The less fortunate. Yes, THOSE less fortunate.

My friends, it's time to think of those less fortunate than us.

Yes, the Sherlock Holmes Birthday Weekend is coming up, and as we celebrate the world's greatest example of the detective arts, we must also consider that not everyone is so blessed as we are. Having a well-written, inspiring legendary figure like Sherlock Holmes is something we take for granted. But not everyone is so lucky.

You may have gotten lost in December's holiday celebrations, New Year's Eve, and all the fun of family and friends, and forgotten the tragedies of last fall. I know I did. But at some point on this past Friday I saw a short note reminding me that there are still those who need our help.

CBS's Elementary is still on the air, and new episodes are still appearing. And if you go out into the Twitterverse, you'll still see post after post of poor souls admitting, "I'm watching Elementary," like AA members introducing themselves at a meeting. Admitting you have a problem is the first step, but once these poor Elementary-watching wretches have faced the fact something is not quite right in their lives, where do they turn next? Who is there to help them keep from turning back to Elementary next week, and the week after that?

Many a hopeful sort has been heard to say, "We'll get to introduce them to some really good Sherlock Holmes stories and point them back to the Doyle originals," but their numbers are so large and no organized efforts to help Elementary fans have yet been mobilized. And they do need our help.

I wish I could post a photo of one of those big-eyed youths who post on Twitter to stir your sympathies, but this is a text-centric blog and, well, conventions are conventions. But it's not too late. One great chance to turn things around still awaits us . . .

The Hour of Sherlock is still ahead.

On Sunday night, February 3rd, following the Super Bowl being shown on CBS, an episode of Elementary will come on, raising that show's audience to its largest ever. And unless a giant blimp-bomb explodes over the Superdome or Janet Jackson shows up with her other breast, in that hour, the Twitterverse will start filling with mentions of Sherlock Holmes. Those mentions can either be referring to Mr. Elementary, who likes to call himself "Sherlock Holmes," or they can refer to the one, true Sherlock Holmes as we all know and love him. (Victorian or BBC, your call.) It's up to us.

During the Hour of Sherlock, we can give those poor Elementary viewers the hand up that they don't even know exists, and lift them up to see a Sherlock Holmes beyond their gritty New York dreams. We can point them toward the places Sherlock has lived so vividly for Sherlockians for centuries. The books, the movies, the BBC series . . . all it takes is a few words, not much more than a "Norbury" in the ear, to set them on paths out of their wretched Thursday night habit.

Could those few words be yours? Won't you join us for the Hour of Sherlock in February and help the less fortunate? Someday, that viewer could be you.