Watching The Detectives

I went wayyy back to the late 1970's to steal this title from an Elvis Costello tune. I must say that it holds up well over the years, but that's not what I'm wasting words on today...it's TV. I just finished rewatching the final episode in this season's best new television drama, "Elementary".. I've never read any of the Sherlock Holmes novels, never saw the movie in it's entirety, but I havce to say that the cast and writing of this show are top notch. I've also been watching a nother relatively new drama on ABC which is less than stellar, " Body Of Proof". It stars Dana Delaney as a washed up surgeon who becomes a medical examiner. It's a shallow effort to cash in on the success of the CSI series. I like dana Delaney from her days on "China Beach" but the writing is lame and the plots stick closely to a specific formula, so that you can practically fill in the rest of the show once you've seen the first fifteen minutes. The characters are irritiating, and every week I ask myself why I watch the show, but I do, so shoot me. "Elementary is filmed in New York, at least it looks as if it is, so that  gains extra points on my criteria list. The characters are riveting, and not in the least bit hokey unlike many television dramas.  It features Lucy Liu, who I first saw on the Fox dramedy " Ally McBeal" and she plays the part of Watson as good as TV can allow. Sherlock Holmes has moved to New York after his heroin habit gets out of hand and his father  hires Dr. Watson, a failed surgeon to be his rehabilitation "mentor" for lack of a better word, to oversee his return to health.  He works as a consultant for the NYPD. There is sexual tension between them, but they haven't become lovers and this is a perfect formula for keeping the show going. Romantic interest would leave a limited number of plot exits, and good writers know that. Both Holmes and Watson have their quirks, but they both are appealing in their own annoying ways. The plots have twists that you don't see coming and they are inventive and entertaining. I know that it has been renewed for the 2013/14 season and I can't wait to see what happens next. " Body of Proof" has also been re-upped, and I can pretty much figure out what is going to happen next, and I don't particularly care.