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"Joanna Robinson loved “Ally McBeal,” though not Calista Flockhart "

Thought it was just me. Flockhart was the least interesting person on that show, but I LOVED nearly everyone else.

Pluck. I was kind of excited for Johnny Lee Miller as Holmes, but this has totally screwed the pooch for me.

This angers me to a point where I can no longer coherently express my rage. So, without further ado: otrwighwriowhywhywhyiurehgpqur.

I thought she did a good job playing against type in Lucky Number Slevin. That was the title right? The Magnificent Slevin? I don't remember, but whatever it was called, she was cute in it.

@Feynmangroupie Lucy is Watson, not Holmes. But if she were Holmes I might want to watch it.

The header photo makes your argument (and all others for eternity) invalid.

gasp.

Yes, depending on how they play it this could be pretty good! Besides the argument that Cumberbatch/Freeman have made all other Sherlock adaptations irrelevant, I can't think of any good reason Lucy Liu shouldn't be Watson. Why not go way out? And she is so beautiful. She's actually in my Forever Freebie... 15 (Women Edition).

Even when she plays sociopathic bitches, Lucy Liu is just too damn cute.

also, it´s hard to pinpoint but something in your story doesn´t seem quite consistent, jan :)

Also, Rachel, you might want to get that rascism checked out.

Rob,

It's not racism to point out that Lucy Liu plays into roles that are very pleasing to white men, an action that generally has been a reliable way for Asian-American women to "move up" in the US.

I'm an Asian-American woman, and I'm constantly approached (harassed is more like it) by white guys who think they're doing me a big favor by "rescuing" me from men of my own race. It's infuriating.

Women like Lucy Liu don't help.

Watson and Holmes love each other, but they don’t want to f*ck each other.

Nope. NOOOOOPE. Have you seen both of Ritchie's movies? The sexual tension is so close it's like there's a six-hundred pound close talker with breath that verily reeks of hot pockets, cheeto dust and parent's basementally induced shame all up in your bidness.

I love Johnny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu. I love Sherlock Holmes. But this is just all kinds of wrong.

I think I could get on board if she was Holmes, but no such luck.

When she was growing up, Asia must've seemed so lame and backwards while (white) America and Europe looked so glamorous. No wonder she grew up wanting out.

That's a pretty broad goddamn generalization about an entire continent that houses 60% of the entire goddamn planet. I don't give a crap if you're Asian American or not, that's just crazy talk, not to mention demeaning to an entire continent's worth of people.

And that's not even talking about your assumptions about a woman you don't even know.

Ltd.,

Lucy Liu, like most actresses, does play into straight male desires. But she particularly plays to white male desires in the "Exotic Asian woman who exclusively seeks white guys" trope that she frequently plays. How often, for example, have we seen her paired with a black romantic interest?

I agree that she shouldn't have to exclusively take on "O-REE-ENT-ARL" roles, but that doesn't mean that every single role she takes has to be one in which she is the aforementioned "Exotic Asian woman who exclusively seeks white guys".

It's not really her fault though. Hollywood generally forces all attractive women of color to pair themselves off with white guys on screen if they want to "make it". See Jennifer Lopez and Freida Pinto as prime examples.

So, this is the real life version of Episodes, the (silver fox) Matt LeBlanc show wherein English producers are asked to recreate a British hit and replace an appropriately cast, talented actor with someone who can keep asses on the couch? How delicious!

The physical depictions of Holmes & Watson as performed by Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce wasn't entirely accurate to the original source material. But because they made they roles so famous, their depictions not only colored the general populace's perception of the characters, but would also involuntarily dictate the rules of how future incarnations would be shown. It's only been recently with the resurgence of Sherlock Holmes all around that the outward appearances have been radically altered. It terms of race, gender, build or age, the characters should not be shackled to a deception. The nature and behaviors of the character and their dynamics in relation to one another however should be a little more ironclad. And that's where this casting of Holmes and Watson might hit a pitfall.

Based strictly on past roles, neither actor would seem to be in the right place. In terms of what each character is, I would agree with others and switch the actors with the roles. Lucy Liu as Det. Shirley Holmes in this capacity would make more sense. Perhaps there is a continuing backstory that she's obsessively pursuing an unconfirmed serial killer which she believes is a woman named Jamie Moriarty. Only colleague Dr. John Watson, M.E. has the tolerance and humanity to follow along, mostly at the insistence of her sister Michelle Holmes-Croft. Does that sound off the mark?

Watson is usually Holmes near-equal but with a softer edge and more social graces. Watson is more than Holmes's conscience or humanity. He is also a sounding board to ask the logical questions that Holmes is too focused to. Despite Holmes hogging all the limelight, Watson is always a partner over sidekick who both keeps Holmes focused but also keeps their potential clients from be put off and leaving. Without him, Holmes becomes both aloof and an arrogant prick that nobody pays attention too even if (s)he does have the answers.

Perhaps their actors can work with the roles their given (it is their job after all). Like Alice, I try to believe three impossible things before breakfast.

Ok, I haven't said anything for a long time, but it's starting to get problematic... WTF is up with the changing order of what you've posted?

What I do is go to the front-page and scroll down, opening pages that look interesting, until I hit one I've already read, then I stop.

How can I do that when you won't leave the order alone?

Pickle juice fountains? PICKLE JUICE FOUNTAINS?

Daniel Craig lounge chairs I can get, um, behind.

Oh McBeal era RDJ, you were the sex.

Oh great, now I want a Daniel Craig lounging chair. Thanks, Feynmangroupie.

As for Lucy Liu playing opposite or partner to white guys, I'd like to know when the last time an American film featured an Asian leading man who was not Jackie Chan. Even Jet Li doesn't get to helm films all by himself. There are damned few Black or Hispanic men who get leading roles. There are zero Native American actors who do. So what, exactly, was Lucy Liu supposed to be holding out for if she wanted any kind of career? It may suck that film is far less diverse than society, but I'm not going to hold actors responsible for deciding to work with what's there.

@Mrs. Julien,

Yes. My secret shame is out. I love pickle juice. It's very good for upset stomachs and/or nausea. Ginger is also helpful for stomach ailments. I don't know if that includes Micheal Fassbender or not, but the root itself makes an excellent tea.

And that's your health update for the day.

Eh, whatever. I kinda have a girl crush on Lucy Liu. I'm fine with her doing whatever. Not that it matters what I think about it, but I don't think she's playing Asian stereotypes (any more than any other "ethnic" person in America is playing stereotypes), I think men are projecting the sexy Asian stereotype onto her. Kinda the way they project every stereotype about women onto all women. She can't really be blamed for that. What's she supposed to do, walk around in a turtleneck sweater and baggy pants so white men won't think she's sexy? Yeah, that's the way to get ahead in Hollywood. Esp. if you're over the age of 25.

And I also really disliked the Ally McBeal character (and that fucking creepy baby), but liked everyone else in that show, including Ling.

I just had a horrible thought. It's only a matter of time before some douchebag executives try to reboot Columbo with Freddie Prince Jr as a pushy, inquisitive burn-out with PTSD isn't it!

Oh god, what a world we live in!!

Is ... is it wrong that I've often wanted Holmes and Watson (Cumberbatch and Freeman) to hook up? (I'm obviously not a "Sherlock" purist, having never read the books.) Don't hate me for dreaming, Joanna.

Actually, I thought she pulled off sweet quite well in Lucky Number Slevin.

And she's not fit to wipe Michelle Yeoh's shoes either.

So.. Moriarty will be played by... Adam Sandler?

And why are they calling this a reboot?!

P.S.

This should be under "why I drink"...

Amen to all the mentions of Lucky Number Slevin.
Liu was positively enchanting. (And i usually dislike her)

Oh,
and i'm finding the racism discussion hilarious. As if Liu had any say at all in casting decisions. Check her imdb page. Bless her heart, she's taking whatever roles she can.

If roles existed that weren't insulting to her ethnicity, i'm sure she'd gladly grab one. Sadly, she's doing remarkably well for an asian american actress.

Liu-bot: "I'll always remember you, Fry... MEMORY DELETED."

Why do we even get upset about news from CBS anymore? It's like getting upset at a puppy or a baby or Charlie Sheen. They just don't know any better than to take a giant poop on everything awesome in the house.

While I agree that Ritchie's portrayal of Holmes as a cowboy action hero was a crippling mistake to those movies, the interpretation of his character we saw in them is not without merit. Downey's choice to play him as an unkempt eccentric who acts like a complete tool because he knows he's the smartest person in the room is arguably closer to the stories than the traditional Rathbone preformance (and a hell of a lot more fun to watch). The scenes displaying Holmes' thought processes also could have been very good, if they had been properly used. I agree that overall they were very bad movies, but to write them off entirely is a mistake.

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