BBC's The Paradise targets ITV's Mr. Selfridge

In what has all the makings of the ultimate UK version of the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s, the BBC has fast-tracked its answer to the upcoming ITV drama, Mr. Selfridge, with a department store drama of its own based on the classic French novel, The Ladies’ Paradise, by Emile Zola. Adapted by Bill Gallagher (Blackout), the […]

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PBS adds Mr. Selfridge as another 'Masterpiece'

This is getting to be like a generic blog post where you just ‘insert the next title here’ when it comes to reporting on PBS’ Masterpiece series. In just the last year, viewers in the States have been treated to the likes of Downton Abbey, Sherlock, Endeavour, Inspector Lewis, Case Histories, Upstairs Downstairs, Page Eight […]

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Its all Downton Abbey 3 during PBS day at TCA

Whether you are new to the series and refer to it as Downton Abbey or you’ve been there from day 1 and simply refer to it as just Downton when you knowingly pass fellow series lovers on the streets, you probably have a countdown calendar on the wall with either September circled if in the […]

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Downton Abbey, Sherlock dominate Primetime Emmy nominations

Even though the hit ITV/PBS drama, Downton Abbey, has had a presence at the Primetime Emmys the past couple of years, this year they have a lot of company that they are bringing with them from across the pond, laying further claim to the fact that the UK continues to produce the best television on […]

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MTV UK's Geordie Shore does Downton Abbey

What would the Dowager Countess say? Ok, while I don’t profess to have ever seen an episode of Geordie Shore, the British adaptation of the U.S. series, Jersey Shore, I have heard of it so, of course, that makes me an expert, right? Set in and around Newcastle Upon Tyne and South Shields, the series […]

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The Fresh Prince of Downton Abbey

Daily, I take a brief moment to thank whomever I can that there are extremely creative people on the planet with an incredible amount of time on their hands. First their was Jimmy Fallon and Downton Sixbey, then, there was Downton Arbys. Now…. For those that have spent an agonizing last couple of years marveling […]

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Inspector Lewis; Tonight's PBS 'Masterpiece'

A little extra something must be in the water over at the PBS Masterpiece world control center. Consider for a minute that, just this past year, the series has showcased the likes of Downton Abbey, Great Expectations, Birdsong, Upstairs Downstairs, Case Histories, Page Eight, Endeavor and Inspector Lewis. It just keeps getting better and better […]

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Dowager Countess vs. Shirley MacLaine's Martha – Round One

Insert Michael Buffer here – Let’s Get Ready to Rumble….. With the recent American Film Institute honoring of Shirley MacLaine with their 40th “AFI Life Achievement Award”, a number of celebrity friends paid tribute to the on-screen achievements of MacLaine. Of obvious interest to PBS viewers of that little series we call Downton Abbey was […]

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BBC's Blackout – quality drama to keep an eye on

What’s this? Quality drama coming out of the UK that doesn’t begin with the words Downton, Doctor or Sherlock? If the cast is any indication, absolutely. Starring Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who, Lennon Naked, The Shadow Line), Dervla Kirwan (Injustice, The Silence), Ewen Bremner (Page Eight, Perfect Sense) and Andrew Scott (Sherlock, The Hour, Lennon Naked), […]

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Doctor Who 7: Clara ↑; Amy & Rory ↓

As we have previously noted, probably more than the law allows, each passing day brings us one day closer to the new series of Downton Abbey and one day closer to the beginning of filming of Sherlock 3. Unfortunately, both still seem light years away with Sherlock 3 not even penciled in to begin filming […]

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