CBS to make a modern-take on Sherlock

From Variety TV news

CBS is starting to make its drama pilot pickups, handing orders to legal-themed drama “Baby Big Shot” and a modern-day take on Sherlock Holmes.

Sony Pictures TV/CBS Television Studios’ “Big Shot,” penned by scribe Dana Calvo, is exec produced by Jamie Tarses, Julia Franz and Kevin Falls, through Tarses’ Sony-based Fanfare banner. Falls will serve as showrunner on the project about a woman from a blue-collar background who uses her street smarts to make it the white-shoe world of Manhattan law firm.

“Elementary,” from CBS TV Studios, finds the famed detective now living in New York City. Robert Doherty penned the pilot and exec produces with Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly.

Among the other heatseekers on CBS’ drama docket are its “Rifleman” redo, the procedural drama about a genetic scientist from scribes Shawn Ryan and Simon Mirren and “Golden Boy,” a project about a young police officer from Greg Berlanti and Nick Wootton. Also generating good buzz is “Mommy Track Mysteries,” based on the series of novels by Ayelet Waldman, and “The Widow Detective,” from scribe Dave Hubbard and Carol Mendelsohn Prods.

We have known this since, if I remember correctly, October of last year. I want to make this clear, there is nothing wrong with modern spins to popular classic literature, in fact we love them and invest emotions (and for some,their lives.Yes I’m looking at you Tumblr) on shows like that. And it is easier to love when you know that your favourite classical fictional character is in the hands of people who are bigger fans of the character than you are, and Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat are true “Sherlockians”, that is why we trust that they are going to give justice to a Conan Doyle classic. Having said that, I am not saying that the above mentioned names (those writing Elementary) are not fans of Sherlock, but I know that there will be differences in how the character is perceived.

I actually only have one problem with this: It already exists.

Fine, the setting is different, he might not actually have an accent for all I care, but a show like this already exists and now has a strong fan base WORLDWIDE. There is no competition between the two, but as the audience, we cannot help but compare. I have read some threads regarding this news, and it amuses me that a good number of people are arguing already. People are becoming very defensive already. I am just surprised they are taking this risk. It is not bravery, some people think it is because they are running out of ideas, and very slowly, I am becoming one of those people. I feel bad actually, for thinking that the creative mind has caught a virus and therefore a vaccine is needed to help it recover, regenerate. In this case, with the success of Guy Rithie’s Sherlock Holmes, and I am very sure they know BBC Sherlock, it is possible that they got the idea from somewhere, they finally found their vaccine.

I want to say “give it a chance, it might actually be watchable”, but I know for a fact that it is quite unfair for Mr. Gatiss and Mr. Moffat who originally conceptualized a 21st century Sherlock, and did it brilliantly.

But you know, we are not sure if it will actually air, it is just a pilot order. I guess we’ll have to wait. We are becoming really good at that you know, Sherlock fans always waiting.

What are your thoughts?

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