'Downton Abbey' takes on Super Bowl XLVII...and scores a moral victory in ratings battle Period drama draws 6.6 million viewers to 108.4 million for the big game between the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens. BY DAVID HINCKLEY / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013, 6:30 PM

An original episode of ‘Downton Abbey’ aired against the Super Bowl Sunday night and still averaged 6.6 million viewers.

The Baltimore Ravens couldn't stop the Downton Abbey Crawleys Sunday night, though the American footballers did slow them down a bit.

PBS's phenomenon "Downton Abbey" was one of the few shows that dared to air a new episode opposite the Super Bowl Sunday night, perhaps suspecting it appeals to a different demographic.


READ MORE: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/downton-abbey-takes-super-bowl-xlvii-article-1.1255277

Downton Abbey Season 3: Episode 5 on Masterpiece Classic PBS – A Recap & Review 3 February 2013 by Laurel Ann (Austenprose)

By Laurel Ann (AUSTENPROSE)


Recap of episode 5 (spoilers ahead)

Lady Sybil has been laid to rest and Downton Abbey will never be the same. The family’s grief and mourning is very acute, especially by her husband Tom Branson whose future there seems uncertain. The baby must be christened and Tom is determined to have her baptized in his own faith. This appalls Lord Grantham who feels her life will be doomed as a “left footer.” Catholicism vs. Anglicism is discussed at dinner upstairs and down and there is a definite division of beliefs. The growing rift between Lord and Lady Grantham over local Dr. Clarkson’s advice to save Sybil vs. the London specialist Dr. Tapsell moves the Dowager Countess to step in and convince Dr. Clarkson to tell her son and daughter-in-law that Lady Sybil was destined to die even with the surgery he recommended. This realization mends the fence and they are reconciled in their grief.


Here are a few of my favorite moments from episode 5

“Did you hear about Tom’s announcement at breakfast? He wants the child to be a left footer.” – Lord Grantham

It was interesting to see all of the household’s reaction to the Catholic vs. Anglican issue. It helped us remember what era this drama is placed in and how important your choice of faith was.


READ MORE OF AUSTENPROSE'S RECAP:  http://austenprose.com/2013/02/03/downton-abbey-season-3-episode-5-on-masterpiece-classic-pbs-a-recap-review/

Michelle Dockery: Essential Lady Mary moments from Downton Abbey (MASTERPIECE)

Watch Downton Abbey: Michelle Dockery's Essential Mary Moments on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.

Masterpiece: Remembering Sybil and Branson

Watch Downton Abbey: Sybil and Tom on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/watch-online/shorts/downton-abbey-sybil-and-tom/?elq=dd9d3ddf3fa14635b541ef2098f15449&elqCampaignId=521

Brendan Coyle: Downton’s Bates tells fan to ‘go **** yourself’ on Twitter (THE SUN)

By ALEX WEST
Published: 3 hrs ago

The actor — famed for his Bafta-nominated portrayal of the respectful flunky in ITV1’s period drama — hit the roof in a spat over his hatred of Lady Thatcher.

NHS consultant Roberta Knighton told him Twitter comments he posted about the ex-Tory PM were “beneath” him.

Fuming Coyle, 49, hit back: “Hard to know how to respond to that... but go f*** yourself feels about right.”

He then said: “You have no idea what is beneath me... p.s. go f*** yourself x”. Then he blocked her from viewing his account.


Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4771020/Downton-Abbeys-Brendan-Coyle-blasts-fan-on-Twitter.html#ixzz2JWKEFxz0

(keep in mind, peoples, this is from THE SUN)

HUGH BONNEVILLE ENJOYS THE DOWNTON LIFE (Express)

 Sunday January 27,2013
By Adam Helliker

OUR favourite smoothie Hugh Bonneville is certainly enjoying the perks of being a Downton Abbey star. The Sherborne-educated actor was in skittish mood at the National Television Awards, describing to a female admirer what he was wearing.

“Socks by M&S; throwing their stuff at me they are. Asda, Lidl, they can’t get enough of me! And I’ve just come out of the tanning salon so I’m right up there with the Italians.”

Thankfully Hugh’s ego is kept in check by his lovely wife Lisa. A grounded figure, who met Hugh as a teenager, Mrs Bonneville says she is “unfazed by the glitz of the showbusiness world” and is bemused when she sees women swooning over her hubby.

READ MORE: http://www.express.co.uk/ourcomments/view/373669

Downton Abbey: Twitter Event: Season 3 (MASTERPIECE)

Winner of nine Emmy awards, Downton Abbey resumes for a third season as wrenching social changes, romantic intrigues, and personal crises grip the majestic English country estate. The international hit is written by Julian Fellowes and features an all-star cast including Dame Maggie Smith, Elizabeth McGovern, and Hugh Bonneville, plus a new guest star, Academy Award-winner Shirley MacLaine!

MASTERPIECE celebrates the return of Downton Abbey with live Twitter events during the national broadcast premiere of each new episode of  Downton Abbey Season 3.

You’re welcomed whenever you’re watching, but during 9-10pm Eastern time, PBS and MASTERPIECE insiders - as well as moderators from Austenprose, The Daily Beast, Tom and Lorenzo and Vulture - will be tweeting too.

Tag your posts with the hashtag #DowntonPBS  then follow along using your own favorite aggregator.

WHAT: PBS and MASTERPIECE are hosting a live Twitter discussion (#DowntonPBS)

WHEN: Sundays, January 6- February 17, 2013, during the national broadcast of each part. (Our next event is Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013.)

WHERE: The Twitterverse!  (Use hashtag #DowntonPBS ).

TOPICS: Downton Abbey, fashion, MASTERPIECE Classic

WHO: @pbs ; @masterpiecepbs ; Laurel Ann Nattress(@Austenprose ) of Austenprose; Jace Lacob(@televisionary ) of The Daily Beast; Tom and Lorenzo (@tomandlorenzo ); and Vulture (@vulture ) – and YOU!

RSVP: Please follow and be followed (on Twitter, of course!) by other #DowntonPBS tweeters

MASTERPIECE CLASSIC: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/programs/features/twitter-event/downton-abbey-season-3-twitter-event?elq=d4deaf20bc37415d938e78968327b080&elqCampaignId=514

Brendan Coyle and Joanne Froggatt talk about Season 3 with E!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xNMqn_cw5KM

jls tjh - YouTube

Downton Abbey - Scenes from Episode 4...things are heating up (MASTERPIECE)

Watch Downton Abbey, Season 3: A Scene from Episode 4 on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.

READ MORE: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/watch-online/shorts/downton-abbey-season-3-scene-episode-4/?elq=72cd28ca03264e1685b259cfac36b12f&elqCampaignId=509

Benedict Cumberbatch signing autographs after PBS Sherlock event

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5ls3o5__ag

andoumika

Rob James-Collier: 'My Downton Abbey Character Should Be Dead' January 17th, 2013 7:54pm EST (STAR PULSE)

Downton Abbey star Rob James-Collier still can't believe his TV villain Thomas Barrow is still alive - because the scheming valet was supposed to be killed off at the end of season one. 

The actor was thrilled to learn he'd won the role but his agent informed him he would not have it for long. 

James-Collier recalls, "He said, 'Listen, you've got the part that everyone in town wants - he's a villain, he's a great role, the only bad thing is that he dies at the end of the first series.'" 

READ MORE: http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2013/01/17/rob_jamescollier_my_downton_abbey_char

Downton Abbey - The best of Maggie Smith

Watch Downton Abbey: The Best Maggie Moments on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.

PRAISE THE BRITISH TV GODS! DAME MAGGIE SMITH WILL BE BACK FOR SEASON FOUR OF DOWNTON ABBEY. by Rebecca Pahle | 12:30 pm, January 17th, 2013 (THE MARY SUE)

Downton Abbey executive producer Gareth Neame has confirmed that the Dowager Countess Violet Crawley will be back in season four of Downton Abbey to lord over all those peons who pretend they could be as good as her. Pish.

The return of Dame Maggie Smith to Downton wasn’t a sure thing before now; last summer showrunner Julian Fellowes admitted “I can’t tell you, ‘Oh, yes, she’s definitely contracted [for Season 4] — because she isn’t. It’s entirely up to her when she stays and when she goes,” adding “With Maggie, you never know, Other [actors] sign on for the next series and they sign for this and they sign for that, but she doesn’t. She stays her own person.”

That’s right. Because Dame Maggie is a legend.

READ MORE:  http://www.themarysue.com/maggie-smith-downton-abbey/

Downton Abbey - Scene from Episode Three

Watch Downton Abbey, Season 3: A Scene from Episode 3 on PBS. See more from Masterpiece.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/watch-online/shorts/downton-abbey-season-3-scene-episode-3/?elq=5c8d800f5b7643c288b7d3423b967747&elqCampaignId=506

Good and Bad (Spoiler-free) Downton Abbey News Concerning Maggie Smith and Season Four by Julie Miller (VANITY FAIR)

As the headline suggests, both positive and negative updates arrive via post-Edwardian courier today about the popular British drama—although rest easy, they do not relate to Edith’s new marriage or Mrs. Hughes’s delicate health. Still, summon your inner American courage.

In disappointing news, despite PBS’s halfhearted comment about maybe possibly finding a way to broadcast Downton Abbey closer to the drama’s U.K. air dates, the series will likely continue to run in the U.S. nearly four months after it does overseas. The reason, it seems, is mostly our fault, for nearly doubling the show’s season-premiere ratings earlier this month. Had we made a pact beforehand to resist the premiere as part of a long-term strategy to reduce this annual Bates-ian prison-sentence delay, PBS chief Paula Kerger may have been motivated to schedule the next season this fall.


READ THE REST:http://www.vanityfair.com/online/oscars/2013/01/maggie-smith-downton-abbey-season-four-delay

Maggie Smith wins Golden Globe for 'Downton Abbey' role Published Monday, Jan 14 2013, 1:10am EST | By Sarah Luoma (DIGITAL SPY)

Downton Abbey's Dame Maggie Smith took home an early award at the 70th annual Golden Globes.

Smith was honored with the award for 'Best Performance By An Actress In A Supporting Role In A Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made For Television' at Sunday evening's (January 13) ceremony.

Read more: http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/s183/downton-abbey/news/a450676/maggie-smith-wins-golden-globe-for-downton-abbey-role.html#ixzz2Hxt4mr2H 

Follow us: @digitalspy on Twitter | digitalspyuk on Facebook

BritWeek Honors Downton Abbey and Announces BritWeek Program for 2013 (FORT MILLS TIMES0

Business Wire - BritWeek Honors Downton Abbey (Gareth Neame, Michelle Dockery, Julian Fellowes, Nigel Lythgoe, Bob Peirce, Sharon Harroun Peirce

LOS ANGELES --

BritWeek honored Julian Fellowes, creator of the hit PBS Masterpiece Classic, Downton Abbey, and Gareth Neame, executive producer, at a press lunch today and shared big news about BritWeek 2013. Michelle Dockery, who has a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in the TV Drama, also attended the lunch.

“BritWeek celebrates the huge influence of UK creativity in California. We see Downton Abbey as a shining example of this and congratulate them on their many achievements,” said Bob Peirce, Chairman of BritWeek, speaking at the BritWeek Golden Globes press luncheon. Fellowes agreed and added, “California is a wonderful, tolerant and encouraging host, for ideas and for people of every denomination, and it is no surprise to me that we should find such a marvelous celebration of the achievements of the British under its azure skies. I am proud to be part of this year’s BritWeek.”

BritWeek announced today that its 2013 program, which will run from April 23 to May 6 in Los Angeles, will be its biggest year yet. The seventh annual BritWeek will once again include its signature red carpet events, such as the star-studded launch reception at the British Consul General’s Residence and the annual charity gala at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. It will also include new public events such as an Echo Park music party and a street festival along the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica.

READ MORE: http://www.fortmilltimes.com/2013/01/12/2432140/britweek-honors-downton-abbey.html

Downton Abbey Season 3 - Episode 1 Review (FLICKERING MYTH)

Kirsty Capes reviews the first episode of Downton Abbey season 3...

Downton is back in the States with a third series and a special two hour episode to open with. After the climactic end to the second series, fans have been itching to see what comes next for the Crawleys and comapny since the Christmas Special. Finally, after having been shown in the UK months ago, Downton Abbey season three has now started airing in the States, much to the chagrin of many a husband and boyfriend across the country.

Things are getting switched up this series with the introduction of a few new characters. First off is Alfred, Mrs O'Brien's nephew and the new footman. Tom's already got a grudge against him because he basically got the job from Mrs O'Brien sucking up to Cora, while Tom has been slaving away for years to try and get the same position. Daisy has already taken a shine to Alfred, but being so unlucky in love that she is, Alfred obviously has his sights set on someone else.

Episode one also sees the first brief appearance of Cora's mother, Martha, who has travelled from the US for Mary and Matthew's impending nuptials. Of course, played by Shirley MacLaine, Martha is a larger-than-life eccentric character, modern compared to the aristocratic English family who are set in their ways.

As always, each Downton episode manages to cover around a month's worth of action over about an hour. Upstairs, we see the preparation for Mary's wedding in full swing. Of course, like any show, you can't have a wedding without a bit of drama. This comes in the form of Robert discovering he has lost the majority of Cora's money in a bad investment. He risks losing Downton, and doesn't want to tell the others. This means tension rises for Robert as Mary spends more and more on her extravagant wedding and Cora hires servants here there and everywhere, until finally Robert has to tell them about the money situation. This shows the beginnings of a tension between Robert and Cora that lasts for the rest of the series, culminating in the loss of a beloved character and the near-destruction of the family. Mary tries to help by enlisting Martha's help and inviting her to a dinner party where she hopes to coax some money from the rich countess. The dinner party is an absolute disaster, not helped by newbie Alfred who demonstrates exactly how little experience he actually has as a footman; but Martha saves the day with an indoor picnic-style buffet (good golly! But that's not how the English do it!) but refuses to help the family save Downton.


READ MORE: http://www.flickeringmyth.com/2013/01/downton-abbey-season-3-episode-1-review.html

Brendan Coyle Filming 'Noble' (DOWNTON ABBEY BLOG)

 Yesterday [Jan 10] shooting kicked off on Stephen Bradley’s Noble starring Liam Cunningham, Deirdre O’Kane, Brendan Coyle, Ruth Negga and Nhu Quynh Nguyen.

The biopic is jointly produced by UK’s Destiny Films and Vietnam’s Starfilm and centres on Christina Noble who overcame her own harsh childhood to help youngsters around the world. Bradley wrote the script and in addition to directing he is also producing alongside Melanie Gore-Grimes. Ansty Productions provided financial support.

READ MORE - DOWNTON ABBEY BLOG
http://www.downtonabbeyaddicts.com/2013/01/brendan-coyle-filming-noble.html

Daniel Day-Lewis: ‘Downton Abbey’ is ‘Why I Left England’ By Leah Rozen | Posted on Thursday, January 10th, 2013 (BBC AMERICA)

Daniel Day-Lewis at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards on Monday. (Kristina Bumphrey, Starpix/AP Images)

Nearly eight million viewers tuned into PBS on Sunday night to see the premiere of Downton Abbey’s third season, but Oscar nominee Daniel Day-Lewis wasn’t one of them.

When asked the next night if he had watched Lady Mary and Matthew wed, the British actor half-sneeringly, half-laughingly said, “Are you kidding? “That [sort of thing] is why I left England!”

Day-Lewis made his comment at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards in Manhattan last Monday evening to Roger Friedman, an entertainment journalist at the Showbiz 411 web site. Day-Lewis was there to pick up a Best Actor award for his presidential performance in Lincoln, for which he received an Oscar nomination this morning.

Even if Day-Lewis wasn’t watching, some 7.9 million viewers did catch the opening

READ MORE: http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2013/01/daniel-day-lewis-downton-abbey-is-why-i-left-england/