Andy Berman is eyeing a return to USA Network with new procedural based on “Sherlock’s Secretary,” Deadline reports

Andy Berman, a longtime figure in USA Network’s blue-sky era of original programming, is seeking a return to the network with a new procedural project tentatively titled “Sherlock’s Secretary,” Deadline reported on Aug. 7. The entertainment trade outlet said Berman is eyeing the series for development at USA Network, citing sources familiar with the project.

Deadline described “Sherlock’s Secretary” as a procedural drama rooted in a true story. The series premise centers on a quirky London woman whose job is responding to the thousands of letters addressed to the world’s greatest detective, a setup intended to provide episodic cases that grow out of the incoming correspondence.

The report positions Berman as a producer with deep familiarity with USA Network’s original series pipeline, while framing this new project as part of the network’s continuing interest in character-driven procedural storytelling. Deadline did not specify a development timetable or whether a production order has been issued.

While Deadline’s summary emphasizes the “true story” aspect of the concept, it did not identify the specific real-life source behind the “Sherlock’s Secretary” premise or provide additional biographical context for the historical figure at the center of the show’s idea. The report also did not name other producers, writers, or casting targets tied to the development.

For audiences, the concept suggests a blend of mystery structure with a central workplace dynamic, using the flow of letters as the mechanism that introduces new inquiries and conflicts each episode. The “Sherlock’s greatest detective” hook also indicates the series is likely to lean on recognizable literary and cultural associations tied to the Sherlock Holmes canon, even as it follows a separate character’s day-to-day responsibilities.

For the industry, the project represents another effort to translate established intellectual property-adjacent storytelling into network-friendly procedural programming. A “true story” procedural concept can also influence how networks and rights holders approach research, permissions, and adaptation requirements, depending on the historical materials used.

Deadline’s report leaves open what happens next, including whether USA Network will move the project forward into a straight-to-series order, expand the writing room, or keep it in early development. As of the report date, the only confirmed details were Berman’s interest in a USA Network return and the series concept and premise described by the outlet.