Selling My Books on the Streets of Brooklyn 9/28 - Elementary

I watched two new prime time shows last night. Last Resort aired on ABC at eight. TV veteran Andre Braugher stars as the Captain of a U.S. submarine directed to launch missiles at Pakistan. When he seeks confirmation of the order, his ship is fired upon by another American ship, suggesting that rogue elements have taken over parts of the Navy and that a civil war has begun. I hope this doesn’t descend into a right wing nuts vs. left wing heroes thing. The first episode was directed by Martin Campbell, who has had great success in action films: Goldeneye (1995), The Mask of Zorro (1998), Vertical Limit (2000) and Casino Royale (2006). I noticed at the show's web site that the next episode is directed by someone else. I was so startled by the premise I’m not sure what to think of it right now. Robert Patrick, the android in the second Terminator film, has a supporting role.

Sherlock Holmes is one of the most enduring fictional characters in the history of western literature. Robert Downey and Jude Law have starred in two recent films about the quirky detective with ingenious powers of deduction. PBS has effectively brought Holmes into modern London in a mini series. And now CBS has brought him to modern New York and partnered him with a female Watson, played by the beautiful Lucy Liu. Jonny Lee Miller, a veteran of many British productions, stars and Aidan Quinn is in support as an NYPD detective. The show is off to a solid start. Fortunately, the hero’s thoughts and speech don’t fly quite as fast as they do in the BBC version starring Benedict Cummerbatch (what a great name). He does share the same massive ego, which may make viewers wonder how anyone, especially Watson, can stand his presence for very long. Case in point: She attends an opera, solo, and Holmes enters all agog about evidence and rudely makes his way toward her seat. He ignores the shushes of the audience and has the audacity to call someone on his cell phone. This was taking character development too far. It's clear that he is a neurotic unable to control his impulses. I thought it would have been better if Watson had slapped her palm across his mouth and whispered: “Wait until this act is over.” As it was, he should have been pummeled by the males in attendance. Other than that scene, I enjoyed it. CBS is giving Elementary great backing, airing it right after the popular Person of Interest. The Mentalist has been moved to Sundays at ten.

Showers had me try my luck in the shelter of the viaduct on Avenue Z. While a surprising number of people passed, none were interested in buying books.

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