I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere

"I Think That We May Get Started" [LAST]

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0915341069/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0915341069" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0915341069&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=thebakerstree-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0915341069" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />No doubt you're familiar with the board and video game <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0915341069/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0915341069">Sherlock Holmes, Consulting Detective</a></b>.<br /><br />Well, it's the digital era and that means there are all sorts of ways to enjoy the great detective and the various forms of media about him. Or at least, there <i>should</i> be.<br /><br />Until now, no one has thought to make it a priority to make this fun and interactive game available on multiple devices - such as PC, Mac and mobile devices. But <a href="http://zojoi.com/">Zojoi</a> has decided to take it on, and here's how they describe how the game will work:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">The game is a storytelling/mystery/adventure based on an award-winning board game and revolves around using game "tools" where you choose who/what to investigate and where to direct Holmes and Watson to solve a mystery that appears to be stumping Scotland yard. Using many of these tools will costs you "clue points." Your goal is to solve the case in the fewest number of "clue points" as possible. </blockquote>The new version of Sherlock Holmes, Consulting Detective is being developed via <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1920171553/sherlock-holmes-consulting-detective-adventure-mys"><b>a Kickstarter campaign</b></a>. What's that, you ask? You contribute to the cause (and get others to help as well), and get the satisfaction of collectively bringing a product to market.<br /><br />And in this case, you may get a credit in the game as well: levels of donation reap different accolades, such as <b>London Constable</b> ($9 or more), <b>Hound of the Baskervilles</b> ($20 or more)<b> Moriarty's Henchma</b>n ($30 or more, targeted for the mobile app), <b>Inspector of the Yard</b> ($50 or more) and <b>Reporter of the Times</b> ($100 or more). Each level comes with some benefit, <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1920171553/sherlock-holmes-consulting-detective-adventure-mys">described on the Kickstarter page</a>.<br /><br />Here's a video to describe the project (please click through to the article link if you're reading this on email or an RSS reader):<br /><br /><br /><center><iframe frameborder="0" height="360px" src="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1920171553/sherlock-holmes-consulting-detective-adventure-mys/widget/video.html" width="480px"></iframe></center><center style="text-align: left;"></center><br /><br />And some screenshots of the game itself as it will appear on various devices. The full set is also available on Flickr. <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe align="center" frameborder="0" height="500" scrolling="no" src="http://www.flickr.com/slideShow/index.gne?group_id=&user_id=39297597@N00&set_id=72157629684219109/with/6876443326&text=" width="500"></iframe></div><small>Created with <a href="http://www.admarket.se/" title="Admarket.se">Admarket's</a> <a href="http://flickrslidr.com/" title="flickrSLiDR">flickrSLiDR</a>.</small><br /><i><br /></i><br />But this vision will never come to life without your help. Will you join me in making a donation to this very worthy cause? It's a great way to help spread the word of Sherlock Holmes and another fun way to experience his world.<br /><br /><i>When you make purchases from the links we share, it provides us with a stream of revenue to help keep this site running. Thank you for your generosity.</i><br />--

"I Think That We May Get Started" [LAST]

No doubt you're familiar with the board and video game Sherlock Holmes, Consulting Detective . Well, it's the digital era and that m...

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by Scott Monty

Episode 40: One Voice of Sherlock Holmes

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While our listeners normally have to deal with the voices of Burt Wolder and Scott Monty, this episode is different. We're pleased to be able to bring you the smooth baritone of one Mr. David Ian Davies.<br>
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A veteran actor for many decades, having been trained at the London Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, David traces his heritage to England by way of California. But along the way (you may be surprised to hear just how young), he was bitten by the acting bug. Combine that with David's inherent love of Sherlock Holmes and a desire to be the first individual to record the entire Canon, and you'll find a passionate and talented voice of Sherlock Holmes.<br>
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Through his production company <a href="http://www.onevoicerecordings.com/"><b>One Voice Recordings</b></a>, David has managed to create a nine-volume series called <b>The Consummate Holmes Canon</b> (see below for links - Amazon affiliates), as well as a few other non-Canonical stories.<br>
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We had a delightful chat with Mr. Davies that included hearing a few clips from his interpretation and a live reading. He helps the amateurs understand how he as a professional prepares for the roles - and just how many roles there are!<br>
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We close this episode with a surprise archival recording from some radio stars from a bygone era who took on some rather unorthodox roles in a special appearance. And we offer an opportunity for our listeners to win one a very special prize.<br>
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Episode 40: One Voice of Sherlock Holmes

While our listeners normally have to deal with the voices of Burt Wolder and Scott Monty, this episode is different. We're plea...

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by Scott Monty

"A Clear Statement of His Career" [FINA]

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One of the highlights of both <b>Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows</b> and Season Two of the BBC<b>'s Sherlock</b> series are their unique takes on "The Adventure of the Final Problem" and "The Adventure of the Empty House." However, there is a third entry which simply serves as a powerful dramatization of these two stories....simply by focusing on the simplicity of Conan Doyle's words.<br />
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<a href="http://www.bigfinish.com/">Big Finish</a> is a company out of England that writes and produces audio dramas around a variety of franchises, most notably <b>Doctor Who. </b> Their kickoff to the second "series" of Sherlock Holmes adventures is a double disc set of <b><a href="http://www.bigfinish.com/21-Sherlock-Holmes-The-Final-Problem-The-Empty-House">The Final Problem/The Empty House</a>. </b>Quite simply, this is simply an excellent dramatization of one of the highlights of the canon, and well worth a listen.<br />
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Much of the power of this audio comes not just from drawing from the canon, but also in its staging - beginning with the sound of pen scratching against paper, followed by Watson's (Richard Earl) narration, the story kicks into high gear. It's a moody, atmospheric approach that simply grabs the listener's attention and will not let go. Part of the success is also the way in which Nicholas Briggs plays Holmes - in these stories, rather than play it large, Briggs performs Holmes at almost a whisper pitch, and it is this approach that makes this audio set enthralling, so much so that you will be sorely tempted to order the other audios in the series.<br />
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One of the great aspects of the canon is that it can be adapted and molded towards a modern sensibility (witness Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss' <b>Sherlock</b>); however, what Nicholas Briggs and Big Finish have done is to make it appealing to a modern ear by focusing on the clarity and simplicity of the original language, making this as much as testament to the skill of Conan Doyle's writing as much as to the appeal of his characters. The fact that his language seems so appropriate to a 21st century medium - and audience - makes this a clear statement of Conan Doyle's career as an author.<br />
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If you are looking for a great listen either for traveling or commuting, please head to <a href="http://www.bigfinish.com/">Big Finish's web site</a> to order - they allow you to purchase either CD or digital download, and you will not be disappointed.<br />
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Especially since the audio does something very few adaptations do - draw upon the strength of Conan Doyle's writing style. Eerily atmospheric, this audio is worth adding to your collection. <br />
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<i>Editor's note: Gordon regularly covers the intersection of Sherlock Holmes and the entertainment industry. You can also find him at <a href="http://www.blogthispal.com/">Blog THIS, Pal</a>! and <a href="http://www.comicrelated.com/">Comic Related</a>. </i><br />
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"A Clear Statement of His Career" [FINA]

One of the highlights of both Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows and Season Two of the BBC 's Sherlock series are their unique takes...

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by Scott Monty

The End of the Encyclopedia Britannica

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"encyclopaedia down" [REDH] </h4>
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The legendary Encyclopedia Britannica is going out of print.<br />
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Those very words are almost as abrupt and arresting <a href="http://ignisart.com/camdenhouse/canon/redh.htm">as what Jabez Wilson saw</a> when he arrived at 7 Pope's Court, Fleet Street that fateful morning:<br />
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<b><i>The Red-Headed League is dissolved.</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/13/after-244-years-encyclopaedia-britannica-stops-the-presses/">According to reports</a>, the 244 year-old print publication is suffering the fate of a world of information that is rapidly changing. The likes of Wikipedia and information at our fingertips by simply typing in keywords on search portals means that it's less likely that individuals will be turning to the printed page for up-to-date information. Rather, the company will focus its efforts on its online information and the services it provides to educational institutions.<br />
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The <i>New York Times'</i> <a href="http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/13/after-244-years-encyclopaedia-britannica-stops-the-presses/">Media Decoder</a> blog does a marvelous job of describing the cultural difference between today and that age when information was not quite as ubiquitous as it is today:<br />
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In the 1950s, having the Encyclopaedia Britannica on the bookshelf was akin to a station wagon in the garage or a black-and-white Zenith in the den, a possession coveted for its usefulness and as a goalpost for an aspirational middle class. Buying a set was often a financial stretch, and many families had to pay for it in monthly installments.</blockquote>
And of course, Jabez Wilson, as part of his rite of passage as a member of the Red-Headed League, had to copy out the Encyclopedia Britannica. If this story were to take place in the present day, we suppose the perpetrators of that hoax would have to borrow an older edition for this use, or perhaps have Mr. Wilson code his own website for hours on end.<br />
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Perhaps you have an idea of what the modern busy work might be in the absence of a physical encyclopedia. Let us know.<br />
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<i>When you make purchases from the links we share, it provides us with a stream of revenue to help keep this site running. Thank you for your generosity.</i><br />
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The End of the Encyclopedia Britannica

"encyclopaedia down" [REDH] The legendary Encyclopedia Britannica is going out of print. Those very words are almost as ...

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by Scott Monty

"The Last Message from Slaney" [DANC]

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Alfred A. (Fred) Levin, BSI ("Abe Slaney") died in a suburb of Chicago on February 17, 2012 at
the age of 83. He worked for various chemical companies as an organic chemist and upon
retirement worked at Scotland Yard Bookstore until it closed. He then went on to work for an
on-line book selling business.
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Fred was a pillar of not only his temple, but several others, as his temple didn't have daily
services.
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His many passions included the Civil War, sports (Cubs, Black Hawks, Bulls, and Bears), Tolkien,
and classical music. He had opera and symphony subscriptions for many years. Fred and his
wife Sunnie traveled extensively in Europe and enjoyed dining in gourmet restaurants.
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His love of all things Sherlockian extended to amassing an extensive collection of foreign
editions of the Canon. Fred was one of the founders of Torists International, President of the
Criterion Bar Association, Treasurer of The Watsonians, Board member of The Scotland Yarders,
and belonged to many other scions, including STUD Sherlockian Society, Hugo's Companions,
<a href="http://www.houndsofthebaskerville.org/">The Hounds of the Baskerville (sic)</a>, and Maiwand Jezails.
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Fred Levin was invested into the Baker Street Irregulars in 1993 as "Abe Slaney."
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We apologize for the size of the photo; if you have a larger photo of Fred, please let us know and we'll gladly update it.<br />
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"The Last Message from Slaney" [DANC]

Alfred A. (Fred) Levin, BSI ("Abe Slaney") died in a suburb of Chicago on February 17, 2012 at the age of 83. He worked for vari...

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by Francine Kitts

"If the Matter Is Beyond Humanity..." [DEVI]

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Very few Sherlockians would make the argument for Holmes as a vehicle to discuss religious or spiritual principles. In fact, quite the opposite - Holmes may be seen as the ultimate in rational thinkers, keeping himself within this world and staying within the realm of sheer intellect.<br />
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That would be a mistake, for as Stephen Kendrick suggests in his book <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0375703381/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0375703381"><i>Holy Clues</i></a></b>, many spiritual lessons can be learned from Holmes' approach. (Recently, I had an opportunity to revisit the book, having read it a few years ago)<br />
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Subtitled "The Gospel According to Sherlock Holmes," the book uses Holmes' approach - with a liberal helping of other thinkers - to suggest a way of approaching spirituality through a more skeptical lens. Granted, the book may tactfully avoid the darker aspects of the canon, but Kendrick provides multiple examples of ways in which a Holmesian approach may strengthen one's spiritual convictions.<br />
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Thankfully, there is an open approach towards integrating different trains of spiritual thought, with Zen/Buddhist concepts given equal weight with Judeo-Christian ideas. It's a book that provides a great deal of enlightenment, and that may spark a great deal of debate and discussion amongst Holmes aficionados.<br />
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Granted, this is an unusual approach to the canon - treating it as a way of determining a spiritual lifestyle. Kendricks, however, manages to perform an impressive feat in <i>Holy Clues</i>, suggesting that matters beyond humanity are <i>not</i> necessarily beyond anyone....including Holmes.<br />
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Very highly recommended.<br />
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Have you read it? We would be interested in your opinion in the comments below.<br />
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<i>Editor's note: Gordon regularly covers the intersection of Sherlock Holmes and the entertainment industry. You can also find him at <a href="http://www.blogthispal.com/">Blog THIS, Pal!</a> and <a href="http://www.comicrelated.com/">Comic Related</a>.</i><i><br /></i><br />
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"If the Matter Is Beyond Humanity..." [DEVI]

Very few Sherlockians would make the argument for Holmes as a vehicle to discuss religious or spiritual principles. In fact, quite the opp...

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by Scott Monty

Elementary — It's Not Sherlock

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"the protection of the law against an old rival" [STUD]</h4>
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The <a href="http://www.bakerstreetblog.com/2012/02/its-lucy-that-brings-me-here-stud.html">casting of Lucy Liu as Doctor Joan Watson</a> in CBS’s upcoming pilot <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2191671/"><i>Elementary</i></a>  is exciting buzz, pro and con, on the internet. This gives we Sherlockians an entryway into the creation of a television show whose source material we know better that the producers (probably, let’s give them some benefit of the doubt), and the ability to speculate on future content based on innate knowledge of American TV tropes.<br />
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Of course, <i>Elementary</i> is not the first show to be based on a successful British counterpart. If we go back to the 1970s, <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B008HUSFTS" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="d9e23cb76e6a72f70fd905cc7f5efbf7" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="All in the Family" href="http://www.amazon.com/All-In-The-Family-Complete/dp/B008HUSFTS/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=d9e23cb76e6a72f70fd905cc7f5efbf7&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_6975787" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">All in the Family</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_6975787" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=d9e23cb76e6a72f70fd905cc7f5efbf7&_cb=1454215385854" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i> was based on the British sitcom <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B0015RCULO" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="2f7311cce8e4e306caf49756b23d8a33" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="till death do us part dvd" href="http://www.amazon.com/Til-Death-Do-Us-Part/dp/B0015RCULO/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=2f7311cce8e4e306caf49756b23d8a33&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_7172348" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Till Death Do Us Part</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_7172348" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=2f7311cce8e4e306caf49756b23d8a33&_cb=1454215404775" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i>. <i>All in the Family</i> (coincidentally also on CBS) broke new ground by having comedic episodes dealing in race, the Vietnam War, rape, abortion, women’s lib, and many facets human sexuality in frank language. I believe it was the first time on US television that the sound of a flushing toilet was used as a punch line. It ran from 1971 to 1979, was the number one rated TV show for many of those years, and had a number of successful spinoffs, including: <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B00AQ6SPF0" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="11ad7a6e82d384f6132b10a9fce2b681" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Archie Bunker’s Place" href="http://www.amazon.com/ARCHIE-BUNKERS-PLACE-COMPLETE-SEASON-DISC/dp/B00AQ6SPF0/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=11ad7a6e82d384f6132b10a9fce2b681&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_1178179" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Archie Bunker’s Place</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_1178179" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=11ad7a6e82d384f6132b10a9fce2b681&_cb=1454215416475" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i>, <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B00MIA0HJE" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="9ae5ad08c720a839cf62b10aca22f24f" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="The Jeffersons" href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Jeffersons-Complete-Series/dp/B00MIA0HJE/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=9ae5ad08c720a839cf62b10aca22f24f&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_3895333" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Jeffersons</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_3895333" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=9ae5ad08c720a839cf62b10aca22f24f&_cb=1454215428278" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i>, and <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B00QJN33Q0" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="66ccb83bdf66e1f4175a5ffd4088c9a6" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Maude" href="http://www.amazon.com/Maude-Complete-Series-Bea-Arthur/dp/B00QJN33Q0/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=66ccb83bdf66e1f4175a5ffd4088c9a6&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_459828" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Maude</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_459828" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=66ccb83bdf66e1f4175a5ffd4088c9a6&_cb=1454215437568" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i>. There are other US remakes that could be mentioned, but the point is redoing a British TV show is not an inherently bad idea.</div>
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<a href="http://draft.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a>Nor is updating Sherlock Holmes to the present a bad idea. <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B008P9M614" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="705b978bb5caa444887a5689b2e3308f" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="House" href="http://www.amazon.com/House-M-D-The-Complete-Series/dp/B008P9M614/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=705b978bb5caa444887a5689b2e3308f&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_659640" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">House</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_659640" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=705b978bb5caa444887a5689b2e3308f&_cb=1454215446550" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i>, <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B001CTDH76" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="2459ac4f92ae0b1401fdba47d94ad1d8" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="The Mentalist" href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Mentalist-Season-Simon-Baker/dp/B001CTDH76/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=2459ac4f92ae0b1401fdba47d94ad1d8&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_4639751" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Mentalist</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_4639751" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=2459ac4f92ae0b1401fdba47d94ad1d8&_cb=1454215459537" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i>, <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B00IRHL59I" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="f1eef1b3b6f37934aa84d1a1e6c6dba5" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Monk" href="http://www.amazon.com/Monk-The-Complete-Series/dp/B00IRHL59I/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=f1eef1b3b6f37934aa84d1a1e6c6dba5&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_3443501" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Monk</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_3443501" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=f1eef1b3b6f37934aa84d1a1e6c6dba5&_cb=1454215469393" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i>, and <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B0000AVHCD" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="1a97a1818eef684408c2e4bf7db41ab7" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Law  and Order: Criminal Intent" href="http://www.amazon.com/Law-Order-Criminal-Intent-First/dp/B0000AVHCD/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=1a97a1818eef684408c2e4bf7db41ab7&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_2602800" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Law  and Order: Criminal Intent</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_2602800" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=1a97a1818eef684408c2e4bf7db41ab7&_cb=1454215492300" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i> are all shows that have a Holmes-like character. Gregory House, Patrick Jane, Adrian Monk, and Robert Goren are not Holmes. They have their own personalities and foibles. We can appreciate their Holmesian qualities, but enjoy them for themselves.</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001V017K/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&tag=thebakerstree-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0001V017K" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0001V017K&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=thebakerstree-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thebakerstree-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0001V017K" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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I remember, before BBC’s <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B004132HZS" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="188f246d54e88c24fe12940fac7868e0" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Sherlock" href="http://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Season-1-Benedict-Cumberbatch/dp/B004132HZS/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=188f246d54e88c24fe12940fac7868e0&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_4259020" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sherlock</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_4259020" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=188f246d54e88c24fe12940fac7868e0&_cb=1454215344951" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i> aired, the consternation in some quarter of taking Holmes and setting him in the 21<span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span> century. Holmes couldn’t be Holmes if set in the present day. He was too much a Victorian to be updated. Such naysayers forgot that until 1939’s <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B0001DCYBE" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="c3b8036baf3747437746c5977ae67cef" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="the hound of the baskervilles rathbone" href="http://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Holmes-The-Hound-Baskervilles/dp/B0001DCYBE/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=c3b8036baf3747437746c5977ae67cef&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_7614083" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Hound of the Baskervilles</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_7614083" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=c3b8036baf3747437746c5977ae67cef&_cb=1454215363908" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i>, all the film Holmes were set in the present day. Updating <i>The Sign of Four</i> from 1888 to 1932 does not, in retrospect, seem to be that big a deal. Indeed, Holmes himself could have gone the cinema nearest to his cottage on the South  Downs to see how Rathbone portrayed him in 1939. But the chasm of 129 years between <i>A Study in Scarlet</i> and “A Study in Pink” would seem too great a hurdle for Holmes to jump. However, series creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss did an admirable job of making the detective a man of today.</div>
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I am not, however, a fan of the cinematic Holmes. I find all the film treatments of the Canon wanting in comparison to Doyle’s original. Rathbone was a great Holmes but I'm afraid that Nigel Bruce's Watson ruins the films for me. And while the production values of the Granada series is incredible, I wish I liked Jeremy Brett's Holmes better. I find his odd line readings off-putting and his treatment of people sometimes anachronistic. And don’t get me started on Robert Downey, Jr.<br />
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As for the BBC's <i>Sherlock</i>, I watched it with some trepidation due to its updating to the present, but I was pleasantly surprised. “<a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B00499LTLM" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="e2b107e8de63e7f9fdf4e2860df249d4" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="A Study in Pink" href="http://www.amazon.com/A-Study-in-Pink/dp/B00499LTLM/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=e2b107e8de63e7f9fdf4e2860df249d4&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_2991210" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Study in Pink</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_2991210" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=e2b107e8de63e7f9fdf4e2860df249d4&_cb=1454215319166" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" />” was well done and Cumberbatch and Freeman were well cast. “<a amzn-ps-bm-asin="4041211271" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="333ce65774315c8df5a779f3d4b7b999" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="The Blind Banker" href="http://www.amazon.com/SHERLOCK-Blind-Banker-editor-Kadokawa/dp/4041211271/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=333ce65774315c8df5a779f3d4b7b999&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_6574692" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Blind Banker</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_6574692" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=333ce65774315c8df5a779f3d4b7b999&_cb=1454215329855" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" />” was less successful. By the time of "<a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B004B8K2C8" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="f99da228eca4269b0c773df47d4988c1" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="the great game sherlock" href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Great-Game/dp/B004B8K2C8/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=f99da228eca4269b0c773df47d4988c1&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_3400817" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Great Game</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_3400817" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=f99da228eca4269b0c773df47d4988c1&_cb=1454215308287" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" />” I was very disappointed. The fey, manic, dancing, young "Jim" Moriarty—that's the Napoleon of Crime? A professional criminal committing a series of crimes just because he’s bored and wants to play with Sherlock? I was surprised that the laser-sighting marksmen at the end of the episode didn't put a round into "Jim" to put him (and the audience) out of his misery.<br />
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Now, don’t get me wrong, there are many things to like about BBC’s <i>Sherlock</i>. Moffat and Gatiss know their Canon and the Sherlockian touches tucked into the episodes are delightful. I have not yet seen series two, but I look forward to PBS’s broadcast of them in May.</div>
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The point is that BBC's <i>Sherlock</i> is no more Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes than Fox’s <i>House</i>. This brings us to <i>Elementary</i>. Usually when US TV imports a show, it’s done in conjunction with the British producer. It appears that CBS did go to the BBC to do a remake of <i>Sherlock</i> but that nothing came of the offer. As the character of Sherlock Holmes is in the public domain, CBS went ahead with their version.<br />
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This led Moffat to tweet, “<a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/steven_moffat/status/113907980164005889">Dear CBS. A modern day Sherlock Holmes? Where, oh where, did you get THAT idea? We’ll be watching</a>.”<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtN07SPA2yINjavqlbJ6t5ml2roA_6auLCj08JyqkFGVz0iHYx42xRWXcJFXXiKjqgSVpr6pXMc19BaCCBo7O2LZ2OkuhhzmTGkKEwT7gFqLzaoarrTdKbJtNQSaAB31gbKYDf0lhXns7/s1600/Capture.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtN07SPA2yINjavqlbJ6t5ml2roA_6auLCj08JyqkFGVz0iHYx42xRWXcJFXXiKjqgSVpr6pXMc19BaCCBo7O2LZ2OkuhhzmTGkKEwT7gFqLzaoarrTdKbJtNQSaAB31gbKYDf0lhXns7/s400/Capture.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The media friction between BBC and CBS is fascinating to watch. The casting of Jonny Lee Miller as Holmes is a case in point. Miller is a British actor who starred in <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B007V4LBLU" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="3a15f33632f1e192303a274d4055cc88" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Trainspotting" href="http://www.amazon.com/Trainspotting-Collectors-Edition-Ewan-McGregor/dp/B007V4LBLU/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=3a15f33632f1e192303a274d4055cc88&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_556672" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trainspotting</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_556672" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=3a15f33632f1e192303a274d4055cc88&_cb=1454215263702" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i> and 2009’s <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B007SSEZNA" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="b3b43abbb1747e6b31437bb296b39219" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Emma" href="http://www.amazon.com/Emma-Gwyneth-Paltrow/dp/B007SSEZNA/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=b3b43abbb1747e6b31437bb296b39219&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_6823675" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Emma</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_6823675" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=b3b43abbb1747e6b31437bb296b39219&_cb=1454215272246" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i>. He’s familiar to American television viewers as the star of the short-lived ABC show <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B001ASIHZG" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="a025bfd195d4066639f82a2186438956" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Eli Stone" href="http://www.amazon.com/Eli-Stone-Jonny-Lee-Miller/dp/B001ASIHZG/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=a025bfd195d4066639f82a2186438956&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_3481812" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Eli Stone</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_3481812" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=a025bfd195d4066639f82a2186438956&_cb=1454215284457" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i> and his turn as a serial killer on the fifth season of Showtime’s <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B01329A15E" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="7b9951846534196748a4ffed647d184b" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Dexter" href="http://www.amazon.com/Dexter-Complete-Series-James-Remar/dp/B01329A15E/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=7b9951846534196748a4ffed647d184b&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_2156223" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dexter</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_2156223" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=7b9951846534196748a4ffed647d184b&_cb=1454215256364" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i>. In Danny Boyle's production of the National Theatre's "Frankenstein" last year, Benedict Cumberbatch and Miller alternated daily between playing Victor Frankenstein and the Creature and, indeed, won a joint Best Actor prize. This lead "Sherlock’s" producer Sue Vertue to <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/jonny-lee-miller-to-play-sherlock-holmes-in-us-series-6939158.html">tell the British newspaper The Independent</a>,<br />
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"Jonny is a very fine actor....Let's hope their pilot script has stayed further away from our Sherlock than their casting choice. We have been in touch with CBS and informed them that we will be looking at their finished pilot very closely for any infringements of our rights."</blockquote>
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Of course, the <i>Sherlock</i>/<i>Elementary</i> controversy should be familiar territory to Moffat and Vertue. It is doubtful that Moffat and Vertue’s <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B0006HBLU0" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="6bb4164b9113980a10a2233144dc2d84" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Coupling" href="http://www.amazon.com/Coupling-The-Complete-Seasons-1-4/dp/B0006HBLU0/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=6bb4164b9113980a10a2233144dc2d84&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_1959821" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Coupling</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_1959821" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=6bb4164b9113980a10a2233144dc2d84&_cb=1454215227983" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i> (BBC2, 2000-2004) would have existed without <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B00B1LN8WY" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="c9e538264b3925f4033fdf4ed7a3da98" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Friends" href="http://www.amazon.com/Friends-Complete-Series-Jennifer-Aniston/dp/B00B1LN8WY/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=c9e538264b3925f4033fdf4ed7a3da98&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_9365761" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Friends</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_9365761" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=c9e538264b3925f4033fdf4ed7a3da98&_cb=1454215236250" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i> (NBC 1994-2004). The similarities between the shows are more than superficial. That said, <i>Coupling</i> is the far superior show of the two. British television, indeed, world television, would be much poorer if NBC threatened action against BBC2 upon reading of the upcoming series in the trades and the Beeb caved.</div>
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This fear of a lawsuit may have led to the casting of Liu as Watson. As <a href="http://www.deadline.com/2012/02/lucy-liu-to-play-watson-in-cbs-modern-sherlock-holmes-pilot-elementary/">Deadline reported on February 27</a>,<br />
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“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.” </blockquote>
Not an army surgeon back from Afghanistan, but disgraced medico.</div>
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This highlights a couple of problems for <i>Elementary</i>. One is the legal sword BBC is holding over the head of CBS. There are certain traits that make the character of Sherlock Holmes Holmes and as well that make Dr. Watson Watson. Doyle’s Watson is proud of this military service. He refers to himself as an “old campaigner” more that once in the Canon. The symmetry of a 19<span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span> century Watson and a 21<span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span> century Watson both serving on the frontlines in Afghanistan is just too brilliant to pass up. It serves the character perfectly. It is in the public domain. Despite roles in <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B006RXSGLE" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="f8b9cda902e1a55925aeccfa42239678" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Kill Bill" href="http://www.amazon.com/Kill-Bill-Volume-Uma-Thurman/dp/B006RXSGLE/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=f8b9cda902e1a55925aeccfa42239678&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_7491689" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kill Bill</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_7491689" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=f8b9cda902e1a55925aeccfa42239678&_cb=1454214902206" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i> and <i><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="B003F1ERDC" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="9f6d1121dfda71f99e4c40db796a5246" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Charlie’s Angels" href="http://www.amazon.com/Charlies-Angels-Cameron-Diaz/dp/B003F1ERDC/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=9f6d1121dfda71f99e4c40db796a5246&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_8904679" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Charlie’s Angels</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_8904679" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=9f6d1121dfda71f99e4c40db796a5246&_cb=1454214914593" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></i>, I cannot image an actor least likely to be an army doctor under Taliban fire than Liu.</div>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsmonty/2557890494/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="veil-02 by Scott Monty, on Flickr"><img alt="veil-02" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3070/2557890494_5e71aa3f26_m.jpg" /></a><br />
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Show biz is not a virtuous profession. We may look at it as Watson did of the late Irene Adler, as “dubious and questionable.” Intellectual theft is a misdemeanor at best in Hollywood. Holmes’ perennial popularity is now on an upswing and I see no problem with the American appropriation of a modern day Holmes. In fact, CBS needs to tell Moffat and Gatiss, in that pithy British phrase, “Piss off!’</div>
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The second problem for <i>Elementary</i> is the state of TV storytelling. Protagonists nowadays need a tragic back-story to make them interesting. Joan Watson lost her license when a patient died. Sherlock Holmes is a recovering drug addict. Please.</div>
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Holmes's drug use can only be seen through a contemporary lens on TV, but the reality of Victorian cocaine use is much more complex than network television can portray. (For one thing, cocaine wasn’t illegal and could be picked up at the corner chemist.) Watson can’t be an Afghan veteran (too close to <i>Sherlock</i>), but there has to be something to give the character sleepless nights. Hence, the lost medical license. A psychic wound, then, rather than a physical one.</div>
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While casting Watson as a woman takes <i>Elementary</i> a step away from <i>Sherlock</i> (and <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2014/02/watson-actually-was-woman.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">a step closer to Rex Stout</a>), it takes "Elementary" several steps away from the Canon. One of the fundamental aspects of the Canon is the friendship of Holmes and Watson. Christopher Morley called the Canon a <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><b><a amzn-ps-bm-asin="143258071X" class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-link-id="9650fb43d198068119452a68e58e130a" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="sherlock holmes and dr. watson textbook of friendship" href="http://www.amazon.com/Sherlock-Holmes-And-Dr-Watson/dp/143258071X/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=thebakerstree-20&linkId=9650fb43d198068119452a68e58e130a&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_8985829" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Textbook of Friendship</a><img alt="" border="0" height="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_8985829" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=thebakerstree-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=9650fb43d198068119452a68e58e130a&_cb=1454215214646" style="border: none !important; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /></b></i>. And it is one that is more complicated that the bromance that popular culture perceives between Cumberbatch and Freeman or Downey and Law. I do not doubt that a deep friendship between a man and woman can exist, just network television ability to depict it. Sexual tension between major characters is just television scriptwriting 101 and I wonder if the producers of <i>Elementary</i> have the strength to stay away from it.</div>
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After all, unlike <i>Sherlock</i>, which has only three 90-minute shows a season to get plot, character and dialog right, CBS will have to crank out 22 one-hour episodes and the temptation for scripting shortcuts in that pressure cooker will be great. I’m not sure of the Sherlockian background of the producers or writers, or whether they have hired a Holmesian as a consultant (as Warner Bros. did with <a href="http://lesliesklinger.com/">Les Klinger</a>), but titling the series "Elementary" alone makes me wonder if can expect writing on the level of "Sherlock" or of, say, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holmes_%26_Yo-Yo"><i>Holmes and Yo-Yo</i></a>. </div>
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<i>Elementary</i> will ultimately survive or fail on its own merits. If it fails, it will be no more that a footnote in the history of <i>Sherlock</i>. If it succeeds, then the majority of fans the world over will proclaim the British version superior, and Moffat's and Gatiss’ glory will be that much greater. Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly may yet pleasantly surprise us. Only time will tell. We should keep our minds and eyes open to further developments, but like Holmes's refrain from theorizing before one has the facts. No matter how fun it is.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Image credit: <a href="https://flic.kr/p/cfu61E" target="_blank">Nicolas Raymond (Flickr)</a></i></span><br />
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<i><b>Editor's note: </b>James is a long-time Sherlockian and a huge fan of <a href="http://www.ihearofsherlock.com/">I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere</a> . This is his first contribution to the site.</i><br />
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