Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
>>> DOWNTON ABBEY THE PBS SERIES
ABOUT A FAMILY OF BRITISH ARREST
CONTRACTS AND THEIR
>>> DOWNTON ABBEY THE PBS SERIES
ABOUT A FAMILY OF BRITISH ARREST
CONTRACTS AND THEIR SERVANTS
WRAPS UP ITS SECOND SEASON
TONIGHT.
THE SHOW IS SET IN THE EARLY
1900s AND HAS A CULT FOLLOWING
HERE IN THE U.S.
ITS PRODUCER CARNIVAL FILMS IS
OWNED BY OUR PARENT COMPANY NBC
UNIVERSAL.
MICHELLE FRANZEN TAKES A LOOK AT
WHY THE SHOW IS SUCH A FAN
FAVORITE.
>> IT IS THE LATEST BRITISH
SENSATION TO SWEEP ACROSS THE
POND.
THE PBS MASTERPIECE CLASSIC
DRAMA "DOWNTON ABBEY."
THE SECOND SEASON PREMIERED TO A
RECORD 4.2 MILLION VIEWERS IN
THE U.S.
>> I'M OBSESSED WITH IT.
>> A GROWING FAN BASE, NOW
ANTICIPATING TONIGHT'S FINALE.
>> I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAS A
LOFT IN SOHO, AND HE'S THROWING
AN ENTIRE PARTY.
>> Reporter: THE UNLIKELY HIT IS
SET AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF
WORLD WAR I AND FOLLOWS THE
TANGLED LIVES OF THE
ARISTOCRATIC CRAWLY FAMILY AND
THEIR SERVANTS AT THE ENGLISH
COUNTRY ESTATE OF DOWNTON ABBEY.
>> EVEN THOUGH IT FEELS VERY
HIGH BROW WITH GORGEOUS COSTUMES
AND FANCY PANTS ACCENTS, WHEN IT
COMES DOWN TO IT, IT'S REALLY A
SOAP OPERA.
>> WILL THAT BE ALL?
>> AN EPIC TALE OF ALL THINGS
PROPER, AND NOT.
WITH LOTS OF TEA.
AND VERY LITTLE SYMPATHY.
>> PUT THAT IN YOUR PIPE AND
SMOKE IT.
>> Reporter: DAME MAGGIE SMITH'S
CHARACTER STEALS THE SHOW,
SERVING UP THE BEST ONE-LINERS.
>> I SUPPOSE LOOKS AREN'T
EVERYTHING.
>> Reporter: THE SHOW'S SUCCESS
HERE IN THE STATES HAS BEEN
DRIVEN BOTH BY WORD OF MOUTH AND
THE MODERN AGE OF THE INTERNET
AND SOCIAL MEDIA.
>> OF COURSE IF YOU TURN ON
TWITTER ACCOUNT OR IF YOU TURN
ON FACEBOOK YOU'LL SEE SOMETHING
ABOUT IT.
>> Reporter: THE SCENES AND
EMOTIONS UNFOLD SLOWLY.
>> MY GOSH.
>> Reporter: A CHANGE OF PACE,
ADDING TO THE FASCINATION HERE
AT HOME.
>> THIS IS THE DAY AND AGE OF
"JERSEY SHORE," SO THIS KIND OF
SHOW IS REALLY THE ANTIDOTE TO
THAT.
>> Reporter: SEASON THREE IS
ALREADY IN THE WORKS WITH
ACCLAIMED ACTRESS SHIRLEY
MacLAINE JOINING THE SHOW.
BUT FANS WILL HAVE TO WAIT