Even between seasons, there's Seinfeld references aplenty when it comes to Downton Abbey. This piece of gossip from the Daily Mail is straight from Season Five's "The Stall," where Elaine finds herself going out with heartthrob mountain climber Tony, AKA the Mimbo.
"However, Lady Mary, played by Michelle Dockery, is going to have a smile brought back to her face thanks to a new love interest. The distressed single mother will be courted by a new man in the form of Miranda heartthrob Tom Ellis. The 34-year-old actor, who is married
to Tamzin Outhwaite, had to audition for a role on the show but left
producers very impressed with his portrayal of the new love interest. According
to the Daily Mirror, a source at ITV said that Tom's legion of female
admirers twinned with his acting ability is what won him the part. The source said: 'He really showed his versatility, and he's also incredibly popular with the female viewers.'"
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Monday, February 18, 2013
Everybody's Doing It Now!
Well this is incredible. I was getting ready to compose my Seinfeld Abbey post after this season's depressing season finale by reading some online recaps of the episode. And wouldn't you know it, THE FIRST TWO RECAPS I READ BOTH HAVE SEINFELD REFERENCES! I feel like Kramer felt when Calvin Klein stole his perfume idea!
Recap #1: Meredith Blake, LA Times
"It all feels a little like that episode of “Seinfeld” where the gang discovers “bizarro” versions of themselves. Susan is a more miserable version of Cora, right down to the copycat hairdo. The butler at Duneagle is even more of a stickler than Carson, and then there’s Wilkins, the dour lady’s maid who manages to be more spiteful and petty than O’Brien."
Recap #2: Michael Hogan, Huffington post
"My colleague Maureen Ryan (referring to Matthew's death) thinks this is a healthy development for Downton, and I encourage you to read her take. Not because I think the series can't work without Matthew Crawley -- his shmoopy talk with Lady Mary makes it hard to remember the days when their Sam-and-Diane love-hate dance was one of the biggest reasons to tune in."
As you well know, shmoopy talk is from "The Soup Nazi" episode, as personified by Jerry and girlfriend Sheila (played by actress Alexandra Wentworth, currently married to George Stephanopoulos - there's some good trivia for you).
I should be pissed for people stealing my idea, but I suppose I am feeling more gratified that other folks share my affliction. Anyway, my take on the finale was that it was pretty much a ripoff of Seinfeld's Season 7 finale, in which Susan was bumped off in "The Invitations" episode. And the reel dancing (especially when Molesey got going) reminded me of Elaine's dancing in "The Little Kicks." And when Wilkins tried to slip O'Brien a mickey, that was right out of "The Revenge," when George persuades Elaine to exact revenge on his boss. You see ....... it never ends.
Catch you next season.
Recap #1: Meredith Blake, LA Times
"It all feels a little like that episode of “Seinfeld” where the gang discovers “bizarro” versions of themselves. Susan is a more miserable version of Cora, right down to the copycat hairdo. The butler at Duneagle is even more of a stickler than Carson, and then there’s Wilkins, the dour lady’s maid who manages to be more spiteful and petty than O’Brien."
Recap #2: Michael Hogan, Huffington post
"My colleague Maureen Ryan (referring to Matthew's death) thinks this is a healthy development for Downton, and I encourage you to read her take. Not because I think the series can't work without Matthew Crawley -- his shmoopy talk with Lady Mary makes it hard to remember the days when their Sam-and-Diane love-hate dance was one of the biggest reasons to tune in."
As you well know, shmoopy talk is from "The Soup Nazi" episode, as personified by Jerry and girlfriend Sheila (played by actress Alexandra Wentworth, currently married to George Stephanopoulos - there's some good trivia for you).
I should be pissed for people stealing my idea, but I suppose I am feeling more gratified that other folks share my affliction. Anyway, my take on the finale was that it was pretty much a ripoff of Seinfeld's Season 7 finale, in which Susan was bumped off in "The Invitations" episode. And the reel dancing (especially when Molesey got going) reminded me of Elaine's dancing in "The Little Kicks." And when Wilkins tried to slip O'Brien a mickey, that was right out of "The Revenge," when George persuades Elaine to exact revenge on his boss. You see ....... it never ends.
Catch you next season.
Seinfeld Abbey
I first noticed that there was a curious relationship between characters and plot lines in Downton Abbey and Seinfeld in this season's episode 6, when Thomas Barrow found himself promoted to Underbutler (whatever the hell that is - sounds like a superhero) after putting the moves on Jimmy (Oh my God, another Seinfeld reference - I can't stop!). This reminded me of the Seinfeld episode "The Fatigues," where Eddie the mailroom worker gets promoted to Director of Corporate Development by Elaine after a generalized display of incompetence and psychotic behavior.
Unfortunately, there is only one more episode this season (the finale), but from now on after every episode I will give my own recap of Downton Abbey as seen through the prism of someone who cannot escape the sometimes bizarre consequences of looking at life through Seinfeld-colored glasses.
Unfortunately, there is only one more episode this season (the finale), but from now on after every episode I will give my own recap of Downton Abbey as seen through the prism of someone who cannot escape the sometimes bizarre consequences of looking at life through Seinfeld-colored glasses.
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