Telemystery: CBS Orders Pilot for Elementary, Sherlock Holmes in Manhattan

It was probably inevitable but still …

What with the success of BBC's contemporary remake of the Sherlock Holmes' stories in London — and no doubt in part also to the popularity of the two recent "Sherlock Holmes" films starring Robert Downey Jr. — CBS has just ordered a pilot for … we probably don't even need to finish that statement; you already know what's coming.

Yes, CBS has ordered a pilot for Elementary, a "modern take on the cases of Sherlock Holmes, with Sherlock now living in New York City."

Ugh.

If they're going to do this, at least do it differently. Give us a twist. But this sounds exactly like the superb BBC series Sherlock, simply substituting Manhattan for London.

Here's a thought: Rather than spend the money on a pilot, offer to produce more episodes of Sherlock and then license them to air in the US. No … that would be too — wait for it — elementary.

Let's hope that if the Elementary pilot is picked up to series at least someone has the sense to change the name.

(Related article: The Hollywood Reporter.)