Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 28, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Series

Elementary (TV series)

Elementary is an American procedural comedy-drama television series that offers a modern update of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories.

Updated July 28, 20261 min readCited sources

Elementary is an American procedural comedy-drama that updates Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories for modern-day New York City. Created by Robert Doherty, it aired on CBS for seven seasons from 2012 to 2019.

What it is

The series follows Sherlock Holmes (Jonny Lee Miller) after he relocates to New York City and works as a consultant for the NYPD. Joan Watson (Lucy Liu) starts as his sober companion and becomes his investigative partner. The show reimagines Dr. John Watson as Dr. Joan Watson and sets the action in present-day New York instead of Victorian London.

Key details

Elementary ran for seven seasons and 154 episodes on CBS, premiering on September 27, 2012 and concluding on August 15, 2019. The main cast also included Aidan Quinn and Jon Michael Hill. The series was distributed on major streaming platforms and international broadcasters, including Global in Canada.

Why it matters

Elementary is notable for its contemporary, gender-swapped take on the classic Holmes-Watson partnership. It earned a solid fanbase and critical attention for its character-driven mystery-solving, and its Canadian availability on Global made it accessible to viewers across the country.

In short

  • Modern-day Sherlock Holmes adaptation set in New York City.
  • Dr. Watson is reimagined as Dr. Joan Watson, played by Lucy Liu.
  • Aired 7 seasons and 154 episodes on CBS (2012–2019).
  • Aired in Canada on Global and later streaming platforms.
Canadian angle

Elementary aired in Canada on Global, according to the French-language Wikipedia entry, and was also available through Canadian streaming and TV platforms in later distribution windows.[13][11]

Quick questions

What is Elementary about?
It follows Sherlock Holmes and Joan Watson as they solve crimes for the NYPD in modern-day New York City.
Who created Elementary?
Elementary was created by Robert Doherty.
How many seasons and episodes does it have?
The series ran for 7 seasons and 154 episodes.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elementary_(TV_series)
    Supports: Created by Robert Doherty; starring Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu; CBS run from 2012 to 2019; 154 episodes; New York City setting.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Elementary_episodes
    Supports: Series premiered on September 27, 2012; ended after seven seasons on August 15, 2019; 154 episodes total.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2191671/
    Supports: Modern adaptation premise; Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu casting; Sherlock Holmes and Joan Watson relationship.
  4. Wikipedia (French) — https://www.google.com/search?q=site%3Afr.wikipedia.org+Elementary+s%C3%A9rie+t%C3%A9l%C3%A9vis%C3%A9e
    Supports: Canadian broadcast on Global; adaptation of Sherlock Holmes; 154 episodes over seven seasons.
  5. TV Guide — https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/elementary/1030561039/
    Supports: 2012-2019 run, 7 seasons, CBS, genre and New York crime-solving premise.