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(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/masterpiececlassic.jpg)
Masterpiece Classic brings back favorite authors and programs and introduces new programs. See the 2013 MASTERPIECE CLASSIC schedule (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/schedule/).
NOW DISCUSSING
What's playing on your PBS station? What programs do you continue to enjoy?
ALREADY DISCUSSED
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/selfridge.jpg)
Mr. Selfridge (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/series/mr-selfridge/)
March 31 - May 19, 2013 at 9pm
Upstart American Harry Selfridge moves heaven and earth to build his visionary department store in London. But opening day is just the start of his retail revolution. Three-time Emmy® winner Jeremy Piven (in his first television appearance since his iconic role as Hollywood agent Ari Gold in Entourage) stars as Harry Gordon Selfridge, the flamboyant entrepreneur and showman seeking to provide London's shoppers with the ultimate merchandise and the ultimate thrill. Mr. Selfridge is created by Emmy® Award-winning writer Andrew Davies (Pride and Prejudice, Bleak House).
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/contemporary_2011/songoflunch.jpg)
Song of Lunch (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/songoflunch/index.html)
March 24,, 2013 at 9pm
One 120-minute episode
A dramatisation of Christopher Reid's narrative poem, telling the story of a book editor who, 15 years after their break-up, meets his former love for a nostalgic lunch at the Soho restaurant they used to frequent. The production is unusual in featuring little spoken dialogue, the action instead being an enactment of incidents described in poetic monologue of the male character. Starring Alan Rickman & Emma Thompson.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/contemporary_2011/pageeight.jpg)
Page Eight (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/pageeight/index.html)
February 24,, 2013 at 9pm
One 120-minute episode
Sixty-something MI-5 agent Johnny Worricker has amassed an impressive art collection, an amicable collection of ex-wives, and a droll, unflappable relationship with the work he enjoys alongside his boss and best friend, MI5 chief Benedict Baron. But when Benedict brings to light damning evidence of British complicity with illegal American torture operations, it falls to Johnny to do the right thing.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_7.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e7/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 7 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e7)
1 95-minute episode — Sunday, February 17, 2013
The Crawleys head to a Scottish hunting lodge, while the downstairs staff stays behind at Downton Abbey. New romances flare up, and a fresh crisis unfolds.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_6.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e6/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 6 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e6)
1 120-minute episode — Sunday, February 10, 2013
Change arrives in a big way for several key characters at Downton Abbey. A yearly cricket match with the village sees old scores settled and new plots hatched.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_5.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e5/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 5 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e5)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, February 3, 2013
Things go badly amiss at Downton Abbey. Robert and Cora are not speaking. The servants are shunning Matthew's mother Isobel. And Matthew and Robert have fallen out. Also, Bates takes a gamble.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_4.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e4/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 4 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e4)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 27, 2013
The Crawley family faces its severest test yet. Meanwhile, new faces try to fit into the tight-knit circle of servants. And new evidence turns up in a baffling case.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_3.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e3/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 3 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e3)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 20, 2013
Two social revolutions arrive at Downton Abbey: the Irish civil war and the fight for women's suffrage. A mysterious conspiracy keeps Anna and Bates apart.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_2.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e2/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 2 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e2)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 13, 2013
The fate of Downton Abbey hinges on a letter from a dead man. Edith and Sir Anthony face their own fateful moment. Mrs. Hughes confronts a crisis.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_1.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e1/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e1)
1 120-minute episode — Sunday, January 6, 2013
Wedding guests descend on Downton Abbey, where disasters large and small threaten. One is Cora's freewheeling American mother, who tries to loosen up her in-laws.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/featured_season3_darevisited.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/downtonrevisited/home/)
Downton Abbey Revisited (http://www.pbs.org/downtonrevisited/home/)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 25, 2012
Savor highlights from the first two seasons and get a preview of Season 3 in this new PBS special.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep6.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e6)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 6 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e6)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 11, 2012
A chance remark at the Foreign Office alerts Hallam that one of his associates is a German spy—with tragic consequences. As war is declared, life upstairs and downstairs is transformed at Eaton Place.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep5.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e5)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 5 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e5)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 4, 2012
With war looming, romance is in the air—illicit and otherwise. Hallam, Agnes, Landry, and Persie each pursue their heart’s desire in different ways. Harry and Beryl get engaged. And even Pritchard finds a soulmate.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep4.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e4)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 4 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e4)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 28, 2012
All of London sees Agnes’s shapely legs when she models stockings for Landry’s company—offending Hallam. Intent on impressing Beryl, Harry enters the servants’ boxing competition as Johnny’s manager.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep3.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e3)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 3 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e3)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 21, 2012
Hallam’s Aunt Blanche appears in a novel by a former lover, sparking a scandal that threatens the good name of Eaton Place. Meanwhile, Agnes’s demands on the servants bring a social worker to set her straight.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep2.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e2)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 2 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e2)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 14, 2012
Ambassador Kennedy and his dashing son Jack come to dinner at Eaton Place. But Agnes is more entranced by another guest: millionaire Caspar Landry. Before the evening is over, Mrs. Thackeray resigns.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep1.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e1)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e1)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 7, 2012
Pritchard takes the rap for Johnny in a shocking incident, which leads to a revelation that casts the butler into disgrace. On a diplomatic mission to Germany, Hallam meets Persie, who has a Nazi lover.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/poster_upstairsdownstairs.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/index.html)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/index.html) - rebroadcast
3 60-minute episodes — Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012
It's 1936, a tumultuous time in Britain, and within the walls of 165 Eaton Place, characters from an orphanage, a damp Welsh castle, the heart of the British Raj and elsewhere together will face a changing world, not just upstairs and downstairs, but side by side. Written by Heidi Thomas (Cranford, Madame Bovary), Upstairs Downstairs stars co-creators of the original series Jean Marsh and Eileen Atkins (Cranford, Bertie and Elizabeth). Also starring are Ed Stoppard (Any Human Heart), Keeley Hawes (Wives and Daughters), and Claire Foy (Little Dorrit). Available online at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/watch-online/
Discussion Leaders: JoanP (jonkie@verizon.net) and marcie (marciei@aol.com)
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Maggie Smith was winner of the 2012 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Celebrate MASTERPIECE's eight 2012 Primetime Emmy Awards, and watch Maggie Smith's best moments in her award-winning role at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/watch-online/shorts/masterpiece-2012-emmy-wins/
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:)
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Get your TV recorders ready! There will be a Season 1 marathon of all three episodes of Upstairs Downstairs, Season 1, on Sunday, Sept. 30 starting at 9pm ET/CT. Check your local listings.
There is a Q&A with the set designer, Eve Stewart, about recreating the iconic set, at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/stewart.html
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Argghh! Neither of our PBS stations is showing Upstairs.........
Jean
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Oh, that's too bad, Jean. Maybe the PBS website will show the episodes online after they air.
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I still have not found our PBS station showing that it will be showing the Up Stairs. Down Stairs tomorrow night. Maybe it is just the ones that have the Multipal PBSs like Boston and such. Ours go through the Univ of Illinois Station.
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My PBS station will be showing the three episodes of Upstairs Downstairs starting at 9pm. At 8pm they will premiere CALL THE MIDWIFE.
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Marcie.
I see that our station will be playing the same tonight. Good 4 hours of TV. I never last that long. Will enjoy US.DS even if repeat from years ago.
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I did not watch the Upstairs/Downstairs repeat, as I have already seen it TWICE!
But I did catch the one hour of Call The Midwife, and loved it.
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We watched Upstairs Downstairs last night here in downtown Gahanna, Ohio and really enjoyed being caught up again in the story. The new series starts next Sunday and we are looking forward to it.
I read on their website that the new part of Downton Abbey will start in Jan 2013. Ahhhh, something else to put on the calendar.
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For those of you who missed the re-broadcast of Upstairs Downstairs, Season 1, all three episodes are available online during October at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/watch-online/
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It looks like the first episode of CALL THE MIDWIFE is available online at http://www.pbs.org/programs/call-the-midwife/
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Glad to see a rerun of the (formerly) new Upstairs downstairs, as I missed parts of it the first time and could never quite get caught up.
And I loved "Call the midwife".
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Episode 1 (of six episodes) of the second season of Upstairs Downstairs will be broadcast on Sunday!
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I watched it - now I think I need to find the 3rd episode of the first season - I must have missed part of it.
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nlhome, the three episodes of Season One are available online at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/watch-online/
I very much enjoyed episode 1 from Season Two. I thought it brought a lot of emotion and insight into the situations of several of the characters, especially Sir Hallam Holland and Mr. Pritchard. I was very glad that I'd read "Troublesome Young Men:The Rebels Who Brought Churchill to Power" with a group here on SeniorLearn in 2010. It gave me some background about the trouble that Hallam was having with the negotiations with Hitler.
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I only saw episode I of the first season, but was able to follow fairly well (although, some things might have blown by me). I agree about the Hitler negotiations.
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John Kennedy makes an appearance in the episode tonight. My computer is too old to use the latest version of Flash but you might be able to see a preview of the episode at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/watch-online/previews/upstairs-downstairs-season-2-episode-2-preview/
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I thought that episode 2 was interesting. I especially enjoyed the scenes that showed the contributions that "Aunt" Blanche (Dr. Mottershead) and Lady Agnes were each able to make to help the Jewish children, together with Mr. Amanjit.
I admire the decision that Sir Hallam makes at the end but he makes it unilaterally. It seems that he and his wife love each other. I wish that they would be able to talk more.
LOL on the appearance of Jack Kennedy. About all we see of him is his upset stomach.
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I've started watching the Swedish Wallender and I'm liking it better then the English Branagh ones on PBS. To me it looks like they've made Branaghs darker and more somber. Not that the Swedish one is a laugh a minute, he doesn't smile either. and he's kind of weird looking although he seems to shave more often.
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Jeriron, that's an interesting assessment. I searched a bit and found that we can see at least some of the Swedish episodes online. See an episode at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR3Nc5yaY_I. I was confused at first because of the Jim Jones cult footage in the beginning before the credits. The Swedish version made the connection between the religious cult leader more explicit in this episode than the Branagh version.
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I watched the whole Swedish Wallender series on Netflix and enjoyed it much better than the one on PBS (after getting used to reading the subtitles). This Wallender might not have smiled but he showed his feelings in a subtle way. Good actor, I thought. I loved the way the series ended with him going off to Stockholm with the possibility of better things to come.
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I've been trying to watch them on Netflix but they didn't have them on the mail ones so I've started to watch them on streaming. I like them.he has his own house and a dog. :D
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It sounds like there is a lot of conflict in this week's episode of Upstairs Downstairs.
Hallam’s Aunt Blanche appears in a novel by a former lover, sparking a scandal that threatens the good name of Eaton Place. Meanwhile, Agnes’s demands on the servants bring a social worker to set her straight.
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Looking forward to watching both it and "Call the Midwife" on TV tonight. Hardly had it turned on this week.
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Interesting story lines in the last episode. This series seems to want to include as many of the social issues as possible. The plot is getting a bit messy!
After the mistress of the house, Lady Agnes, was reported to the Girls Friendly Society, she did seem genuinely to care about some of the staff, especially in her visit to the Jean Marsh character. LOL regarding Lady Prunella and the Women's League of Health and Beauty. Those were some funny scenes.
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I am enjoying the new episodes of Upstairs/Downstairs immensely; but wow, there is a LOT of drama!
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You are right about the drama, MaryPage. And this week promises more!
A boxing championship draws Harry Spargo and Johnny Proude into the ring, while a neglected Lady Agnes finds attention elsewhere. Watch the punches and sparks fly in episode four of Upstairs Downstairs. See a preview of the episode at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e4/
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Yikes. It looks like we're in for some conflict between Hallam and Lady Agnes in this episode. "All of London sees Agnes’s shapely legs when she models stockings for Landry’s company—offending Hallam."
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I enjoyed tonight's episode, but hate the heartbreak of a marriage going wrong. It is obvious to me that the fault does not lie with Lady Agnes, but with her husband who has had the hots for her younger sister for a long time now. So sad. So very sad.
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Yes, Hallam is offended by Lady Agnes's "unseeming" behavior (prompted by jealousy of Landry?) but he's willing to succumb to her sister who's way-out-there behavior he has criticized before.
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They aren't making any effort to make Hallam sympathetic at all, are they? he can't take ba minute to listen to his wife, or care about her -- she is just a useful appendage to his diplomacy.
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And having her sister staying there isn't a help either. She's looking to cause trouble.
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Yes, Persie does seem to have personal problems that are leading her in the wrong direction and she seems to be taking Hallam with her. I thought that Hallam was sympathetic in earlier episodes, especially when standing up, as forcefully as he could, to his superiors to try to make them see the threat of Hitler and Germany. He and Lady Agnes seemed to get along.
It's sort of like a "soap opera" twist for me to see Hallam and Persie together in last night's episode.
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Goodness! I am going to have to start watching Upstairs/downstairs again, Sound like a soap opera. I decided on the first one that I wouldn't care for it and so not watched it since. I remember really enjoying the one years ago.
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I didn't see the one years ago. since everyone says how much better it was, I want to see it now.
This ones ok -- I watch it if I remember, but don't look forward to it, as I did to Downton Abbey. They share too many plot twists, I feel upstairs is just an imitation, hoping to piggyback on DAs popularity.
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Joan.
Most libraries had the complete sets of the old Upstairs/downstairs.
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I don't know why I didn't notice this earlier but the next two episodes are the FINAL episodes of the whole series. It didn't get commissioned by the BBC for another season. See an article at http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2012/apr/23/upstairs-downstairs-axed
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Pity, because I really like it.
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(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/masterpiececlassic.jpg)
Masterpiece Classic brings back favorite authors and programs and introduces new programs. See the 2013 MASTERPIECE CLASSIC schedule (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/schedule/).
NOW DISCUSSING
What's playing on your PBS station? What programs do you continue to enjoy?
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_7.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e7/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 7 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e7)
1 95-minute episode — Sunday, February 17, 2013
The Crawleys head to a Scottish hunting lodge, while the downstairs staff stays behind at Downton Abbey. New romances flare up, and a fresh crisis unfolds.
COMING
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/contemporary_2011/pageeight.jpg)
Page Eight (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/pageeight/index.html)
February 24,, 2013 at 9pm
One 120-minute episode
Sixty-something MI-5 agent Johnny Worricker has amassed an impressive art collection, an amicable collection of ex-wives, and a droll, unflappable relationship with the work he enjoys alongside his boss and best friend, MI5 chief Benedict Baron. But when Benedict brings to light damning evidence of British complicity with illegal American torture operations, it falls to Johnny to do the right thing.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/contemporary_2011/songoflunch.jpg)
Song of Lunch (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/songoflunch/index.html)
March 24,, 2013 at 9pm
One 120-minute episode
A dramatisation of Christopher Reid's narrative poem, telling the story of a book editor who, 15 years after their break-up, meets his former love for a nostalgic lunch at the Soho restaurant they used to frequent. The production is unusual in featuring little spoken dialogue, the action instead being an enactment of incidents described in poetic monologue of the male character. Starring Alan Rickman & Emma Thompson.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/selfridge.jpg)
Mr. Selfridge (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/series/mr-selfridge/)
March 31,, 2013 at 9pm
One 120-minute episode
Upstart American Harry Selfridge moves heaven and earth to build his visionary department store in London. But opening day is just the start of his retail revolution. Three-time Emmy® winner Jeremy Piven (in his first television appearance since his iconic role as Hollywood agent Ari Gold in Entourage) stars as Harry Gordon Selfridge, the flamboyant entrepreneur and showman seeking to provide London's shoppers with the ultimate merchandise and the ultimate thrill. Mr. Selfridge is created by Emmy® Award-winning writer Andrew Davies (Pride and Prejudice, Bleak House).
ALREADY DISCUSSED
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_6.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e6/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 6 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e6)
1 120-minute episode — Sunday, February 10, 2013
Change arrives in a big way for several key characters at Downton Abbey. A yearly cricket match with the village sees old scores settled and new plots hatched.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_5.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e5/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 5 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e5)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, February 3, 2013
Things go badly amiss at Downton Abbey. Robert and Cora are not speaking. The servants are shunning Matthew's mother Isobel. And Matthew and Robert have fallen out. Also, Bates takes a gamble.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_4.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e4/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 4 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e4)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 27, 2013
The Crawley family faces its severest test yet. Meanwhile, new faces try to fit into the tight-knit circle of servants. And new evidence turns up in a baffling case.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_3.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e3/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 3 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e3)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 20, 2013
Two social revolutions arrive at Downton Abbey: the Irish civil war and the fight for women's suffrage. A mysterious conspiracy keeps Anna and Bates apart.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_2.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e2/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 2 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e2)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 13, 2013
The fate of Downton Abbey hinges on a letter from a dead man. Edith and Sir Anthony face their own fateful moment. Mrs. Hughes confronts a crisis.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_1.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e1/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e1)
1 120-minute episode — Sunday, January 6, 2013
Wedding guests descend on Downton Abbey, where disasters large and small threaten. One is Cora's freewheeling American mother, who tries to loosen up her in-laws.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/featured_season3_darevisited.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/downtonrevisited/home/)
Downton Abbey Revisited (http://www.pbs.org/downtonrevisited/home/)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 25, 2012
Savor highlights from the first two seasons and get a preview of Season 3 in this new PBS special.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep6.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e6)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 6 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e6)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 11, 2012
A chance remark at the Foreign Office alerts Hallam that one of his associates is a German spy—with tragic consequences. As war is declared, life upstairs and downstairs is transformed at Eaton Place.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep5.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e5)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 5 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e5)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 4, 2012
With war looming, romance is in the air—illicit and otherwise. Hallam, Agnes, Landry, and Persie each pursue their heart’s desire in different ways. Harry and Beryl get engaged. And even Pritchard finds a soulmate.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep4.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e4)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 4 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e4)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 28, 2012
All of London sees Agnes’s shapely legs when she models stockings for Landry’s company—offending Hallam. Intent on impressing Beryl, Harry enters the servants’ boxing competition as Johnny’s manager.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep3.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e3)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 3 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e3)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 21, 2012
Hallam’s Aunt Blanche appears in a novel by a former lover, sparking a scandal that threatens the good name of Eaton Place. Meanwhile, Agnes’s demands on the servants bring a social worker to set her straight.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep2.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e2)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 2 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e2)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 14, 2012
Ambassador Kennedy and his dashing son Jack come to dinner at Eaton Place. But Agnes is more entranced by another guest: millionaire Caspar Landry. Before the evening is over, Mrs. Thackeray resigns.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep1.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e1)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e1)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 7, 2012
Pritchard takes the rap for Johnny in a shocking incident, which leads to a revelation that casts the butler into disgrace. On a diplomatic mission to Germany, Hallam meets Persie, who has a Nazi lover.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/poster_upstairsdownstairs.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/index.html)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/index.html) - rebroadcast
3 60-minute episodes — Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012
It's 1936, a tumultuous time in Britain, and within the walls of 165 Eaton Place, characters from an orphanage, a damp Welsh castle, the heart of the British Raj and elsewhere together will face a changing world, not just upstairs and downstairs, but side by side. Written by Heidi Thomas (Cranford, Madame Bovary), Upstairs Downstairs stars co-creators of the original series Jean Marsh and Eileen Atkins (Cranford, Bertie and Elizabeth). Also starring are Ed Stoppard (Any Human Heart), Keeley Hawes (Wives and Daughters), and Claire Foy (Little Dorrit). Available online at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/watch-online/
Discussion Leaders: JoanP (jonkie@verizon.net) and marcie (marciei@aol.com)
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I just did not believe that the current UpS. Down Stairs would hold the interest that the first one years ago did. How many seasons did it run? I was thinking 12. could be wrong. I won't bother to watch the last 2 of this one.
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Jeanne, I copied this from wikipedia:
Upstairs, Downstairs ran for five series from 10 December 1971 to 21 December 1975. The first four series had thirteen episodes each, while the final series had sixteen.
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Marcie.
It did seen to run for a long time, I never did get tired of watching it. Wonder if "Downton Abbey" will be as lucky. So far I have seen the 2 Seasons. Each one had 3 dvd for each Set. with each dvd running for 6 hours I believe..
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I actually am enjoying the Upstairs Downstairs episodes. I find that time period very interesting. I watched the series years ago and enjoyed that too. I wasn't expecting this current series to be any different from what it is -better than the programs with political ads, that's for sure.
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I'm finding the series interesting too, especially Sir Hallam's involvement with the government and his trying to warn the people in charge about Hitler. There are also interesting social issues. It does have a bit of soap opera activity but I think that all of the actors are excellent and the sets, costumes, lighting, etc are great.
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Oh my gosh, Persie!!! I don't want to say more until everyone has indicated they've watched the episode.
Hallam does seem to give clues about why he's having an affair with Persie. He is afraid that his wife, Agnes, doesn't need him anymore. Of course, he's being an idiot to think that his affair is going to help his state of mind.
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Things sre definitely going from bad to worse upstairs and downstairs. Hope things look up next week.
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I think the new Upstairs Downstairs had a hard time competing against Downton.
Incidentally, we saw the last episode of series 3 of Downton last Sunday - what will we do with our Sunday evenings now? (They are doing a Christmas Special.) Can't wait for Call the Midwife to come back.
Our papers say that the actor who plays Matthew is not coming back in Series 4, so that will no doubt give rise to another ridiculous plot twist - how we love them!
Rosemary
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"the actor who plays Matthew is not coming back in Series 4"
Oh dear, I wish you hadn't told me that. Well, we haven't even gotten series 3 yet.
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Other than for the Christmas Special of "Call the Midwife" I didn't think that the show was coming back. Has there been another one shown in the UK after the last we saw here 2 weeks ago? (This was where the on Nurse got married)
How many hours did No. 3 of Downton Abbey run in UK. When will they start No. 4.?
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Well I watched the last episode of Upstairs/Downstairs tonight, and I loved it. Enormous amount of drama, but some great photography and very British moments. I loved Hallam's sister answering the door and, when questioned, saying she was "Miss Pamela Holland." Good for her! And then when she went to console Hallam and they hugged. And at the end when Hallam goes off to his new job the Duke has set up for him at the Palace and Lady Agnes goes off to the Motor Corps and Lady Blanche to the Fire Brigade and Pritchard to Warden duties to get everyone into air raid shelters. That is the way it was. Those are the kind of things (minus the aristocracy and titles, of course) that we were doing in my hometown in Virginia when war broke out.
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I too thought that the last episode was good. It didn't wrap everything up nicely. Everyone seems to have lost someone or something but there was a spirit of purpose, as you described, MaryPage.
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Jeanne - I'm pretty sure I read an interview with Miranda Hart when she implied that Call the Midwife was returning - I certainly hope it will.
Not sure how many episodes there were Downton 3, and my daughter told me it won't be back for series 4 till well into 2013 (aside from the Christmas special, that is.) I don't think they'd drop it though, it has massive ratings over here - though I do know many people who either record it or wait for the DVD, just because the adverts are so irritating - sometimes you begin to wonder if the programme's coming back on at all. I suppose that's the price of success.
Rosemary
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When we are watching these shows here we do not be bothered much with advertising as they are shown on Public Broadcast. However they do tie them into asking for donations every 20 min. That spoils it for me. So far I have collected Series 1 an 2 on DVD. Will do the same when Series 3 comes out that way. They will then be watched by most of my family who have never seen them. Enjoyed more.
I didn't realize that Hugh Bonneville. was so young in real life. His birthday was just last week and if memory serves me right, it said age 49. Looks older in person I think.
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I have been busy catching up on Upstairs Downstairs. I remember watching the original show on Sunday evening with my Dad and my sister. I can't say why we all loved the show so much but I have to say it was uncommon for the 3 of us to like the same show so much. I haven't been on the board much of late but I think I am here for the duration on this one. :)
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Bookjunky, I'm glad you found us again. We'll be talking about Downton Abbey as the encore presentations of season 2 are shown but we can continue to talk about Upstairs Downstairs too.
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No TV as such for me tonight. Yesterday my name came up at the library for the No5 Series of "Army Wives". (9 hours of it). really enjoyed the last 4 series. Watched the first 3 hours last night. Last part makes one cry. So now tonight will watch the 2nd 3 hours and then one more 3 hours to go.
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The original Upstairs Downstairs series may be seen on Amazon Prime. I have my dvr set to record Downton! Amazon also has Downton Abbey series 2 on video.
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Thanks for the info, Bookjunky.
Tonight on my PBS station, they are showing THE DUST BOWL. See http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/dustbowl/
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Last night we saw the first episode of 'The Secret of Crickley Hall', which has apparently been dramatised from a novel by James Herbert. I would never read that sort of thing usually, but Madeleine & I watched it - I was terrified and hid behind a cushion, whilst Madeleine (aged 14) thought the whole thing was laughable!
It was on BBC1 so maybe you will get it on PBS later? I don't know if I will watch the remaining episodes - I had horrible dreams afterwards - but now that Downton is finished for the season, there isn't anything else on on a Sunday night, which has become our evening for watching TV in our pyjamas and then going to bed early (ish).
Incidentally, one of the characters is played by Tom Ellis, who is the chef and love interest in 'Miranda'.
Here is a link to the BBC site:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00t081w
Maybe some of you have read the book?
Rosemary
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Thanks for the information, Rosemary, about The Secret of Crickley Hall. I had not heard of the book.
It seems that at least one reviewer had a similar reaction to Madeleine's: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/tv-and-radio-reviews/9684160/The-Secret-of-Crickley-Hall-BBC-One-review.html
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Rosemary.
Wish we would get the DvD of "The secret of Crickley Hall" here. I love those kind of films and books. Loved Ghost stories since a small child. Nothing could scare me. Will see if by chance our library has the book.
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Rosemary, I could handle Anything when I was 14. Anything at all.
But now it is 70 years later for me, and I no longer can watch horror, scifi, scary and so forth. I can watch the British cosies, but not the American car chase and other loud violence.
Yep, I relate to the difference in your reaction and Madeleine's to that ghost film! You Betcha!
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Last night I saw the first episode of a GREAT new three part (I think) series - "Last Tango in Halifax'. It's about a retired couple who had a failed date (her mother made her family move house a day early, he thought she'd stood him up) when they were still at school. They find one another via the internet and decide to meet up again.
The leads are played by none other than Derek Jacobi and Anne Reid, and they were both brilliant. The supporting case - their daughters, grandchildren, etc - were also excellent. It's by no means 'cosy' in that almost every other family member has a 'secret' of some sort, but the central pair are just lovely. So far no overt sex/violence, just wonderful characterisation.
Here is a link:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2012/47/tango-halifax-ep1.html
I read the Guardian review, and even though their man predictably thought it was 'predictable' (!), even he liked it enough to say he'll watch it next week.
I hope you get it on PBS.
Rosemary
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Our latest two-parter on PBS was "The Dust Bowl". I don't suppose that will be shown in GB as its American history but it is absolutely mind blowing for me. I had so idea that those huge dust storms went on for ten years and changing so many lives from North Dakota to New Mexico.
The photography is marvelous thanks to the government giving jobs to all the artists of photography to show the people's lives throughout that unhappy episode in our county plus the Depression.
We saw the final episode of Up/Down on Sunday evening. I really enjoyed the whole series but not as much as I did the old series. We don't care for "Call the Midwife" but have found other things on our cable channels that we like including history and science. We are not into reality shows at all which are not reality as we know it.
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Rosemary, I had to look up Anne Reid. I see she was the cook in the new Upstairs, Downstairs. I like her very much and I always admire Derek Jacobi. I hope that Last Tango in Halifax comes to the U.S.
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Rosemary. I know would love the "Last Tango" if it would show here. Be awhile though if it does. Now is the Halifax and Skipton up in my area of Yorkshire/Lancs. Never miss the Skipton Market when over there. Has the best Fish and Chip Cafe in the North.
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It looks like my local PBS is showing Downton Abbey Revisited with Angela Landsbury hosting according to the local listing. Clips of Season 3 will also be included.
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Here is PBS asking for donations again. Taken over all 3 of their Chanel's. Most probably last for a week. Not been 60 days since they last did it.
I don't give anymore as they just keep repeating the shows. Some will show 6 times over a weekend. Some have been running for over 3 -5 years.
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Frybabe, Downton Abbey Revisited will be showing on my PBS station this Sunday too.
http://www.pbs.org/downtonrevisited/home/
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Nothing on TV last night and I wasn't in the mood for reading, so I watched the final episode of Upstairs Downstairs on my computer. I agree, it wasn't as good as the original series, but I enjoyed it and got interested in the characters.
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Thanks, Rosemary. I will definitely look for that.
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I think that "La Mis" will be on PBS at 7pm Sunday. I will most probably watch it again. Seen in 6 times in Theatre. same on TV and own the DVD of the London one. Still one of my favourites.
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Jeanne, my PBS station is showing the London cast of Les Mis at 7 tomorrow evening.
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If Le Miz is the version they did some years ago, with the Israeli singer as Jean valjean, I have it on VHS, but my new TV doesn't play VHS. I'll definately watch it.
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This is very weird. Earlier, when I checked my PBS station on TV guide, it said Le Mis but now it is showing Phantom of the Opera.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/episodes/the-phantom-of-the-opera-at-the-royal-albert-hall/about-the-program/1258/
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Marcia. I notice the change in prog. also. Was beginning to think I was seeing things, and so glad you saw the change. The are saying that will be showing again the same "Downton Abbey" that they had on last week. Looks like all the stations can show what they want at the moment.
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Did anyone besides me watch "The Tenors" last night. Very good. I had not heard of them before.
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I turned on the TV hoping for Les Miz and got something called "Merry Christmas, Babe". You may be amazed to hear I didn't stick around to watch it.
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(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/masterpiececlassic.jpg)
Masterpiece Classic brings back favorite authors and programs and introduces new programs. See the 2013 MASTERPIECE CLASSIC schedule (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/schedule/).
NOW DISCUSSING
What's playing on your PBS station? What programs do you continue to enjoy?
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_7.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e7/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 7 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e7)
1 95-minute episode — Sunday, February 17, 2013
The Crawleys head to a Scottish hunting lodge, while the downstairs staff stays behind at Downton Abbey. New romances flare up, and a fresh crisis unfolds.
COMING
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/contemporary_2011/pageeight.jpg)
Page Eight (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/pageeight/index.html)
February 24,, 2013 at 9pm
One 120-minute episode
Sixty-something MI-5 agent Johnny Worricker has amassed an impressive art collection, an amicable collection of ex-wives, and a droll, unflappable relationship with the work he enjoys alongside his boss and best friend, MI5 chief Benedict Baron. But when Benedict brings to light damning evidence of British complicity with illegal American torture operations, it falls to Johnny to do the right thing.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/contemporary_2011/songoflunch.jpg)
Song of Lunch (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/songoflunch/index.html)
March 24,, 2013 at 9pm
One 120-minute episode
A dramatisation of Christopher Reid's narrative poem, telling the story of a book editor who, 15 years after their break-up, meets his former love for a nostalgic lunch at the Soho restaurant they used to frequent. The production is unusual in featuring little spoken dialogue, the action instead being an enactment of incidents described in poetic monologue of the male character. Starring Alan Rickman & Emma Thompson.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/selfridge.jpg)
Mr. Selfridge (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/series/mr-selfridge/)
March 31,, 2013 at 9pm
One 120-minute episode
Upstart American Harry Selfridge moves heaven and earth to build his visionary department store in London. But opening day is just the start of his retail revolution. Three-time Emmy® winner Jeremy Piven (in his first television appearance since his iconic role as Hollywood agent Ari Gold in Entourage) stars as Harry Gordon Selfridge, the flamboyant entrepreneur and showman seeking to provide London's shoppers with the ultimate merchandise and the ultimate thrill. Mr. Selfridge is created by Emmy® Award-winning writer Andrew Davies (Pride and Prejudice, Bleak House).
ALREADY DISCUSSED
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_6.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e6/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 6 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e6)
1 120-minute episode — Sunday, February 10, 2013
Change arrives in a big way for several key characters at Downton Abbey. A yearly cricket match with the village sees old scores settled and new plots hatched.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_5.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e5/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 5 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e5)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, February 3, 2013
Things go badly amiss at Downton Abbey. Robert and Cora are not speaking. The servants are shunning Matthew's mother Isobel. And Matthew and Robert have fallen out. Also, Bates takes a gamble.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_4.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e4/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 4 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e4)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 27, 2013
The Crawley family faces its severest test yet. Meanwhile, new faces try to fit into the tight-knit circle of servants. And new evidence turns up in a baffling case.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_3.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e3/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 3 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e3)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 20, 2013
Two social revolutions arrive at Downton Abbey: the Irish civil war and the fight for women's suffrage. A mysterious conspiracy keeps Anna and Bates apart.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_2.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e2/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 2 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e2)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 13, 2013
The fate of Downton Abbey hinges on a letter from a dead man. Edith and Sir Anthony face their own fateful moment. Mrs. Hughes confronts a crisis.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_1.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e1/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e1)
1 120-minute episode — Sunday, January 6, 2013
Wedding guests descend on Downton Abbey, where disasters large and small threaten. One is Cora's freewheeling American mother, who tries to loosen up her in-laws.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/featured_season3_darevisited.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/downtonrevisited/home/)
Downton Abbey Revisited (http://www.pbs.org/downtonrevisited/home/)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 25, 2012
Savor highlights from the first two seasons and get a preview of Season 3 in this new PBS special.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep6.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e6)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 6 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e6)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 11, 2012
A chance remark at the Foreign Office alerts Hallam that one of his associates is a German spy—with tragic consequences. As war is declared, life upstairs and downstairs is transformed at Eaton Place.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep5.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e5)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 5 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e5)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 4, 2012
With war looming, romance is in the air—illicit and otherwise. Hallam, Agnes, Landry, and Persie each pursue their heart’s desire in different ways. Harry and Beryl get engaged. And even Pritchard finds a soulmate.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep4.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e4)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 4 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e4)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 28, 2012
All of London sees Agnes’s shapely legs when she models stockings for Landry’s company—offending Hallam. Intent on impressing Beryl, Harry enters the servants’ boxing competition as Johnny’s manager.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep3.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e3)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 3 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e3)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 21, 2012
Hallam’s Aunt Blanche appears in a novel by a former lover, sparking a scandal that threatens the good name of Eaton Place. Meanwhile, Agnes’s demands on the servants bring a social worker to set her straight.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep2.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e2)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 2 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e2)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 14, 2012
Ambassador Kennedy and his dashing son Jack come to dinner at Eaton Place. But Agnes is more entranced by another guest: millionaire Caspar Landry. Before the evening is over, Mrs. Thackeray resigns.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep1.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e1)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e1)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 7, 2012
Pritchard takes the rap for Johnny in a shocking incident, which leads to a revelation that casts the butler into disgrace. On a diplomatic mission to Germany, Hallam meets Persie, who has a Nazi lover.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/poster_upstairsdownstairs.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/index.html)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/index.html) - rebroadcast
3 60-minute episodes — Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012
It's 1936, a tumultuous time in Britain, and within the walls of 165 Eaton Place, characters from an orphanage, a damp Welsh castle, the heart of the British Raj and elsewhere together will face a changing world, not just upstairs and downstairs, but side by side. Written by Heidi Thomas (Cranford, Madame Bovary), Upstairs Downstairs stars co-creators of the original series Jean Marsh and Eileen Atkins (Cranford, Bertie and Elizabeth). Also starring are Ed Stoppard (Any Human Heart), Keeley Hawes (Wives and Daughters), and Claire Foy (Little Dorrit). Available online at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/watch-online/
Discussion Leaders: JoanP (jonkie@verizon.net) and marcie (marciei@aol.com)
JoanK/
I think we messed up on Les Miz. Just saw the add again and it looks like coming out as a Movie on Christmas Day. ( don't quote me on this).Again I may be seeing things.. I will Google it and see what said.
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Right. It is a new movie coming out. Les Misérables | Official Movie Site | In Theaters Christmas 2012
www.lesmiserablesfilm.com/ShareLes Misérables stars Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway in an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and ...
Les Misérables (2012) - IMDb
Dont know about those stars that will be in it. Won't be as good as the show.
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"Les Mis" will be on our PBS tonight starting at 7pm to 10:30pm I believe. Will be a lot of interuptions . so I don't know if I will watch it.
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Our PBS station is showing a Poirot mystery from 2008 on Sunday.
There is an interesting review of the musical film version of Les Miserables at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/reviews/article-2244064/Les-Miserables-review-Hugh-Jackman-gives-screen-performance-career.html
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Saw four members of Downton cast on Charlie Rose last night. It's a fun watch if you get a chance to see it.
Jean
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6 Downton Abbey cast were on "The view" this morning. Will be a number 4 made they say.
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Thanks for the info, Jean and Jeanne.
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I caught the Charlie Rose show, as well, and enjoyed it tremendously. I never watch daytime television, so I don't see The View. Fortunately, the Charlie Rose show sends fans a daily email to tell us who will be on the show each weeknight. I wish The View would do that, as I would try to catch the ones I'd really like to see. Actually, though, it is easy for me to catch Charlie at eleven each night, but I am always out of the house somewhere or much too busy at eleven in the morning.
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Mary,
Do you manage to stay up and awake until 11pm every night to watch Charlie Rose?.I like him but I don't think he comes on here until midnight.
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When I am not going to work or to a medical appointment of some kind, I stay up until one in the morning and get up at eight. I usually get 7 hours of sleep, and that seems to suit me to a tee.
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I finely last night watched the Movie."The Rape of Europa" I think I read the book years ago. The movie Was good. They did say one thing though that cannot be right. That 90% of the Art work was found and returned to the owners or Galleries. Many of the works that were owned by the Jewish families did not get returned to them. Most of the owners were killed and would have been hard to know every piece as to who it belonged to. Some owned hundreds of painting with just a few hanging in their homes. Records would not have been laying around. The Nazi destroyed so much that I cant see them not giving order to have things destroyed once they knew they were loosing the war. Makes one wonder when looking at them now in Europe if they are now copies. Not so much in England as ours were put away but then available after the war end.
I did agree with the showing of the Maps that the UK had marking where they did not want the AirForce to drop the bombs in France . They Germans had done the same on England. They had maps showing areas not to destroy Such as the Tower of London, St. Pauls. Windsor Castle or any Castle. The Palace. Even my city of Manchester may building on the lists Was always a surprise the next day to see them with very little damage when all around them was just rubble.
Report to moderator 98.212.1
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MaryPage, i also am a late-nighter. I watch Jon Steward's The Daily Show at 11:00 and then Tavis Smiley and then Charlie Rose at 12:00. I am so stiff and sore in the mornings because of the fibromyalgia that i never schedule any morning appointments unless it is absolutely unavoidable. So, i don't have a problem with sleeping late in the a.m.
Jean
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I used to stay up late, but my new cat sees fit to try very, very hard to get me up around 5am. So, now I am up early and falling asleep on my reading or TV watching by 11pm.
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Frybabe, I have the opposite in that my cats are in such a routine that if I stay up after about 11pm they start to get very crochetty - I think they want downstairs to themselves. They probably sit up watching unsuitable films with a bag of popcorn :)
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Sounds like my last cat. If I stayed up past his bedtime, I knew it. He slept in bed with me, so whether I was watching TV or reading downstairs or on the computer upstairs, it didn't matter.
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I am lucky to have a Parrot. Its caged with door open. Right next to my easy chair. Come 8pm and what a noise it makes if I don't cover its cage. Goes right to sleep even with TV on. I go to bed around 10:30 Read a little and get up at 8am. It will not make any noise until I take cover off. Had parrots for past 39 years. Easy to take care of. This one can talk up a storm so very entertaining.
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JeanneP, sounds like the perfect pet. We always had a dog but grooming, etc., can get quite expensive.
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The war is over, but intrigue, crisis, romance, and change still grip the beloved estate in the thrilling new season of Downton Abbey. Written and created by Julian Fellowes, with its all-star returning cast and Oscar-winning guest star Shirley MacLaine, Downton Abbey, Season 3 premieres January 6, 2013 on Masterpiece classic! Until then, explore all things Downton, from war to peace to everything in between. See http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/downtonabbey/index.html
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I will, of course, watch the new series of Downton Abbey. I have also used Christmas gifts of Barnes & Noble gift certificates to purchase a number of items on the "Wish List" I keep going with that book store on line, including preordering the DVD set of the new episodes.
Tonight, I look forward to the special Christmas edition of Midwives. Whee!
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I know you all have seen these, but I just watched them again and just love them. They're priceless and for charity and in anticipation of part III's debut, I wanted to see them again. :)
Uptown/ Downstairs Abbey, Part I:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Dr2mPChkTK8#t=0s
Uptown/ Downstairs Abbey, Part II:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3YYo_5rxFE&feature=player_embedded#t=0s
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Having just watched the Downton Christmas Special, I'm looking forward to seeing these again Ginny.
Rosemary
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Tonight on our PBS they take over from 6pm to 6:30 downton Abbey. It is then Call the Midwife until 8PM and then the Christmas Downton Abbey until 10pm. Think I will stick with that channel . Next week will then be Downton Series 3. Looking forward to it.. Wonder if they are working on Series 4. yet?
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Rosemary, I think we have you to thank for them originally? I couldn't remember and it took forever to find them. Apparently there are quite a few spoofs, but I absolutely love these two. :)
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I've read that there will be a season 4, after some major changes brought about in season 3.
Those sketches are hilarious, Ginny.
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missed Downto and Midwife to cheer my team (the Redskins) on to the playoffs. Turned over after the game, just in time to see the credits for "midwife." I hope they rebroadcast.
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Mathew not suppose to return for Series 4....
That seems kind of silly to have Mathew and Mary marry at the start of Series 3. At least that is how they ended the last one. They were outside in the snow and he got down on knee and she accepted. How can they show married and then he leaves. Surly they won't kill him off and Mary will then be the owner of the Downton Abbey. Maybe she will have had a son with him. This would then make him be the owner.
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Watched the Midwife holiday show. I haven't watched the series, just caught a few minutes here and there, so I didn't have a sense of the characters. But it was an interesting and pleasant way to spend Sunday evening after several hours of The Twilight Zone, which has my husband intrigued just now - memories of watching these shows when they were new, I guess, while putting them into today's context. Some of those episodes are just as unnerving now as then.
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nlhome, I too watched the interesting Midwife holiday show and have been watching some of the Twilight Zone marathon. I loved the series when it was first on TV and have been enjoying the episodes now.
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Jeanne, I'll bet you are right! They will have to kill off Matthew, but I do not believe the entail will allow Mary to be the new Earl and owner upon her father's death, whenever that occurs.. If she IS pregnant and has a boy, he will immediately upon birth be in line to be the next Earl and she can be his guardian and guardian of the estate until he reaches his majority, if the present Earl, his Grandpa, dies before he comes of age. Although the Law will probably insist there be more than one trustee of the child's estate.
She might have a girl. Upon which the next nearest male will be the heir. suppose Sybil, for instance, has a little boy. That grandson would then be the nearest male heir, would he not? The little Irish chauffeur's son! What a hoot!
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Woops! Mary. We are cornered now. We can't discuss what we found out. At least we can have in our minds what we think will happen and then later see if we were anywhere near right.
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Lots of people will have purchased Series 3 by now. The BBC send me E-M and I think they have it one Sale already. I may have to buy it. I now have No.1 and No 2. Will take ages if I try to get it from the library as they will have lots of Breaks in it when showing on PBS. They are still having them now up to last Sunday ( every 15 min.) on what has already been shown.
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I am eagerly looking forward to Downton tomorrow. Such a good program!!
Sally
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I missed the Christmas special and I don't see it on PBS to watch on-line. BooHoo!
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I watched and enjoyed all the Call the Midwife series. Such good acting by all!! Will there be more episodes? Does anyone know?
Sally
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We have just had the Christmas special (which I still have recorded to watch, haven't caught up with Christmas TV yet), and I'm sure I heard talk of a new series (though I may have it muddled up with Downton....)
Rosemary
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Does anybody still get Rosemary and Thyme? It's on our 2nd PBS station tonight at 8:00 and i always love them
Jean
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Will check our PBS, but have not seen them on there for awhile.
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Season 2 of The Midwife will begin March 31, 2013. See http://www.pbs.org/programs/call-the-midwife/
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Thanks for that info, Marcie. I look forward to seeing it. Do you know anything about Land Girls? That's another PBS series I enjoy.
Sally
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Salan, I've never heard of The Land Girls. It sounds interesting. Apparently there were three series that originally aired from 2009 to 2011. See info at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Girls_%28TV_series%29
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(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/masterpiececlassic.jpg)
Masterpiece Classic brings back favorite authors and programs and introduces new programs. See the 2013 MASTERPIECE CLASSIC schedule (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/schedule/).
NOW DISCUSSING
What's playing on your PBS station? What programs do you continue to enjoy?
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_7.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e7/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 7 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e7)
1 95-minute episode — Sunday, February 17, 2013
The Crawleys head to a Scottish hunting lodge, while the downstairs staff stays behind at Downton Abbey. New romances flare up, and a fresh crisis unfolds.
COMING
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/contemporary_2011/pageeight.jpg)
Page Eight (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/pageeight/index.html)
February 24,, 2013 at 9pm
One 120-minute episode
Sixty-something MI-5 agent Johnny Worricker has amassed an impressive art collection, an amicable collection of ex-wives, and a droll, unflappable relationship with the work he enjoys alongside his boss and best friend, MI5 chief Benedict Baron. But when Benedict brings to light damning evidence of British complicity with illegal American torture operations, it falls to Johnny to do the right thing.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/contemporary_2011/songoflunch.jpg)
Song of Lunch (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/songoflunch/index.html)
March 24,, 2013 at 9pm
One 120-minute episode
A dramatisation of Christopher Reid's narrative poem, telling the story of a book editor who, 15 years after their break-up, meets his former love for a nostalgic lunch at the Soho restaurant they used to frequent. The production is unusual in featuring little spoken dialogue, the action instead being an enactment of incidents described in poetic monologue of the male character. Starring Alan Rickman & Emma Thompson.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/selfridge.jpg)
Mr. Selfridge (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/series/mr-selfridge/)
March 31,, 2013 at 9pm
One 120-minute episode
Upstart American Harry Selfridge moves heaven and earth to build his visionary department store in London. But opening day is just the start of his retail revolution. Three-time Emmy® winner Jeremy Piven (in his first television appearance since his iconic role as Hollywood agent Ari Gold in Entourage) stars as Harry Gordon Selfridge, the flamboyant entrepreneur and showman seeking to provide London's shoppers with the ultimate merchandise and the ultimate thrill. Mr. Selfridge is created by Emmy® Award-winning writer Andrew Davies (Pride and Prejudice, Bleak House).
ALREADY DISCUSSED
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_6.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e6/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 6 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e6)
1 120-minute episode — Sunday, February 10, 2013
Change arrives in a big way for several key characters at Downton Abbey. A yearly cricket match with the village sees old scores settled and new plots hatched.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_5.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e5/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 5 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e5)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, February 3, 2013
Things go badly amiss at Downton Abbey. Robert and Cora are not speaking. The servants are shunning Matthew's mother Isobel. And Matthew and Robert have fallen out. Also, Bates takes a gamble.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_4.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e4/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 4 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e4)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 27, 2013
The Crawley family faces its severest test yet. Meanwhile, new faces try to fit into the tight-knit circle of servants. And new evidence turns up in a baffling case.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_3.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e3/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 3 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e3)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 20, 2013
Two social revolutions arrive at Downton Abbey: the Irish civil war and the fight for women's suffrage. A mysterious conspiracy keeps Anna and Bates apart.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_2.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e2/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 2 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e2)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 13, 2013
The fate of Downton Abbey hinges on a letter from a dead man. Edith and Sir Anthony face their own fateful moment. Mrs. Hughes confronts a crisis.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_1.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e1/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e1)
1 120-minute episode — Sunday, January 6, 2013
Wedding guests descend on Downton Abbey, where disasters large and small threaten. One is Cora's freewheeling American mother, who tries to loosen up her in-laws.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/featured_season3_darevisited.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/downtonrevisited/home/)
Downton Abbey Revisited (http://www.pbs.org/downtonrevisited/home/)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 25, 2012
Savor highlights from the first two seasons and get a preview of Season 3 in this new PBS special.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep6.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e6)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 6 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e6)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 11, 2012
A chance remark at the Foreign Office alerts Hallam that one of his associates is a German spy—with tragic consequences. As war is declared, life upstairs and downstairs is transformed at Eaton Place.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep5.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e5)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 5 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e5)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 4, 2012
With war looming, romance is in the air—illicit and otherwise. Hallam, Agnes, Landry, and Persie each pursue their heart’s desire in different ways. Harry and Beryl get engaged. And even Pritchard finds a soulmate.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep4.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e4)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 4 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e4)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 28, 2012
All of London sees Agnes’s shapely legs when she models stockings for Landry’s company—offending Hallam. Intent on impressing Beryl, Harry enters the servants’ boxing competition as Johnny’s manager.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep3.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e3)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 3 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e3)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 21, 2012
Hallam’s Aunt Blanche appears in a novel by a former lover, sparking a scandal that threatens the good name of Eaton Place. Meanwhile, Agnes’s demands on the servants bring a social worker to set her straight.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep2.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e2)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 2 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e2)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 14, 2012
Ambassador Kennedy and his dashing son Jack come to dinner at Eaton Place. But Agnes is more entranced by another guest: millionaire Caspar Landry. Before the evening is over, Mrs. Thackeray resigns.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep1.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e1)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e1)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 7, 2012
Pritchard takes the rap for Johnny in a shocking incident, which leads to a revelation that casts the butler into disgrace. On a diplomatic mission to Germany, Hallam meets Persie, who has a Nazi lover.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/poster_upstairsdownstairs.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/index.html)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/index.html) - rebroadcast
3 60-minute episodes — Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012
It's 1936, a tumultuous time in Britain, and within the walls of 165 Eaton Place, characters from an orphanage, a damp Welsh castle, the heart of the British Raj and elsewhere together will face a changing world, not just upstairs and downstairs, but side by side. Written by Heidi Thomas (Cranford, Madame Bovary), Upstairs Downstairs stars co-creators of the original series Jean Marsh and Eileen Atkins (Cranford, Bertie and Elizabeth). Also starring are Ed Stoppard (Any Human Heart), Keeley Hawes (Wives and Daughters), and Claire Foy (Little Dorrit). Available online at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/watch-online/
Discussion Leaders: JoanP (jonkie@verizon.net) and marcie (marciei@aol.com)
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Jean, Rosemary and Thyme isn't currently showing in my area. I have seen some of the episodes and enjoyed them. It looks like some are available for viewing online at http://www.kcet.org/shows/rosemary_and_thyme/web-extras/watch-full-episodes-of-rosemary-and-thyme-online.html
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Reminder that the first episode of Downton Abbey, season 3, will be showing on most PBS stations this Sunday for two hours.
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Today's Parade Magazine, in many Sunday newspapers, has a wonderful article by Julian Fellowes on Downton Abbey, and how his own departed relatives have influenced his characters. I loved what he wrote about his father:
http://www.parade.com/celebrity/celebrity-parade/2013/01/06-downton-abbey-sunday-night-obsession.html
It's wonderful. Can't wait till tonight.
This article apparently appears in a book I have not read:
Adapted from The Chronicles of Downton Abbey by Jessica Fellowes & Matthew Sturgis; foreword by Julian Fellowes. Copyright © 2012 by the authors and reprinted by permission of St. Martin’s Press, LLC.
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Rosemary and Thyme is broadcast here during the day. I never think to turn it on until it's halfway over, which doesn't do for a mystery.
Looking forward to Downton tonight.
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Yes, tied to the TV tonight from 7pm to 10 pm for sure. Better have PJs on.
Turn off the phones.
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Its competing w/ The Good Wife, i'll have to watch GW ondemand i guess. Andrea Mitchell pitched DA on her show this morning.
Jean
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Good show last night. Poor Shirley MacLaine. I thought she would crack her makeup if she smiled or moved her face muscles too much.
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Downton Abby was soooo good. I had to laugh out loud at all the "Maggie Smith's" one liner's. As for Shirley MacLaine. she did look strange as far as her makeup , it made her look stiff. I wonder if that was the extend of her being on the show being as she said it was time for her to go back home. What I didn't like was knowing that Matthew was leaving the show so I kept thinking about that through out. I did read awhile ago how he leaves and I won't say because no one else that knows has.
I got to watch it during the day yesterday because PBS had it on demand before it was on at night. So strange they do that every so often.
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I agree with both of you about Shirley MacLaine's appearance. I thought she did a creditable job, however, with her part. I expected her to be totally over the top and she wasn't.
The best line of the night to me was Maggie Smith's saying she needed a drink as she turned to her son Lord Grantham, and then then saying oh I thought you were (because of his outfit), the footman or something like that. I laughed out loud.
Goodness so nice to see Lady Mary smile for once, she's quite pretty when she does.
Do you think that Cora's oh well, my money is all gone, that's ok, we can live in poverty is quite "American" or rings true? Lots on Americans in this one.
Yesterday in the newspaper there was an interview with Shirley MacLaine in which she said she wanted to meet the guy playing Mr. Bates in fact and Julian Fellowes had set up a meeting with only him there. That's interesting.
Loved the elegant lady at the dinner saying the "picnic" made her feel quite young again.
That was a promising start, I thought.
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I think that it is giving a idea on what is going to happen to Mathew. He won't be leaving for ever. Sort of doing what they do on US. Soap opera's when the star is doing another show or chance to do a movie. Letting them off for a time.
My idea is. Because of the Will showing him now coming into lots of money. Land (says he won't accept it). and he being a lawyer he will go out to India to handle the Plantation and businesses that tie into the Will. Return to England after awhile and back in the show.
I would not have known that was Shirley McClain had I not known she was going to be in. Had her looking so old. Not that she is young. Don't think she is in for the long run as she ready to go back to US in the show. Can't see her having a big part.
Looks like will be another wedding soon. So they have all their daughters married off. They can stand to move into a smaller place. Not Mary though. She wants it all.
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I would have watched it alone for the scene where Shirley MacLaine sang "Let me call you sweetheart" to Maggie Smith. Priceless!
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I thought our Shirley was Great! And I, too, loved the singing part. She is SEVENTY-NINE years old now, and not the Shirley we once knew.
I loved every bit of last night's show, and I, too, know what happens to Matthew, but will be careful not to say.
Loved the special hour about the castle prior to the show, too. I did not know this lord's grandfather was the Lord Carnavon who discovered King Tut's tomb!
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I remember taking grandson the Chicago Fields Museum to See all the King Tut treasures. Surprised they could find them and take them out of the country years ago. This Lord Carnavon. The ones that go around belong the the Museum in I thought Egypt.
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Ginny - that comment of Cora's really riled us! She clearly hasn't got the faintest notion what it would be like even to live without servants, never mind in poverty! (it was her money that financed Downton in the first place, so she comes from wealth.) For us it smacks a tad too much of David Cameron (our PM) who has a multi-million trust fund, a very wealthy wife, etc and who lately keeps banging on about how 'we're all in this together' - AS IF!!
Rosemary
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Rosemary
she stood by her husband even though he lost all her money. They still had DA because of her money. Maybe she doesn't really know what it would be like to live without it remains to be seen I guess. I think it's Mary who would have the biggest problem with that kind of change even though her sister is happy living completly different then she did at Downton.
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Those are good points, Rosemary and Jeriron, tho they are opposed.
(Jeriron, what is DA? I've been racking my brain, and it sounds somewhat ominous). :)
I don't think going from wealth to poverty happily is particularly American. (Lord Grantham apparently is without a "trade," or way to make money and they did make the point by the entire town turning out for the wedding what his holdings are. He can hardly take up a position as a clerk in the Post office). So they have no profession or way to make money. There's a little left apparently. Will Lady Cora take a position in the local shop? ...Lord Grantham can hire out as...? She might not mind but I bet it would kill him. But I don't think saying oh poo is particularly American? At all. Apparently it's not British either?
She was a Levinson, do I have that right? It appears her mother is pretty clear on how the Levinson money has to be disposed, (Mr. Levinson apparently is no fool financially, having probably made it the hard way), and Cora herself says enough already, it's not fair to take any more and cheat my brother (and mother?) of the rest.
So she's standing by her man, but in this case, surely she knows (we do if she doesn't) that her MAN will be destroyed if he lets this fail, it was left to him and now he's sunk it. That, one would think, should matter to her. Is she saying oh poo, dearie we don't need that, I am the stronger of the two of us? I wonder, too, if it matters so little to her, she sure played the Lady of the Manor during the war, didn't she? It mattered then, in her struggles with Matthew's mother, didn't it?
It's an interesting question about status. Is Fellowes saying that in the US it's just as interesting to be a failure financially as it is to be a success? Love conquers all? I found the American versus the British element in this one fascinating. And the implications of whether class (supposedly not an element in America) matters. Or does it?
But then again, what could she say? Really?
(And the look on both the father's and the butler's face when Mary came down the staircase was priceless).
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I wouldn't say that Lord Grantham was totally without a trade because many of the wealthy had lots of acreage in production. Lord Strallon, for instance was very keen on agriculture/husbandry, as apparently was Edith, if you recall from the first(?) season. Some took a very active role, others rented out land to local crofters. I suspect that Lord Grantham was in the latter group. The rents certainly would not be able to pay for their extravagant lifestyle. One wonders how the family acquired their wealth in the first place. Lord Grantham took a very risky route by putting so much of his funds into one stock. Where was his financial advisor? Surely, his advisor would have warned him of the risks. Did he go against advise or did the advisor sell him a pie in the sky dream. He bought into the "sure bet" and lost.
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We would be amazed if they printed a list of the so call High Class people of UK. all still holding the titles for hundreds of years back. Many have not had wealth for years and years. Can get by on their Names. Not many would sue them if they did not pay their bills.
Now look at Prince Charles. He makes more from his holding than what he would be allowed just for being who he is. That is his interest. The land and what it produces. Horses are the best breeds. I don't think he and his wife have ever lived like the People at Dalton Abbey. None of the Royals other than couple of sons of Queen Victoria even have.
It is a TV show. Something good will happen. They will be back up.
Now look at the Family that still own the Place that Dalton Abbey filmed. I bet they are not the most wealthy. Without the name and the tourist trade. Maybe they do some farming there although it didn't look like it. Most probably the "Trusts" they have in UK are paying them something. When the were both on TV it looked like they did not blow money away one clothes and Haircuts. Even her nails awful.
Now I am being Catty. Shame on me.
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ginny
DA is Downton Abby I guess I should have written it out :)
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What an interesting discussion...so many issues raised that didn't fully occur to me. I enjoyed the episode and some of Maggie Smith's lines were hilarious. What a dilemma for Matthew. He feels that it would be stealing to take the money left to him by his former father-in-law-to-be. The series is called "Downton Abbey." Can the family (both upstairs and downstairs) survive without it?
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By all means, Jeanne, cat away. Many, many aristocratic family lived way beyond their means because they knew that they could get away with it years ago. Things changed with the onset of WWI.
What I forgot to say before is that some of these people became quite expert in certain areas. The agriculture and husbandry were prime examples of active interests that led to improved breeding both of animals and plants. Others had interests (avocations, hobbies, if you will) like in the earth and biological sciences. Some made discoveries, some funded those who did. At any rate, a number of those who became amateur experts could have become consultants. Goodness knows, we have enough of those these days whether self-taught or university trained. Lots were into government and lots of others became board members of foundations and businesses. Unless they were totally useless, I suspect many found places whether they knew much or not, as you say Jeanne, because of their titles and the deference given to them. I suspect many resisted the change, like Violet at first and Mary.
It's amazing how closely the three sisters seem to reflect me and my sisters growing up. Me, the responsible one with expectations, my youngest sister the most independent, and my middle sister trying to get her due share of attention for her accomplishments and interests.
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Have any of you watched BBCs The Hour? I just read about it and the second season is on demand. It's about the production of a tv magazine in the 1950s, obviously in Britain. In a five minute preview, every character had a cigarette in hand - how strange that seemed. :)
Jean
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Yes, I've been watching The Hour. It does bring back the 50s and the beginnings of television journalism. It deals with government conspiracy and crime. It can be quite unnerving.
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Jeriron, DUH!! How dumb can I get!! Thank you for DA, now we see what we are dealing with in me. hahahaa
Farming as a trade?
Somebody correct me here. If Lord Grantham loses Highclere...er, I mean Downton, he loses it all. The farms which he oversees are entailed with the estate, aren't they? They would not be his unless he bought a piece, they would be owned by Andrew Lloyd Weber...er... no that's Highclere where they film...sorry.... which apparently, ironically, "Downton" has saved.
Perhaps he has an overseer's knowledge? But he's not actually out there in his Wellies mucking about with the pigs, is he? He could probably buy a small croft with what's left and he and Lady Cora could raise marrows or piglets and sell...er.....oh please.
Can you actually SEE him for one minute hauling produce to the store, tugging at his forelock to the current Arab who owns Downton? He can't do that because of who he is, which of course is no fault of his. And he still would be in the House of Lords, right? Or not? (We can see how much I know about British aristocracy!)
I wonder if this would be easier for Cora and that's what Julian Fellowes is trying to indicate. There IS a difference in the Levinson money and his inherited money, and it's a big one, for him.
That's an interesting question Marcie has asked. The series is called "Downton Abbey." Can the family (both upstairs and downstairs) survive without it?
I would say that Lord Grantham would not. Is he even old enough to retire? I think the actor who plays him is only 49. Depends on what you mean by survive.
What happens to these deposed Lords of the Manor when the manor is sold? Anybody know?
We all know about the Duke of Windsor but he had money. What happens when they don't?
Who else? That's a good question.
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No, I can't see Lord Grantham out in his Wellies. Sir Stallon, maybe, but not Lord Grantham. In fact, it is hard to say what interests Lord Grantham has at all except for Downton and it's upkeep. Which reminds me, how many of the manors today are open to the public with the current Lords and Ladies still owning them (if not living in them)? There are a few, I think. Does the national trust subsidize manors open to the public but owned still by the aristocrats or do they own them outright the National Trust?
This article has an interesting statistic or two, although it doesn't completely answer the question: http://www.aristocracyuk.co.uk/
An interesting article from Wikipedia on the destruction of manor houses. I see it mentions Brideshead Revisited which I haven't read. Did it include the dismantling of the manor house? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destruction_of_country_houses_in_20th-century_Britain
Has anyone read David Cannadine's The Decline and Fall of the British Aristocracy. It looks very interesting.
Lucy is cutting of my research. She wants to play.
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Has anyone read David Cannadine's The Decline and Fall of the British Aristocracy. It looks very interesting.
I have. It's actually gigantic, astounding, frightening and depressing.
Non sequitur of the day: it's fascinating to read Hugh Bonneville's "tweets" on Twitter. Talking with Hugh Grant. Bonneville is quite political, interesting.
That's a good question about how many of the "manors" are open today. I would think almost all of them, am I right? Highclere is.
Another good question: Does the national trust subsidize manors open to the public but owned still by the aristocrats or do they own them outright the National Trust?
I thought once the National Trust bought it, it was theirs. No? Or is it like one of the Conservancy things here in the US, you can grant access to your property while you live on it but when you die, it's theirs?
Dunno. Good question.
(Oh you must read Brideshead!)
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Once the come under the Natl. Trust they the own them. They, I believe have sort of taken over the Debts of the owners. Or left in the wills of owner dying. They are not sold to the trust. Some of the prev. owner are allowed to live on one part of the house and be in charge of the keeping up, Now I don't think that passes on once the people die.
NOw some of the Land may not be Freehold. Lots still could.belong to the Crown.
Many Manors have been torn down. Land has value more than the cost of repairs. Some have been bought by Mid. Eastern people. Movie Stars. Sport players. Anyone who can afford them. Not used like the way that it shows in Downton Abbey. Those days are gone. Not many Lords, Ladies all those titles out there now will soon be gone. Not given out so easy. Many can't be passed down other than the Royals. Being a SIR. is really nothing. Just good for prestige. Gets you a lot of free service. Upgrade on planes. Always a room in a Hotel. Once you die its gone. Not passed. Sort of given out in respect for the work you have done. I like that one.
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It is HIGHCLERE castle and it is the Earl and Countess of Carnavon. The current lord told the cameras quite frankly (in the special hour prior to the showing of Downton Abbey) that it is quite tough to keep the place up and that the income from the filming has allowed him to repair the roofs and windows and bring all up to snuff FOR THE PRESENT, which, he feels, is really all one can do in one's turn.
They hope for income (his son George to marry money, etc.) for the future lords to keep going, as well.
In the meanwhile, they have a whole bunch of businesses going there, including a catering business run out of their kitchen! The lord and his lady get the leftovers from that! They sell cookbooks and give tours and have a gift shop and all that, as well.
The youngest of the six beautiful and talented Mitford sisters married the second son of the Duke of Devonshire. The elder son, in line to be Duke, married Kathleen Kennedy. The elder son died, so did Kick Kennedy (though, like Lady Mary, she would not have inherited anyway), and Bob's Your Uncle, Deborah Mitford became the Duchess of Devonshire. She rescued Chatsworth, made it beautiful and safe again, and is now the dowager duchess. The family name in this case is Cavendish and there are heaps of books on the subject, many of which I own because I have been fascinated by all things Mitford for over half of a very long lifetime.
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Oh you're right, MaryPage, absolutely! I said Highgate (the Cemetery) instead of Highclere (the Castle), hahahaa. One wonders why one travels if that's the best one can do. hahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
I actually have been to Highclere a couple of years ago before it got famous, and when the rumor was that Andrew Lloyd Weber, their neighbor, was trying to buy it. It was interesting.
I went to see the Egyptian exhibit in the basement, and the little hidden treasures that the the 5th Earl Carnarvon had held back and put away behind a sort of hidden panel or shelf, and which were found after he died. Very small pieces, but interesting.
Marcie mentioned that Matthew felt he could not take the money from Lavinias? father (not sure on her name) because he broke her heart. That confused me, because of the timing. Did they say when her father died? Because the will must have been made before she got sick and before her heart was broken? And then the father died? Who died first? It makes sense if he didn't actually witness this sadness and death, that he died first, before her. Why would he make a will out to a fiance, when they were not married? And why wouldn't he have left his money to her? It's not a title or an estate? Or did he leave it to her and then to him should she be deceased? But he's only a fiance. I would think that will could be contested by other relatives.
A lot can (and did) happen before a couple gets married. I am not sure I've heard of a beneficiary who was only a fiance being named. What's the chronology of the will thing? Am I the only one confused over it?
JeanneP, that was an interesting comment on the land possibly belonging to the Crown. So possibly the revenues from farming might not be going to the estate? Interesting. I have read somewhere that Prince Charles (apparently) gets income from ...is it from the farms ON his holdings?
I don't understand the way that works. Does the farmer farm for himself, the Lord of the Manor and the Crown all at the same time? And pay taxes on it too?
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I think Livinia's father must have died after she did, otherwise they would have mentioned his death last season. Don't you think? I forget whether or not they actually got married before she died.
One thing that puzzles me is, I thought that in last season, Cora was diagnosed with cancer toward the end of the season. Do I remember wrong? I was reminded of it when Mrs. Hughes found her lump. That is what I get for not watching the reruns of the last season.
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Matthew and Lavinia had not yet married when she saw him kissing Mary and went into a decline and died.
Lavinia's father was not there, and Lavinia never told him. So, when that extremely rich man died, he left his estate to his closest relative, but not that relatives heirs, stating that if that man (let's call him number one) died before Lavinia's father himself did, the money was to go to his next closest relative, whom we will call number two. Then, if both of these were deceased, it was to go to his beloved daughter's fiance, Matthew Crawley. The estate knew at the time Lavinia's father died that number one had already died prior to Lavinia's father's death. So that eliminated number one. They had to search all over for number two, but finally, after some time, found proof that he, too, had died. So that left Matthew. And Matthew feels strongly as a point of HONOR that he betrayed Lavinia with Mary and should not, as a matter of principle, have the principal, as it were. I personally think he is absolutely right on the point of honor and he should take the money ANY way!
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Yes, the father died after the daughter.
Now as far as I know Prince Charles land would be Freehold. given to him by the crown and so all earnings from Land farm, everything is income to Charles. I am sure most is put back in the property, employees, Believe everything is Organic. Doing very well though.
Charles will stay doing what he is doing. Would not be happy as King. He knows also that his son is the best person for it, along with most people in the UK. (lets just hope the Queen has many years left yet).
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Mathew feels that hee contributed to Lavinia's death: that after she saw him kissing Mary (that's all they did) she lost her will to live. It's not clear that that's really true, but I sympathize with him feeling that way and not wanting the money. Mary can't understand it at all: they really are quite different. I wonder about this supposed undying love.
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OK thank you MaryPage and Joan K, now I get it. That explains them out looking for #2.
Would a father (who is up here on English history??) really leave his estate to a fiance? I can see it in 2012 but I'm not quite as sure about that era.
So #2 is not found and even tho they are sure of his death, he could always come back, right? And there are no other heirs at all, no relatives, no male cousins, nothing? I'm thinking like Agatha Christie (I should be so lucky) but I have not seen the entire season III, now on DVD.
A Man of Principle. Wasn't that the title of an old book?
JeanneP, do the farmers who actually work the land owned by the Prince of Wales and through which he is provided income, get any for themselves or is it a serf type thing going on? I was under the impression that they owned their own farms, are they renters? Squatters?
Frybabe, I agree, I can't see Robert, L Grantham, out mucking out the barn. What would his mother say?
In many ways, this very scenario points to the class divide in England today, or do you think there is still one? IS there?
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Most of the farms that size are run on big Estates like Charles. Cottages are provided for most of the workers. If they prefer to own their own homes of the Estate They could. They are paid a Salary. Like in all positions now. No serfs anymore. I know farmers but farming is on a small size for the average farmer. 50 acres would be a good size one. Up where I am from Lancashire/Yorkshire Sheep farming is a big business. Down further south it gets in more Vege table. Apple Orchards. Some Dairy. Remember England is not as Large as this State of Illinois. Still lots of Forests
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I thought Prince Charles's income came mostly from Cornwall, so I looked it up and here you go:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/prince-charles/8603323/Prince-Charless-income-Where-does-it-come-from.html
Ginny, I was left wondering about heir number 2 and whether or not he is really dead, as well.
But remember, Lavinia's daddy was NOT landed gentry with land and family ties and all that. Wasn't he some kind of crook who got into making money in some nefarious way and then in publishing? He was, in short, nothing like Mary's father. He was crazy about his daughter, and may well have left his bazillions to Matthew as his nearest, after one and two, ALMOST family.
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That's interesting, MaryPage, thank you, but it still doesn't explain it.
Accounts for the Prince of Wales showed the majority of his private income came from the Duchy's estate, reaching almost £17.8 million.
Sort of vague here: The Duchy, which covers around 55,000 hectares in 23 counties, was established in 1337 to fund the life and work of the heir to the throne. It includes agricultural, commercial and residential properties as well as a financial investment portfolio.
Ok the premise we have advanced here so far is that Lord Grantham, heir to Downton Abbey (the Highclere estate totals 1,000 acres) (405 hectares), knows about management of farm lands and could make his money that way.
I'm saying I don't see how and that I don't understand the system. If Prince Charles owns the farms of the Duchy of Cornwall outright and hires people to run them that's one thing. I'm only talking agricultural since that's all we've talked about here vis a vis the Earl's expertise in practical matters (he's certainly off in his investments, but I can sympathize there)...but should he suddenly NOT own those farms, then again how is he going to administer large swaths of land, the farms, the crops, and presumably the people who live on them? Not sure I still understand the system, and that Telegraph accounting suspiciously includes residential properties (rents?), commercial ventures, an investment portfolio (maybe our Earl could get a new set of advisers) and the agricultural also, there's no breakdown.
I love discussing things like this because you get to learn things you did not know, and it has a vague tentative bearing on the plot: what is Robert to DO, really?
Be a funny thing if the middle girl's rich husband whom he scorned, ends up supporting him, huh? Because Matthew is turning away from the money...we need somebody here who understands inheritance in England (Rosemary?) to explain why a father would leave not his money (since he's not landed gentry apparently) to his own daughter.
Lots of tantalizing threads in this thing!
Fun to wonder about. And discuss!
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Ginny, I suspect that Lavinia's father left Matthew the money because of the old notion that women couldn't handle business or finances. He was probably old school like Violet, whereas Matthew new business and was a lawyer (if I remember correctly). Still, it would have made more sense if the money was left to Lavinia in a trust and perhaps controlled or administered by Matthew, Matthew only inheriting upon Lavinia's death. I'm trying to put a time frame in here. Lavinia died during the flu epidemic, was that 1918? Her father died, when, about 1920? I think that is the year in which this season begins. That seems too long a time to guess that he just didn't get around to changing the will after she died. Maybe he liked Matthew and didn't want the money to go to the Crown if there were no other surviving heirs. I take it that neither son were married w/wo children. We may get more info in the upcoming episode. Well, that is my spin on the whole thing.
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Makes more sense than mine! :) I don't understand a lot about what we're watching which makes it even more fun.
Here are two new ones (to me): Below Stairs which is older and and Amazon is bringing out January 15 a new one called Servant's Quarters (with a photo on the cover looking just like the ad for Downton's Abbey)
First for Servant's Quarters:
Release Date: January 15, 2013
Margaret Powell'sBelow Stairs, a servant's firsthand account of life in the great houses of England, became a sensation among readers reveling in the luxury and subtle class warfare of Masterpiece Theatre's hit television series Downton Abbey. In Servants' Hall, another true slice of life from a time when armies of servants lived below stairs simply to support the lives of those above, Powell tells the true story of Rose, the under-parlourmaid to the Wardham Family at Redlands, who took a shocking step: She eloped with the family's only son, Mr. Gerald.
Going from rags to riches, Rose finds herself caught up in a maelstrom of gossip, incredulity and envy among her fellow servants. The reaction from upstairs was no better: Mr. Wardham, the master of the house, disdained the match so completely that he refused ever to have contact with the young couple again. Gerald and Rose marry, leave Redlands and Powell looks on with envy, even as the marriage hits on bumpy times: "To us in the servants' hall, it was just like a fairy tale . . . How I wished I was in her shoes."
Once again bringing that lost world to life, Margaret Powell trains her pen and her gimlet eye on her "betters" in this next chapter from a life spent in service. Servants' Hall is Margaret Powell at her best—a warm, funny and sometimes hilarious memoir of life at a time when wealthy families like ruled England.
Now for Below Stairs:
This book also, according to B&N was the basis for Upstairs, Downstairs:
Brilliantly evoking the long-vanished world of masters and servants portrayed in Downton Abbey and Upstairs, Downstairs, Margaret Powell’s classic memoir of her time in service, Below Stairs, is the remarkable true story of an indomitable woman who, though she served in the great houses of England, never stopped aiming high. Powell first arrived at the servants' entrance of one of those great houses in the 1920s. As a kitchen maid – the lowest of the low – she entered an entirely new world; one of stoves to be blacked, vegetables to be scrubbed, mistresses to be appeased, and bootlaces to be ironed. Work started at 5.30am and went on until after dark. It was a far cry from her childhood on the beaches of Hove, where money and food were scarce, but warmth and laughter never were
It's got lots of great reviews but one snarky one saying that her penchant for saying things like "kids today..." is insulting to "anybody under 65."
'Zat so? That remark alone made me want to read it. hahahaaa It seems to be out in many editions and ebooks.
Anybody read either of these books?
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(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/masterpiececlassic.jpg)
Masterpiece Classic brings back favorite authors and programs and introduces new programs. See the 2013 MASTERPIECE CLASSIC schedule (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/schedule/).
NOW DISCUSSING
What's playing on your PBS station? What programs do you continue to enjoy?
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_7.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e7/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 7 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e7)
1 95-minute episode — Sunday, February 17, 2013
The Crawleys head to a Scottish hunting lodge, while the downstairs staff stays behind at Downton Abbey. New romances flare up, and a fresh crisis unfolds.
COMING
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Page Eight (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/pageeight/index.html)
February 24,, 2013 at 9pm
One 120-minute episode
Sixty-something MI-5 agent Johnny Worricker has amassed an impressive art collection, an amicable collection of ex-wives, and a droll, unflappable relationship with the work he enjoys alongside his boss and best friend, MI5 chief Benedict Baron. But when Benedict brings to light damning evidence of British complicity with illegal American torture operations, it falls to Johnny to do the right thing.
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Song of Lunch (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/songoflunch/index.html)
March 24,, 2013 at 9pm
One 120-minute episode
A dramatisation of Christopher Reid's narrative poem, telling the story of a book editor who, 15 years after their break-up, meets his former love for a nostalgic lunch at the Soho restaurant they used to frequent. The production is unusual in featuring little spoken dialogue, the action instead being an enactment of incidents described in poetic monologue of the male character. Starring Alan Rickman & Emma Thompson.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/selfridge.jpg)
Mr. Selfridge (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/series/mr-selfridge/)
March 31,, 2013 at 9pm
One 120-minute episode
Upstart American Harry Selfridge moves heaven and earth to build his visionary department store in London. But opening day is just the start of his retail revolution. Three-time Emmy® winner Jeremy Piven (in his first television appearance since his iconic role as Hollywood agent Ari Gold in Entourage) stars as Harry Gordon Selfridge, the flamboyant entrepreneur and showman seeking to provide London's shoppers with the ultimate merchandise and the ultimate thrill. Mr. Selfridge is created by Emmy® Award-winning writer Andrew Davies (Pride and Prejudice, Bleak House).
ALREADY DISCUSSED
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_6.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e6/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 6 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e6)
1 120-minute episode — Sunday, February 10, 2013
Change arrives in a big way for several key characters at Downton Abbey. A yearly cricket match with the village sees old scores settled and new plots hatched.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_5.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e5/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 5 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e5)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, February 3, 2013
Things go badly amiss at Downton Abbey. Robert and Cora are not speaking. The servants are shunning Matthew's mother Isobel. And Matthew and Robert have fallen out. Also, Bates takes a gamble.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_4.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e4/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 4 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e4)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 27, 2013
The Crawley family faces its severest test yet. Meanwhile, new faces try to fit into the tight-knit circle of servants. And new evidence turns up in a baffling case.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_3.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e3/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 3 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e3)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 20, 2013
Two social revolutions arrive at Downton Abbey: the Irish civil war and the fight for women's suffrage. A mysterious conspiracy keeps Anna and Bates apart.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_2.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e2/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 2 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e2)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 13, 2013
The fate of Downton Abbey hinges on a letter from a dead man. Edith and Sir Anthony face their own fateful moment. Mrs. Hughes confronts a crisis.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_1.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e1/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e1)
1 120-minute episode — Sunday, January 6, 2013
Wedding guests descend on Downton Abbey, where disasters large and small threaten. One is Cora's freewheeling American mother, who tries to loosen up her in-laws.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/featured_season3_darevisited.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/downtonrevisited/home/)
Downton Abbey Revisited (http://www.pbs.org/downtonrevisited/home/)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 25, 2012
Savor highlights from the first two seasons and get a preview of Season 3 in this new PBS special.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep6.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e6)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 6 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e6)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 11, 2012
A chance remark at the Foreign Office alerts Hallam that one of his associates is a German spy—with tragic consequences. As war is declared, life upstairs and downstairs is transformed at Eaton Place.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep5.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e5)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 5 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e5)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 4, 2012
With war looming, romance is in the air—illicit and otherwise. Hallam, Agnes, Landry, and Persie each pursue their heart’s desire in different ways. Harry and Beryl get engaged. And even Pritchard finds a soulmate.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep4.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e4)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 4 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e4)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 28, 2012
All of London sees Agnes’s shapely legs when she models stockings for Landry’s company—offending Hallam. Intent on impressing Beryl, Harry enters the servants’ boxing competition as Johnny’s manager.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep3.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e3)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 3 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e3)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 21, 2012
Hallam’s Aunt Blanche appears in a novel by a former lover, sparking a scandal that threatens the good name of Eaton Place. Meanwhile, Agnes’s demands on the servants bring a social worker to set her straight.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep2.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e2)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 2 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e2)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 14, 2012
Ambassador Kennedy and his dashing son Jack come to dinner at Eaton Place. But Agnes is more entranced by another guest: millionaire Caspar Landry. Before the evening is over, Mrs. Thackeray resigns.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep1.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e1)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e1)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 7, 2012
Pritchard takes the rap for Johnny in a shocking incident, which leads to a revelation that casts the butler into disgrace. On a diplomatic mission to Germany, Hallam meets Persie, who has a Nazi lover.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/poster_upstairsdownstairs.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/index.html)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/index.html) - rebroadcast
3 60-minute episodes — Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012
It's 1936, a tumultuous time in Britain, and within the walls of 165 Eaton Place, characters from an orphanage, a damp Welsh castle, the heart of the British Raj and elsewhere together will face a changing world, not just upstairs and downstairs, but side by side. Written by Heidi Thomas (Cranford, Madame Bovary), Upstairs Downstairs stars co-creators of the original series Jean Marsh and Eileen Atkins (Cranford, Bertie and Elizabeth). Also starring are Ed Stoppard (Any Human Heart), Keeley Hawes (Wives and Daughters), and Claire Foy (Little Dorrit). Available online at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/watch-online/
Discussion Leaders: JoanP (jonkie@verizon.net) and marcie (marciei@aol.com)
WOW. Downtown Abby... I didn't expect that tonight..not at all
Rosemarykaye..you sure kept that under your hat.
How in the world did I miss this discussion beginning? So glad I found you.
Re: Shirley McClaine in Episode One... I was hoping for more "Sass" and wondered if she was directed to be as low-key as she was.
I also love Maggie Smith's throw-away lines!
It seems to me that the first episode of any series' season has multiple plot lines going in different directions. Surely, these will be sorted out as this season of DA continues.
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I agree, Callie, I was also expecting a little more "in your face" from Shirley's character. I expected more of a head butting contest between her and Maggie Smith; maybe, that is because we generally see Americans portrayed in these shows as being brash, boorish, very outspoken and direct in approach.
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I enjoyed last night's episode enormously. Poor Edith. Well, Downton is saved, and which of us can possibly be surprised at this, as it is, after all, Downton Abbey, this series.
I hate grimness, albeit this world is full of it and we should not close our eyes, but I just want Anna to find a way to get Bates cleared and get him back to Downton. Those prison scenes, and the wretched poverty ones, and the prostitute scenes, they all fill me with such dreadful angst.
But oh what a lovely bride Edith was, albeit for such a short time. I rather desperately want True Love to enter her world.
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I was so disappointed in Sir Strallon waiting until the altar to make up his vacillating mind about marrying Edith. I am surprised, since it wasn't uncommon for older men to marry much younger women (even today, with the monied set). I put at least half of this down to meddling and disapproval from family members. She did look wonderful, didn't she - simple but elegant.
I see that Matthew's mother is still insisting on helping people who don't want, for the most part, to be helped. I get the feeling that many of the girls just see it as a "free lunch" on their time off.
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I enjoyed the episode too. I thought there had to be a way for Matthew to feel he could take the money to save Downton.
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I'm thinking that the writing is being done in a victorian mode, the bride left at the alter, the privileged woman seeking to help the prostitute, the estate in danger if being lost. Aren't they all typical of victorian novels?
Jean
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Good point, Jean.
I thought Edith loved him: it was cruel. Given how common such marraiges are now (and probably were then) it seemed unrealistic.
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enjoyed Downton Abbey last night. Thought they moved around a little more. Got into more things.
Glad to see that they were not going to have the housekeeper dying. I don't think that Shirley McClain going to show up much. May be getting money through Mathew anyway. Bet he does have to go out to India
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Tough on the one daughter left at the Alter. Though it was sort of silly that part anyway. Acted like she was desperate for a husband. Never did see what she saw in him. I think she will go and work with Mathew's Mother now.
She did make a pretty bride though. She will find someone soon.
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I don't want to give too much away, but there are great things in store for the lovely Edith. I think she's the best actress out of the three daughters,- in fact after Maggie Smith and Penelope Wilton she's probably the best in the whole show.
Rosemary
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Rosemary, that's good to hear about the Edith character. I didn't like the character at all at first but now I've warmed up to her.
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Glad they will be doing something nice for Edith. Poor girl, they had her play a part were we really didn't like her. She does play her parts well. Hope they do something nice for the Poor Kitchen maid also. She plays that part well. I suppose she will end up owning her husband of sorts, fathers farm. Then she will find a nice husband.
Got to wait and see, Can't be guessing.
You are smiling there Rosemary because you already know....
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Did you all enjoy Jeremy Brett's old "Sherlock Holmes"hour on PBS before "Downton Abbey"?
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Nice video "ALL ABOUT EDITH"
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/watch-online/shorts/downton-abbey-all-about-edith/
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Annie, I didn't see the Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes before Downton but I've seen all of the episodes in the past and really liked his quirky portrayal.
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Unfortunately that clip cannot be viewed in Canada :(
The one thing I seem to have lost track of is why O'Brien has turned against Thomas. In previous episodes they were always conspiring in some devious plan.
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Radioman,
Thomas told one of the workers that O'Brien was quitting and that he could probably get the job for a friend or daughter??
I think our PBS channel just chose to reshow a Sherlock program. I would be very happy if they continued that in place of "Midwives" which doesn't interest me.
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Don't you remember? O'Brien asked Carson if he would consider taking on her nephew, her sister's son, as a footman. Carson DID. That new, very tall and quite nice young man is O'Brien's nephew. Now mind, I hate O'Brien ever since she caused Cora's miscarriage, but you cannot hate that nice young man. Besides, Daisy has a crush on him.
And O'Brien feels, quite naturally, closer to blood kin than to Thomas. So the evil Thomas started doing nasty tricks on the nephew in order to make himself, Thomas, look good. And O'Brien saw this happening and got boiling mad and started doing nasty tricks (the missing shirts for the Earl, for instance) back, to make Thomas look bad. Now they are complete and total enemies, these one time evil collaborators. O'Brien will defend her nephew no matter what.
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I thought that "Downton Abbey" was really good last night. Never did say what happened to Shirley McClain did it. Wonder if it was just a one shot showing for her.
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I loved the closing scene with Anna and Bates reading the letters that had been withheld.
I like the "spunky" Edith!!!
Surely was a lot of publicity about Shirley MacClain becoming a part of the cast if she is only going to be in one episode.
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Callie I thought it was a little puzzling that they only had Shirley in the first episode after all that noise that was made about her being on the cast. I thought she would be there for two or three episodes at least.
Even though there seemed to be a lot going on, I had the feeling that the whole episode was a bit weak - like they were setting things up for what comes next. The Anna/Bates letters thing was very well done.
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How many shows is this Series 3 suppose to cover. I thought it was only 5 but has to be more that that. Can't really see what could happen to bring Shirly McClain back into it.
Rosemary will know how many there will be. Have a lot of ends to tie up as already done 3. So we know that it will carry on doing number 4
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There are seven episodes in season three.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/schedule/
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Jeremy Brett (Sherlock Holmes) -- he played in My Fair Lady -- was the man who fell in love with the girl and sang "On the Street Where You Live." He died quite young of heart problems.
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kidsal, I had always thought that Jeremy Brett was older than his actual chronological age. I see in wikipedia that he was only 61 when he died of heart failure. It seems that his poor health and the medication that he took, made him look older.
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Brett
" In the latter part of 1986, Brett exhibited wide mood swings that alarmed his family and friends, who persuaded him to seek diagnosis and treatment of manic depression.[27] Brett was given lithium tablets to fight his manic depression. He knew that he would never be cured; he had to live with his condition, look for the signs of his disorder and then deal with it.[28] He wanted to return to work, to play Holmes again.
The first episode to be produced after his discharge was a two-hour adaptation of The Sign of the Four in 1987. From then on the difference in Brett's appearance and behaviour slowly became more noticeable as the series developed. One of the side effects of the lithium tablets was fluid retention; he was putting on weight and retaining water. The drugs were also slowing him down.[29] According to Edward Hardwicke, Brett smoked up to 60 cigarettes a day, which "didn't help his health."[30] He also had heart troubles. His heart was twice the normal size;[31] he would have difficulties breathing and would need an oxygen mask on the set. "But, darlings, the show must go on", was his only comment.[32]
During the last decade of his life, Brett was treated in hospital several times for his mental illness, and his health and appearance visibly deteriorated by the time he completed the later episodes of the Sherlock Holmes series. During his last years, he discussed the illness candidly, encouraging people to recognise its symptoms and seek help."
I also learned that his singing was dubbed in "My Fair Lady" (as was Audrey Hepburn's) although Jeremy Brett had a good singing voice.
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In LAST WEEK'S episode of Downton Abbey, the one just previous to this week's, Cora's mother (Shirley MacLaine) went to the Earl and told him her money is tied up in trusts and she cannot touch the principal in order to help him out of his financial difficulties. She also said her visit had come to an end and she was going home. Look for this when you watch reruns. It really did happen. Yes, it would seem she was not becoming a member of the cast (no surprise there), but was making a star appearance. I think that was all it was ever meant to be. It was certainly all I was given to expect.
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Thank goodness for that, Mary! ::) She really looks awful. Is she older than Maggie Smith?
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I noticed her saying that in that episode and figured that's what it was, a one time shot.
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I also remember her saying that and wondered....because the publicity sounded as if she was joining the cast (as in "will be on regularly").
The story is moving along nicely, IMO, so it won't be a big loss if she doesn't return.
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Callie
I agree. It did sound like she was going to be on this season not just one day. But for me the one episode was fine. I really don't think I care to have her on for much longer. But then I was never a big fan anyway.
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She just made the trip to Downton for the wedding. As a grandmother, she certainly would have made every effort to be there for the wedding. And she would have stayed for AT LEAST a month, because in those days you did not fly over and the ships took 8 days to reach England.
I remember going over on the Red Star Line in May of 1934, and a little boat came out and took off the passengers who were going to England. We were going to Antwerp. But of course, you could book on a ship going to England itself. We are watching a tale taking place in 1920.
Bottom line, no one made the trip and stayed only one week back then. And possibly she will be needed to play her grandmotherly role yet again. Who knows what we have in store!
I am gratified that some of you besides me remember her goodbye scene with her son-in-law.
I believe I read that Shirley McC and Maggie S are both 79 and have been friends for decades.
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Shall we have a game predicting the return (or not) of Shirley MacLaine? :)
I predict she will appear in at least one more episode - when least expected and creating a furor of some sort.
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I didn't even know that Jeremy Brett was dead. 18 years now. It is just that he always seems to be showing up on TV as Holmes. He was the best. His wife staying with him through all his problems. He was married to the Daughter of Raymond Massey. Remember him? Always scared me.
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Even in real life. (No
Screen makeup) those 2 women look 79 if not older. Guess they did not have any cosmetic work done. So wrinkled.
Shirley had really led a strange life.
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I have always thought that Jeremy Brett died of congestive heart failure while he awaited a heart transplant. Wonder if that was true?? Did not know he was bi-polar or that he had other problems. Never too old to learn.
Didn't know his wife, Anna, was Massey's daughter either. Does anyone remember Ilona Massey? Wonder if she was related to Raymond Massey? Think I will look that up. No she wasn't. Born in Budapest.
I read more about Jeremy Brett and he was not married very long to Anna Massey. 1956-1962? They had one son. She remarried later. Said she preferred to be a grandmother and a wife. She died of cancer at 71 in 2006, leaving behind a husband, son and grandson.
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I have always thought Ilona Massey was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Even more so than Elizabeth Taylor. I cannot now find any photographs of her on line which do her justice, but honest to gosh, she had the most sparkling sapphire blue eyes and gorgeous natural blond hair and exquisite features. She was dazzling, and if I had my druthers of any person I have ever seen, I would most want to look like her.
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I had to look up Ilona Massey to see what she looked like. She is beautiful MaryPage. I couldn't find a photo of her sapphire eyes but this black and white is lovely I think http://www.doctormacro.com/Images/Massey,%20Ilona/Annex/Annex%20-%20Massey,%20Ilona_02.jpg
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Here's a whole set of Ilona Massey: Ilona Massey (https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=ilona+massey+photos&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8)
And this is my favorite: Ilona Massey (http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://s3.amazonaws.com/findagrave/photos/2002/160/6543_1023745664.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page%3Dgr%26GRid%3D6543&h=461&w=365&sz=18&tbnid=E1yxtg9WDHegyM:&tbnh=102&tbnw=81&zoom=1&usg=__uLFr8Kdjp9vaYdixeVmcYmmpgvk=&docid=7B_edVTmvvrZdM&hl=en&sa=X&ei=y8L_UK6SIYXO0QGJ2IHYAg&sqi=2&ved=0CDIQ9QEwAQ&dur=1037)
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Her pictures do not do her justice, truly they don't. She was pure magical princess to look at on the screen.
Turn on your sound and have a look at this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvXwZbviVoE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWzsp2v13Bw
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Ilona Massey only appears towards the very end of this video clip, but her exquisite glory is worth waiting for. Besides, this clip will take you back to the days of Hollywood extravagances and remind you that we had great stars with great talents back in the day. I mean, they just don't make 'em like this any more! Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InO3PPHXTek
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She was a classic, MaryPage!
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(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/masterpiececlassic.jpg)
Masterpiece Classic brings back favorite authors and programs and introduces new programs. See the 2013 MASTERPIECE CLASSIC schedule (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/schedule/).
NOW DISCUSSING
What's playing on your PBS station? What programs do you continue to enjoy?
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_7.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e7/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 7 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e7)
1 95-minute episode — Sunday, February 17, 2013
The Crawleys head to a Scottish hunting lodge, while the downstairs staff stays behind at Downton Abbey. New romances flare up, and a fresh crisis unfolds.
COMING
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Page Eight (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/pageeight/index.html)
February 24,, 2013 at 9pm
One 120-minute episode
Sixty-something MI-5 agent Johnny Worricker has amassed an impressive art collection, an amicable collection of ex-wives, and a droll, unflappable relationship with the work he enjoys alongside his boss and best friend, MI5 chief Benedict Baron. But when Benedict brings to light damning evidence of British complicity with illegal American torture operations, it falls to Johnny to do the right thing.
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Song of Lunch (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/songoflunch/index.html)
March 24,, 2013 at 9pm
One 120-minute episode
A dramatisation of Christopher Reid's narrative poem, telling the story of a book editor who, 15 years after their break-up, meets his former love for a nostalgic lunch at the Soho restaurant they used to frequent. The production is unusual in featuring little spoken dialogue, the action instead being an enactment of incidents described in poetic monologue of the male character. Starring Alan Rickman & Emma Thompson.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/selfridge.jpg)
Mr. Selfridge (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/series/mr-selfridge/)
March 31,, 2013 at 9pm
One 120-minute episode
Upstart American Harry Selfridge moves heaven and earth to build his visionary department store in London. But opening day is just the start of his retail revolution. Three-time Emmy® winner Jeremy Piven (in his first television appearance since his iconic role as Hollywood agent Ari Gold in Entourage) stars as Harry Gordon Selfridge, the flamboyant entrepreneur and showman seeking to provide London's shoppers with the ultimate merchandise and the ultimate thrill. Mr. Selfridge is created by Emmy® Award-winning writer Andrew Davies (Pride and Prejudice, Bleak House).
ALREADY DISCUSSED
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_6.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e6/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 6 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e6)
1 120-minute episode — Sunday, February 10, 2013
Change arrives in a big way for several key characters at Downton Abbey. A yearly cricket match with the village sees old scores settled and new plots hatched.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_5.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e5/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 5 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e5)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, February 3, 2013
Things go badly amiss at Downton Abbey. Robert and Cora are not speaking. The servants are shunning Matthew's mother Isobel. And Matthew and Robert have fallen out. Also, Bates takes a gamble.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_4.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e4/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 4 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e4)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 27, 2013
The Crawley family faces its severest test yet. Meanwhile, new faces try to fit into the tight-knit circle of servants. And new evidence turns up in a baffling case.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_3.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e3/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 3 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e3)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 20, 2013
Two social revolutions arrive at Downton Abbey: the Irish civil war and the fight for women's suffrage. A mysterious conspiracy keeps Anna and Bates apart.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_2.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e2/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 2 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e2)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 13, 2013
The fate of Downton Abbey hinges on a letter from a dead man. Edith and Sir Anthony face their own fateful moment. Mrs. Hughes confronts a crisis.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_1.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e1/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e1)
1 120-minute episode — Sunday, January 6, 2013
Wedding guests descend on Downton Abbey, where disasters large and small threaten. One is Cora's freewheeling American mother, who tries to loosen up her in-laws.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/featured_season3_darevisited.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/downtonrevisited/home/)
Downton Abbey Revisited (http://www.pbs.org/downtonrevisited/home/)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 25, 2012
Savor highlights from the first two seasons and get a preview of Season 3 in this new PBS special.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep6.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e6)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 6 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e6)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 11, 2012
A chance remark at the Foreign Office alerts Hallam that one of his associates is a German spy—with tragic consequences. As war is declared, life upstairs and downstairs is transformed at Eaton Place.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep5.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e5)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 5 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e5)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 4, 2012
With war looming, romance is in the air—illicit and otherwise. Hallam, Agnes, Landry, and Persie each pursue their heart’s desire in different ways. Harry and Beryl get engaged. And even Pritchard finds a soulmate.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep4.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e4)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 4 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e4)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 28, 2012
All of London sees Agnes’s shapely legs when she models stockings for Landry’s company—offending Hallam. Intent on impressing Beryl, Harry enters the servants’ boxing competition as Johnny’s manager.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep3.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e3)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 3 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e3)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 21, 2012
Hallam’s Aunt Blanche appears in a novel by a former lover, sparking a scandal that threatens the good name of Eaton Place. Meanwhile, Agnes’s demands on the servants bring a social worker to set her straight.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep2.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e2)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 2 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e2)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 14, 2012
Ambassador Kennedy and his dashing son Jack come to dinner at Eaton Place. But Agnes is more entranced by another guest: millionaire Caspar Landry. Before the evening is over, Mrs. Thackeray resigns.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep1.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e1)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e1)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 7, 2012
Pritchard takes the rap for Johnny in a shocking incident, which leads to a revelation that casts the butler into disgrace. On a diplomatic mission to Germany, Hallam meets Persie, who has a Nazi lover.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/poster_upstairsdownstairs.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/index.html)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/index.html) - rebroadcast
3 60-minute episodes — Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012
It's 1936, a tumultuous time in Britain, and within the walls of 165 Eaton Place, characters from an orphanage, a damp Welsh castle, the heart of the British Raj and elsewhere together will face a changing world, not just upstairs and downstairs, but side by side. Written by Heidi Thomas (Cranford, Madame Bovary), Upstairs Downstairs stars co-creators of the original series Jean Marsh and Eileen Atkins (Cranford, Bertie and Elizabeth). Also starring are Ed Stoppard (Any Human Heart), Keeley Hawes (Wives and Daughters), and Claire Foy (Little Dorrit). Available online at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/watch-online/
Discussion Leaders: JoanP (jonkie@verizon.net) and marcie (marciei@aol.com)
WOW. Downtown Abby... I didn't expect that tonight..not at all
Rosemarykaye..you sure kept that under your hat.
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I'm about to watch it here on the West Coast. Can't wait to see what happens.
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Jeriron - so did the producers, cast, etc - there was for once no 'leaking' even in our tabloid press. I'll say no more till you've all seen it....
Rosemary
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Jeriron and Rosemary, yes, I didn't expect the outcome either. Lots to think about in terms of the attitudes toward women and the development of medicine.
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Oh Cora has finally stepped up to the plate! I finally got to see last week's too, last night, which I had missed because channel 29 put both of them on.
That was nice.
For a horrified minute I thought Cora with that strange brave smile on her face was going to start spouting "it will be all right' platitudes, but no sir. She's finally taking a stand. She took one but nobody listened to her, that surprised me, the birth of the baby. I thought they were all going to hospital. I don't know enough about enclampsia to say if that was accurate, I didn't realize it could kill after the birth of the baby but rather before.
And oh look, just as I said before, Robert is found with the estate in arrears, now why is that no surprise? That really would not bode well for him, had he had to go to his own little place, would it?
Such a shame little Charlie's mother could not have tried Mrs. Crawley's solution first. This I have heard, however, happened a lot, the giving away of a child for his own good, and in this country, too. Such a shame tho, as it appears she's going to turn a corner. You have to admire Mrs. Crawley here.
And what of Mary? My goodness how uncharitable when Edith wanted to be friends again. No she says. hahahaha But just for the moment, OK, we'll hug. Jeepers.
Mary is going to come a cropper, I feel it.
O Brien is really stirring the pot, isn't she? She's...Vengeance with a capital V.
That was an interesting episode, but I can't help seeing Simon Callow in the spoof saying "keeping all the plates spinning." hahahaa
They sure are!
What did you think of Maggie Smith's speech to Robert about the need to get angry?
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I enjoyed a good 6 hours this weekend watching a BBC Video. If you like Joanna Lumley. (I do.) then see if you can rent. "Sensitive Skin" Season 1 and 2 on it. Jean March appears in some of it. Now is there only Season 1 and 2? couldn't find any others.
Rosemary. I am sure you have seen it. Wonder if it was made in some of the areas of East End. I seem to remember some of the building. Now the area where the House Boats are Moored must be pretty new. I would love living on one of them. Seattle. Washington has something like it but not the Thames River
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I for one shed a few tears on watching D.A. last night. Actors all good in that scene. Father ticked me off though. Real Snob. He and Mary age getting more that way. Him Thinking the GP knew nothing.
Years ago many women died from that. (My Grandfathers first wife did). I thought that it mostly happened after birth. (She lived a week and baby 2 months). they were living here in the US at the time and so are both buried in Boston area. He Returned to UK in 7 years.
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Ginny, do you mean the bit where she said people need to have someone to blame? The look on her face was priceless when Lord Grantham repeated that there is some truth to the accusation of him being to blame. It was quick, not overstated.
Edith held out an olive branch, Mary didn't accept it. What a shame. Speaking of Edith, she is starting to come into her own. I see that Lord Grantham is, once again, trying to discourage a possible avenue for her to shine on her own. As best as I can tell, LG and some of the staff are still stuck in the old and are not embracing the new at all. Even Violet is coming around to some of the new thinking. She most of all, you would think, would have stayed with the old way of life and way of thinking.
Snob! Good word. Mary as snob, yes. LG is just plain ridged and unbending.
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" LG is just plain ridged and unbending".
Yes, but he probably would have to be in order to do what he has done: devote his life to maintaining Downton.
I wonder what he does with his time? He clearly doesn't manage the estate, or his investments. He's not shown as active in Parliament. The butler and Lady G manage the household, with him saying yes or no occasionally. He doesn't even hunt, shoot, or race horses, (at least while we watch him).
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[
Yes, but he probably would have to be in order to do what he has done: devote his life to maintaining Downton.
Thing is, he wasn't doing a good job Maintaining the place. He married in order to get money because it was going under. Then again now he has gone through all her money. So he is more interested in Maintaining His Way of Life. Was devoting life to just that. ( That was the problem with most of the High class back then) Now comes along a new Son In law who has come into money. So he is falling back on that. Looks like the SIL is a little smarter as he was not use to living High class. Mary and her father will fight him over this.She already did stomp out the room.
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Wonder it be something if down the Road. Mary's husband gets to admire Edith. Something may happen there. She is the smartest.
We could come up with Ideas for the writer and keep the show going for years.
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Mary has her head in the sand. She doesn't want to hear about problems. Don't know about it, don't think about it, and voila = no problem exists. She wants to remain oblivious.
Sybil is the one I think, had she lived, would have taken up the womens rights issues. She was the one who snuck out to see the elections and pass pamphlets. Sybil was the most independent of the lot, in thought and action. So, it looks like Edith may pick up the torch. She can write about what ever she likes. Maybe she will turn out to be a Dear Abby or a Miss Manners, but she is leaning to Women's rights right now. LG deserves big frowns >:( >:( for trying to discourage her = again.
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This episode stirred up a lot of good comments!
Here's an informative article on eclampsia and the Downton Abbey episode.
http://www.ibtimes.com/what-eclampsia-downton-abbey-pregnancy-disorder-goes-viral-after-season-three-game-changer-1044040
There is more of a "medical" article at http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/28/health/eclampsia-5-things/
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Oh interesting on the eclampsia and not enclampsia. I had looked it up also and did not find the swollen ankles but hands and something else. I didn't realize it really WAS rare, and it is. So poor Sir whoever was not that far off, especially when reading that Caesarian sections were new and dangerous also in that time.
Frybabe: Ginny, do you mean the bit where she said people need to have someone to blame? The look on her face was priceless when Lord Grantham repeated that there is some truth to the accusation of him being to blame. It was quick, not overstated. Yeah, I thought perhaps that speech was lost on Robert and should have been given to Cora, but I guess she was just trying to make him feel better. I am not sure she can do that.
He's had quite a set of jolts lately. I wonder what that's going to do for him psychologically?
JoanK, what a good point: I wonder what he does with his time? He clearly doesn't manage the estate, or his investments. He's not shown as active in Parliament. The butler and Lady G manage the household, with him saying yes or no occasionally. He doesn't even hunt, shoot, or race horses, (at least while we watch him).
I hadn't thought of that. I don't see any hobbies. Where is the stamp collection so beloved of English monarchs and the landed gentry which you read about. No hobbies at all, that I can see.
I thought on the day they did the hunt in one of the previous series he was shown decked out in boots and hunting coat, am I wrong? That, however, would not mean he particularly enjoyed it but rather that he could turn out and hunt when he was hosting it. He's sort of ...er...
Jeanne, I love this: We could come up with Ideas for the writer and keep the show going for years. hahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
It amazes me how plain they have managed to make Edith look when she is actually quite pretty. I wonder what we would look like in that wig of hers, is that what's called marcelled hair?
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Ginny, I remembered my mother having her hair just like Edith. I think it is really pretty. It is sort of Finger waving. Use to watch my mother and her friends get together and do it. I think that women did more with their hair back then. Now seem like all the younger women have the same long Straight hair. Never seen so many blonds in my life with very few natural
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Unfortunately, Jeanne, all this straight hair is also the result of hard work - we are all bullied into wielding straighteners every 5 minutes. My own hair has natural waves, but tends to be frizzy if it gets the tiniest bit damp, which in our climate is inevitable. I withstood the straighteners for years, but in the end I gave in - wish I hadn't, as I now feel obliged to keep at it, and I'd much rather go back to just washing my hair and letting it dry. I'm thinking of getting quite a bit cut off next time, but I don't know if I have the courage to go for it.
My mother's older sister used to iron her hair with the flat iron when she was dating (this would have been in the 1930s-40s). I remember my mother trying to perm my hair once when I was about 6 and we were going to have school photos. She tied it all up in little bits of material - it was horrible and the result - a photo of which I have to this day - was appalling, worst school photo ever (and that's saying something.)
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Ringlets! Especially when my Grandmother came over from Wales for several months. Sheets torn up into strips. I looked nice in ringlets. Now, I usually keep my hair short so that I don't have to curl it, and it drys in no time. My hair is very fine and doesn't hold a curl very well, so when long it looks a bit stringy without constant curling. Gave that up long ago.
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I was about 39 when I got my hair cut for the first time short.( Copy of the Gena L. Bridgitore) Can't spell her name right. Then it was the Sassoon cut.
Prior to that had it very long. Was or am lucky to also have natural Wavy Hair. Went through the stage also when about 50 to have it straightened all the time. Also to lighten it from being very dark.
Last year I decided to see how much gray would come in if I left it alone. Was hard work and expensive keeping it up.
So now I am happy with it. Its short. Salt and pepper. Waves and everyday can just shower. Let it dry. run fingers through it and let go.
My granddaughter has long Natural blond hair and she takes about 2 hours a day with the iron to get it straight as can be.
When the weather hit NY and Connecticut this Jan. her power was out for 15 days. (Used Generators) her biggest worry was that she could not use her Iron to take care of her hair.
So we all go through those stages.
Yours looks very nice Rosemary.
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I enjoyed Downton Abbey immensely tonight, followed by an episode of D.I. Banks from the Peter Robinson books followed by a bit of Chatsworth. Late night, but well worth it.
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Wonderful episode. Lord Grantham and Carson are being openly confronted with the new economy, manners (or lack thereof), and women's expanded role in modern society.
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I too thought it was a good episode with lots of issues and conflicting views. The good doctor didn't want to lie but was willing to subtly phrase the truth to help heal the rift between Lord and Lady Grantham and allow them to grieve.
Miss O'Brien is up to her old tricks, laying a trap for Thomas. I wonder how that will turn out?
Bates is certainly clever. I wouldn't have thought him the type of person who would stand up for himself and threaten the "bad guys" in that way.
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Miss O'Brien and Thomas. You can almost guess what she is going to do there. I can't wait. I have never liked Thomas. Plays the part well though.
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I am so hooked on Downton Abbey. Some places it has become like a cult thing.
I have one of my friends watching, she loves it and her daughter in law said she was amazed "Judy" had
gotten her into it. They have a whole groupthat watches.
She thinks that nobody iover fifty would possible know anything at alll at that advanced age.
I bought a book on it and its kiind of a coffee table book really nice.
I like to watch it on TVand then when I go to bed watch on my kindle.Its so much clearer and I get a better understanding of whats going on.
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Jeanne, Thomas has been bad, but so has Miss O'Brien. Thomas seems to genuinely feel the loss of the youngest daughter.
Judy, it's good to see you. All of us here seem to be hooked on Downton Abbey too. ;)
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Hooked is right. Aren't we all. One of my friends always watched The Good Wife on Sunday nights, but I talked her into Downton (season 3). She'd never seen it. I had an Amazon gift certificate, so when the UK Seasons 1 & 2 were on sale I bought them. Now with another friend we've been having "Dinner and Downton (season 1). They are anxious to see the final of that season and the only time we can schedule is 9:30 am this coming MOnday. It will be "Downton and Lunch."
I'm having fun noting the scenes that PBS didn't show during Season 1 here.
Re: Season 3 I dislike both Thomas and O'Brien, but I think you're right, Marcie, that Thomas is really grieving for Sybil. Does anything think that Tom will leave Baby Sybil with Mary and Matthew?
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What fun, Pedln. I wish I could join your "Dinner/Lunch at Downton" sessions! At first I thought that Tom would give the baby to Mary and Matthew but he seems determined to keep her and raise her in his faith/culture. He says he has a cousin he could send for to help him.
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Near the end of last week, Lord Grantham and Tom were touring one of the farm tenancies. There was a comment about Tom knowing a bit about farming. What about the possibility that Lord Grantham asks Tom to stay to oversee the farm properties in order to keep baby Sybil there and give Tom an occupation?
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I think that Tom And the Baby will be the Cliff Hanger for Series 3. Only 2 more to go I believe. Then the big wait. for Number 4. unless one buy it from BBC. I have 1 and 2 and will buy No.3 when they put it on sale.
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I was just reviewing last week's summary. I goofed. It wasn't Lord Grantham and Branson, it was Matthew and Tom. That makes more sense. Matthew would have no problem asking Branson to oversee the farm lands. I am curious to see if anything comes of it since Matthew can't seem to get Lord Grantham to seriously talk about needed changes without taking umbrage.
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I too noticed that Tom Branson indicated he knew about farm tenancy. It doesn't seem like he'd want to be an "overseer" and Lord Grantham certainly does not get along well with him (though, as you all say, Matthew does get along well with Tom).
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Maybe Tom will stay and run that old farm Matthew found in neglect and the baby will be safe at Downton. Maybe eventually everyone else will die off and little grown up Sybil Branson, Irish Catholic, will inherit all because she will marry and produce a son who will be the closest male relative and therefore the next in line to be Earl?
Maybe? Ah, but I have gone too far in time. Baby Sybil was born, when? 1921? Do you know? I was born in 1929, so she is older than I. Older than the Queen. Old enough to work hard during World War II.
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I am hoping that Mathew will still have a son who will then inherit. I just don't care if he loses Mary. Marries someone else. Getting not to like her. Here we go rewriting the show for them. We could have it go on for years with our ideas.
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Having seen the end of the series, it's fascinating to see what you're all coming up with ;D
Rosemary
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Rosemary, is there a series 4 going on now? Or will series 3 be the end of it? Seems like there would be an awful lot to wrap up if it were so.
JeanneP, have you heard from your family in Conn. -- the granddaughter who irons her hair -- without power again?
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Just consulted my daughter Anna, who keeps up with these things - there will definitely be a fourth series of Downton apparently, though we haven't seen any sign of it yet.
Rosemary
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If you think you might fall off a cliff after Season 3, No. 7 perhaps these Downton-esque novels will keep the blues away.
For Downton fanatics (http://seattletimes.com/html/books/2020303166_downtonbooksroundupxml.html)
I [Seattle Times Arts Writer] sampled four current novels, all of which name-checked “Downton Abbey” on their covers. Alas, no character came close to the Dowager Countess, and in general there wasn’t nearly enough below-stairs scheming, but each offered pleasures of their own.
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Pedlin.
As of yesterday my Granddaughter in Connecticut says they have 22 inch snow. Sent a photo of the children playing in it. It covers the 2 year old twins. So far they still have power. It is when the Ice get on the trees there that will always cut the power off.
New Canaan is a strict village. No Wires can show. No Poles. All are unseen. They go underground and then come up and go up big trees No big store windows like our Grocery stores have. Theirs look like office buildings. Unless you are right in the Village centre it is hard to use your Mobile phone. WiFi works O.K. No hookups for that.
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Well DUH. I went looking this morning for the Latin phrase thrown away in last night's broadcast, (which I only caught the tail end of, as I was passing thru the room, unfortunately, and by the time I recognized the somewhat off pronunciation, and had time to think oh that's LATIN, it was too late) but of course this morning I wanted to point out its presence in this new series, so thought I'd look it up when BANGO I found this instead:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1343388/Downton-Abbey-cut-2-hours-TV-executives-fearing-plot-baffle-US-viewers.html
Eight-hour ITV series slashed to six for the States
Inheritance storyline simplified for Americans
Its intricately detailed plot and sumptuous production values, with lingering shots of the magnificent stately home, made Downton Abbey the TV hit of last year.
Unsurprisingly, the lavish period drama has now been snapped up by an American network - although it seems the beautifully nuanced portrait of pre-First World War upper-class life could prove just a little too complex for the transatlantic audience.
For in the land of the notoriously short attention span, TV executives have taken a knife to the artfully crafted series, slashing its running time and simplifying the plotline for fear viewers will be left baffled.
Rebecca Eaton, an executive producer for the PBS network - which will be airing it from next week - admits that American audiences demand a 'different speed' to their shows.
As a result, Downton, which ran for eight hours on ITV, has been slashed to six for the States, while the storyline about the inheritance of the Abbey has been downplayed.
Really?
Oh how I love to be patronized.
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Miss O'Brien was really going after Thomas, playing him and James against each other. I thought she was awful. I hope that the issue is resolved.
Those of you who saw Tom and baby Sybil remaining in the house were right! And it seems like we'll have another baby soon.
Ginny, I vaguely recall a Latin phrase in the show. Do you remember who said it?
Too bad about the cutting out of two-episodes worth of the show for "short-attention-span" Americans!
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I thought that Mary was more likeable last night. I had started to dislike her. It looks like they are going to jump to fast into what is happening to her next week. Maybe I saw it wrong. Now was that the 6th Week of Series 3? Will it be for 8 weeks?
This finding a position for Thomas with all being known doesn't not make sense to me. Would never be that way back in those days. Getting caught in the act as a Gay person in UK I believe was still a crime up to the 1960s. Not by just being (I knew many). but if seen acting. Sort of same with getting a divorce on grounds of Sex. One had to be caught in the act. Not just being seen with another person.
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(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/masterpiececlassic.jpg)
Masterpiece Classic brings back favorite authors and programs and introduces new programs. See the 2013 MASTERPIECE CLASSIC schedule (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/schedule/).
NOW DISCUSSING
What's playing on your PBS station? What programs do you continue to enjoy?
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_7.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e7/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 7 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e7)
1 95-minute episode — Sunday, February 17, 2013
The Crawleys head to a Scottish hunting lodge, while the downstairs staff stays behind at Downton Abbey. New romances flare up, and a fresh crisis unfolds.
COMING
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/contemporary_2011/pageeight.jpg)
Page Eight (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/pageeight/index.html)
February 24,, 2013 at 9pm
One 120-minute episode
Sixty-something MI-5 agent Johnny Worricker has amassed an impressive art collection, an amicable collection of ex-wives, and a droll, unflappable relationship with the work he enjoys alongside his boss and best friend, MI5 chief Benedict Baron. But when Benedict brings to light damning evidence of British complicity with illegal American torture operations, it falls to Johnny to do the right thing.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/contemporary_2011/songoflunch.jpg)
Song of Lunch (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/songoflunch/index.html)
March 24,, 2013 at 9pm
One 120-minute episode
A dramatisation of Christopher Reid's narrative poem, telling the story of a book editor who, 15 years after their break-up, meets his former love for a nostalgic lunch at the Soho restaurant they used to frequent. The production is unusual in featuring little spoken dialogue, the action instead being an enactment of incidents described in poetic monologue of the male character. Starring Alan Rickman & Emma Thompson.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/selfridge.jpg)
Mr. Selfridge (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/series/mr-selfridge/)
March 31,, 2013 at 9pm
One 120-minute episode
Upstart American Harry Selfridge moves heaven and earth to build his visionary department store in London. But opening day is just the start of his retail revolution. Three-time Emmy® winner Jeremy Piven (in his first television appearance since his iconic role as Hollywood agent Ari Gold in Entourage) stars as Harry Gordon Selfridge, the flamboyant entrepreneur and showman seeking to provide London's shoppers with the ultimate merchandise and the ultimate thrill. Mr. Selfridge is created by Emmy® Award-winning writer Andrew Davies (Pride and Prejudice, Bleak House).
ALREADY DISCUSSED
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_6.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e6/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 6 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e6)
1 120-minute episode — Sunday, February 10, 2013
Change arrives in a big way for several key characters at Downton Abbey. A yearly cricket match with the village sees old scores settled and new plots hatched.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_5.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e5/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 5 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e5)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, February 3, 2013
Things go badly amiss at Downton Abbey. Robert and Cora are not speaking. The servants are shunning Matthew's mother Isobel. And Matthew and Robert have fallen out. Also, Bates takes a gamble.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_4.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e4/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 4 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e4)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 27, 2013
The Crawley family faces its severest test yet. Meanwhile, new faces try to fit into the tight-knit circle of servants. And new evidence turns up in a baffling case.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_3.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e3/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 3 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e3)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 20, 2013
Two social revolutions arrive at Downton Abbey: the Irish civil war and the fight for women's suffrage. A mysterious conspiracy keeps Anna and Bates apart.
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Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 2 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e2)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 13, 2013
The fate of Downton Abbey hinges on a letter from a dead man. Edith and Sir Anthony face their own fateful moment. Mrs. Hughes confronts a crisis.
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Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e1)
1 120-minute episode — Sunday, January 6, 2013
Wedding guests descend on Downton Abbey, where disasters large and small threaten. One is Cora's freewheeling American mother, who tries to loosen up her in-laws.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/featured_season3_darevisited.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/downtonrevisited/home/)
Downton Abbey Revisited (http://www.pbs.org/downtonrevisited/home/)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 25, 2012
Savor highlights from the first two seasons and get a preview of Season 3 in this new PBS special.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep6.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e6)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 6 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e6)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 11, 2012
A chance remark at the Foreign Office alerts Hallam that one of his associates is a German spy—with tragic consequences. As war is declared, life upstairs and downstairs is transformed at Eaton Place.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep5.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e5)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 5 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e5)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 4, 2012
With war looming, romance is in the air—illicit and otherwise. Hallam, Agnes, Landry, and Persie each pursue their heart’s desire in different ways. Harry and Beryl get engaged. And even Pritchard finds a soulmate.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep4.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e4)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 4 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e4)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 28, 2012
All of London sees Agnes’s shapely legs when she models stockings for Landry’s company—offending Hallam. Intent on impressing Beryl, Harry enters the servants’ boxing competition as Johnny’s manager.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep3.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e3)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 3 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e3)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 21, 2012
Hallam’s Aunt Blanche appears in a novel by a former lover, sparking a scandal that threatens the good name of Eaton Place. Meanwhile, Agnes’s demands on the servants bring a social worker to set her straight.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep2.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e2)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 2 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e2)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 14, 2012
Ambassador Kennedy and his dashing son Jack come to dinner at Eaton Place. But Agnes is more entranced by another guest: millionaire Caspar Landry. Before the evening is over, Mrs. Thackeray resigns.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep1.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e1)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e1)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 7, 2012
Pritchard takes the rap for Johnny in a shocking incident, which leads to a revelation that casts the butler into disgrace. On a diplomatic mission to Germany, Hallam meets Persie, who has a Nazi lover.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/poster_upstairsdownstairs.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/index.html)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/index.html) - rebroadcast
3 60-minute episodes — Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012
It's 1936, a tumultuous time in Britain, and within the walls of 165 Eaton Place, characters from an orphanage, a damp Welsh castle, the heart of the British Raj and elsewhere together will face a changing world, not just upstairs and downstairs, but side by side. Written by Heidi Thomas (Cranford, Madame Bovary), Upstairs Downstairs stars co-creators of the original series Jean Marsh and Eileen Atkins (Cranford, Bertie and Elizabeth). Also starring are Ed Stoppard (Any Human Heart), Keeley Hawes (Wives and Daughters), and Claire Foy (Little Dorrit). Available online at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/watch-online/
Discussion Leaders: JoanP (jonkie@verizon.net) and marcie (marciei@aol.com)
I was surprised last night to find that Week 6 was a 2-hr performance. I've been taping them each week in case one of the kids telephones or I fall asleep or something else interrupts. Fortunately nothing happened; the VCR was set only for an hour.
My thoughts were the same as those of Bates -- I never thought I'd feel sorry for Thomas. I love that Bates now has a secret weapon against O'Brien, even though as he told Anna, "I don't know what it meant."
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I don't think we only had six hours this season. Wasn't one earlier one an hour and a half? Last night's was 2 hours and the last one is listed as 95minutes. Even with the shows ending 5 or 10 minutes before the hour, it still comes up to more than six hours.
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Goodness, there is a lot to show before it closes. Maybe it will be another 2 hour one. Bet quite a few people get let go. O'Brien for one. Maybe the one who was the Scullery maid. Although she is well liked so maybe not. I think I know what the thing will be in order to leave us guessing. I they haven't started the next series in UK yet, then it will be a while for us.
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Somebody pointed out in a class that the date on that thing is By Chris Hastings
UPDATED: 06:51 EST, 7 January 2011, and it may in fact pertain to the first season.
Either way it's not the fault of the producers of the film. Still makes me angry.
I don't, Marcie, I didn't catch it in time, it was two men and that's all I caught, perhaps in the servant's hall? Not sure. At any rate, some Latin students who also watch the show have it on tape, nobody seems to be sure of what they heard, so they're going to check.
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Jeanne, Thomas wasn't really "caught in the act." Nothing happened but a one-sided kiss.
I was looking to see how much kissing was done as greeting during the 1800s. Europe had/has a lot of check kissing by both sexes. I hope you all don't mind the diversion but I thought this (current) article about kissing when you say good bye in a social setting was hilarious: http://www.chow.com/food-news/54365/the-awkward-lip-kiss-greeting/
Pedln, I didn't notice either that yesterday's episode would be 2 hours. The second hour was a welcome addition. As Frybabe says, next week we'll have a 95 minute episode to end the season.
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From my local PBS Website
Downton Abbey, Season 3: Episode Seven
The Season 3 finale of "Downton Abbey" finds the family, save for Branson and little Sybil, heading to a Scottish hunting lodge owned by Rose's parents. In other events, Mrs. Patmore is wooed by a local merchant; a new maid has eyes for Branson.
DURATION: 120 MIN
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hmm, the official Masterpiece site says 95 minutes for episode 7. I guess we have to wait and see!
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There's probably another 25 minutes with "previouslies" and "to comes"
My station probably just figured it has two hours devoted to Masterpiece.
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LOL, that could be it, Pedln.
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AHA!! One of my very sharp Latin students at Furman found the Latin reference. She writes:
At about 20 minutes into the episode, there was a scene where Thomas is telling James (who originally introduced himself as Jimmy) that everyone likes him. But James says that Carson prefers Alfred (even though Alfred's always messing up with his work - he had recently spilled a serving tray on the dowager). James seems to think that no one there likes him and he says, "It's just like it's always been - JIMMY CONTRA MUNDI". While they've been talking, O'Brien has joined them and she says, "Is that Latin? You ought to use that with Mr Carson to get into his good graces."
And that, of course, immediately springs to mind Sebastian and Charles and their mantra of contra mundum, from Brideshead Revisited which Julian Fellows, the creator of Downton, cannot be ignorant of.
Contra as a preposition takes the Accusative, perhaps Jimmy is not up on his Latin.
It also has other meaning in Catholic church history apparently.
I can't believe I never even heard O'Brien say the word Latin!!!!
Man, that was driving me crazy. Latin is everywhere, if you can catch it quickly enough. :)
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Oh and speaking of catching, if you're in the States, Maggie Smith is going to talk about her role in Downton Abbey this Sunday night on 60 Minutes.
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Thank you for the "heads-up", Ginny!!!
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Will be sure to watch 60 min. Sunday. Curious to see what she looks like now with out the Makeup. Think she is about 72 years old. Not sure.
Be sad to see the show DA ending on Sunday.
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We need "bad" people to give the plot spice. They've terned the middle daughter from bad to good, now they're working on turning Thomas. Thank goodness for Mrs. O'Brien, or it would be all sugar and no spice!
"Oh how I love to be patronized."
Yes, that's pretty bad. Not as bad as when the american versions of Harry Potter turned every mention of "I think" to "I reckon", but bad.
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(http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2013/02/15/60OTMaggiePreview1280_244x183.jpg)
:)
Apparently Maggie Smith is 78.
She looks better than I do.
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Thanks for identifying the Latin quote, Ginny. I now remember that he said that.
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For some reason, I thought she and Shirley MacLaine were both 79. I must have read that somewhere, as goodness knows, I would not know of my own knowledge.
Shirley was born April 24, 1934. I just looked it up. And Maggie was born December 28, 1934. So Shirley is the elder.
And I was born in 1929. Shhhhh!
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Thank Goodness. She has stayed away from having any cosmetic work done. Looks good. It seems like the British stars are not into doing it.
I am trying to think of an American Star who was on the other night. The face work was awful. Skin was just shiny from the pulling. So sad.
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She's younger than I am. But being fat saves me from the wrinkles! (What a dilemma -wrinkles or heart attack! Hmmm. Guess I'll go and eat some chocolate while I think about it.)
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Maggie Smith was on 60 Minutes tonight. Fabulous. And Julian Fellowes is obviously much taken with her. You can go to the 60 Minutes website and see the clip, and also one that did not appear which is mostly Fellowes praising her.
Well, the verdict is in and we have TWO HOURS of new and final episodes of Season Three of Downton Abbey tonight. I had to giggle at reading to today's Washington Post that two news anchors on Fox News thought until corrected just this past Friday that it was DOWNTOWN Abbey! Boy, they sure are not in the swim of things!
My DVDs are on their way from Barnes & Noble. We usually get all that the Brits got to see on them, so we don't really miss out in the long run.
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Well, we only had like an hour and 40 minutes of Downton Abbey, and then it was all over until Season Four comes to us whenever. I understand they have everyone signed up, except the one who played Matthew Crawley, who refused to do another season and thus they had to kill him off last night. Which I thought was done beautifully. It satisfied me that he had seen his baby boy and fallen in love with him and was a very happy man. The other 20 minutes last night PBS filled up by rerunning the special about Highclere Castle, which I did not mind seeing again at all, at all.
So altogether, it was a pleasant evening of television.
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Notice they didn't acxtually say that he died: left it open, in case he decides to come back. very clever. And how well he did the final scenes.
I thought he was going to get it when they were hunting, and relaxed when that was over. Too soon, alas. And they didn't listen to me, and layed the groundwork for getting rid of O'Brien. But perhaps substituting the other mean maid.
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Oh, yes - Wilkins. What a piece of work. O'Brien has an opponent of her ilk now. I expect that since they set up for Rose and Mum to stay at Downton Abbey while Shrimpy is in India, that Wilkens will be coming too.
I actually thought that they weren't going to do Matthew in until the beginning of next season. So Sybil dies just after baby Sybil arrives, and now it looks like Matthew is a goner just after Mary gives birth. Not terribly inventive are they.
Loved the bit with the bagpipes. Can you imagine waking up to a bagpipe reveille every the morning?
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They could have left it a real cliffhanger if Julian Fellowes hadn't spoken out. Will Matthew survive? Did he die? But now we all know it's all due to a three-year contract.
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They killed Sybil off because the actress wanted to leave the show as well.
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I didn't catch that Mummy is going to be at DA with Rose. I, too, was pleased that Matthew got to see the baby.
Hmm...does this mean the other son-in-law will now manage the Estate on his own? I should think that will open more conflict between the "classes" - since he still thinks of himself as part of the "Downstairs" but is expected to act as if he's completely "Upstairs".
I wonder how old the babies will be when Season 4 opens? That could be interesting, too.
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No! No! No! Rose is going to be at Downton without either of her parents. Her mother is going to India with her father. Don't you remember her mother begging Cora to mention her to her daughter from time to time?
Rose is to become Robert and Cora's ward, and they will even have to bring her out.
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The loss of Matthew is a big one. Mary says that he's the only one who sees her as "good." He seems to bring out the best in her. And he's the one behind the changes at Downton. Can Tom Branson take charge?
At least he got to see his baby boy and tell Mary how much he loved her.
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looks to me like the next season will feature Rose as she goes through her youth and Edith - will she shock the family or keep her love life a secret. Only Matthew knew his situation and how he felt and Matthew died with the secret. Will Mary dote on her son or keep him at arms length as to0 much a memory to bare. I do not know English history before WWII did they go through a depression or where they consumed by their aversion to war.
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Somebody wrote I expect that since they set up for Rose and Mum to stay at Downton Abbey while Shrimpy is in India, that Wilkens will be coming too. and I was pretty sure I remembered a conversation between the two mothers about Rose being at DA alone. :-\
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That is what I remember also Callie
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Yes, they did discuss Rose going to DA alone but later Shrimpy was talking to Lord Gratham about divorcing his wife. So, maybe, I got confused, but I thought Rose's mother later said that they, meaning she and Shrimpy, needed time apart and therefore implying she would not be going to India either. Perhaps she meant Shrimpy was suggesting that Mom and Rose needed time apart, which is certainly so. Does anyone remember Rose's mother's name?
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Rose's mother is Susan MacClare, Marchioness of Flintshire or "Lady Flinshire." She is the Dowager Countess' niece. She is played by actress Phoebe Nicholls.
I do think it was meant that mother and daughter needed time apart.
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They are going to have to do good writing for the 4th. season. I was disappointed with them really killing off Mathew even though we knew he was leaving the show. His part was a big one. Him being the owner of the Title. tying to put things in order. He was main one in keep the Irish SIL there and giving him responsibilities. Just to many things to now change. Is the father going to be back in charge? The baby now has the rights to Title. Will Mary be talking for him until he grows up?
Going to be interesting. Only thing No.4 can do is advance about 20 years. Showing a more modern time with the 2 babies all grown up.
Not much will be shown now of Mathews Mother. I sort of liked her and the Dowinger nit picking each other. Maggie Smith can't get much older in it. So have to be flash backs.
I wanted Mathew just to show going out to India to look into the Plantation he now owned and then having a chance to return in later shows. Like they do in the Soap operas.
Had to have been a little problem there. Most probably because he was big in the show he wanted lots more money for his new contract. His 3 years were up.
Only Rosemary will know and she will not be telling us.
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Matthew's Mom sure blew it with the Dr. He looked like he was about to propose. Was she so oblivious as to think he was talking about someone else? Or was her comment, interjected before he could finish, a foil against having to reject him?
Regarding Matthew, I was under the impression that he would probably be in the first one or two of next season. I guess they decided not.
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I think Mrs. Crawley knew perfectly well where the doctor was going with the "question" he wanted to ask her. And I think Mrs. Crawley is the ultimate in a lady of tact and compassion, and she wanted to save the doctor embarrassment by cutting him off at the pass, as it were. She quickly inserted her own desire to remain single and free, thereby keeping him from popping the question. And hey, he KNEW and understood what she had just done, and later on he thanks her for it and she pretends she does not know what he means and he says he thinks she does. Which, of course, she does!
Actually, I have had some parallel experiences; so I could empathize totally.
I read that the actor playing Matthew had been fairly unknown until Downton and now that he is a star everyone wants him and he had an opportunity to do something, I think on stage, that he really, really wants to do but could not do and do a 4th year of Downton, as well; so he elected not to sign up for Season Four. Fellowes did want him very much, but decided he was too popular now to replace, so he had to write him out.
I place my bet that Season Four will not begin more than 3 years after this one ended. I am betting Tom Branson will be managing the estate. Matthew's mother, Mrs. Crawley, will be working hard at good deeds, as always, and adoring her wee grandson, who will doubtless be named Matthew Robert. Edith will have become a really good columnist, popular with the readers. Little Sybil will have EVERYone, including her one year younger cousin, twisted around her little finger. She will be learning to ride a pony. Rose will be sweet and darling, but flitting about nearly ruining the family reputation, just as Lady Sybil threatened to do!
You see, Fellowes has not even begun to film this one, so I am clueless and free to exercise my imagination!
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Yep I agree I think she knew what was coming and with her smarts and tact she avoided any further consideration.
As to our hero Matthew I remembered last fall he was planning to leave - and here is the recent interview where he talks all about it.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/downton-abbey/9765334/Dan-Stevens-Why-I-left-Downton-Abbey.html
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I think that Mrs Crowley will accept the Dr. next series. Her life will change not having her son by her side as in the past. Will not be invited to the Abbey all the time. Live their way of life. Maybe her and the Dowinger will get more friendly, although they are nothing alike. But they do enjoy trying to get the last word in.
She may be the grandmother but won't have daily contact with the child.
I look for Mary to maybe move out to a home of her own. Somewhere still close but more private.
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I do not think Mrs. Crawley and the good doctor have compatible personalities.
But if Shrimpie's wife and Rose's mother should die of a fever out there in India and Shrimpie come home to mourn with his Rose, maybe he and Mrs. Crawley would be a match made in Heaven. Leastways, I would write it that way!
I don't think the Lady Mary will ever leave Downton until her son comes home with a bride and she moves into her grandmother's Dower House.
One of my all time favorite moments in this dear series was Mr. Carson with Baby Sybil. I wanted to cry!
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Don't forget that now that Mary is a widow, and Branson a widower, they are available for new romances: perhaps with each other or with other characters (Rose for Tom? the two rebels).
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(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/masterpiececlassic.jpg)
Masterpiece Classic brings back favorite authors and programs and introduces new programs. See the 2013 MASTERPIECE CLASSIC schedule (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/schedule/).
NOW DISCUSSING
What's playing on your PBS station? What programs do you continue to enjoy?
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Song of Lunch (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/songoflunch/index.html)
March 24,, 2013 at 9pm
One 120-minute episode
A dramatisation of Christopher Reid's narrative poem, telling the story of a book editor who, 15 years after their break-up, meets his former love for a nostalgic lunch at the Soho restaurant they used to frequent. The production is unusual in featuring little spoken dialogue, the action instead being an enactment of incidents described in poetic monologue of the male character. Starring Alan Rickman & Emma Thompson.
COMING
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Mr. Selfridge (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/series/mr-selfridge/)
March 31,, 2013 at 9pm
One 120-minute episode
Upstart American Harry Selfridge moves heaven and earth to build his visionary department store in London. But opening day is just the start of his retail revolution. Three-time Emmy® winner Jeremy Piven (in his first television appearance since his iconic role as Hollywood agent Ari Gold in Entourage) stars as Harry Gordon Selfridge, the flamboyant entrepreneur and showman seeking to provide London's shoppers with the ultimate merchandise and the ultimate thrill. Mr. Selfridge is created by Emmy® Award-winning writer Andrew Davies (Pride and Prejudice, Bleak House).
ALREADY DISCUSSED
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Page Eight (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/pageeight/index.html)
February 24,, 2013 at 9pm
One 120-minute episode
Sixty-something MI-5 agent Johnny Worricker has amassed an impressive art collection, an amicable collection of ex-wives, and a droll, unflappable relationship with the work he enjoys alongside his boss and best friend, MI5 chief Benedict Baron. But when Benedict brings to light damning evidence of British complicity with illegal American torture operations, it falls to Johnny to do the right thing.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_7.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e7/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 7 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e7)
1 95-minute episode — Sunday, February 17, 2013
The Crawleys head to a Scottish hunting lodge, while the downstairs staff stays behind at Downton Abbey. New romances flare up, and a fresh crisis unfolds.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_6.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e6/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 6 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e6)
1 120-minute episode — Sunday, February 10, 2013
Change arrives in a big way for several key characters at Downton Abbey. A yearly cricket match with the village sees old scores settled and new plots hatched.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_5.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e5/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 5 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e5)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, February 3, 2013
Things go badly amiss at Downton Abbey. Robert and Cora are not speaking. The servants are shunning Matthew's mother Isobel. And Matthew and Robert have fallen out. Also, Bates takes a gamble.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_4.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e4/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 4 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e4)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 27, 2013
The Crawley family faces its severest test yet. Meanwhile, new faces try to fit into the tight-knit circle of servants. And new evidence turns up in a baffling case.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_3.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e3/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 3 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e3)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 20, 2013
Two social revolutions arrive at Downton Abbey: the Irish civil war and the fight for women's suffrage. A mysterious conspiracy keeps Anna and Bates apart.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_2.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e2/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 2 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e2)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 13, 2013
The fate of Downton Abbey hinges on a letter from a dead man. Edith and Sir Anthony face their own fateful moment. Mrs. Hughes confronts a crisis.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_1.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e1/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e1)
1 120-minute episode — Sunday, January 6, 2013
Wedding guests descend on Downton Abbey, where disasters large and small threaten. One is Cora's freewheeling American mother, who tries to loosen up her in-laws.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/featured_season3_darevisited.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/downtonrevisited/home/)
Downton Abbey Revisited (http://www.pbs.org/downtonrevisited/home/)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 25, 2012
Savor highlights from the first two seasons and get a preview of Season 3 in this new PBS special.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep6.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e6)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 6 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e6)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 11, 2012
A chance remark at the Foreign Office alerts Hallam that one of his associates is a German spy—with tragic consequences. As war is declared, life upstairs and downstairs is transformed at Eaton Place.
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Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 5 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e5)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 4, 2012
With war looming, romance is in the air—illicit and otherwise. Hallam, Agnes, Landry, and Persie each pursue their heart’s desire in different ways. Harry and Beryl get engaged. And even Pritchard finds a soulmate.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep4.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e4)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 4 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e4)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 28, 2012
All of London sees Agnes’s shapely legs when she models stockings for Landry’s company—offending Hallam. Intent on impressing Beryl, Harry enters the servants’ boxing competition as Johnny’s manager.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep3.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e3)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 3 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e3)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 21, 2012
Hallam’s Aunt Blanche appears in a novel by a former lover, sparking a scandal that threatens the good name of Eaton Place. Meanwhile, Agnes’s demands on the servants bring a social worker to set her straight.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep2.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e2)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 2 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e2)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 14, 2012
Ambassador Kennedy and his dashing son Jack come to dinner at Eaton Place. But Agnes is more entranced by another guest: millionaire Caspar Landry. Before the evening is over, Mrs. Thackeray resigns.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep1.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e1)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e1)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 7, 2012
Pritchard takes the rap for Johnny in a shocking incident, which leads to a revelation that casts the butler into disgrace. On a diplomatic mission to Germany, Hallam meets Persie, who has a Nazi lover.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/poster_upstairsdownstairs.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/index.html)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/index.html) - rebroadcast
3 60-minute episodes — Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012
It's 1936, a tumultuous time in Britain, and within the walls of 165 Eaton Place, characters from an orphanage, a damp Welsh castle, the heart of the British Raj and elsewhere together will face a changing world, not just upstairs and downstairs, but side by side. Written by Heidi Thomas (Cranford, Madame Bovary), Upstairs Downstairs stars co-creators of the original series Jean Marsh and Eileen Atkins (Cranford, Bertie and Elizabeth). Also starring are Ed Stoppard (Any Human Heart), Keeley Hawes (Wives and Daughters), and Claire Foy (Little Dorrit). Available online at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/watch-online/
Discussion Leaders: JoanP (jonkie@verizon.net) and marcie (marciei@aol.com)
Well Jeanne, I don't know yet! It's usually one of my daughters who finds out in advance through some social media site or other, but I wait till it's actually screened. My friend waits till the DVD comes out as she can't stand the volume of advertising, and I know what she means - they go on so long that I forget what's happening. Even worse with 'Lewis' now they've had the 'brilliant' idea of splitting each episode into 2 parts shown one week apart - infuriating. The last episode of this series (I think) was shown last week, I don't know if there are to be more.
Rosemary
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Read this today:Dowton Abby
Julian Fellowes, creator of PBS’ international phenom, tells the New York Times that Season 4 will pick up “six months later,” which means “we don’t have to do funerals and all that stuff. That’s all in the past by then.”
Also: Fellowes adds that he asked Stevens to stick around through Season 4?s premiere episode (set to air in the U.S. in January 2014), so as to end the finale “on a happy note” with the birth of his and Lady Mary’s baby. “And then [we would've killed] him in the first episode of [Season 4.] But he didn’t want to do that,” preferring instead to make “a clean break.
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Thanks for the info, jeriron.
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I have caught up on everyones comments with great interest. Downton Abbey is the one series that I have heard more people talking about than anything else I remember seeing on PBS. It seems those who do not watch look at those talking about it in strange ways unable to figure out why they are watching something that they don't even think would be remotely interesting. And those who are hooked look askance at the non-watchers with pity wandering how in the world they could miss out on such great entertainment.
As for myself when I think of all the wonderful shows I have watched on PBS I think while watching them they have all been my favorites. With todays technology this is the series I have first been able to enjoy via DVR. Nothing beats the scenery, the drama, even the exceptional facial expressions and one liners. It is sad to see the end of a season, and even more-so the way it ended with Matthew laying under his car.
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Good to know that there are more. "CI Lewis" coming. Really enjoy them. He is not "Morse" but very good.
Now are you saying that Commercials are shown in UK. when "Downton Abbey " is being shown? Not here as Public Tely. But they do cut in on the first 2 parts of each series. Requesting Money. People are now writing up saying they are doing that to many time a year. I agree. Started out one time and now seems to be every 6 weeks or so
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Yes, because the need for money is growing, as public funding has been cut, and costs must be growing. Notice they also have commercials on some of the shows. But I don't feel I can complain: although I do give them something, it's not much. And I must confess to waiting til they have a thank - you gift I want.
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Bookjunky, I do think that the production value of Downton Abbey--the great sets, costumes and scenery-- as well as the excellent actors, make it so watchable. Wikipedia says of a "soap opera": A crucial element that defines soap opera is the open-ended nature of the narrative, with stories spanning several episodes. One of the defining features that makes a television program a soap opera, according to Albert Moran, is "that form of television that works with a continuous open narrative. Each episode ends with a promise that the storyline is to be continued in another episode."
I think it's the somewhat melodramatic actions in each episode that contribute to us returning to see what happens next.
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PAGE EIGHT, with Bill Nighey, will be repeated from 2011 tomorrow evening.
See more at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/pageeight/index.html
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My take in calling Downton a soap opera is folks who cannot say anything since they have said it all for other period dramas - most of the cuts done to the Jane Austin and Dickens or Gaskell stories could then be labeled soap opera - what about Upstairs Downstairs or South Riding - hmmm sounds like someone does not like the success of Julian Fellowes.
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I don't care what they call a show that I love, for
I'm going to love it, if I love it, no matter what, and
I love Downton Abbey. Period.
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I loved Page Eight - hope you all get to see it. Mind you, I'd love almost anything with Bill Nighy in it :)
Rosemary
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Jeanne - I forgot to say, yes we get numerous ads when Downton is on, as it's shown on ITV not BBC (as you will know, the TV licence money only funds BBC.)
Rosemary
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"Page Eight" is on our PBS station tonight. I plan to record it but will probably switch from the Oscars after a short time.
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Have to check out Page eight!
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I adore Bill Nighy!
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I forgot I'd seen this one before. One thing I thought odd was that he continued to carry the money he got from selling his painting in a plastic bag that you can see through.
I can't help but thing that, at the end, he was heading for someplace with a view similar to the one in the painting he gave to Nancy.
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I started to watch, but when i saw the young woman neighbor i thought "oh, no, don't go there!" i was disappointed, the Brits are so much better than the U.S. about giving older women actresses good roles to play. Did she have to be 20(?) yrs younger than he was? PLEEEASE!
Jean
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Too bad you didn't finish it Jean. There wasn't any love interest there. He saw right through her conniving to meet him.
What did you all think of the daughter's artwork. It may have conveyed depression and anxiety, but I found it strangely interesting.
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Well, good! But i saw a later scene that looked very intimate, like he may have been interested in a relationship, did i miss interpret it?
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I think I know the bit you mean, Jean, but I didn't get a strong reaction to it. It does seem to me though, that he may have had a girlfriend or former girlfriend at some point. Near the end he stayed at a woman's house (overnight?) while he was getting ready to confront the PM. Could have been a sister, I suppose, I just didn't catch who she was exactly. Does anyone know who she was?
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Not sure of how the scenes went but there was the neighbor who later drove him away from the dinner - there was the daughter and her mother his ex wife and the wife of Benedict his friend - when the neighbor picked him up the spent the night in a hotel in separate beds more as friends -
There was the women art dealer someplace out of London that who must have known as a friend - attractive blond but did not get the impression they were ever an item - There was a second wife that we never meet unless she was the attractive art dealer since earlier he says his second wife knew about art..
Then the gal who he was sleeping with whose husband was away but she received info he was not coming back - she was something in the government working under the women who becomes assistant PM - nice looking a bit of a middle age chubby and definitely a mature women.
I do think the neighbor developed a crush but it her looking at the painting can be taken either way - as he suggested insurance for her old age and a nice painting or she could see it as a calling card to find him - I do think he gave it to her in all sincerity as an insurance and thank you for all she did to get him out of a sticky situation.
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Do I not remember reading about this guy being 60 years old?
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In this morning's THE WASHINGTON POST:
"Shirley MacLaine will be returning to “Downton Abbey” next season, and opera star Kiri Te Kanawa is joining the cast.
MacLaine will reprise her role as Martha Levinson, Lord Robert Crawley’s freewheeling American mother-in-law.
New Zealand-born soprano Te Kanawa will play a house guest. She will sing during her visit.
Tom Cullen as Lord Gillingham, described as an old family friend of the Crawleys who visits the family as a guest for a house party (and who might be the one to mend Lady Mary Crawley’s broken heart).
— Nigel Harman will play a valet named Green.
— Harriet Walter plays Lady Shackleton, an old friend of the Dowager Countess.
Joanna David will play a guest role as the Duchess of Yeovil.
— Julian Ovenden is cast as aristocrat Charles Blake.
Producers confirmed villainous housemaid Sarah O’Brien won’t be back. Siobhan Finneran, who played her, is leaving the show.
Matthew’s untimely demise was the result of the departure from the series by actor Dan Stevens, who had starred in that role.
The third season also saw the shocking death of Lady Sybil Branson, who died during childbirth. She was played by the departing Jessica Brown Findlay.
Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Elizabeth McGovern, Jim Carter and Brendan Coyle are among its other returning stars."
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Good heavens, lots of changes. I wonder why Siobhan Finneran is leaving. Does this mean she won't even be in the first of the new series? No O'Brien vs Thomas (and everyone else she takes a dislike to).
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Thanks for all the news, MaryPage. I had to see who Tom Cullen is....
http://metro.co.uk/2013/03/02/tom-cullen-cast-as-lady-marys-new-love-interest-for-downton-abbey-series-four-3523254/
I love Kiri Te Kanawa's voice. She's beautiful too. http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/Kanawa-Kiri-Te-3.htm
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Hopefully, they'll have the sullen ladysmaid from their Scottish trip to replace her. We need at least one evil person.
But I'll miss OBrian. The actress who played her did a wonderful job of making us hate her.
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Good point, JoanK, that we need a "villain." I too think that Miss O'Brien was a very good role with a very good actress. Siobhan Finneran, who plays the scheming maid to Lady Grantham ... announced that she’s departing Downton and will soon be seen on BBC One’s The Syndicate. “I’m not doing any more,” she said Friday. “O’Brien is a thoroughly despicable human being—that was great to play.” - See more at: http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2013/03/01/o-brien-leaves-downton.html#sthash.laOY88EM.dpuf
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I think the Mr. Selfridge show is going to be very interesting, I'm looking forward to it. I recall the grand department stores of my youth with great fondness: the gigantic pipe organ in the huge multi story lobby of Wanamaker's in Philadelphia, (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/The_Grand_Court.jpg/397px-The_Grand_Court.jpg) which still has concerts (the organ is still there, but the store has changed hands several times. The organ. with 28,000 pipes, is the largest playing pipe organ in the world, and has a society which supports it: kudos to the various store owners who did not remove it or tear it out.) I recall Strawbridges, Gimbels, (which I think was probably the equivalent of Selfridges, or was Strawbridges? ) and Lits, I remember them particularly. Was there a saying? Does Gimbels tell Lits? Or maybe vice versa. I don't know anything about who founded them. Wanamaker's, at least, seemed a palace to me. We didn't have a Macy's that I recall till much later. I could be wrong about that, I'll look it up.
I think the story of Selfridges will be very interesting.
I thought this was interesting, too: Feb 10, 2013 – The Forgotten Grave of Mr. Selfridge: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2276623/The-forgotten-grave-Mr-Selfridge-Tombstone-mark-burial-place-famous-shop-owner-left-dilapidated-sorry-state.html
"The simple grave of Harry Gordon Selfridge (pictured) at St Mark's Churchyard contains no clues about the lavish lifestyle the man who...."
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Selfridges. Also a Store in Manchester just as nice as the London. Still there. It was one of the first places I worked when I decided to work in the city. Now the show on TV. "Are you being Served" reminds me of those days. The floor managers walking around in their Morning suits. We had to dress only in Black and look perfectly turned out.
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Yes, and you needed a brain in your head - needed to wait on folks knowing the inventory and if like here the sales girls, some older women who worked in the store for years, knew what you shopped for, your colors and let you know if something they thought you would like came in - In the undergarment area they knew you size and taught young girls how to wear a bra and later a corset - we even had our favorite sales girls with the men in sales relegated to the men's department, home furnishings especially carpets and bedding.
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We used to have lots of wonderful department stores in downtown Washington, D.C. All up and down F Street, they were. Garfinckel's was the poshest, with Jelleff's, which was mostly clothing, next. Lord & Taylor. Woodward & Lothrop (my personal favorite), Hecht's, Kahn's, Lansburgh's. I may have forgotten some. All gone now. Pity. When I was little, and when my children were quite small, it was a treat to go down at Christmas and see all the brilliantly decorated windows. Many of them were mechanical wonderlands. Again, Woodies always had my favorite windows.
Used to be. Used to be. Some things are better now, but some lost things which were quite, quite wonderful will never be known to younger generations.
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Woodies was the one to go to. And eat in their "tearoom".
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Just watched the last in the series of Call the Midwife. Lovely :)
It was to be followed by a new murder mystery, 'Shetland', based on the books by Anne Cleeves, who also writes the 'Vera' books (which have also been televised with the wonderful Brenda Blethlyn as Vera.) Madeleine & I were too tired to stay up though, so we've recorded it to watch tomorrow. I've never been to Shetland, but the reviews say the scenery & atmosphere are excellent.
Rosemary
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I always wanted to go to the Shetland Islands but never made it. Surprises me now how many places I haven't seen in the UK . It being so small. Even now UK people seem to all head over to Europe and never see the great places we had at home.
My Family were Derbyshire. So close to where I grew up but I never got there either.
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I've read some of Anne Cleeves' mysteries, but not familiar with her Vera books. Are they mysteries?
Hope Shetland makes it over here. I'd love to see the scenery.
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Vera is a police detective in Northumberland. The Geordie accent that Blethlyn assumes can be a bit impenetrable at first, but once you get used to it (or use subtitles!) it's very good (IMO).
Rosemary
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I took the full set of "Chief Insp. Morse" out of the library this week. So far have watch 2 and I had not seen them. It must be that all are not run on our Masterpiece Theatre here. He and his side kick look so much younger on the first ones. Morse was really heavy. Still had that twinkle in his eyes though and lots more hair
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I didn't watch the first few seasons. I don't like the author on whom the books are based: he is sexist. But a friend told me that the actor who played Morse insisted they change that aspect, or his daughter would never forgive him. So I watched at the end. I'd love to see the earlier ones.
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Colin Dexter the writer of the Books is getting quite old now. Most probably from the time when most people were a little more Sexist.
Things have changed so much in the last 20 years. I really notice it.
Conditions we worked in 40 years ago you don't see being done. Now gone to far the other way I think. Call things Sexual Harassment if men just look at a women anymore. Back then we could have gotten Rich.
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Rosemary, I watched "Vera" on Netflix. Enjoyed it and had no trouble with the dialects. Another detective program on Netflix (filmed in Glasgow) that's very good is Taggart.
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(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/masterpiececlassic.jpg)
Masterpiece Classic brings back favorite authors and programs and introduces new programs. See the 2013 MASTERPIECE CLASSIC schedule (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/schedule/).
NOW DISCUSSING
What's playing on your PBS station? What programs do you continue to enjoy?
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/selfridge.jpg)
Mr. Selfridge (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/series/mr-selfridge/)
March 31 - May 19, 2013 at 9pm
Upstart American Harry Selfridge moves heaven and earth to build his visionary department store in London. But opening day is just the start of his retail revolution. Three-time Emmy® winner Jeremy Piven (in his first television appearance since his iconic role as Hollywood agent Ari Gold in Entourage) stars as Harry Gordon Selfridge, the flamboyant entrepreneur and showman seeking to provide London's shoppers with the ultimate merchandise and the ultimate thrill. Mr. Selfridge is created by Emmy® Award-winning writer Andrew Davies (Pride and Prejudice, Bleak House).
ALREADY DISCUSSED
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Song of Lunch (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/songoflunch/index.html)
March 24,, 2013 at 9pm
One 120-minute episode
A dramatisation of Christopher Reid's narrative poem, telling the story of a book editor who, 15 years after their break-up, meets his former love for a nostalgic lunch at the Soho restaurant they used to frequent. The production is unusual in featuring little spoken dialogue, the action instead being an enactment of incidents described in poetic monologue of the male character. Starring Alan Rickman & Emma Thompson.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/contemporary_2011/pageeight.jpg)
Page Eight (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/pageeight/index.html)
February 24,, 2013 at 9pm
One 120-minute episode
Sixty-something MI-5 agent Johnny Worricker has amassed an impressive art collection, an amicable collection of ex-wives, and a droll, unflappable relationship with the work he enjoys alongside his boss and best friend, MI5 chief Benedict Baron. But when Benedict brings to light damning evidence of British complicity with illegal American torture operations, it falls to Johnny to do the right thing.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_7.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e7/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 7 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e7)
1 95-minute episode — Sunday, February 17, 2013
The Crawleys head to a Scottish hunting lodge, while the downstairs staff stays behind at Downton Abbey. New romances flare up, and a fresh crisis unfolds.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_6.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e6/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 6 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e6)
1 120-minute episode — Sunday, February 10, 2013
Change arrives in a big way for several key characters at Downton Abbey. A yearly cricket match with the village sees old scores settled and new plots hatched.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_5.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e5/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 5 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e5)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, February 3, 2013
Things go badly amiss at Downton Abbey. Robert and Cora are not speaking. The servants are shunning Matthew's mother Isobel. And Matthew and Robert have fallen out. Also, Bates takes a gamble.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_4.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e4/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 4 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e4)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 27, 2013
The Crawley family faces its severest test yet. Meanwhile, new faces try to fit into the tight-knit circle of servants. And new evidence turns up in a baffling case.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_3.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e3/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 3 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e3)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 20, 2013
Two social revolutions arrive at Downton Abbey: the Irish civil war and the fight for women's suffrage. A mysterious conspiracy keeps Anna and Bates apart.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_2.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e2/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 2 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e2)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 13, 2013
The fate of Downton Abbey hinges on a letter from a dead man. Edith and Sir Anthony face their own fateful moment. Mrs. Hughes confronts a crisis.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_1.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e1/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e1)
1 120-minute episode — Sunday, January 6, 2013
Wedding guests descend on Downton Abbey, where disasters large and small threaten. One is Cora's freewheeling American mother, who tries to loosen up her in-laws.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/featured_season3_darevisited.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/downtonrevisited/home/)
Downton Abbey Revisited (http://www.pbs.org/downtonrevisited/home/)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 25, 2012
Savor highlights from the first two seasons and get a preview of Season 3 in this new PBS special.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep6.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e6)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 6 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e6)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 11, 2012
A chance remark at the Foreign Office alerts Hallam that one of his associates is a German spy—with tragic consequences. As war is declared, life upstairs and downstairs is transformed at Eaton Place.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep5.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e5)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 5 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e5)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 4, 2012
With war looming, romance is in the air—illicit and otherwise. Hallam, Agnes, Landry, and Persie each pursue their heart’s desire in different ways. Harry and Beryl get engaged. And even Pritchard finds a soulmate.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep4.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e4)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 4 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e4)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 28, 2012
All of London sees Agnes’s shapely legs when she models stockings for Landry’s company—offending Hallam. Intent on impressing Beryl, Harry enters the servants’ boxing competition as Johnny’s manager.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep3.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e3)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 3 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e3)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 21, 2012
Hallam’s Aunt Blanche appears in a novel by a former lover, sparking a scandal that threatens the good name of Eaton Place. Meanwhile, Agnes’s demands on the servants bring a social worker to set her straight.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep2.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e2)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 2 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e2)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 14, 2012
Ambassador Kennedy and his dashing son Jack come to dinner at Eaton Place. But Agnes is more entranced by another guest: millionaire Caspar Landry. Before the evening is over, Mrs. Thackeray resigns.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep1.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e1)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e1)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 7, 2012
Pritchard takes the rap for Johnny in a shocking incident, which leads to a revelation that casts the butler into disgrace. On a diplomatic mission to Germany, Hallam meets Persie, who has a Nazi lover.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/poster_upstairsdownstairs.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/index.html)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/index.html) - rebroadcast
3 60-minute episodes — Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012
It's 1936, a tumultuous time in Britain, and within the walls of 165 Eaton Place, characters from an orphanage, a damp Welsh castle, the heart of the British Raj and elsewhere together will face a changing world, not just upstairs and downstairs, but side by side. Written by Heidi Thomas (Cranford, Madame Bovary), Upstairs Downstairs stars co-creators of the original series Jean Marsh and Eileen Atkins (Cranford, Bertie and Elizabeth). Also starring are Ed Stoppard (Any Human Heart), Keeley Hawes (Wives and Daughters), and Claire Foy (Little Dorrit). Available online at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/watch-online/
Discussion Leaders: JoanP (jonkie@verizon.net) and marcie (marciei@aol.com)
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Some PBS stations this Sunday will show an encore presentation of SONG OF LUNCH with Alan Rickman and Emma Thompson.
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FlaJean - so pleased you enjoyed Vera & could deal with the accents! I may have mentioned that Anne Cleeves' Shetland books were being televised - well, unfortunately the first episode was so dire that we didn't even bother to watch the second - but I do like Vera a lot (maybe it's Brenda Blethlyn's acting, she is wonderful.)
Rosemary
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Thornton, Frank b. January 15, 1921 d. March 16, 2013
Actor. He will be best remembered for playing Captain Peacock, the droll floor walker in the popular, long-running British comedy TV series "Are You Being Served?" (1972 to 1985) and as Truly in the television program "The Last of the Summer Wine" (1997 to 2010). The son of a banker, he took to acting at an early age. However, his goal of becoming a performer was delayed due to his father's insistence of Frank finding a respectable occupation. He found work at an insurance company while taking...
We still get these shows on our PBS nightly.
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Thanks for that information, Jeanne. The "Are You Being Served" ensemble was fabulous. Individually, they were great characters and together, they were "over the top," in a good way :-)
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Our PBS station no longer shows those two shows. George and I must have seen every episode of "Are You Being Served?" at least four times. We just loved it.
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Sharpie tonight in India and oh oh oh the brutality was so bad I had to switch channels for a bit and then go back and switch again about 4 times - just beyond reason - are they trying to show India in a bad light in keeping with the current news - just awful stuff - colorful and suspenseful with the usual good guys and bad guys and foolish generals.
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Good thing I went to library at 1pm today. They had been saying 6-8 inch snow but didn't believe them. Well it came. Started as I was in library and so heavy and now we have a least 4 inches and really coming down. I can't see my car in the driveway, it is so thick. So I do believe 8 inches will be here by morning.
Got 3 books and 6 movies. One being a BBC that takes 8 hours to watch.
'Barkeley Square" I never have seen it and so will be a DVD Marathon for me.
PBS has "Call the midwife running for 4 hours tonight. Don't think I need to see them again. Wait for the next new one.
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As we had 13 inches of snow come down on us Sunday night and Monday Morning. I just decided to do nothing. Made a pot of Chili. 8 biscuits. Shared with a man who cleaned off my driveway to have at home.
Relaxed and watched "Berkeley Square" A BBC show that I had not seen appear on Masterpiece.. It is so good. 3 Discs taking about 8 hours to watch. Mine came from the Library. If you haven't seen it, get it. I really enjoyed. Almost as much as " Downton Abbey". More on the "Upstairs Downstairs" one.
Only thing is I don't see another series following and it ended sort of leaving some thing hanging. Going to see if anyone knows anything more about it.
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Jeanne, I checked around and it appears that only one season (10 episodes) of Berkeley Square were broadcast (in 1998). I saw some posts on the Internet indicating that other people also thought it should continue, and tie up loose ends. Thanks for recommending it. I've put a hold on it at my library.
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Marcie.
Sorry to hear that there are no other series on it. I enjoyed it so.
You saved me checking around. Enjoy it when you pick it up.
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I didn't realize Selfredges was going to be a series - I thought it was a one shot deal
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Barb, I too didn't realize that Selfridge was a series. See more at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/series/mr-selfridge/
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Just looked it up - this Selfridges thing - its no mini series its a major series - this thing goes on and on till the end of May when the Memorial Day celebration comes on - not sure if I am up for a yet another series - still coming down from Downton Abby and that is not concluded. Yep i am feeling annoyed - overwhelmed - had this been scheduled for the fall I would be a much happier camper.
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The first episode was ok, but not wonderful. Sounds like it will turn into a soap opera with everyone sleeping with everyone else. Wonder how much of this is historical?
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Who cares - I was bored out of my skull after the first half hour - heard it all before - it reminded me of one of these cheap paperback Romance novels
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I didn't care for the Selfridge show at all. I wish they would get back to some good mystery s like Inspector Morris.
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Well, I will stick with Selfridge's. I don't care much for men who gamble big time with fame and fortune and so forth, but I do so miss the old shops and the way it was. Nostalgia. I adored the shopgirls and the glass showcases and the windows! Oh, those windows!
And the clothes. Yes, I will be a vewer all the way through.
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I've DVRd the last two weeks and haven't started to watch it. For some reason I don't have an interest in it. Maybe when there's nothing else to watch??
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I just watched "Mr. Selfridge" and liked it. As with the first episode of any new show, there were a lot of story lines introduced or hinted at. I plan to stick with it and see how things develop.
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I too thought there were some interesting elements in Mr. Selfridge. We'll see if it sustains our interest through mid May.
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I, too, enjoyed Mr. Selfridge. Hope it continues to get better & better!
Sally
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Selfridges was just down the street from where my office was in Manchester, England. They are beautiful stores still (or at least were when over in 2010.) All of those stores are not anywhere as nice as they were years ago. But still have a little class.
I use to like Marshall Fields in Chicago but not anymore. The Malls have taken over now. People don't dress like the use to.
I am not interested in watching the show on TV.
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I watched 60 Minutes and Call The Midwife and Selfridges and Top Of The Lake last night. Orgy of TV. All very good.
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Watched "midwife" and a few minutes of Selfridges. Decided that was enough. Missed "Top of the Lake". What is that?
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Top Of The Lake is a new series on the Sundance channel.
I watch it on ON DEMAND.
It is a 7 episode series, and we have had 5 episodes. Takes place in New Zealand and is beyond beautiful filming. The mountains and the lake just take the breath right out of me. The story is weird. Really strange and makes me uncomfortable, as many of the folks are so outside of my venue, as it were. I mean, I have lived amongst educated and civilized behaving people all of my life, and just read about the other sorts in the newspapers and magazines and books. This series puts you right there. And there is nudity and sex and violence and the f word over and over and over. The acting is amazing. I am glad I am watching it, but each episode really makes me feel as though I have been put through my grandmother's old fashioned washing machine mangle. Really rough stuff.
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WOW! Fortunately, I don't have to decide whether to watch it since I don't get the channel.
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I don't get the channel, either; but watch it on ON DEMAND.
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Last night I watched the first of a series of four on Nova about Australia. They started out pretty much along the western coast with the oldest rocks. Australia is considered the oldest continent in the world.
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I watched that NOVA on Australia's First 4 Billion Years, as well. I had SO looked forward to it.
And no one in this world is a Bigger fan of NOVA than I.
But I felt a tad let down. Yes, I saw a lot of blessed scenery. I especially loved seeing those iron mines, as I have read so much about them recently.
But the gimmick of driving a car through the billions of years was just that: quite gimmicky and made for small children. It took up a LOT of time that could have been better spent showing and teaching us more.
On the whole though, I would give the show an A. Not an A+ (I am probably TOO demanding!), but an A. If you missed it, try to catch it in repeats and try to catch the next several Wednesday nights of this series. On PBS. Also, you can go on line to NOVA and see videos.
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I fell asleep part way through. I remember him talking about the iron in the rocks, but missed the iron mines, so I am hoping to catch a rerun this week.
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Oh, no. I meant to watch it and forgot.
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Hello, everyone. Here I am back, and I don't even know where I was in-between, figuratively speaking. After Downton Abbey, I have not looked at any series. I enjoy reading more than watching, except Dowton Abbey had me totally fascinated. Selfridge's I watched a little and thought baseball, now that it's here, is better. Also I can read and have baseball on, because it moves so slowly, like tennis when I get it. I can read, I can knit right through it. Selfridge's just didn't capture me.
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I like to do that with baseball, too. Have you read The Thrill of the Grass by W P Kinsella (who wrote the story that Field of Dreams is based on)?
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Last night we saw the first episode in "Endeavour", a series about Inspector Morse's early career. There was a one-off programme made last year, and as it was well-received, they have now filmed a series. Madeleine and I enjoyed it, though the ending was a bit week. It's fun to see the characters who featured in the Morse series turn up as they were 30-40 years earlier - Inspector Strange appeared as a constable, a down-to-earth working bobby who's initially cynical about the intellectual, geeky, detective Morse. The details of 1960s Oxford were well done, I thought. I'll be watching again next Sunday.
Rosemary
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Welcome back, Zulema!!
Rosemary, it's good to know what we'll (hopefully) have to look forward to in the States with the Endeavour series.
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Oh my goodness! Just noticed - "weak" NOT "week" - aargh - I blame it on too much travelling...
Rosemary ;D
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I sure hope our PBS shows the "Endeavor" series here!!
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We did show some of the "Morse" early shows here a few months ago. Not that far back though. Hope we do get to see "Endeavor" later on.(could be years if its new in UK".) Will be able to get DVDs I hope. How I still miss Morse.
Good thing we have Spell Check and always remember to click on it. I am beginning to spell like I talk. People still say. "Love to hear you talk". Would laugh at my spellings.
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When my youngest son was in kindergarten, he learned Phonics. For a writing assignment he wrote the assigned "When I grow up, I want to..." and then added "...go to kolij." He did so - and majored in Landscape Architecture. :)
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(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/masterpiececlassic.jpg)
Masterpiece Classic brings back favorite authors and programs and introduces new programs. See the 2013 MASTERPIECE CLASSIC schedule (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/schedule/).
NOW DISCUSSING
What's playing on your PBS station? What programs do you continue to enjoy?
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/selfridge.jpg)
Mr. Selfridge (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/series/mr-selfridge/)
March 31 - May 19, 2013 at 9pm
Upstart American Harry Selfridge moves heaven and earth to build his visionary department store in London. But opening day is just the start of his retail revolution. Three-time Emmy® winner Jeremy Piven (in his first television appearance since his iconic role as Hollywood agent Ari Gold in Entourage) stars as Harry Gordon Selfridge, the flamboyant entrepreneur and showman seeking to provide London's shoppers with the ultimate merchandise and the ultimate thrill. Mr. Selfridge is created by Emmy® Award-winning writer Andrew Davies (Pride and Prejudice, Bleak House).
ALREADY DISCUSSED
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/contemporary_2011/songoflunch.jpg)
Song of Lunch (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/songoflunch/index.html)
March 24,, 2013 at 9pm
One 120-minute episode
A dramatisation of Christopher Reid's narrative poem, telling the story of a book editor who, 15 years after their break-up, meets his former love for a nostalgic lunch at the Soho restaurant they used to frequent. The production is unusual in featuring little spoken dialogue, the action instead being an enactment of incidents described in poetic monologue of the male character. Starring Alan Rickman & Emma Thompson.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/contemporary_2011/pageeight.jpg)
Page Eight (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/pageeight/index.html)
February 24,, 2013 at 9pm
One 120-minute episode
Sixty-something MI-5 agent Johnny Worricker has amassed an impressive art collection, an amicable collection of ex-wives, and a droll, unflappable relationship with the work he enjoys alongside his boss and best friend, MI5 chief Benedict Baron. But when Benedict brings to light damning evidence of British complicity with illegal American torture operations, it falls to Johnny to do the right thing.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_7.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e7/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 7 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e7)
1 95-minute episode — Sunday, February 17, 2013
The Crawleys head to a Scottish hunting lodge, while the downstairs staff stays behind at Downton Abbey. New romances flare up, and a fresh crisis unfolds.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_6.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e6/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 6 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e6)
1 120-minute episode — Sunday, February 10, 2013
Change arrives in a big way for several key characters at Downton Abbey. A yearly cricket match with the village sees old scores settled and new plots hatched.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_5.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e5/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 5 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e5)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, February 3, 2013
Things go badly amiss at Downton Abbey. Robert and Cora are not speaking. The servants are shunning Matthew's mother Isobel. And Matthew and Robert have fallen out. Also, Bates takes a gamble.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_4.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e4/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 4 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e4)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 27, 2013
The Crawley family faces its severest test yet. Meanwhile, new faces try to fit into the tight-knit circle of servants. And new evidence turns up in a baffling case.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_3.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e3/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 3 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e3)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 20, 2013
Two social revolutions arrive at Downton Abbey: the Irish civil war and the fight for women's suffrage. A mysterious conspiracy keeps Anna and Bates apart.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_2.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e2/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 2 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e2)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 13, 2013
The fate of Downton Abbey hinges on a letter from a dead man. Edith and Sir Anthony face their own fateful moment. Mrs. Hughes confronts a crisis.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_1.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e1/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e1)
1 120-minute episode — Sunday, January 6, 2013
Wedding guests descend on Downton Abbey, where disasters large and small threaten. One is Cora's freewheeling American mother, who tries to loosen up her in-laws.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/featured_season3_darevisited.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/downtonrevisited/home/)
Downton Abbey Revisited (http://www.pbs.org/downtonrevisited/home/)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 25, 2012
Savor highlights from the first two seasons and get a preview of Season 3 in this new PBS special.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep6.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e6)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 6 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e6)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 11, 2012
A chance remark at the Foreign Office alerts Hallam that one of his associates is a German spy—with tragic consequences. As war is declared, life upstairs and downstairs is transformed at Eaton Place.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep5.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e5)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 5 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e5)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 4, 2012
With war looming, romance is in the air—illicit and otherwise. Hallam, Agnes, Landry, and Persie each pursue their heart’s desire in different ways. Harry and Beryl get engaged. And even Pritchard finds a soulmate.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep4.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e4)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 4 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e4)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 28, 2012
All of London sees Agnes’s shapely legs when she models stockings for Landry’s company—offending Hallam. Intent on impressing Beryl, Harry enters the servants’ boxing competition as Johnny’s manager.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep3.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e3)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 3 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e3)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 21, 2012
Hallam’s Aunt Blanche appears in a novel by a former lover, sparking a scandal that threatens the good name of Eaton Place. Meanwhile, Agnes’s demands on the servants bring a social worker to set her straight.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep2.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e2)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 2 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e2)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 14, 2012
Ambassador Kennedy and his dashing son Jack come to dinner at Eaton Place. But Agnes is more entranced by another guest: millionaire Caspar Landry. Before the evening is over, Mrs. Thackeray resigns.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep1.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e1)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e1)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 7, 2012
Pritchard takes the rap for Johnny in a shocking incident, which leads to a revelation that casts the butler into disgrace. On a diplomatic mission to Germany, Hallam meets Persie, who has a Nazi lover.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/poster_upstairsdownstairs.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/index.html)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/index.html) - rebroadcast
3 60-minute episodes — Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012
It's 1936, a tumultuous time in Britain, and within the walls of 165 Eaton Place, characters from an orphanage, a damp Welsh castle, the heart of the British Raj and elsewhere together will face a changing world, not just upstairs and downstairs, but side by side. Written by Heidi Thomas (Cranford, Madame Bovary), Upstairs Downstairs stars co-creators of the original series Jean Marsh and Eileen Atkins (Cranford, Bertie and Elizabeth). Also starring are Ed Stoppard (Any Human Heart), Keeley Hawes (Wives and Daughters), and Claire Foy (Little Dorrit). Available online at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/watch-online/
Discussion Leaders: JoanP (jonkie@verizon.net) and marcie (marciei@aol.com)
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Good story, Callie :-) It took me a minute to figure it out.
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Callie, I love it! And it proved he understood the sounds the letters made!
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starting tomorrow night we are getting a new series - sounds like a good one - here is the promo
THE BLETCHLEY CIRCLE follows Susan, Millie, Lucy and Jean, ordinary women with extraordinary ability to break codes, a skill honed during World War II when they worked undercover at Bletchley Park, site of the United Kingdom's main decryption establishment. Now, in 1952, the four have returned to civilian life, keeping their intelligence work secret from all, including family and friends. A series of ghastly murders targeting women, however, reunites the team as they set out to decode the pattern behind the crimes.
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Glad to see you back up Barb. The Benchley Circle sounds quite interesting. I'll have to see if my local will be running it. I am not watching Selfridge.
Sad to hear about the plant explosions in West, TX and the deaths and destruction it caused. I wonder if they will ever discover what exactly caused it.
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I finally watched parts 1-3 of "Selfridge". I'm enjoying it although I didn't think I would.
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Yes We always stopped in West on our way to Dallas for Kolachi's as long as we could get there before noon - the bakery had no serving area or counter just a bunch of monster sized wood tables and ovens - flour dust in the air and a bunch of women who got to work around 3: in the morning and closed up shop at noon. Very little English - 3 and 4 generations later and they still spoke Czech - so I wonder if the bakery is still there - they are great at keeping the information out of the press till they are 100% sure and it helps so they are not bombarded by the press wanting every tidbit they can find and then blowing it up to a story that no one recognizes. I could go on and on about that one but needless to say - many of us here think Boston jumped the gun on shouting terrorists and now cannot back down - tanks in the street for a kid who instead of choosing a movie theater or school chose a more public venue. That to me is the missing bit of the uproar - what is making any of these young men so aggressive to take lives. Well prayers all around - lot of folks hurting from these two events.
I was enjoying the series The Land Girls and it stopped after she married the preacher - thought it would go on and the home delivery nurses - forget the name of the show but it is another I am enjoying - do not like the current Doctor in Dr. Who and I miss the Brit Coms - all we have left or reruns of Doc Martin. This stupid, in my mind Selfredges is eating up Saturday and Sunday and so I switch on Saturday to our alternate PBS channel where they run old movies on Saturday night - last night was the old Basil Rathbone The Houses of Baskerville - fun, he was so over the top dramatic flinging his cape and the background music was not too much better then the set pieces played in the theater by the local music teacher.
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Bletchley Circle is good!
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Tonight I adored Call The Midwife yet again. Also loved Mr. Selfridge. It is growing on me, big time. I am so glad I did not drop it.
But Bletchley Circle is Wonderful. A complete and total Joy to this incurable feminist.
So I went right straight to Barnes & Noble on line and ordered it. By the way, their price to members is much cheaper than buying it through PBS.
I am so excited!
What fun!
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The second episode of 'Endeavour', the new serial about Inspector Morse as a young man, was screened last night - it was absolutely brilliant. Shaun Evans, the guy playing Morse, is exceptional, and his boss is played by the inimitable Roger Allam.
Apparently it's a joint UK-US production, so you should get it soon.
Rosemary
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RosemaryKaye
I loved the last scene of the second show when he is seen in the car mirror.
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I loved The Blechley Circle too!
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Am watching very little television at all from Monday through Saturday, but here it is Sunday Night again and three great shows in a row on Public TV!
Call The Midwife, Mr. Selfridge, and The Bletchley Circle. Each is delicious, but The Bletchley Circle is my favorite.
Joy!
Pity they are not spread out one to a night.
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I know. I loved Part I of the Blechley circle.
Thanks for reminding me.
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I watch the Midwives but skip Selfridge. I really did like the first showing of Bletchley Circle last week and so will watch that one also. I was in the Girl Scouts at the end of the war and knew a lot about what the Bletchley group were doing. We use to try decoding. Learned some Morse code. Don't remember any of it now.
Bletchley Park is a very popular place to visit now. I hear very interesting know all that went on there. Very few people know where it was located during the war. No one working there were allowed to give out their names. Lots of ATS, Wrens and WARP. worked there. Altogether there were thousands working at one time or another. A list is on the Web now of all the names and the names they were known bye at the time.
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I look forward to Sunday night television. Thank goodness that my daughter talked me into getting DVR. I can tape all the programs I enjoy, watch some now and save some for other nights when nothing is on. I love all the new PBS programs--Call the Midwives, Mr. Selfridge and now Bletchley Circle. I also enjoy The Good Wife (not PBS).
Sally
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I am enjoying Call the Midwives, but I didn't like Mr Selfridge so haven't been watching. The Bletchley Circle program is intriguing, but it's spring, too much to do outdoors. If I can stay awake, I have too many other things to do, can't watch much TV.
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salon you also like the Good Wife - one week I forgot and watched Masterpiece and could kick myself - seeing it later on my small computer screen was not the same and so it is easy for me to miss Selfridge unless I see it on Saturday when it is repeated - I do not know what happened but there is nothing on even PBS during the week - I am fed up with the news so I am not even watching NewsWeek -
Well will she or won't she - looked to me tonight that her daughter has figured it out. Thank goodness Peter had enough votes without the tape having to be an issue - if she goes with Cary and Diane gets her judgeship that leaves Will all alone hmm
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We have a new comedy starting tonight called 'Vicious' - it stars Sir Ian McKellan and Derek Jacobi and has had very good pre-reviews, so I'll let you all know what it's like. It's about an elderly gay couple so I appreciate it might not be to everybody's taste, but they are both fantastic actors.
Rosemary
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Good Wives was very strange last night. All that toing and froing in court all night for naught and then the suspense at the end. Whew!
Blatchley was very good. Does anyone know how many episodes there are?
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There are three episodes.
Mary
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Jean I think last night on Good Wives they were setting it up drawing new lines for a change in the script - it hit me this morning I wonder if the choice to go with Cary has to do with Alicia deciding to go with Will and they cannot as long as both are working for that firm. I wonder if some how Peter OKing the cheating at the voting booth is going to come out to Alicia which will justify her choosing Will -
As to the courtroom action or inaction since I have just been reading about how Lawyers have to learn to write their briefs to persuade and the difference between persuading a jury who are not educated in the Law versus persuading a judge using the same basics of witnesses and material and how some lawyers do get attention with quirky courtroom behavior like bringing a baby into the courtroom in this situation - The judge wondering around the room was a way to show what I have been reading because of their caseload they can only each case a minimum of time even to read about it so you have to be a good persuader.
And yes, Blatchley was again terrific - I think many either forget or have no idea how often women were beat up in their homes and how women were simply ignored regardless their expertise. It is very good but it is dredging up memories I would prefer to forget - when she is ignored by the police it really gets me so that I feel that helpless angry scared feeling that was my life back in the 50s - and so with mixed feelings I watch hoping for their success. The killer has a face now and since we know his war time experience he needs psychiatry not a prison.
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Young women watching The Bletchley Circle may think the fact that these young women did such invaluable work during WWII to save the Allies and yet had everything they had to offer completely discounted and ignored after that war was won is a fantasy and not fact. I want to stand up on my tiptoes and scream that it WAS FACT.
If you were a woman, you were indeed valued during those war years. Afterwards, you became a fluffhead again in men's eyes.
I think the clothes are more nineteen forties than 1953. This is supposed to be 1953. But I am loving it.
I love Mr. Selfridge, too. Especially last night with the Suffragettes. My great grandmother was a Suffragette! Good on her and lucky me for having her genes.
Call The Midwife had an important message last night, as well. The world pre-contraception is one also unknown to today's women.
All in all, all three of these excellent shows brought us by the British were very pertinent to the history of the rights and treatment of women.
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"It is very good but it is dredging up memories I would prefer to forget - when she is ignored by the police it really gets me so that I feel that helpless angry scared feeling that was my life back in the 50s "
Yes, I felt the same!
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I agree that Mr. Selfridge and The Bletchley Circle are captivating. Many of the characters are compelling.
Rosemary, thanks for the information about Vicious. I found a statement about the program by Ian McKellen at http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/will-new-itv-sitcom-vicious-starring-sir-ian-mckellen-and-sir-derek-jacobi-prove-a-watershed-for-gay-relationships-in-tv-drama-8595198.html
"Sir McKellen says Stuart and Freddie’s relationship is something of an advent for television. “It’s not aiming to shock people. It won’t alarm anyone. It isn’t a satire or an exposé of gay life. These characters just happen to be gay. For me it is as if TV has grown-up,” he says."
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Thanks Marcie. We recorded it as we were still trying to catch up with 'Endeavour' from the weekend - so we might watch it tonight, although as we have the dreaded puppy training class first, I may only be capable of pouring a glass of wine and lying down in a darkened room :)
Rosemary
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Let us know how your puppy did.
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Yes, Rosemary, please let us know how the puppy and master are after day 1. :-)
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Wow! One of our PBS channels (living in a Megalopolis, we have 3), Maryland Public Television, also known as MPT, has a fantastic lineup tonight. Again, I wish all the good stuff was NOT piled on in one night. And again, I hope I can take a nap and stay awake to enjoy it all:
Call The Midwife at 8
Mr. Selfridge at 9
The Bletchley Circle at 10
Dalziel & Pascoe at 11
One thing I have going for me is that I sent for Season 7 of Dalziel & Pascoe and have viewed the DVDs. If tonight's episode is from that season, or any earlier one, I have already seen it and do not have to stay up to watch. My television guides do not any of them say, so I will have to find out for myself.
They do say, however, that Arthur Conan Doyle is portrayed on Mr. Selfridge tonight. What fun!
Oh, I do so love Sunday nights!
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Yours are one hour ahead of ours and so doesn't make it to late.for us. I love Sundays for everything. Great to read the papers. Stay in PJs or robe if not going out if rain or cold.
Don't have friends in around my area now and so I know that I won't be disturbed.
My closest daughter just left for Connecticut today for couple weeks again. (just can't stay away from her Grandchildren). She is the only person who doesn't call if she is dropping in.
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Well, I managed to stay awake, and it was all quite wonderful.
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I could only dimly follow what was going on in Bletchley, since I find many of the characters hard to understand. But enjoyed it, none-the-less.
I wish Jeremy Piven could act!
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I enjoyed Mr. Selfridge and The Bletchley Circle. Some of Selfridge is a little "soap-opera" in that some characters sometimes seem to act out of character (Agnes Towler's kiss and Mr. Grove apparently going to be a cad) but I find the series, and many of the issues it brings up, interesting. I love the theme music for the program.
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I found The Bletchley Circle wonderful, and look forward to seeing it all over again when the DVD comes. I use the closed captioning, so have no trouble understanding the characters.
Now it is over, and there has been no announcement that there will ever be a sequel. I would think the writers could spin it off into the London Police asking this group to help them out in another adventure. Time will tell.
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MaryPage, yes, I too am hoping to see more of The Bletchley Circle.
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I was surprised to see that there would be only 3 weeks of the B Circle. Maybe it is just a tryout in order to see if enough people tuned into it. They could maybe make into into a show that would join it up into a Police type show.
I always enjoyed "Esther Wainright". even "Miss Marple"
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ITV has ordered a second season of Bletchley Circle for next fall. Maybe PBS will pick it up.
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Oh they surely will! Oh what good news! Thank you, Jeriron! You just made my day!
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That's good news about The Bletchley Circle. It looks like a second series of Mr. Selfridge has begun production too:
http://www.cultbox.co.uk/news/headlines/6784-mr-selfridge-series-2-new-characters-announced
This Sunday we'll see the second-to-last episode of season one, where the Woolworth "discount" store challenges Selfridge's in London.
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Woo-hoo! One of our PBS stations is starting As Time Goes By at season one! I hope they go straight through the seasons.
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(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/masterpiececlassic.jpg)
Masterpiece Classic brings back favorite authors and programs and introduces new programs. See the 2013 MASTERPIECE CLASSIC schedule (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/schedule/).
NOW DISCUSSING
What's playing on your PBS station? What programs do you continue to enjoy?
ALREADY DISCUSSED
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/selfridge.jpg)
Mr. Selfridge (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/series/mr-selfridge/)
March 31 - May 19, 2013 at 9pm
Upstart American Harry Selfridge moves heaven and earth to build his visionary department store in London. But opening day is just the start of his retail revolution. Three-time Emmy® winner Jeremy Piven (in his first television appearance since his iconic role as Hollywood agent Ari Gold in Entourage) stars as Harry Gordon Selfridge, the flamboyant entrepreneur and showman seeking to provide London's shoppers with the ultimate merchandise and the ultimate thrill. Mr. Selfridge is created by Emmy® Award-winning writer Andrew Davies (Pride and Prejudice, Bleak House).
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/contemporary_2011/songoflunch.jpg)
Song of Lunch (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/songoflunch/index.html)
March 24,, 2013 at 9pm
One 120-minute episode
A dramatisation of Christopher Reid's narrative poem, telling the story of a book editor who, 15 years after their break-up, meets his former love for a nostalgic lunch at the Soho restaurant they used to frequent. The production is unusual in featuring little spoken dialogue, the action instead being an enactment of incidents described in poetic monologue of the male character. Starring Alan Rickman & Emma Thompson.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/contemporary_2011/pageeight.jpg)
Page Eight (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/pageeight/index.html)
February 24,, 2013 at 9pm
One 120-minute episode
Sixty-something MI-5 agent Johnny Worricker has amassed an impressive art collection, an amicable collection of ex-wives, and a droll, unflappable relationship with the work he enjoys alongside his boss and best friend, MI5 chief Benedict Baron. But when Benedict brings to light damning evidence of British complicity with illegal American torture operations, it falls to Johnny to do the right thing.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_7.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e7/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 7 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e7)
1 95-minute episode — Sunday, February 17, 2013
The Crawleys head to a Scottish hunting lodge, while the downstairs staff stays behind at Downton Abbey. New romances flare up, and a fresh crisis unfolds.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_6.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e6/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 6 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e6)
1 120-minute episode — Sunday, February 10, 2013
Change arrives in a big way for several key characters at Downton Abbey. A yearly cricket match with the village sees old scores settled and new plots hatched.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_5.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e5/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 5 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e5)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, February 3, 2013
Things go badly amiss at Downton Abbey. Robert and Cora are not speaking. The servants are shunning Matthew's mother Isobel. And Matthew and Robert have fallen out. Also, Bates takes a gamble.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_4.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e4/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 4 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e4)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 27, 2013
The Crawley family faces its severest test yet. Meanwhile, new faces try to fit into the tight-knit circle of servants. And new evidence turns up in a baffling case.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_3.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e3/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 3 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e3)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 20, 2013
Two social revolutions arrive at Downton Abbey: the Irish civil war and the fight for women's suffrage. A mysterious conspiracy keeps Anna and Bates apart.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_2.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e2/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 2 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e2)
1 60-minute episode — Sunday, January 13, 2013
The fate of Downton Abbey hinges on a letter from a dead man. Edith and Sir Anthony face their own fateful moment. Mrs. Hughes confronts a crisis.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/Downton3_1.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e1/)
Downton Abbey: Season 3, Episode 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/downton-abbey-s3-e1)
1 120-minute episode — Sunday, January 6, 2013
Wedding guests descend on Downton Abbey, where disasters large and small threaten. One is Cora's freewheeling American mother, who tries to loosen up her in-laws.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/classic_2012/featured_season3_darevisited.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/downtonrevisited/home/)
Downton Abbey Revisited (http://www.pbs.org/downtonrevisited/home/)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 25, 2012
Savor highlights from the first two seasons and get a preview of Season 3 in this new PBS special.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep6.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e6)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 6 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e6)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 11, 2012
A chance remark at the Foreign Office alerts Hallam that one of his associates is a German spy—with tragic consequences. As war is declared, life upstairs and downstairs is transformed at Eaton Place.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep5.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e5)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 5 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e5)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, November 4, 2012
With war looming, romance is in the air—illicit and otherwise. Hallam, Agnes, Landry, and Persie each pursue their heart’s desire in different ways. Harry and Beryl get engaged. And even Pritchard finds a soulmate.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep4.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e4)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 4 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e4)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 28, 2012
All of London sees Agnes’s shapely legs when she models stockings for Landry’s company—offending Hallam. Intent on impressing Beryl, Harry enters the servants’ boxing competition as Johnny’s manager.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep3.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e3)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 3 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e3)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 21, 2012
Hallam’s Aunt Blanche appears in a novel by a former lover, sparking a scandal that threatens the good name of Eaton Place. Meanwhile, Agnes’s demands on the servants bring a social worker to set her straight.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep2.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e2)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 2 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e2)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 14, 2012
Ambassador Kennedy and his dashing son Jack come to dinner at Eaton Place. But Agnes is more entranced by another guest: millionaire Caspar Landry. Before the evening is over, Mrs. Thackeray resigns.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/updown2_ep1.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e1)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 2, Episode 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/episode/upstairs-downstairs-s2-e1)
1 90-minute episode — Sunday, October 7, 2012
Pritchard takes the rap for Johnny in a shocking incident, which leads to a revelation that casts the butler into disgrace. On a diplomatic mission to Germany, Hallam meets Persie, who has a Nazi lover.
(http://seniorlearn.org/bookclubs/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/poster_upstairsdownstairs.jpg) (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/index.html)
Upstairs Downstairs: Season 1 (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/upstairsdownstairs/index.html) - rebroadcast
3 60-minute episodes — Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012
It's 1936, a tumultuous time in Britain, and within the walls of 165 Eaton Place, characters from an orphanage, a damp Welsh castle, the heart of the British Raj and elsewhere together will face a changing world, not just upstairs and downstairs, but side by side. Written by Heidi Thomas (Cranford, Madame Bovary), Upstairs Downstairs stars co-creators of the original series Jean Marsh and Eileen Atkins (Cranford, Bertie and Elizabeth). Also starring are Ed Stoppard (Any Human Heart), Keeley Hawes (Wives and Daughters), and Claire Foy (Little Dorrit). Available online at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/watch-online/
Discussion Leaders: JoanP (jonkie@verizon.net) and marcie (marciei@aol.com)
The new Inspector Lewis and last one is being released the end of June. So I would think that PBS would show them before then but I haven't seen anything mentioned about it.
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One of our stations runs "As Time Goes By" over and over, starting at the beginning when they reach the end. I've seen most of the episodes 4 or 5 times, and am just beginning to get tired of them.
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the ones I have seen over and over and yet over and over and could still enjoy seeing them again over and over is Are You Being Served - I loved the humor in that show. I finally got tired of Keeping Up Appearances but another I would love to see again is To the Manor Born
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That's great that some of you are/will be seeing As Time Goes By. The writing and acting for that series was wonderful.
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http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/schedule/
Here's the Masterpiece Schedule for June through Aug.
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"As time goes by" They have been running it on ours for past 12 years. Started from season one at least 5 times. I may be from England and enjoyed it years ago but it has gotten stale by now. Couple of the others the same. There are some good old ones that they could spend a little money and buy. It is now the same with there cooking shows. Same ones Over and Over. On Sat. and Sunday they will play them twice over. LOts of the people in them have been dead for years.
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All look pretty good for June and July. Not August but will turn on again for Foyle in September. I like him.
Looks like a few repeats in all of them. Summer season I suppose.
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I really enjoyed the "Midwives" last night. I do think that the Dr. and the Nun are going to get together.
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I have had 2 friends 40 years ago he was a Priest and she a Nun. both for about 10 years. They left and married and than another friend. He had been a Priest for quite a few years. Met and married. Remained strong Catholic though and they had 11 children. Youngest was a down syndrome girl. Still alive and has been living in a home here in town since a baby. Must be around 50 now. both parents passed.
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There is a new sitcom "Cafe" which looks like it has potential, altho, i'm not sure about it yet. Both the old folks and the young folks in it have more silly moments than i like.
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Not heard of "Cafe". Is it a BritCom?
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As Time Goes By was my husband's favorite. He always said that Jean and Lionel were similar to himself and me. I used to laugh and say, no, we are Lionel's father and step mother! What are their names? Rocky and something I forget.
We own all of the videos and DVDs. The first year, maybe two, are videos and the rest DVDs. You can, of course, buy all in DVD now, but we bought each season as soon as it was available. Oh, how we loved them all. I saw about half a show on the telly a few months back, just for remembrance.
Lovely television. Just the right mixture of love and comedy and real life. I like the good manners and lack of sex and violence and bad language. Come to think on it, though we were older than Jean and Lionel, we were a lot like them. Maybe my Mister Wonderful was right!
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I think her name was Madge, MaryPage, but I wouldn't swear to it. As Time Goes By is out and Keeping Up Appearances is in on my PBS station at the moment. KUA is good, but I get tired of it in a hurry. I like ATGB better. I also liked Last of the Summer Wine and Are You Being Served. I haven't heard of Cafe.
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I haven't heard of 'Cafe' here in the UK. Many of the other old series are replayed on UK GOLD, a channel that you have to have Sky for - so needless to say we haven't got it, as not only does it cost more money, but also husband won't let anything to do with Rupert Murdoch darken our door (and I tend to agree with him, though I would like to be able to watch old series like The Vicar of Dibley.)
The series of Endeavour has finished (only 4 episodes) - it was excellent. I started watching a re-play of Val McDermid's Wire in the Blood last night, but I just wasn't up to the level of violence - plus I had read the book so that rather spoiled the denouement.
Rosemary
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Yes, Cafe is British and on our station it is followed by Chef which i like also.
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Speaking of The Vicar of Dilbey, am I the only one who thinks that Louisa on Doc Martin is the same actress who played the ditsy blonde on the Vicar of Dilbey. I told some of my friends that, but no one knew who I was talking about. I can't remember her name, but she was the one who never got the Vicar's jokes.
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Now I still watch . Last of the summer wines. It is filmed not many miles from where I am from and family still live. It goes back a few years also but I just miss the moors and get to see them on the show.
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Alice Tinker who later became Alice Horton in the most fun outrageous wedding dress ever seen on TV with attendants that could only come form a mind as presented to us by an Alice Tinker - real name Emma Chambers - and she is not currently acting in anything nor does it say she acted in Doc Martin.
You are thinking of Caroline Catz who played in DCI Banks along with many other films and TV that we do not get here.
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Joan K. They are not the same person, although they play/played the same type of character. I'm not sure what year Vicar first appeared; but I think the character that played Alice would be quite a bit older.
I got Cafe for about a month or so, but no more.
Sally
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Is Cafe the one about a mother who runs a small restaurant on the pier of a beach town with an older daughter and a young man who would like to be her boyfriend but is not sophisticated enough for her and a mother (grandmother) sits at a table by one of the doors to the restaurant - the mother has a boyfriend and the restaurant or tea room or whatever it is, is not doing well but lots of folks are behind her.
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Yes, Barb, that's the one. I couldn't decide whether I liked it & then it was off the air.....
Sally :'(
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That sounds right Barb, i didn't pay close attention ;)
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Thanks for clearing that up. I'm disappointed.
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I dearly loved both characters you were talking about, but the Alice actress is always in high comedy, whereas the Louisa actress is in drama. Yes, I have just discovered she is appearing in D.C.I. BANKS, a wonderful show based on the detective policeman in a series of books by Peter Robinson. There have been 22 of these books so far, from Gallows View to Watching The Dark, and they are great fun if you love British mysteries. I do! I confess, I have not had the time to read them all yet, but when I like someone I make it a point to keep lists in a file, both a paper file and one on my computer, and check at least once a year to make sure my home shelves contain the latest. So it is that I have all the books by anyone I have really liked, and I now have more books than I can possibly devour in the time remaining to me. Oh well; I leave my grandchildren a great legacy! And as for me, I have had a lot of fun and the comfort and consolation of not running out of something good to read!
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I had a real pig-out with the telly last night. Call The Midwife was superb. Mr. Department store was the last one for this season and was almost 2 hours and was Great. I feel bad for those of us who gave up on this show early on. Also, I was disappointed in some true facts last night. I went to my search engine hoping to find out if they remained separated, only to read about the life he REALLY led. Turns out this show is about 80% fiction. Too, too sad. He never had a son, for one thing. And did not have that house full of kids. Just one child, a daughter. And only the one wife. I won't go on any further, as I do not want to spoil things for you.
Then Dalzeil and Pascoe was wonderful. Oh, what a delicious Sunday night I had!
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I gave up on him and watched part of "North America" on Discovery.
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I too watched the season finale of Mr. Selfridge. Lots happening. I'm looking forward to next season/year.
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You mean there's more?
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LOL, JoanK :-) Ten more episodes.
http://www.contactmusic.com/news/itv-give-mr-selfridge-season-2-the-green-light-jeremy-piven-tweets-delight_3489998
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After a rocky start, it did turn into a great show with marvelous characters and excellent acting. I love the lessons in empathy and human relationships Selfridge (as depicted in this almost toally fictional account) is learning, episode by episode.
I am having a hard time, though, to see how the writers can, in all human decency, make up all this stuff "based on the life of." Now we all know I am not a famous person, but were I someone in the public eye, it just tears me in bits to think my very own life and reputation AFTER MY DEATH could be used in this manner. The vast majority of people watching this series will believe it to be the gospel truth, and real history. I think that is a grave injustice, not only to Mr. Selfridge, the real man, but to ANYone it might happen to. I think writers, when writing of real life people, ought to have to follow a law that says they cannot fictionialize real people to the extent they do here. I understand they have to fictionalize supposed conversations in order to make the story move along in the direction history says it really did go. But they ought not be able to change a life in any material way. For instance, Selfridge only had one child. Ever. One daughter. No son. No houseful of children.
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No Midwife on tonight. Fact nothing on tv at all. I don't even have any DVD to watch. Will just read and hope the rain stops by tomorrow.
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The new Masterpiece Mystery season doesn't start until mid June.
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We have a new discussion for the Masterpiece Mystery season at http://seniorlearn.org/forum/index.php?topic=3821.0