Plot spoilers pose 'Downton Abbey' challenge (ST LOUIS POST DISPATCH)January 03, 2013 2:16 pm • Associated Press
There are many delicious reasons to watch the returning "Downton Abbey" and an exasperating one to skip it: The cover's been blown on major plot twists.
In what may be outsized revenge for the American Revolution _ or payback for years of exporting lousy U.S. TV and fast food _ the Brits are sharing "Downton Abbey" with us, but only after first airing each season.
That wouldn't matter much in the drama's early 20th-century setting but we're not there, are we, PBS and U.K. network ITV? A little gimmick called the Internet makes it impossible to keep story developments from spreading like germ warfare.
'Downton Abbey' Fans Get Peek at Season Premiere - TIME OUT, CENTRAL FLORIDA ENTERTAINMENT GUIDEBy Matt Reinstetle
THE LEDGER
LAKELAND | WEDU will host a special hour-long screening of the season 3 premiere of "Downton Abbey" at the Polk Theatre on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
This free screening will show the first 60 minutes of the 120-minute premiere, which airs for the first time in America on WEDU, Tampa's PBS affiliate, at 9 p.m. Sunday.
Space is limited so those interested in attending must register at www.wedu.org/events/downtonabbey-screenings/.
"It should be a fun evening for people to get together who enjoy the show and have that experience at the Polk Theatre," said Allison Hedrick, vice president of communications at WEDU.
A feast fit for 'Downton Abbey OMAHA.COMThe food of "Downton Abbey"
Abbey Cooks Magic Scones
Makes eight two-inch scones
Scones are the foundation of a great afternoon tea or garden party. This basic recipe is like magic. They are faster to make than a drive to your local coffee shop, lower in fat and can be adapted in an endless variety of ways. Create your own Abbey House brand to entertain guests.
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon frozen grated butter
½ cup cold milk
1. Preheat oven to 475 degrees and prepare a baking sheet.
2. Sift the dry ingredients three times into a large bowl. Rub the frozen grated butter into the dry ingredients until it feels like sand. At this point, add any of the ingredients you choose from the recipe variations. (See list below.) Add enough milk just until you get a sticky dough.
3. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured board and lightly flour the top. Knead very gently once, then fold and turn the kneaded dough three or four times until it has formed a smooth texture. Pat the dough into a rectangle about 6 by 12 inches and then fold that rectangle into thirds.
4. Using a well-floured two-inch biscuit cutter, make six two-inch rounds. You can get two more scones from the scraps though they won't be as tender. Alternatively, use a well-floured sharp knife to form wedges.
5. You can either brush the tops of the scones with milk or lightly flour.
6. Bake on a baking sheet for 8-10 minutes until the scones are lightly colored on top. Immediately place onto cooling rack to stop the cooking process.
Variations
Buttermilk scones: Add ¼ teaspoon of baking soda to the flour before sifting and replace the milk with buttermilk.
Cream scones: Add ¼ teaspoon of baking soda to the flour and glaze with cream.
Whole-wheat scones: Replace half of the all-purpose flour with soft whole-wheat flour.
Chocolate scones: Add ¼ cup of cocoa powder and sift with the flour, and add ¼ cup plain yogurt to the milk.
Glazed scones: Lightly brush preserves on scones before baking to create a sweet glaze.
Dried fruit scones: Add ¼ cup dried fruit (sultanas, raisins, currants, cranberries or cherries) and 1 tablespoon sugar before you add the milk.
Pumpkin scones: Add 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 teaspoon nutmeg, 1 teaspoon baking soda and sift with flour, replace the milk with ½ cup of pumpkin puree, adding only enough milk to make sticky dough.
Fresh or frozen berry scones: Add ¼ cup fresh or frozen fruit, finely chopped.
Whole wheat and fruit scones: Replace half of the all-purpose flour with whole-wheat flour and add ¼ cup of fresh or frozen fruit.
Cheese and chive scones: Add ½ teaspoon cayenne to be sifted and then ¼ to ½ cup grated cheddar cheese and 2 tablespoons of fresh herbs before adding the milk.
Herb scones: Include 3 tablespoons of finely chopped herbs, such as parsley, dill or chives.
Why Downton Abbey Airs So Much Later in the U.S. NEW YORK TIMESBy June Thomas | Posted Friday, Jan. 4, 2013, at 11:34 AM ET
A year ago, we wondered here on Brow Beat why there was a lag between the U.K. & U.S. airings of Downton Abbey, when such a large gap does not always exist with other British shows. Season 3 of the series is about to arrive, and the disparity persists: On Thursday, TV critic Alan Sepinwall tweeted, “Nearly all the comments so far on my Downton Abbey review are people complaining about the lag between UK & US broadcasts.” Even Slate’s Downton Abbey TV Club warmed up by kvetching about the delay.
So this year, we asked Beth Hoppe, PBS’s new programming chief, to explain the scheduling.
