Downton Abbey 2 vs. Spooks 10 – Doh!

Critically acclaimed, audience favorite, new kid on the block versus the best show on television for 9 years running. Thank goodness for the invention of the DVR. As most are aware, the long-awaited second series premiere of Downton Abbey is set for a Sunday, 18 September, transmission in the UK on ITV. When we last […]

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Making a Portwenn ‘house call’ to the set of Doc Martin

Patients of Dr. Martin Ellingham finally received word this week that the new season of Doc Martin will begin on Monday, 12 September, in the UK (ITV). In the States, on public television, we can now, with virtual certainty, announce that Dr. Martin Ellingham will resume making house calls in Portwenn beginning in April 2012. […]

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Dame Eileen Atkins moves out of 165 Eaton Place

According to the BBC, Dame Eileen Atkins will not return when filming commences on Upstairs Downstairs 2 in Cardiff in October. Atkins, who created the series with fellow actress, Jean Marsh, did not appear in the original 1970’s ITV series, but was cast in last years revival of the series as the free-thinking mother-in-law Maud, Lady […]

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The Prisoner – Lost of the 60's?

In television, series finales are a completely different ballgame from season finales, for one simple reason. The individual who originally envisioned the series, the writer, knows going into the finale, that what the viewer will ultimately see, will be a program that ties up all loose ends and all questions will be answered. Uh, right. […]

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Prime Suspect vs Prime Suspect

I’m afraid you’ll know where I stand in the matter of seconds….if it takes that long. The only thing in common between the iconic Granada Television series, produced for ITV and PBS, and the upcoming NBC series starring Maria Bello, is the title. To be fair, it might not be a fair fight just yet […]

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Uptown Downstairs Abbey – a house divided…by stairs

Unfortunately, the whole of the UK seems to be reeling this week with the news that the second series of Sherlock will now not broadcast until early 2012. Well, as a card-carrying member of the U.S. Sherlock support group, welcome. As most of you now know, Sherlock 2 will not air in the U.S. until […]

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Sunday bits and bobs with the Doctor, Downton Abbey and more….

Torchwood —> Doctor Who = Yes Doctor Who —> Torchwood = No We’ve seen and heard a lot in recent weeks from various particulars involved in both series that there’s a good possibility of seeing Torchwood’s Captain Jack Harkness in an upcoming Doctor Who episode. Now, in a recent interview, Doctor Who series exec, Steven […]

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What was supposed to be a sneak peak at Downton Abbey 2, well….

As with any “teaser” clip, no matter the length, it’s always been a fine line between maddening and anticipation. An all-too-short clip that I screened early Thursday, was to give millions of extraordinarily patient fans a first glimpse at what’s next for both the residents and servants of Downton Abbey. At only :12 seconds, it […]

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And the Emmy goes to….

With the 53rd annual Primetime Emmy Awards having just been announced in Los Angeles, it’s nice to see so many programs that both you and I have talked about over the past year get the recognition they really deserve. Just a reminder, series 2 of Downton Abbey is set for a January 2012 premiere on […]

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