Downton Abbey cast tweet a bit of fun in response to 'Sherlock' comments

Downton Abbey cast has fun with Twitter When Benedict Cumberbatch, the star of the BBC’s brilliant Sherlock series, offered up his rather uncomplimentary thoughts to Reader’s Digest on the biggest phenomenon since sliced bread, Downton Abbey, taken out of context or not, the initial inclination might have been to fire off a response that you […]

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Brit TV bits and bobs to begin the weekend

Doctor Who 7 transmission date news — finally! News of the BBC broadcast premiere of Doctor Who finally came on Wednesday with the date of 1 September etched in everyone’s appointment television brain. This season has it all with more Daleks, more dinosaurs, more Weeping Angels and a River Song return. The newly released trailer […]

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Mr. Selfridge – A First Look

Another day, another :20 of programming teaser brilliance comes our way. Yesterday, it was the first two glimpses of Downton Abbey 3. Today, comes a first look at ITV’s Mr. Selfridge starring Jeremy Piven in the true-to-life story of American entrepreneur, ‘Mile a Minute’ Harry Gordon Selfridge. It’s amazing how a mere :20 can say […]

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Shirley MacLaine's stay at Downton Abbey

As most everyone that is a P1 Downton Abbey watcher knows, the long-awaited series three, which begins in September on ITV1 in the UK and in January 2013 on PBS in the States, starts with Shirley MacLaine’s arrival at Downton days before the wedding of Lady Mary and Matthew Crawley. She immediately riles the Dowager […]

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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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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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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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New ITV2 comedy, Plebs, brings reminders of Up Pompeii

The recent announcement that ITV2 was developing what, they hope, would be a ‘channel-defining sitcom’ was not only another example of broadcasters (e.g. Sky, Channel 4, ITV) commitment to increase comedy output but reminded me of a classic 70’s BBC sitcom during the golden age of comedy when it was essentially the BeeB or nothing […]

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The good; The bad; The 2012 BAFTA's

The 2012 BAFTA Television Awards have come and gone with the usual ‘some surprises, some expected’ best of the best in British television awards handed out on Sunday evening. A couple of quick personal observations…accent on personal observations. Full disclosure – I haven’t seen either Appropriate Adult or The Fades so they could be quite deserving […]

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BBC locks the door at 165 Eaton Place

Sadly, the BBC’s 40-year renovation project at 165 Eaton Place has come to an end. Upstairs Downstairs has been axed following a relatively poor showing for the second series in the UK. The second and final six episodes of the updated Upstairs Downstairs series will air in the States beginning in October 2012 as part […]

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