DEVELOPMENT NEWS:
... CBS loves procedurals that feature hard-nosed sleuths, whether those hard-nosed sleuths are in the Navy (NCIS), Miami (CSI: Miami), or just too darned handsome for words (The Mentalist). But who is the best sleuth of all time? That's elementary, it's Sherlock Holmes, holmes. CBS is developing a modern-day take on the character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Unforgettable and A Gifted Man EPs Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly will executive produce. [Deadline Hollywood]
... USA, home of hour-long dramas Burn Notice and Psych, is trying its hand at half-hour comedies. First up in the development pipeline is a project for Nathan Lane about a Broadway hopeful who puts his career dreams on hold to tend to his ailing father in Texas. Next is Paging Dr. Freed, which follows two brothers who inherit their dad's medical practice after he croaks. Sounds like a pretty slow start. [THR]
... Without a Trace and The Defenders showrunner Greg Walker has sold a project to CBS based on the book Red on Red by Edward Conlon. The story is about a detective, just as every show on CBS is about a detective of some sort. This one's asked to tattle on his new partner, a legend in the force. [Deadline Hollywood]
... Lifetime has ordered ten episodes of 24 Hour Catwalk, a new fashion competition show in which designers create something in one day. It will be hosted by Alexa Chung, and the three judges will be people I've never heard of because I haven't worn real pants in years. [Deadline Hollywood]
... TNT is developing Tom Clancy's Homeland Security, a procedural from the famous military thriller author. The drama features special agents who battle terrorist threats both inside and outside the United States. [Variety]
... Fox is working with Jennifer Lopez and Ugly Betty creator Silvio Horta on a family dramedy about three sisters in a Latino family. Get this: The idea for the show came from Fox boss Kevin Reilly. So the network president comes up with an idea, then hires a singer and the man whose claim to fame is that he adapted an idea from another country to executive produce it? If this gets past the cocktail napkin stage, I'll be impressed. [Deadline Hollywood]
... Bill Lawrence makes TV shows. That's what he does. The Scrubs creator has sold another project, this time to Fox. It's based on his own life and revolves around a father-son relationship. [Deadline Hollywood]
CASTING NEWS:
... Michael J. Fox is returning to The Good Wife for a handful of episodes this season to reprise his role as Alicia's nemesis Louis Canning. Have you ever noticed that Michael J. Fox has gone through life with just one hairstyle? It's incredible! [TV Line]
... Bones has cast Andrew Leeds (Dirt, Nip/Tuck) as its season-long bad guy. He'll play a hacker/activist who somehow manages to kill people while under house arrest. [TV Line]
UNNECESSARY NEWS WE'RE INCLUDING ANYWAY:
... The Playboy Club star Laura Benanti is posing for Playboy, the magazine! Ahh-OOOOOO-GA! But she won't be nude. Booo. But the issue, which will feature other nude women, is going throwback with a 60-cent pricetag! Cha-Ching! Various other cartoonish sound effects! [TV Line]
... If you were thinking the world isn't going completely to Hell, this should fix that. Bravo is partnering with ConAgra Foods to produce a line of Top Chef-branded frozen entrees. See you in hell, everybody! [Broadcasting & Cable]
Follow TV.com writer Tim Surette on Twitter: @TimAtTVDotCom
Good Luck getting veiws...
American Sherlock. Pfft.
Don't do it. PLEASE. You won't be able to beat the BBC SHERLOCK. Ever. Reason? You won't find anyone better than the cast and crew they have.
If CBS is interested in a modern Sherlock Holmes, why doesn't it look into rebroadcasting Steven Moffat's BBC series, like the network broadcast Secret Agent and The Prisoner and ABC carried The Avengers back in the '60s or (for a more recent example) the Dexter series if content is an issue?
I've always thought that House was America's Sherlock, after all it's based on Sherlock Holmes. I think CBS is making the wrong move. I don't think i'll buy into an American Sherlock (except House's character) after all Sherlock is an iconic British character. Also aren't there already so many consultant-detective shows. Castle, Bones to name a few. Stop it CBS just stop.
Goddammit America! Stop ruining everything that comes from the UK! Sherlock Holmes is next??? This is unbelievable!
Just a suggestion. Maybe someone should think about revamping Washington Irving's Ichabod Crane. Oh, they're doing something alike in Grimm..........................
Is CBS trying to kid a kid? Are they serious? WOW just keep talking CBS, you're lowering the IQ of the whole street. Just when I thought this network was doing good, it does something incredibly stupid! Haven't they learned? Look at Starz trying to do another King Arthur story with Camelot and that didn't work out while BBC's Merlin is still thriving. That's the same dark future awaiting whatever new "modern" CBS Sherlock Holmes. BBC has already got the brilliant show for it, don't even try CBS.
Old rubbish re-wrapped with a bow. Honesty. Which accountant comes up with these ideas? With a bit of luck, this contemporary, non addicted, clean and nice American, probably with girlfriend, will keep his name : Sherlock Holmes. What's the point? BBC just did it. And it clashes with Guy Ritchie's version.
Haven't CBS already done that and called it the Mentalist?
Patrick Jane is a consulting detective and has many of 'Sherlock's' traits and observational skills and has his own Moriarty known as Red John.
Please, they're not going to be able to top BBC's version. That version is written by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, it's an incredibly clever take on the original Sherlock canon, and it's practically a love letter to the city of London.
The CBS version will likely take place in New York or LA, on the off chance it's set in London, they'll likely have an American city standing in (and failing) and American actors trying to do British accents (and failing). Whomever plays the lead characters would constantly be held up against Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, and that just wouldn't end well. CBS, stick to what you're doing best and just leave Sherlock alone.
BBC did it first and better. After what happened to Torchwood, I really wish my country would leave my favorite shows alone already!
So Sherlock is going to be a high flying and American consulting detective living in, let me guess, New York?
Will he live at 221b Baker appartment complex?
Madness.
CBS shouldn't even bother with a Sherlock remake. BBC has done it and in all probability will be unbelievably better than anything the americans can dish out. BBC Sherlock is AMAZING.
It's too bad the PBS already got rights to BBC Sherlock. It would've been nice if the show got a wider venue than it ended up getting, because the show is brilliant. I'm willing to give an american version a try, though.
Pointless. The BBC Sherlock is excellent. And available in the U.S.
A modern day Sherlock Holmes eh? I wonder where they got that idea from. Do the Americans have any ideas of their own?
What's the point in Sherlock Holmes? BBC already has "Sherlock" which is pretty awesome, series 2 coming in 2012.
how's about making a civil war era cop show procedural... WITH ALIENS?!?!
When I read "modern-day Sherlock Holmes," I immediately thought of the UK show aptly named Sherlock. I hope the CBS series is as good as Sherlock. ... More detective shows? It's a good thing that I love detective shows.
great news all around, awesome
NO!! THe US should just step back and make their own goddamn original shows! Leave Sherlock to the BBC!
Can they REALLY not think for themselves? I thought the US was meant to be the most 'powerful and the best' country in the world! (yeah right!)
All the Americans know is how to steal British shows and Americanize it! and on top of that air it for themselves and the rest of the world before it airs in the show's HOME COUNTRY!!
At least they havent stolen Moffat's Sherlock and tried to Americanize it!
Man, you're really bitter about the American X-Factor, aren't you?
The US doesn't hasn't had any real success turning Holmes into a TV series (at least not since the 50s). The British do a great job of it though. In fact the US has a poor record of handling British material in general. (Life on Mars, Torchwood, etc.)
Torchwood was created by Russell T Davies, head writer of the Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant eras of Doctor Who. Torchwood was just aired in the US. I don't think the show was revived into a different version.
But I see what you're saying and I agree.
I enjoyed the US-version of Life On Mars until the last episode. The finale was more 'WTF?" than entertaining. That pissed me off, not that the US made their own version.
The BBC's Sherlock is superior entertainment, but perhaps CBS was worried that they'd need to use subtitles? Why are U.S. networks so determined to do remakes instead of importing quality shows? The Danish version of "The Killing" was sold around the world (with subtitles as appropriate) except in the U.S., where a pale remake was made.
Add a comment..... CBS loves procedurals that feature hard-nosed sleuths, whether those hard-nosed sleuths are in the Navy (NCIS), Miami (CSI: Miami), or just too darned handsome for words (The Mentalist). But who is the best sleuth of all time? That's elementary, it's Sherlock Holmes, holmes. CBS is developing a modern-day take on the character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Unforgettable and A Gifted Man EPs Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly will executive produce. [Deadline Hollywood]
...sorry too little too late, go check out the real re-visioning of the intrepid SH with the UK version (all hail) of Sherlock. A sensible, serious, cerebral (US networks you may need to look that word up ) update of the Conan-Doyle Classic.
Do wish American TV folks would come up with their own ideas and not copy/buy the UK ones. I suppose the format has been put up for sale, so it's fare game. Good luck with it CBS you got quite a challenge on your grubby little hands there.
Despite CBS being one of my favorite networks, there's no way their Sherlock will be better than BBC's remake. It's just to well-made. I love the new drama TNT is developing because I'm a fan of Tom Clancy's spy novels and TNT as a network. I also like the new villain for Bones. Sounds interesting.
I hope you CBS suits hired Moffat for Sherlock.
No! Moffat has his own series to do back in the UK. The Americans will not steal him too!
Give it your best shot CBS, no way in hell your going to better the BBC version.
I say good luck to the CBS, no way can they beat the recent BBC remake.
If Bill Lawrence made a show, its probably gonna be great. Also...enough with the cop shows.
I see quite a few others have said this already, but I have to chime in:
CBS, import BBC's "Sherlock!" instead. It's brilliant, and there's no way you can beat it.
I have noticed that about Michael J. Fox and his hair but hey if it works why not! The new Bones bad guy doesn't sound very imaginative - Anyone else missing Gormogon and The Grave Digger?
Agreed the new Brit show called "Sherlock" is simply amazing! Benedict Cumberbatch & Martin Freeman are just perfect! I dare CBS to find anybody as talented as them!
So this modern version of Sherlock is exactly like the British TV series "Sherlock" which started last autumn? Order the one from the UK, it's quite - well, not just quite but very - good. There is no chance that CBS will top the British version on its own.
Unless they actually go for a modern version and turn Sherlock to a female version (like "Sherry" or something). That I would watch! An extremely brilliant female detective with her trusty BFF Dr. Watson. I haven't seen anything like that on TV. Why do they keep pushing these shows about quirky male characters all the time? I wish it was time for a female version of Sherlock. The reason female actresses do not get any really challenging characters is because all these slightly weird and peculiar characters are always given to men. Taking about cops or detectives we have for example: Columbo, The Mentalist, Monk, Charlie Crews (from Life) etc. I would finally like to see a female detective who has something like OCD, Tourette's, who is obnoxious but brilliant. The only problems all these strong yet flawed female detective characters on TV have, are still family related.moreless
Well, Bones is probably the one that comes closest; from a European perspective she's "exentric", but I guess for Americans she has to be REALLY weird, being a scientific-minded atheist with some seriously broken social antennas.
Come to think of it, Castle has a tough, smart, female detective with a bestie doctor sidekick, also.
You want a tough, smart, female detective with a bestie doctor sidekick? That show is called "Rizzoli & Isles".
One thing American TV does better than British...ONE THING... is making a "season" last more than 8 episodes or so.
Your right about the length of seasons, and I'd love a longer season of Sherlock. But if only 3 episodes a season means 90-minute episodes and a writer like Steven Moffat, I'll take it!
Well, I watch Bones, Castle and Rizzoli & Isles, and I enjoy the tough female characters very much. But what I meant was that I hope they would be even more eccentric, as so many male characters are.
Beckett in Castle is simply a tough female cop but otherwise normal, nothing special about that. Isles in Rizzoli & Isles is a little bit of a perfectionist but still normal. Bones is coming close to the kind of female character I would like to see on screen, but she is still in my mind somewhat normal. I'm talking about a character like Monk. How amazing would it be to have a great female actress playing a detective with a severe OCD? Pick your favourite actress and imagine her doing that. I've never seen a female character like that before. Sherlock might seem to be quite normal too, but he is exceptionally brilliant and knows how a crime happened pretty much just by looking at a crime scene. He also uses cocaine and other substances and can be quite unfriendly towards others. When are we going to see a female character like that? I'm just saying that is seems like many male characters are made to push the limit, while many female characters are more subdued and seem like they are held back. There are so many female actresses I would like to see take over boundary-pushing roles, but I never get to see them. For example, off the top of my head I can come up with three famous mentally challenged characters in movies, all played by men: Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man, Leonardo Di Caprio in What's Eating Gilbert Grape and Sean Penn in I Am Sam. But I can't come up with any female characters like that, at least famous ones. And how about ruthless, psychopathic serial-killers? Yes, there are a few female ones, but they are far outnumbered by the male ones. I would like to see more women getting roles like that, e.g. one of my favourites Cate Blanchett.
That's why I would like to see a female version of Sherlock. Because it would definitely be a different kind of female role.moreless
Well 'tis not about quantity but QUALITY! LOL!
A sherlock that probably wont even sound british, how bizarre. By the way they listed Psych as a Drama, and here i always thought it was a comedy.