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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Equal time request: The 10 best Dr. Watsons

Hopefully, by now, you have been able to select your favorite Sherlock Holmes of all-time. We all know who you selected so, to be clear, you’re in good company if you selected Benedict Cumberbatch. However, it’s been pointed out by several readers that Dr. Watson wants a little equal time. As with the Sherlock rankings, […]

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CBS' "Elementary" idea – Been there, done that

Before we leave our well-deserved bowing before the brilliance that is the BBC’s Sherlock, you may remember back in the fall reading here about an absolutely ridiculous notion that the CBS Television Network had thoughts of creating a 21st century version of Sherlock Holmes. I think, at the time, my only comment was “…how original”. […]

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Was that the TARDIS in Sherlock 2?

Given that UK telly watchers have had the great good fortune to see the entire second series of, what I will always and forever refer to as, the brilliance of Sherlock, it’s up to the American television audience to verify the following when the series premieres Sunday, May 6 on PBS as part of the […]

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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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Sherlock 3 confirmed!

While the Steven Moffat/Mark Gatiss brilliance that is Sherlock was coming to a second series finale last night with the transmission of The Reichenbach Fall, Downton Abbey, the other bit of brilliance out of the UK, was moments away from winning this years Golden Globe for Best mini-series or motion picture made for television. Both […]

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Who are the 20 greatest Sherlocks of all-time?

As the UK enters its last few hours of agony before the final episode of the second series of Sherlock transmits on BBC One, tonight’s broadcast of “The Reichenbach Fall” and the return of Moriarty has got to get everyone pondering as to just who might be the ultimate Sherlock Holmes of all-time. Fortunately, the Telegraph […]

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The Mystery of Edwin Drood is solved…sort of

Having just transmitted this past week on BBC Two, yet another classic drama makes its way to PBS’ Masterpiece series in April 2012. Currently in the middle of the long-awaited second series of Downton Abbey, the Masterpiece series is already flush with greatness and experiencing an abundance of riches in 2012 what with the upcoming […]

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Remembering when mystery was…Mystery!

Thanks, up front, to Laughing Squid for getting me thinking about this and bringing back memories of classic mystery on television some 20-30 years ago that, in some respects, is unmatched today. While Sherlock, Downton Abbey, Endeavor and, even, Great Expectations, are the talk of the telly on both sides of the pond these days, […]

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Move over Jewel…Brideshead…Tales, here comes Downton Abbey

The recent U.S. popularity of the mega-hit, Downton Abbey, brings to mind not only the obvious, Upstairs Downstairs, but also the likes of PBS’ Jewel in the Crown, Brideshead Revisited and, oddly, Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City broadcast from a water cooler popularity standpoint. With Downton Abbey, there’s a new sheriff in town at […]

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