I couldn't have made Downton on BBC ....the show doesn't fit in with metropolitan worldview

UK Daily Mail ^

[Phillyred]

Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes has blasted the BBC, claiming it is ‘living in a Seventies bubble’ and that, despite its public subsidy, it shows no sympathy for people who do not share its metropolitan world view.

The hit ITV series won this year’s festive ratings battle with 6.9 million fans tuning in to its Christmas Day finale, and today Lord Fellowes has used a fiercely critical interview in The Mail on Sunday’s Event magazine to say that he would not have wanted to work with the Corporation on the drama.

‘The great thing about making Downton Abbey with ITV was that they let us just get on with it. The BBC wouldn’t have done that… They are not happy with dramas that do not reflect their own political and philosophical viewpoint,’

[Captain Peter Blood]

The BBC needs to be phased out and canceled.

[Dr. Sivana]

The BBC needs to be phased out and canceled.

I have not seen Downton Abbey. My wife saw one episode and found that it portrayed the modern mindset on far too much.

The BBC, socialist as it is, does a MUCH better job of presenting movie versions of Critish literary treasures, including teh works of Jane Austen and Charles Dickens, than Hollywood ever dreamed of doing.

[sparklite2]

Almost seven million viewers? It’s good to be occasionally reminded how large the US is. American Idol at times pulled in over thirty million. With less than a quarter of viewers, you wonder what kind of production values UK television would have w/o tax dollars.

[usurper]

I have not seen Downton Abbey.

Its actually quite good for a chick flick. One of the few things I can watch without throwing things at my TV.

[Dubh_Ghlase]

the first episode contained a gay kiss scene that almost killed it right there for me. We did watch the next episode and found the gay theme (while still there) was toned down and the plot actually got pretty good. We are up to season 4 now and are enjoying it...

[Dr. Sivana]

the first episode contained a gay kiss scene that almost killed it right there for me.

That would kill it for us. We don't need that in our living rooms. And I am going to assume that it doesn't take the "Brideshead Revisited" approach that this kind of behaviour can lead to no good.

[tsomer]

Not to hijack this thread, but did any of you in Freep-ville find yourself gnashing your teeth whenever that show came on?

I don’t often bring it up in mixed company or participate in discussions about it. I don’t think anyone’s noticed I feel this way.

It’s just that... sometimes I get lonesome.

Anyone?

[Organic Panic]

Never watched the show. In fact, for the longest time I thought it was “Downtown Abby.”

[Twinkie]

I’ve sort of enjoyed “Downton Abbey” - the scenery, the
clothing, all the ambience. I’ve sort of gotten a kick out
of keeping myself grounded in the realization that most of
those actors probably don’t live in any more palatial digs
than most of us do in their real lives. - The real people
who live in that humongous house are not hugely glamorous,
nor do they have all that many servants. - No skin off my
nose how they live. - The guy who plays the part of the
gay guy is not a gay guy. It’s okay acting, and the real
owners of that estate have made good money allowing it to
be used for filming. So, I think it has allowed them to
fix the roof and other stuff. (In the next installment,
Cora seems to be showing her butt big time; but I guess
we all have days when we feel bad. :o(

[impactplayer]

They never show them sitting down to eat, because then they would have to show them praying - and, goodness knows, we cannot have that!

[Timocrat]

Almost seven million viewers? It’s good to be occasionally reminded how large the US is. American Idol at times pulled in over thirty million. With less than a quarter of viewers, you wonder what kind of production values UK television would have w/o tax dollars.

UK population is one fifth of USA so seven million is equivalent to 35 million in the US. ITV is commercial television in the UK, so no government subsidy in fact they pay the government money.

[Lisbon1940]

Downtown is pretty Cosmo itself this season. Lady Edith is moving to London.

[Spunky]

I have really enjoyed watching Downton Abby. I love the clothes, hairdos, etc;

[miss marmelstein]

If the BBC lived in a 70s bubble, perhaps Downton Abbey could have been as good as its rip-off Upstairs, Downstairs. U/D never violated the strict class structures in place during the Victorian/Edwardian/Georgian period! It never violated anything as far as I can tell and is still one of the best shows to come out of Great Britain while DA is a piece of dreck!

[ElainaVer]

I started watching it while Hubby was out of town for work. By the time he got back, I was enthralled with the story line, the clothes, the luxurious surroundings, etc. It reminded me of books I read as a girl about the English countryside filled with fog and rain, proper English shoes for the wet ground, and the drab but still fascinating lives of the downstairs servants. Very quickly, Hubby became interested, too, and we spent hours enjoying every single episode. I’m glad to have a husband who would be willing to give the show a try . . even with his John Wayne mindset that might have precluded such a ‘tea and toast’ environment. We’re very glad it’s back.

[RginTN]

Are there gays, trannies, minorities or marxist agitators within the plotlines

[Mr. Blond]

I always assumed it was BBC, since it’s shown on PBS’ Masterpiece Theatre here. I prefer Poldark though.

[pbear8]

There is one gay but he is shown as scheming and unhappy but later on a bit sympathetic. There is a Marxist type but he recovers somewhat. The minorities are Catholics.

[pbear8]

My manly DH will watch it with me too especially if I feed him scones and lemon curd.