Thursday, April 4, 2013

From Downton, to Bates Motel , on down to Soutfork

I'm not a huge boob tube person, which is fine since spring and summer will be arriving. With vacation planning started and outdoor activities, it's rare I watch any. But I must admit, I'm still going through Downton Abbey withdrawals. I tried to watch PBS' replacement Selfridges, but just not feeling it. I am counting down the very long days to Downton's return with some new faces.


Mary has been left to bring up her son all alone after losing her husband Matthew in a shocking car crash, but the next series of Downton Abbey might not be all doom and gloom, and drapes of black, for Lady Mary. The single mother is set to by wooed by two eligible, not to mention handsome, aristocrats, according to reports. Two new male characters are set to be introduced to the hit period drama and producers have hinted that one will be May's new love interest. Tom Cullen and Julian Ovenden are just two new faces set to appear on the show playing characters who pay a visit to the Stately home in the upcoming series.
Ovenden, 36, is set to play Charles Blake an aristocrat who may also be a suitable match up for Mary.

Cullen, 27, is said to be taking on the role of Lord Gillingham, an old family friend, and he is set to enter the show at a party thrown by the family to try and raise her spirits. Looking at him, I know mine are. I have already forget Mary's dead husband what's his name?

I am a little upset that Sarah O Brien, played by Siobhan Finneran will not be returning. I wonder if' O'Brien's, desire for a change of scenery, and the connection with Shrimpy's wife will take her from Downton? All I know is Downton without O'Brien is like Chris Christie without a Twinkie...Blogger Bob without the snark...even worst, the Mistress without , gasp...boys and gin!!! 

 
I also understand that a lady named Lady Shackleton, an old school friend of the Dowager Countess, played by Dame Harriet Walter will enter the scene and is said to be a 'force to be reckoned with' who can 'hold her own' against the Countess’s  and  Shirley MacLaine will return in season four's finale as Lady Cora's  American and very loud mother, Martha Levinson! And I sure hope Burrows and Edith get some lovin.
 
Now go here and find out what Downton Abbey person you are! Share with us if you like. My result?
 
You are Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham. You’re the imperious, aristocratic head of your family who (almost) always gets her way, and you don’t suffer fools gladly. Though you’re often bossy, you’re surprisingly adaptable and exceptionally loyal to the people you love.
 
 
 Which brings me to........

 
Have you seen this delicious show yet??? It is entertaining me now that the above is off and a great American Horror Story fix till it returns, although not as far out with plots, but very dark and twisted. The show depicts the life of Norman Bates and his mother Norma prior to the events portrayed in Hitchcock's film, albeit in a different fictional town ,White Pine Bay, Oregon," as opposed to the film's "Fairvale, California,  and in a modern, 21st-century setting. The series begins after the death of Norma's husband, when she purchases a motel located in a coastal Oregon town so she and Norman can start a new life. And from the first 15 minutes I was hooked.
 
 
 
 This is gonna be a ride and the cops on this show .....where is my fan? Very well acted to I might add and very creatively done.
 
Which now brings me to good ole Southfork Ranch.........
 

Now I have to say I have been surprised how entertaining this show has been. I watched the original series when it aired, although I was a little Lad then , but can remember the mid to later shows of it. The new version has really been true to it's roots, pays homage to long dead characters, and has brought back many blast form the pasts, like a un- recognizable Valene Ewing, who is pulled tighter than a drum........... and a plump Lucy Ewing also seen........

 
and Gary Ewing who needs work done!!!!! This season we have also seen old Cliff Barnes and a return of the bimmette Afton Cooper. I also wanted to see how they would write JR off since Larry Hagman's death, and they did it very well done. The story lines are very addictive, but what I like most has been watching Sue Ellen, who seems to have learned alot from JR, and is now involved with the company, wheeling and dealing and scheming and pulling some dirty tricks...I LOVE IT! Course you knew she would fall off the wagon after a 25 year dry spell. I love her!
 
 
You know, I do believe she and I would be very good friends. I could hear the phone conversation now......
 
phone rings.....
 
Sue Ellen: Hello Mistress.
Mistress: Hey Sue Ellen, up for happy hour at Oil Barons?
Sue Ellen: Of course, I'm a rich Texan, aren't I?
Mistress: Oh good. They have a new 30 old malt with our name on it. Say in an hour.
Sue Ellen: oh. lets say 20 minutes, you know we hate waiting for drinks.

29 comments:

  1. i'm the earl of grantham which is odd because
    i want to fuck the earl of grantham. i love him.

    i can assure you i do not love myself,
    certainly not in a fucking way.

    yes, selfridge's wasn't a powerhouse right out of the gate, but it'll be okay. we recently downloaded 'the paradise' which is also about a dept. store, circa 1900ish. it was a delight! as for today, what you need to watch is 'calling the midwives.' in an entirely different type of way, it is quite fulfilling.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Norma you really need a Norma's Guide to Tv Viewing. I have to catch those suggestions. Meanwhile concerning your second paragraph, Mj says different.

      Delete
    2. mj blanches at the site of afterbirth
      so we toss the baby out with the bathwater?

      Delete
    3. According to that quiz, I'm Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham.

      That makes Norma my son.

      I don't want to think about birthing Norma.

      Delete
    4. Shouldn't you be saying, "Thanks for the mammaries?"

      Delete
    5. Mammaries? Just isn't right. And MJ, I thought for sure you would be Ethel!

      Delete
    6. ETHEL!

      maddie, watch your back.

      Delete
  2. I really need to start watching Downton, but I have seen Bates Motel and I was hooked quickly also. Norman is sort of hot in a nerdy way.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. and you know nerds are always hot in the sack.

      Delete
  3. HA! Love the O Brien Picture!!!! I watch all three and agree. Dallas is actually much better then I thought it would be, course the eye candy doesn't hurt either. And the Norma norman realtionship is very creepy and so well acted. Can't wait to see where it goes, well, we know how it will end.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am really looking forward to the new series of Downton...such a a shame about matthew, and think they lady mary shouldn't have an actual love interest this year but be left to grieve. Will miss o brien too...love her nasty character. The Bates Motel.....very creepy indeed!

    ReplyDelete
  5. That Lady Mary found one man to marry is astounding. She can hardly expect there to be a second with a fetish for a woman with the emotional range of a walking stick..I just can't take her, but I also got the Dowager in my test. I think Selfridge's is good but will grow on one over time, but love the sets! And honey I ADORE Dallas. But if you and Sue Ellen are friends who's driving?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's where John Ross comes in. At least for the Mistress.

      Delete
    2. well I'd hope Christopher and John Ross would show up...one to steer and one to "drive"

      Delete
  6. It has to be Julian Ovenden for Mary, the other seems to be better suited to play a smarmy cad. I miss Dan Stevens already... loved him!!! My result was Thomas Burrows, what a surprise, I would totally do myself! Loving Bates Motel! And AREN'T YOU SUE ELLEN?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. do yourself? Doesn't that take place mon-fri already?

      Delete
    2. Nothing like a Texas orgy!

      Delete
  7. Mary's new love intrest? For the shock factor alone it'll be Branson!!!! I too watch Bates Motel and it's so cool to see how they have done it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now that would be a twist! Could you see Robert Crawley's face when that came out?

      Delete
  8. Mistress, you'd be the reason Sue Ellen fell off the wagon. And as long as Tom Branson is back who cares!

    ReplyDelete
  9. i so need to watch Downtown Abby

    ReplyDelete
  10. Maybe Matthew isn't dead and will return to the series...if Bobby Ewing can come back as he did in Dallas (it was all a dream!) then so can Matthew!! I test revealed Mrs Hughes. Oh well, always an old maid.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I was appauled by Joan Van Ark. She looks terrible. Your right though, one had to much work and the other needs it. Poor Gary. My quiz revealed Cora Crawley.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Two good looking men! Maybe poor Edith will get a scrap. Bates Motel as been very addictive I agree.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Julian Ovenden.
    YUM.

    We have Bates Motel all DVRd but haven't seen any yet. I can't wait though.

    Was never a Dallas fan so, well, I'll stick with Nashville.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I have been watching Bates Motel since it started. After the first 15 minutes it hasn't slowed down once. And I love Farmiga. I'd watch Vera Farmiga read a book for an hour.

    ReplyDelete
  15. As long as Downton keeps the hot men coming I'll watch! I also hear the first black man will be introduced. Maybe Mary will switch to dark meat. That will make Lord Grantham happy! My result was Edith. I like to think I'm more attractive thought!!!! I'll have to catch Bates Motel

    ReplyDelete
  16. Those new Downton boys? Woof! I haven't seen Bates Motel yet , but all my firends say it's very twisted. This is one show that I can’t wait to see, it seems like they have put a very unique twist to the Norman Bates story. A coworker at DISH and I have been debating the many mysteries presented in the trailer, and it seems like there will be many forces that influence who Norman becomes. I have definitely been programming my DISH Hopper to record this, now I have to watch. And Dallas is just mindless fun entertainment.

    ReplyDelete

Go ahead darling, tell me something fabulous!