CBS says their new 'Sherlock Holmes' is not like the BBC's version. Honest

CBS seems to want to convince critics that it’s merely a coincidence –and not whole sale rip-off - that they’ve announced a new, updated, modern version of Sherlock Holmes on the heels of two successful runs of Sherlock, the updated, modern take on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary detective airing on the BBC (and in May on PBS) created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss(Doctor Who) and starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. 

Nope.

Elementary is their version and is set in modern day New York and will star Jonny Lee Miller as Sherlock Holmes. And to make sure that there can be no other comparisons, CBS announced that Lucy Liu will play Dr. Joan Watson. By casting a woman in what was always been a traditionally male role the Tiffany network is hoping to avoid any potential litigious issue with the British Broadcast Company. Because it appears that broadcast network did approach the producers of that BBC show, according to executive producer Sue Vertueey, “CBS approached us a while back about remaking our show. At the time, they made great assurances about their integrity, so we have to assume that their modernized Sherlock Holmes doesn’t resemble ours in any way, as that would be extremely worrying.”

With that idea, it seems CBS will at least try to shake up the formula by casting Liu, but beyond that, all that is known is this version of Sherlock Holmes is a former detective that TV Guide also calls "a recovering addict and consultant for the NYPD."