Since its initial announcement earlier this year, CBS’ upcoming Sherlock Holmes-based detective series Elementary has been continuously compared to the similar hit BBC show, Sherlock. Both series feature a modern-day depiction of the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes and his assistant Dr. Watson – but essentially, that’s all the two really have in common.
In the midst of harsh rumors of bad blood between the two shows, as well as the potential of a lawsuit, the cast and producers of Elementary kept their comments on the comparison very amicable when asked about the subject at Comic-Con 2012. In a recent interview with Zap2it, Elementary executive producer Carl Beverly indicated that due to the show’s originality in character and writing style, he has no doubt Elementary will receive positive audience approval.
Said Beverly:
“I actually think it’s flattering. It was a little challenging at first. We knew that if we tried to do Sherlock Holmes 120 years later after a very successful BBC show, there would be a lot of skepticism. I think it’s a real testament to [creator Robert Doherty's] writing that there was no real fear… Provided, Rob has his own vision and can execute something new and fresh and interesting. I think the audiences really appreciate the effort and hopefully will gather around the show and love it as much as they love the BBC one.”
Elementary star Jonny Lee Miller (Sherlock Holmes) added to Beverly’s sentiment by saying:
“I was a big fan of [BBC’s Sherlock] before I ‘d even heard about this version. My best friend is in the movies. It all came down to if I felt ‘Is the story different enough?’ Yes. I do. It’s a completely different imagining and a different take for so many different reasons that I thought it was worth doing.”
Elementary creator Robert Doherty also commented on the perceived similarities between the two shows and made it clear that as a fan of the Sherlock Holmes genre, there’s plenty of the dazzling detective for everyone.
“If you aspire to the quality of the movies and television shows that have been created by people who love the characters, that’s the best place to be. Sherlock over the many, many, many, many, many years he’s been around, it’s been through many hands. It’s one of the reasons he’s so embedded in popular culture. Sherlock has big shoulders, and I think he can carry all of us.”
Still not convinced? Here are some quick story points from both BBC’s Sherlock and the CBS’ Elementary as to how the two differ:
The Setting
BBC: Sherlock lives with Dr. Watson at 221B Baker Street London where the series takes place.
CBS: Holmes lives alone in Brooklyn, New York, after being released for a rehab center
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Depiction of Sherlock Holmes
BBC: Both depict Holmes with his hallmark brilliance in deductions – but for the majority of the series, Sherlock works as a “Consulting Detective” who is frequently hired by Scotland Yard, but will also takes private cases if they inspire him. Although this Sherlock appears cleaner-cut and softer than the CBS version he is often very insensitive to those around him (especially other officers) and can come across downright rude. With a low tolerance for incompetence Sherlock openly ridicules even those close to him for their mistakes. While it is implied that this version of Holmes has a past with illegal-drugs, currently the only addiction he’s trying to overcome is to smoking as he finds the habit “impractical in present-day urban London”
CBS: This Holmes is a former consultant to Scotland Yard who travels to New York City to check into a rehabilitation center after becoming an addict due to his former life. CBS’s Holmes is less polished than the BBC’s with a scruffier appearance and also sports a heavily tattooed upper body. Despite the slightly rougher look, this Holmes seems “nicer” than his BBC counterpart although both exhibit the token unfiltered way of speaking.
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Depiction of Dr. Watson
BBC: Dr. John Watson (a white male) is a former military doctor who meets Sherlock when he’s in need of a flat-mate. Watson walks with a psychosomatic limp after being shot in Afghanistan and acts as Sherlock’s “blogger,” documenting all their cases.
CBS: Dr. Joan Watson (an Asian female) is a former ER surgeon hired by Holmes’ father to be his “sober companion.” She will help Holmes transition from rehab to his daily life. It is also indicated she has a past with addiction that may have played a part in her no longer being a surgeon.
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Holmes’ Police Liaison
BBC: Detective Inspector Greg Lestrade (see above) currently works for Scotland Yard and is the only officer to work directly with Sherlock. Lestrade has a reluctant “friendship” and a hidden respect for Sherlock, although he is often frustrated by Sherlock’s rudeness, cryptic deductions and his habit of withholding crime scene evidence.
CBS: Captain Tobias Gregson of the New York City Police Department did a stint with Scotland Yard a few years back where he met Holmes. Despite his drug-addict past, Gregson openly trusts Holmes and the two even appear to be more overtly friendly.
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Mycroft Holmes and other classic Sherlock Holmes Characters
BBC: Mycroft Holmes is Sherlock’s older brother and works at a high level of the British government. Even though the two brothers have a snooty relationship based on one-upmanship, Mycroft does show a great deal of concern and affection for his baby brother. Like Mycroft, other classic Holmes characters appear in the series – like the villainous Moriarty, the mysterious Irene Adler, and Holmes’ beloved landlady Mrs. Hudson – not only appear in the BBC rendition, but play a huge part in the series’ plot.
CBS: While not out of the realm of possibility, so far it doesn’t seem like Mycroft or any other classic Holmes characters will play a pivotal role in Elementary. CBS appears to be approaching Holmes at a new stage of his life, and while these characters may exist for Holmes, they are most likely being left back in England for now. But as everyone knows, it’s only a matter of time before Moriarty rears his malevolent head.
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Catch Elementary when it premieres Thursday, September 27th @ 10 pm on CBS.
Source: Zap2It
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They’re different. We get it. The only problem is Elementary is so different it’s no longer a Sherlock Holmes depiction. CBS has excised every detail that made the character of the detective & Dr Watson Conan Doyle’s creations. All that remains are the names – and not even that in the latter’s case.
Why not avoid all the controversy and call the characters something else? Oh, wait, then they couldn’t cash in on the BBC show’s popularity.
And for the record, the detective is always called Sherlock Holmes, or Holmes. ‘Sherlock’ is the copyrighted title of the BBC series.
Thank you! Exactly my thoughts. Why not call the characters John and Mary? Or better yet, Monk and Sharona because that’s basically who they are: a genius with issues and a past working for/with the cops – Holmes/Monk
*clicked ENTER too soon*
… and his nurse who couldn’t keep her job – Watson/Sharona.
Your argument would work better if Sherlock was as popular as you think. Sherlock has about 3 million viewers. Which is great for PBS. But by contrast, Dowton Abbey gets about 5.5 million people. So while Sherlock is really is a good take on the Holmes, it’s far more popular with TV junkies and critics than it is with the general public.
What in the world does Geri’s argument have to do with how many people watch Downton Abbey and Sherlock on PBS?
Geri correctly said, “CBS has excised every detail that made the character of the detective & Dr Watson Conan Doyle’s creations. All that remains are the names – and not even that in the latter’s case.” This would be true whether Elementary and Sherlock were watched by 100 million people, or by only two people.
The real antecedent of Elementary does appear to be Monk, as Timotey said. It’s obvious that the name of Sherlock Holmes is used only to get publicity by feeding off the movie and BBC versions of Holmes and Watson.
Elementary may turn out to be a fun and successful Monk remake, but as a retired school teacher, I do dislike the idea of young watchers believing this show has anything at all to do with Conan Doyles’ brilliant stories other than a detective who figures out cases by thinking about the evidence (as though there were really any other kind of detective).
Conan Doyle’s brilliant stories – Sorry: poor eyesight.
Look at the Elementary vs. Sherlock polls, then try to support this statement. -_-
Elementary was made simply for money, “Oh, BBC Sherlock did great! We can make a Sherlock story too, we want money!”
I think the US version is pretty entertaining, at times it’s a little much, and has potential. The thing is, you hit it right on the nose, the US isn’t even close to Sherlock Holmes, gone is his entertaining arrogance, cold detachment, and the fact that he’s always in control, even when he isn’t. The US version is all touchy feely, and Watson plays a little too big a part in the cases. Also, there’s never really any deduction. I like Elementary well enough, and will still watch it, just it’s not Sherlock Holmes. I’m surprised they didn’t make Holmes gay, or even a lesbian. They try to be too P.C. (which has it’s place) the problem is stories and shows often suffer from the gimmick (HEY WATSON IS A GIRL GET IT? ITS NOT YOUR FATHER’S SHERLOCK HOLMES) the show is supposed to be about the cases and how they’re solved.
Now the BBC one is another story, I could go on and on about how much I love it, but I won’t. I’ll Just say, now that’s how you update Sherlock Holmes.
I’m sorry but have you ever read Sherlock stories? Holmes in Elementary is in his personality closer to that of the books, though bbc Holmes is more on the mark with the his vigor and focus, but the rudeness and lack of kindness has nothing to do with the original Sherlock Holmes
Um, excuse me? But the Downey movies started even earlier than your beloved Sherlock series. So I would rather say BBC jumped on the money train as well.
Actually when the Sherlock film came out Mark and Steven were already writing it years beforehand and shooting it.. they just came out at different times
You’re right ^. They had been thinking about it for years before the show hit the air.
Anything starring Lucy Liu should be avoided like the plague.
I saw ‘Lucky Number Slevin’ again, she did okay for such a small part.
I had a crush on her in that! She’s fine, at least they didn’t make act like they did in that horrible Star Trek updated series, where all the women are practically snapping their fingers and saying, “Uh Uh I AM a woman!”
I liked Kill Bill.
BBC: Amazing show. Possibly one of the greatest re-imaginings of any character for any time period.
CBS: Some POS that will ring hollow and be cancelled after 14 grueling episodes.
Proved very, very wrong
The bbc version. Is pure greatness. And it greatly saddens me that it’s going to be butchered by this CBS version. And you don’t need to be Sherlock to see this one coming!
The CBS version is typical network crap. It’s entertaining in a pinch, but has nothing to do with Sherlock Holmes. And nothing can tarnish the brilliant BBC version. I loved the show, then the ending of season 2 episode 1, had me thinking “YEAH! THAT’S RIGHT YOU DO NOT MESS WITH THE HOLMES MEISTER GENERAL!”
BBC version so great
I like Lucy Liu and I’m curious to see the CBS version.
Mind you I love the BBC one.
But I think people should keep an open mind and have a look at the CBS version before hating it just on the basis that it’s different from traditional Sherlock Holmes.
It would be difficult to get close to beating BBC’s Sherlock.. CBS have a massive job on there hands to convince viewers to watch both series when Sherlock already exists and has such a large and loyal fanbase. As updated characters go in recent years its the high water mark too, to try and repeat that with the same characters would seem optimistic at best.
You’re making an assumption that CBS needs to get fans of Sherlock to watch Elementary when that’s not necessarily true. All it needs to do is get it’s NCIS/Hawaii 5-0 audience to watch.
PBS gets about 3 million people to watch Sherlock. Good for PBS but that’s basically nothing for CBS. NCIS sometimes gets around 20 million and 5-0 around 12 million (I think).
The people who enjoy Sherlock (BBC) are not (well the majority of whom) the same people will watcth ANYTHING on network television.
Personally I hate the us vs them feel the comparisons force people to make. Sherlock Holmes existed well before BBC or CBS got their hands on him and will continue to does so regardless of how well/poor either of these do in the long run. That said, I do wish CBS had kept Watson’s military history; I always felt like it was an important part of his character.
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The arguments against Elementary would be stronger if 1) more people watched it and 2) we got more than 3 TV movies every 2+ years. And lets be honest, the first movie from this last batch was pretty good, but Hounds was a slog to get through and Reichenbach was predictable (but to be fair I guess, it’s premise or reveal has become a TV/Movie staple).
Ridiculous.Just plain ridiculous.Why on Earth would i spend good, quality time to watch this crap? I’d rather watch the movies all over again.
The thing Is a lot of people have NOT seen “Sherlock” because it Is on PBS. Many regular t.v. viewers just don’t get around to watching much on PBS. Publicity tho is a big deal. “Downton Abbey” is known to a lot more people who have seen it because it is seen everywhere in magazines and mentions on t.v.
“Mad Men” and “Breaking Bad” and some of the others that you see so much on do not have large ratings. They don’t have anything like network ratings.
“Elementary” will do well because its in a good time slot and will have a Lot of publicity. Many will possibly hear of “Sherlock” for the first time or the first time they noticed when reading about “Elementary”.
But there are DVD’s and Netflix. Just read a tweet from Josh Gad who said he just finished watching “Sherlock” for the first time. Watch it! It’s amazing” he said. Am sure other shows i mentioned also are seen first on dvd or netflix.
The publicity for Sherlock has been pretty much non-existent. A few reviews and a mention here and there, but if you blinked you missed it. That in the U.S. of course – in Britain and other countries it’s very popular and the publicity is excellent.
Oh, there was the PBS get-togther with Steven and Sue and Benedict that had 10,000 request for tickets for a 400 seat theater so there certainly IS a popularity with it. Numerous shows come and go and that’s about it, so you can’t say that about “Sherlock” and feel as time goes on more people will be checking it out.
The people who love it LOVE IT and appreciate they are able to see one of the greatest actors of our time (or maybe any). Of course the show isn’t going to be for everyone but i’ve introduced the show to a number of people and they have thanked me and said how much they loved it.
Just hope CBS doesn’t overdue the -look how brilliant we are – and to please tell Lucy she is not the first woman to play the character of Watson.
I couldn’t agree more, Barbara.
Though PBS’s viewership doesn’t match CBS, it should be remembered that Sherlock has also been viewed on Netflix, DVD and via any number of other less-legal methods. The 13 Emmy nominations it just received can’t hurt audience numbers either.
It’s also worth remembering that CBS hopes to sell their product beyond the US and Sherlock is massively popular world wide. I understand just this week the series has aired in Japan, some South America countries and Finland. It’s already broken records in France, Germany and most of the countries of the former Soviet Union to name but a few. Birthday messages to Mr Cumberbatch came from places as diverse as Korea, Vietnam and China in addition to most European countries and, yes, the US. It’s safe to assume the vast majority of those fans love Sherlock as much as its star.
Finally, something I forgot to mention in my initial post: Scotland Yard (more accurately NEW Scotland Yard) is a building. London police officers work for the Metropolitan Police.
I watched the first episode at Comic-Con and I liked it a lot. You should give it a try.
I was sorely disappointed with Elementary. The first episode was dire. The american version of Sherlock is badly dumbed down and the puzzle presented to him in the american version was not worth is time.
The bbc version, has the Sir Conan Boyle theme. It presents puzzles that test Holmes interlect. That push him to show his true talent.
Although I don’t believe the USA version is going to improve. With the hour long CBS play times, it will never have the slow patient buildup of the bbc version. Unless he USA version drastically changes its format. It will be a poorly made rip off.
sherlock is, in my opinion, one of the best creations within the last 10 years. I like all the sherlock movies, but what makes the seris so special is that its set in modern times. the fact that elementry in also set in modern times takes away that one unique quality that sherlock had. It is irrelevent that Dr. Watson is a female, all they have done by making Dr. Watson a female, is giving the show an unnecessary quality, that will make it differnt from shelock. Sherlock will always be better, i still havent got over the .last episode of season 2.
uhmm… Sherlock was recommended by a friend. I watched it from Series 1 -2. It’s very good and i totally love it. I can’t even remember how many times i watched each episodes. Then I came across in a blog that CBS has also its own version. I also tried to watch it, i stopped without finishing the first episode. Why? maybe because i found it boring, coz I am just comparing it with Sherlock. Then, I refreshed a bit and try not to think of BBC’s Shelock. So i set my mind to delete Sherlock memories in my head, i watched it again, CBS’s Elementary. I find it interesting. It’s good. The only problem is they only used the names of the characters of Sir Doyle’s stories, not the story itself. If i have to vote which is better? My vote if for BBC’s Sherlock. That’s it.
I don’t mind Elementary’s version of Holmes himself (The portrayal of the character is probably the only other way that Holmes could be transplanted into modern day without changing the character) but the problem lies with the fact that Elementary is not a Sherlock Holmes TV show, instead it’s a crime show which just happens to have Sherlock Holmes in it. All in all, Watson is a different character, and the only other character in this show from the original series (so far) is Gregson.
I haven’t seen much of Elementary, but are the episodes even adapted from Conan Doyle stories, Actually I hope they do at least try and do that, rather than just making it just a generic crime show with Sherlock Holmes in it.
By any standards, Elementary is a watchable (but not great) crime show if you forget it’s Sherlock Holmes. On the other hand Sherlock is better acted and directed, and it’s probably close to what the Sherlock Holmes stories would’ve been like if Conan Doyle was alive in the 21st century.
I’m from the US and I watched the Sherlock series a few months before Elementary aired. I loved Sherlock and while it is frustrating how few episodes there are and how long we have to wait in between there really is no comparison to Elementary. I like Elementary but as someone else stated it is a crime drama that Sherlock Homes happens to be in. I recently watched the Adventures of Sherlock Homes and of course those are great but I think I prefer Sherlock. It is modern and the length of the episodes really makes it possible to in depth. If you compare the two of course you wont like Elementary but they both are good. I like the female Watson but it really takes away from the authenticity. A large part of the actual novels is the whole 2 men living together deal. Also Elementary should have shown more of Watsons writings even if its just the sober companion logs or whatever that is a big part of Sherlock (Watsons blogs)O yea and where is Misses Hudson? Sherlock is infinitely more authentic and really is much better but I don’t think CBS could have done too much more with 42-44 minute episodes. My advice is don’t compare them and enjoy both if you can.
I grew up reading Sherlock Holmes and I actually like Elementary better than Sherlock, because CBS’s Holmes is more mature. Sherlock is more of a manchild (more than canon), it makes me think “Sheldon Cooper as a Detective”. Sherlock is an AU prequel to canon, since, in canon when we met Holmes, he was already a gentleman, in Baskervilles, Watson note that Holmes had the cleaniness of a cat, that even when he was living among the rocks he kept himself in clean shirts, AND he prefers bread and ham to fish and chips.
…and while I like Moffat, Sherlock doesn’t seem very LIKABLE. Sherlock Holmes was UNUSAL, but he was likable, lovable, NOT a sociopath! (and can’t see him using that as a comeback). I love the stories when I grew up, because Holmes was deeply compassionate, he was unconventional, in Dickensonian England he doesn’t let social convention get in his way of solving crimes and being an actual conscientious being who follow the SPIRIT of the law.
Elementary is like a sequel set in an AU, it’s not just the time period, Elementary is a Holmes that didn’t mean his Nakama (Watson) until after he left London. Elementary was a more mature Holmes who in spite of being strange, but because he grew up in a more tolerant time, at least got his act together enough to be able to live on his own, and at one point, be in a romantic /relationship/ with Irene Addler. Oh, Spoilers for last night’s episode, “M”:
When Holmes told Watson that he was going to kill M, his mannerism sends chill down my spine, he wasn’t calm beneath his coolness at all! And that baton swing! YES! Let’s remember that canon Holmes knows judo and did kickboxing, he was NOT actually Sheldon Cooper!
bbc Sherlock wins hands down its much more entertaining good two excellent plus good cast
I thought I would enjoy Elementary because I’ve liked Johnny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu in the past. I’ve even enjoyed male/female crime fighting team shows like Bones and Castle (which I figured it would be more like than the BBC Sherlock). So far I’ve watched two entire episodes and a couple minutes of a couple others. It was boring. I’ve liked Aidan Quinn in the past, but Gregson is a boring character. Sherlock and Joan have no chemistry. I don’t need them to fall in love, but there should be some friendship or some kind of complimentary spark. There have been times where it’s obvious the creative staff of the show is trying to be funny and I just don’t laugh. There are times when there should be tension or sadness and I don’t feel it. Lucy Liu and Johnny Lee Miller seem like they’re sleep walking, and they are both better than their performances. There are also obvious red herrings. In both episodes I watched, the actually killers tried to throw Sherlock off their scent and he fell for it. There were a lot of things I didn’t like about the Guy Ritchie films, but I loved the performances of Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. They had great chemistry. I absolutely because addicted to the BBC show when Sherlock first invites John to the crime scene. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman are perfection. They are effortlessly funny in the comic relief moments. The friendship between Sherlock and John is beautiful. I love the moments when they realize the insanity of their situation and laugh about it or their emotional moments where they obviously care for and get each other despite being very different people. Even when they are angry with each other, their friendship is strong. I don’t feel that at all with Sherlock and Joan on Elementary. Sherlock BBC also had great supporting characters like Mrs. Hudson, Lestrade, Molly, and Mycroft. The show has great stories, great characters, great action, great suspense, great humor, and great mystery.
Judging by the Elementary trailer, I think they may have been trying a little too hard to get make sure that Elementary isn’t perceived as an american version of Sherlock. From what I can tell, there’s hardly anything left of the books/films/tv show. Still, I am just going by the trailer so who am I to judge and if you like Elementary then by all means, go and watch it. When I get a chance, I will too but I don’t have the highest of hopes.
This forum keeps updating me with emails for some reason. I add my 2 pence worth.
I caught an episode of Elementary. Still as bad as I remember. An americanized take on a british classic. Whoever came up with the dumb idea of setting a victorian story masterpeice in modern New York should have a serious talking to. It does not work.
The charm and the sophistication of the Doyle’s creations is lost among the skyscrapers and plastic hollywood sets.
CBS! If you are going to plagerise british classics. Try Harder!
I like “Elementary” even if it is “Monk – Mark 2″ and not Sherlock Holmes canon. In fact, I look for TV episodes that have clever “puzzles” to solve or something that I haven’t seen before in a crime/detective TV show. I don’t get that with BBC “Sherlock” because most of it’s mystery storylines are reworkings of the Conan Doyle stories, although I really liked the first episode. I prefer BBC’s “Jonathan Creek” to another retelling of “Hound of the B…”. OK, I’m not going to see “Jonathan Creek” from any American TV network. So I’ll settle for “Elementary” now that “Monk” and “House” are no more. ps. Because I can’t get enough of “Elementary” I’ve been watching other TV shows that are vaguely like “Elementary” that I may not have bothered with before, eg. “Eli Stone” and “Perception”. Are there any others ? (pps. “the Mentalist” is OK but the “Red John” backstory isn’t really what I want to see).
I consider myself a huge fangirl of Sherlock Holmes. I think I was in eight grade when I first started reading the books and I have been in love ever since. So if I hear about any production of the books I’m usually pretty geeked! (I squealed when I saw the previews for Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes). Unfortunately I did not like Elementary as much as Sherlock. Its not the setting, or the deductions; it is Joan.
It was hard for me to get my head around the female Watson idea and its not that Im anti-woman being that I myself am female. I guess in my mind the Holmes/Watson dynamic is supposed to represent fraternal friendship or in other words a relationship without romance as many pieces of literature during his time (and now) seem to over use as a plotline.
It seems inevitable that Elementary will use the availability of Watson as a woman in order to facilitate a romantic storyline which is annoying and stereotypical of American Television. Although some could say that BBC’s Sherlock pokes at this storyline as well (John Watson has to defend his heterosexuality several times in the series), BBC’s Sherlock (so far) seems closer to the relationship that Doyle envisioned.