Who knew the Dowager Countess was a Giants fan?

Talk of the town anywhere in the U.S. on Sunday was either Patriots-Giants or Grantham-Crawley. Judging from the overnight television ratings, the obvious winner was the Super Bowl, but Downton Abbey held its own to a much greater degree on PBS than any other program in recent memory up against the ‘big game’. Thankfully, the […]

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You too can be the Dowager Countess….for $12K a day (lunch included!)

Yes, I know, the ‘another network’ has something on called the Super Bowl up against tonights new installment of Downton Abbey. Hopefully, they’ll learn not to counter program when series three comes around in 2013. If you can’t make it to the big game, we have a once-in-a-lifetime travel deal to satisfy your inner-Dowager Countess. […]

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Shirley MacLaine joins cast of Downton Abbey 3

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Shirley MacLaine will join the cast of Downton Abbey as filming begins next month taking the DA saga into the 1920’s. MacLaine will play Martha Levinson, the American mother of Lady Grantham (Elizabeth McGovern). Laura Mackie, director of drama at ITV, said, “It is so exciting to have an actress […]

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Downton Abbey vs. Andrew Lloyd Webber, round 1

Given the worldwide Downton Abbey fever that continues to engulf the U.S., this story was just to good to pass up when I ran across it recently. So, with upfront apologies as to the possibility that this might be a really old story that is past its prime, as it was first reported back in […]

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Vote for your favorite Downton Abbey character

As U.S. television viewers continue their weekly love affair with Downton Abbey, series producers are gearing up for production of the third series, which is set to begin in the UK in February. Prior to the premiere of series 2, viewers on both sides of the pond have not only had the opportunity to determine […]

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Strictly Come Downton Abbey

Full credit to Ian Wylie, London-based freelance journalist with a particular interest and acute knowledge of all-things television, for the brilliant headline, photos and accompanying story. As we recently learned, one of the Downton traditions on Christmas Day is that the staff is traditionally given the day off and Lord Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) takes charge […]

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To: Julian Fellowes; From: Judi Dench; Re: Downton Abbey 3

While the second series of Downton Abbey is coming to a cliff-hanging close on Christmas Day in the UK and with all eyes in the United States on Sunday, January 8, 2012 when the second series premieres as part of PBS’ Masterpiece, series 3 is just around the corner. As most everyone, except maybe the […]

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Downton Abbey: Are you more upstairs or downstairs?

Ever since Downton Abbey premiered on ITV1 in the UK and PBS in the States, some of the most interesting pub talk centered on the question of ‘what character do you identify with more’, those who occupy the upstairs or the downstairs of Downton Abbey? While many fashioned themselves as a closet Dowager Countess or […]

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Dame Eileen Atkins moves out of 165 Eaton Place

According to the BBC, Dame Eileen Atkins will not return when filming commences on Upstairs Downstairs 2 in Cardiff in October. Atkins, who created the series with fellow actress, Jean Marsh, did not appear in the original 1970’s ITV series, but was cast in last years revival of the series as the free-thinking mother-in-law Maud, Lady […]

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What was supposed to be a sneak peak at Downton Abbey 2, well….

As with any “teaser” clip, no matter the length, it’s always been a fine line between maddening and anticipation. An all-too-short clip that I screened early Thursday, was to give millions of extraordinarily patient fans a first glimpse at what’s next for both the residents and servants of Downton Abbey. At only :12 seconds, it […]

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