CBS Taking Another Stab at Einstein, Based on German Genius/Cop Drama
Who was it that said that “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results”…?
It actually wasn’t Albert Einstein, but that was too delicious a lede to pass up when informing you that CBS is making broadcast TV’s third run at adapting the three-season German procedural Einstein.
The German series starred Tom Beck as Felix, the youngest professor to have ever taught theoretical physics at his university — and also the great-grandson of the Albert Einstein. Diagnosed with Huntington’s disease and facing prison when accused of stealing drugs to manage his condition, Felix is saved from jail when the police recognize that his brilliant mind could help them solve their most complex cases, as a consultant paired with quick-witted detective Elena (Annika Ernst).
The new adaptation in development at CBS, per Deadline — from Monk creator Andy Breckman and EP Randy Zisk — finds Al’s “brilliant but directionless” great-grandson spending his days as a tenured professor until his bad boy ways land him in trouble with the law. He is in turn tasked with helping a police detective solve cases.
When last we tuned into CBS’ bid to bring Einstein to the States, way back in October 2020, Insatiable creator Lauren Gussis had pitched a gender-flipped series about an out-of-the-box thinking physics professor who happens to be Albert Einstein’s secret, illegitimate great-granddaughter — and in addition to teaming with a Boston police detective to solve murders, her keen insight would be used to “address the problems ever-present inside the institution of policing itself.”
Prior to that, in 2018 or so, NBC attempted a direct take on Germany’s Einstein, via writer Michael Reisz (Shadowhunters).
Does this latest take on Germany’s Einstein series interest you?
Einstein does have living descendants.
Try British Mr T.
Please. It’s Mr. T and he is an American treasure. Do you mean the British version of Professor T? I don’t get it. No offense to anyone involved in the British version (and no offense to you, Gary), but the British Professor T seems to lack the deep wackiness and deep emotions of the original Belgian Professor T.
I love the British Professor T!
Not interested in the least! Bring back NCIS Hawaii!
The idea of the show is not very new, but the original was entertaining. If you want some light crime show while you wind down from your day it’s ok.
Yet another show about a quirky genius brought on to help real detectives who are also smart but somehow can’t manage to solve crimes by themselves. Some of these are pretty good (“Monk,” “Elementary,” “Elsbeth,” etc.), but it really depends on the charisma of the actors and quality of the writing.
I know nothing about the show, but can we please not have the humorless lady cop fall for the whimsical genius? It has been done to DEATH!
Makes me think of the end if Numb3rs when Larry was talking about showing how physicists working with FBI when Charlie was leaving.
I was thinking about Numb3ers as well. But of course Charlie was never in trouble with the law and Don was actually capable of doing things himself.
Miss that show. The math angle made it interesting.
Would it have been so bad to just keep So Help Me Todd going for two or three more seasons?
Why waste our time with this? Bring back Todd.
CBS is canceling Blue Bloods and CIS Hawaii and giving is this? Who is make ng these decisions at CBS?
CBS has too many options whether it’s NCIS: Hawaii, Blue Bloods or even picking up Walker for two seasons and, therefore, reaching syndication.
Einstein sounds like most likely a flop, however, being healmed by Bones team could help. Can’t be any worse than Matlock which sounds a lot like NBC’s Harry’s Law. Bates must be well paid meaning older demos and big budget.
CBS prospered by getting shows into syndication. Cancelling anything in season 3 or 4 is dumb esp in favor of difficult to adapt shows