Category Archives: Downton Abbey

Congratulations Dame Maggie Smith!

19 Sunday Jan 2014

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The Screen Actors Guild Awards were on last night and Downton Abbey’s very own Maggie Smith won for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series.

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She was up against some tough competition also.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

CLAIRE DANES / Carrie Mathison – “HOMELAND” (Showtime)

ANNA GUNN / Skyler White – “BREAKING BAD” (AMC)

JESSICA LANGE / Fiona Goode – “AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN” (FX)

MAGGIE SMITH / Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham – “DOWNTON ABBEY” (PBS)

Unfortunately, Downton Abbey did not win in its nominated category of Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.  The show was up against Boardwalk Empire (HBO), Breaking Bad (AMC), Game of Thrones (HBO), and Homeland(Showtime).  Breaking Bad ultimately won.  I guess Meth Dealers beat Aristocracy these days.  There is no accounting for a lack of taste in Hollywood.

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Merchandise Monday – Cards for the Discerning Downton Fan

13 Monday Jan 2014

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Have you ever wanted to show your friends and family a card but also wanted to show them your love of Downton Abbey?  Well, my Downton friends, I have found the cards for you to send your friends and family with  lots of style and pinch of panache and a lot of Downton pride.

These cards from Foxy and Winston would make great Valentine’s Day cards to let your sweetheart know that although you don’t want to be disturbed when Downton Abbey is on, you still love them.

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Another variation on the same card, if you want to be a bit more whimsical

Valentines Card I Love You More Than Downton Abbey 5 x 7 Greeting Card

Sometimes you just can’t avoid a bad pun when it is your favorite downstairs Downton couple.

Downton Abbey Card. Free Shipping

It is always appropriate to send a Countess zinger to your friends.

Downton Abbey Notecard

Downton Abbey Notecard

These cards will definitely show your quirkier side.

Downton Abbey Time Machine Notecard: Pharaoh & Lord Grantham

Downton Abbey Birthday Card: Mrs. Patmore's Speciality, Layer Cake for a Lady with frosting and candles

Downton Abbey Time Machine Notecard: Lavinia Swire

Downton Abbey Time Machine Notecard: Lady Violet Crawley

And the next time you aren’t in the “mood”, just use this card instead of using that old headache excuse.

Not Tonight Dear Downton's On, Downton Abbey Greeting Card

Just click on any of the cards to purchase them.  I linked them for your shopping pleasure.  And if you are wondering, I don’t know these sellers and do not receive any incentive for posting them.  🙂

Happy Shopping!!!!

Golden Globe Awards or Downton Abbey???

12 Sunday Jan 2014

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Tonight there is a dilemma on what to watch.  Our beloved Downton Abbey is at 9 p.m.  No issue there.  It is a forgone conclusion that we’ll be watching the second installment of Season 4 to see what happens to Lady Mary and Lady Edith.  I do however feel a little bad for not watching the Golden Globe Awards show – which begins on NBC at 8 p.m. – since Downton Abbey is nominated for Best TV Series, Drama and I feel like I should show my support. (And lets face it, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are pretty funny hosts.)

71st Golden Globe Awards

Best TV Series, Drama
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Breaking Bad
Downton Abbey
The Good Wife
House of Cards
Masters of Sex

It wouldn’t be such an issue if Downton Abbey was shown on regular TV station but it is shown on PBS and that means NO commercials (or bathroom breaks) so there is no opportunity to switch stations.  Thank goodness for DVRs!!!

Enjoy your Sunday night indulgence of Downton goodness, my fellow Downtonians!!!  And good luck to the cast of Downton Abbey at the Golden Globe Awards.  We can’t wait to see “who you are wearing”!!

The Time is Near!!! Season 4 Begins!!!

04 Saturday Jan 2014

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It has been a LONG, LONG, LONG wait for U.S. viewers of Downton Abbey to see Season 4 but the wait is almost over!!  Tomorrow, Sunday, January 5th at 9 p.m. (Eastern time) we will finally get to see our favorite characters and how they have faired since Season 3.

When last we saw the residents of Downton Abbey, Lady Mary and Matthew were blissfully happy having just welcomed the newest heir of Downton to the world.  We were introduced to Lady Rose and all of her youthful exploits.  O’Brien was still causing problems – but a little foreshadowing of her future plans were introduced in the “Christmas Special”.  Tom Branson was “cavorting” with a house maid and, of course, Lady Edith was still having issues in the love department.  Poor Lady Edith.  And then of course, who could forget how Season 3 left us?  Poor Matthew was blissfully happy, dreamily driving along when the unthinkable happens and he hits a delivery truck – or a lorry for you U.K. viewers – and he dies on the side of the road.  Oh the horrors!!!  And that was shown on Christmas day, no less.  (I’m not sure I can ever forgive Julian Fellowes for that, even if I didn’t actually see it on Christmas Day like our poor U.K. Downtonians.)

But it is time to put all of that in the past and to find out what happens in Season 4!!! Will Lady Mary ever be able to get over Matthew’s death?  Will O’Brien still be causing problems at Downton?  Will Lady Edith ever find true love?  How are Lord and Lady G handling the death of the beloved Lady Sybil?  Will Tom Branson be able to move on from Sybil’s death?  Will Lady Rose cause more problems at Downton or will she be a breath of fresh air?  Will we ever be able to forgive Dan Stevens for leaving the show and forcing Julian Fellowes to ruin Christmas night for so many people by killing off Matthew???  Inquiring minds want to know!!!!

Tune in tomorrow night to see if all of our questions will be answered.

I will be reviewing each episode of the show, so be sure to look for future posts on all the exploits of the residents of Downton Abbey.

Happy Belated Birthday, Hugh Bonneville!

13 Wednesday Nov 2013

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November 9th was Hugh Bonneville’s 50th birthday!!  And I missed it.  My apologies to Hugh for being a few days late.  But as I like to say, “better late than never.”

As we all know, Hugh Bonneville plays Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham on our beloved Downtown Abbey.

I wonder if Mrs. Patmore let Daisy make a birthday cake for Lord G?

Happy Birthday, Hugh!!!

Downton Abbey gets 5th Season!!!

11 Monday Nov 2013

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Come war and peace, Downton still stands and the Crawleys are still in it for another season!!!  Hooray!!

Just as season four of Downton Abbey is ending, ITV announced that Downton Abbey will be picked up for a fifth season.  Julian Fellowes will return to write the series, which is expected to air next year.

“We promise all the usual highs and lows, romance, drama and comedy,” said Gareth Neame, director of Downton Abbey creators Carnival Films.

It shouldn’t come as a complete shock though.  The latest series has had average viewing figures of 11.8 million.  And 12.3 million Americans tuned in to the finale of season three making it the highest-rated show of the day, and breaking the viewership record for broadcaster PBS.  With numbers like that, the producers would be crazy not to continue Downton Abbey for at least one more season.

I, for one, will go out on a limb and state with no hesitation that I will be watching season five of my beloved Downton Abbey.   Will you do the same?

Merchandise Monday – Downton Abbey DVDs

11 Monday Nov 2013

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Downton Abbey Season Four finished tonight in the U.K. and the rest of the world is still waiting patiently for January 2014 to get here so we can watch our favorite show.

Although I must confess, I did sneak a peek at Season Four.  I’m sorry!!!  I just couldn’t help it.  But my fellow Downtonians, who play by the rules, this will continue to be a spoiler free zone.

To add insult to injury, the DVD of Season Four is available to be purchased by our lucky U.K. neighbors.  (This will probably change in the next few days if you are willing to pay the overseas shipping costs.)

Sadly, the rest of the world must be satisfied to pre-order the DVDs on Amazon.com.  At least we won’t have to wait for the entire season to be finished before the Season Four DVDs are shipped – only until January 28, 2014.

Masterpiece: Downton Abbey Season 4 DVD (U.K. Edition) (2013)
List Price: $49.99
Our Price: $34.96
PRE-ORDER
Released on January 28, 2014

Happy Shopping!!!

J.J. Abrams is a Downton Fan

07 Thursday Nov 2013

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JJ. Abrams may be the mastermind behind Lost, Alias and Felicity and the future of the Star Wars franchise but he is also a fan of Downton Abbey.  During a a recent interview with a British newspaper, he took time to gush about his love of the series.

“It’s absolute soap opera done triple-A plus. The characters go places you never expect and the rules of that society allow for wonderful storytelling because there is behaviour that’s forbidden, which barely exists any more.”

Abrams continued, “It’s cleverly written and brilliantly cast. It lets you enjoy what is, at the core, a pulpy family drama but done with such respect and regard for the characters, you feel they’re all alive.”

“And think of how many [characters] there are—I thought we had a lot of characters on Lost but it’s amazing they’re able to spin that many plates and make you feel for them all.”

J.J. Abrams was lucky enough to visit the set of Downton Abbey this past May and step in to the role as Mrs. Patmore in the kitchen.  (See tweeted photo above.)  Maybe there will be a future episode of Downton Abbey directed by J.J. Abrams himself???

Depressed over Downton

10 Thursday Oct 2013

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Dearest Readers,

I must beg your forgiveness over my lack of posting these past weeks.  Life has gotten in the way of many things.  Between traveling, illness, and a general depression over Downton Abbey not winning any Emmy Awards and the fact that Downton Abbey is airing in the U.K. and not in the U.S., I haven’t been able to post as much as I would like.

My depression over not being able to see Season Four of Downton Abbey is severe I am afraid.  I know it is going on and I can’t talk about it since I vowed to not spoil it for my fellow U.S. Downtonians.  I miss seeing that adorable doggie’s backside with its wagging tail on Sunday nights. I can’t stand the fact that Mrs. Hughes got a new hair style and I can’t see it.  I need to know how Anna and Bates are getting along now that they are together.  Alas, it is like seeing all of your Christmas presents under the tree on December 1st and not being able to open them until Christmas day.  (((sigh)))  And, if you ask my mother, I have never been known for my patience when it comes to opening presents.

But I promise you, dear readers, to do better and get back on the proverbial horse.  If Lady Edith can overcome being jilted at the altar, then surely I can overcome having to wait a few months to see Season Four of Downton Abbey.

Yours truly,

Downton Tonya