Fringe lifestyle? Are you 86?
Not 86. Rick Santorum.
You do realize that at least ten percent of the world’s population is queer in one way or another, right? It’s hardly fringe, and it’s ridiculous to try and pretend that it is. And no, she meant gay. And yes, I mean queer, as in gay, or trans*, or bi, or ace, or any other of a spectrum of things that are both natural and acceptable.
Though my biggest beef with this adaptation is that it seems they’re planning on making Watson an entirely civilian doctor. Which is, you know, disappointing. That they’d make her a woman only to remove a large aspect of her character, that she’s in in some ways a soldier more than a doctor.
THANK YOU for saying ace. A lot of people don’t include that even when talking about LGBT issues.
I agree with you on the civilian doctor thing – though it may turn out well. Well have to see. THough if they’re looking for “no clear heros or villains,” “army doctor” seems like a good place to start the moral confusion.
“It’s a fringe lifestyle and only those who on the fringe think it’s acceptable. No one is going to put on “gay” (you mean homosexual), except on a channel that is strictly for that.”
Do you live under a rock? Seriously, do you even own a tv? Does it turn on? Does it have channels? Good god, you must be trapped in the 50s, here, let’s step into the year 2012, and you’ll see how widespread LGBT themes are in entertainment today.
@Mark Actually, you would be wrong in assuming that. “Gay” does have a very wide audience, but execs and producers don’t seem to realize that. Contrary to popular belief, it IS in fact possible to have gay characters in a TV show/movie/book/etc. when the story isn’t entirely focused on them being gay. Because, surprise surprise, gay people have normal lives too! This may come as a shock, but it’s true.
But, yes, there have been shows in the past who have gay, non-stereotypical characters, and these shows have done very well. Look at the BBC. They do it very well in quite a few shows. Unfortunately, we Americans seem to be so caught up in anti-discrimination that we forget the fact that we’re all just people. Being a certain race, or religion, or even sexual orientation, doesn’t define us. We’re still human, we still live normal lives.
The point of Sherlock Holmes is not to be “gay,” but it’s not to be “straight” either. It’s a study of deduction and the scientific process, but it’s also the study of a relation between two people who have a deep understanding for each other that’s more than friendship but that’s not sexual. It’s an understanding, not a romance, and this new show is changing that, making it so that it’s not Sherlock Holmes any more. This “Elementary” show seems like it will change all that, destroying the basis that Sherlock Holmes was written on. That’s the problem with the show. Not that it’s “gay,” but that it’s “straight.” Sherlock Holmes is not supposed to be about either.
^THIS.
What an absolutely wonderful post.
THANK YOU for taking the time to post this.
Mark I think your post has been timecoded wrong and has come from the 1980′s. Greys Anatomy, House, Glee, Happy Endings, The Office, Smash, Revenge, Surburgatory, Desperate Housewives, Dancing With the Stars, The Good Wife, 90210, and Celebrity Apprentice are all shows featuring LGBT characters / contestants in major ongoing roles and their all on major networks.
Fringe lifestyle? I’m sorry but this comment is inappropriate. While I will admit that any sexual tension between the male leads is pandering to a largely female audience and not necessarily canon, to boil down an aspect of human psychology to a fringe lifestyle is demeaning.
Yes they are doing the gender switch so they can have a palatable type of UST. Yes, this bothers me. But what really bothers me is they seem to be leaving off important parts of the Watson character. Will Lui’s Watson be a war hero? Moreover, will she be a WOUNDED war hero? I am betting not because that would make her imperfect and perhaps not as sexually desirable. How is that for a double standard?
is this Rick Santorum ? I assume you don’t watch tv or have many friends.
Apparently this is so offensive for me to say that it got pulled before so I will say it again: I wish I had the power to get your homophobic comment deleted. It is disgusting. And so is the person who deleted mine and left yours. Disgraceful.
Like I said a couple of weeks ago, CBS would find a way to screw this up, because networks can’t help but screw up great British television. Congrats, CBS. I give it four episodes, max.
FWIW, I think Shameless has done a terrific job upgrading the British original. Others may disagree, but I prefer the American remake. Likewise, Leverage is a terrific, fun show with endearing character’s while Hustle leaves me cold. Contrariwise, Coupling was a poor adaptation of Friends.
First off, Hustle (a show which is brilliantly written, has characters I can relate to and has semi-realistic characters) came out before Leverage (a show which is repetitive and has characters that can only exist in hollywood). I do accept some of your points on shameless, which is valid to a point, but wish to point out that the Americans did do a cover of Coupling, which failed miserably. I do understand that Coupling did draw on ideas of Friends, but was original in its own aspect, which made it great. However, there are loads of other shows that the US adapted.
For example, ee have Red Dwarf, a classic British cult-classic sci-fi tv series, ruined when it was adapted to the US. We have The Office, where the British version is so much more wittier than that of the American Version. We have Faulty Towers, a classic british comedy with John Cleese, adapted three times by the US, all to have failed. I could go on, but shan’t.
My point is that this version of Sherlock Holmes not only decides to ride the band wagon of success of the BBC version, it also spits on the Conan Doyle books which it is suppose to be based on. Overall, I agree with Bob: no more than four episodes. If it happens to achieve more, than that is one more reason why American TV is going down the drain.
To be fair, Coupling was an original Steven Moffat production that was far more explicit than Friends and also had a very different narrative structure with unique characters.
In fact, it was the American remake of Coupling that flopped. Coupling itself was a rather decent hit in Britain and was also critically acclaimed.
Coupling was not, in fact, an adaptation of Friends. Sure, its multi point of view structure was inspired by Friends (Friends made the format popular) but the show itself was based on Moffat’s own relationship with his future wife Sue Vertue.
This sounds stupid. If a character’s backstory is something like “lost her surgeon license”, you just know there’s gonna be at least one crappy flashback episode in the season. Also…doesnt CBS have enough procedurals already?
Of course CBS can’t have enough procedurals. That’s like saying there’s enough drops of water in the ocean.
CBS is the most successful network, because they know what their viewers want, and know how to deliver.
The people carping here aren’t CBS viewers and if they don’t watch, it won’t matter. I suspect this show will be a big hit for CBS. They know what they’re doing.
You are such an obvious troll. So any nonwhite person cast is a “diversity” casting? LL rocks and maybe you should stick with watching the CW. No nonwhites allowed over there
Lucy would be a better Sherlock casting.
Nonetheless.
As long as they don’t destroy the character by making her solely a subordinate character love interest for Sherlock, I think this has a lot of potential!
As if it wasn’t bad enough that they’re trying to rip off Sherlock. already…
no, Watson has to remain a girl. no offense to Lucy, she’s a great actress, but please, you’ve already moved it to New York, now leave the orginal plot be.
Seriously dude? Not cool.
Urgh, no.
Nothing against a female Watson or the actress portraying her, but you can see where this is going from 400 miles back east.
Watsons meets Holmes
“Oh he’s weird
Oh he’s actually cool
Hmm, what is this funny feeling I am feeling
Oh, it’s love, I love you Holmes.
Let us be coupled.”
Or we have some unrequited love situation that just gets way too annoying to bear.
But that’s just my opinion.
Girlfriends? Not really my area.
And I’ve told you before, it’s all fine.
It’s fine. It’s all fine. You’re married to your work. I get that. brb need to find a female substitute for jam.
Alright… Do you have a boyfriend? Which is fine by the way…
No. Just…no. Dear lord, can America please stop stealing BBC shows and while they’re doing that, can they stop making them horrible? Please, just stop it.
Utterly awful. This is going to be a disgrace and not even remotely close to Sherlock Holmes once they’re done.
I–okay,I’m fine with the name being ‘Joan Watson’,it’s close enough to be seen as John Watson,but no. Can’t CBS just get authorization to re-air BBC’s Sherlock Holmes here in America? Please? Pleaaseeeeee?
well sure, but seeing how there’s only 6 episodes out it’ll be an awfully short run.
They can’t. It’s already airing on PBS. Now if people would only watch PBS maybe we wouldn’t need a CBS version.
CBS probably doesn’t even have to try that hard. Since PBS is a co-sponsor of the BBC show, CBS could just contract for repeats from PBS.
forget Liu, the real stuntcasting is Miller, who recently starred opposite Cumberbatch in a UK theater version of Frankenstein
Please, please, PLEASE, no!
Just air the BBC Sherlock on BBCA! Or something!
BUT PLEASE
DO NOT TRY TO MAKE YOUR OWN
AND HIDE THE MAGNIFICENCE OF BBC SHERLOCK
PLEASE NO
BBC Sherlock has been on BBCA.
What people don’t seem to be getting is that this isn’t a remake of the BBC Sherlock.
You say that, but then why did CBS specifically ask BBC if they could make this if that wasn’t the case? Even if it’s not TECHNICALLY a remake, it’s pretty shameless copying.
Again see my reply above. BBC Sherlock is already airing here on PBS for those who want it. I assume they have a deal where no other US network can air it for a while. CBS certainly could have tried to snatch the original up first, but the truth is they don’t want the original because it doesn’t appeal to their homespun middle america demographic.
I can’t stop laughing. I thought this idea couldn’t get any worse…
Why bother even using the names? This isn’t Sherlock Holmes. If the characters are actually interesting they could stand on their own story. This all just comes across as a cheap gimmick and rip off.
Agreed. This could have been a decent show if it had been an original. It would even have been fine as an homage (a la House)! But as an adaptation, this show is going to bomb so hard.
Then why change Watson to being a woman? The whole idea of this show is so disloyal to Conan’s original works. It’s going to be awful.
Exactly, Doyle’s ork is being destroyed. Shows like this already exist. One is Bones, Fringe, Castle,. Also House and Monk which is similar to what they are proposing.
Any hopes I had for this show have just been spat on and crushed.
Arthur Conan Doyle is rolling in his grave right now, I can just feel it. I understand tweaking a few things, but.. Goodness.. changing john’s gender is NOT going to make it any more interesting than it already is. It would probably be much better to just buy the rights to play the BBC Sherlock in America (if that could ever be worked out, though I wouldn’t trust UK to keep their quality shows to themselves.)
In conclusion: Ugh, CBS, please stop this.
Sherlock does air in America on pbs in the summer
Of course it can be worked out. PBS airs BBC Sherlock in America and has done since the first season. I’ve been seeing a lot of comments from people begging for the BBC version to just be picked up and aired here. Seriously, do people not know that it already has been picked up and that the second season airs on PBS this May? If people only want the UK versions of shows, many of the best already do air here on BBCAmerica, PBS and Syfy. Support them by all means. It’s because these shows are successful that there are so many remakes (for better or for worse).